The Thai Ridgeback Dog is one of the few breeds left to not have been mis-bred by breeders and owners. "Mother Nature" has bred them for centuries therefore only the strongest survived and the strong and healthy dogs reproduced. For these reasons, the Thai Ridgeback Dog is a very healthy animal overall. The number of Thai Ridgeback Dogs in this country is very limited at this time, we do know there are currently less than 30 living in Canada. Our information is based on the dogs we have here and the knowledge that other breeders around the world have shared with us.

There are only three conditions that have been reported in the Thai Ridgeback Dog. These conditions do not occur often, rarely in fact, however breeders must be dedicated in breeding efforts to attempt to eliminate these conditions in the breed. Any dog found to have one of these conditions should be spayed or neutered and not bred.

The following conditions are all genetic. The numbers of Thai Ridgebacks in Canada is very small; therefore, diagnosing and eliminating from the breeding pool any dogs affected with these conditions is the best tool to keep this breed healthy and happy for many years to come.


Dermoid Sinus Cyst

More common than the other two is the Dermoid Sinus Cyst. A dermoid Sinus (DS) is categorized as a "neural tube fusion defect". During the embryo stages, the neural groove deepens and joins to form the new spinal cord and spinal column, the skin also fuses in the midline and the spinal column and the skin become separate. When this process partially fails, a DS forms. In these cases, a tube or sinus forms from the spinal column to the skin. They can be either open to the skin or closed. These tubes are lined with hair and when the natural shedding of the coat takes place, the hair inside of these tubes often is not expelled. The result is an infection due to a build up of hair and oils leading to abcesses. At this point it is a painful and potentially dangerous situation for the dog.

Dermoid Sinuses are often found on the midline of the neck, back and tail along the spinal column and is usually detected at birth. This is a congenital problem, meaning the puppies are born with this condition. It is hereditary, therefore all puppies diagnosed with a dermoid sinus should not be bred and should be spayed or neutered.

Studies have shown that we could possibly decrease the number of dogs afflicted with Dermoid Sinus by providing supplements of folic acid to mothers during pregnancy.

For more information click below to the Rhodesian Ridgeback Dermoid Sinus sites.

Dermoid Sinus Information site.

RRCUS Dermoid Sinus Information

Canine Hip Dysplasia

Second is Canine Hip Dysplasia(CHD). To my knowledge, there have not been any dogs in North America diagnosed with this condition, but there have been a few cases in other parts of the world. Once again this is a rare occurence in this breed.

Hip dysplasia is a congenital disease that affects mostly large breed dogs. This disease causes weakness and lameness to the rear quarters, and eventually leads to painful arthritis. This arthritis has several names; degenerative joint disease, arthrosis, osteoarthritis.

Several factors work together to cause this disease. A combination of a dog genetically inclined to get this disease interacting with environmental factors that bring about the symptoms. Many variables affect the degree of lameness. They include caloric intake, degree of exercise, and weather.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

excess calcium in the diet of puppy food for large breed dogs,

along with obesity,

high protein

high calorie diets,

lack of or too much exercise.

For anyone not familiar with Canine Hip Dysplasia, you can find more information on the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals(OFA)site.

OFA- Hip Dysplasia info.

Patellar Luxation

The third is a condition that has occurred in 2 or 3 dogs in the US therefore, it should be noted. Patellar luxation is a dislocation of the kneecap that is genetically influenced. Dogs with this deformity usually are affected by the time they are 5 to 6 months of age. The most notable finding is a knock-knee stance, the hocks will point out and the toes in. The dog may also show signs which include difficulty in straightening the knee, pain in the stifle, and a limp. Treatment will depend on the severity or grade of the deformity. If greater than a Grade I or II, surgery to deepen the groove and/or realign the tendons may be necessary. Diagnosis is quick, painless, and does not require anesthesia. The veterinarian will manually palpate the patella to check for dislocating or slipping.

OFA- Patellar Luxation