Because of the natural ability to run distances and are an extremely active dog breed, often joint problems can arise. Sometimes arthritis can develop in the joints and cause your Aussie to slow down.
Aussie Bone and Joint Issues
Still, this medium-sized breed is genetically more susceptible to Hip and Elbow Dysplasia than many other breeds. Not only are Aussies genetically prone to dysplasia, their high activity level and love of running and jumping place additional stress on their joints.
Both hips and elbows are at risk for dysplasia, an inherited disease that causes the joints to develop improperly and results in arthritis. Stiffness in your Aussie's elbows or hips may become a problem for him, especially as he matures.
Panosteitis (sometimes referred to as “growing pains”) is another common issue that occurs in Australian shepherds. It is different from hip dysplasia in that it primarily affects the front legs, is temporary, and affects the long bones of the legs.
Hip dysplasia is one of the most common problems regarding physical health for the Australian Shepherd breed. Causing debilitating, degenerative joint problems, this genetic malformation occurs when the hip joint does not properly fit into the hip socket.
The tremors may be a sign of a largely benign condition called hypomyelinogenesis. Some owners report it only happens when the dog is excited or stressed but it can also happen when the dog is standing calmly. The muscles, usually in the hindquarters but sometimes in the forequarters, too, will quiver.
Aussies are best suited for families with an active lifestyle and a large fenced yard. They need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom. They can weigh between 35 and 70 pounds and have an average life span of 12-13 years.
Being a medium-sized dog, Australian Shepherds, on average, weigh between 40-65 pounds and stand 18-23 inches in height. Their expected lifespan is 12-15 years.
Your Aussie may require time to adjust to a new life and learn to trust you before he feels comfortable enough to cuddle with you. To cuddle means to be vulnerable, and your dog may just need patience and time to understand that his vulnerability won't put him in a position to be hurt.
Many of the Australian Shepherd's health problems are joint-related, plan to do what you can to protect and strengthen their joints safely and naturally by adding a joint supplement to their diet. Joint supplements can promote joint health and cartilage development which keeps dogs active and youthful, longer.
If your dog is suddenly limping on its back leg, it is important to have them seen by your veterinarian as soon as possible. There are many possible causes of sudden limping in the back leg of dogs, including a ruptured ACL, strain and sprains, IVDD, fracture/dislocation and iliopsoas muscle injury.
'Little and often' is the best approach when it comes to exercising arthritic pets. It may suit them better to take them on several short walks each day, rather than one long walk. Keep their exercise pattern as regular as possible – try to avoid short walks during the week and a really long walk at the weekend.
Splooting is a great stretch for the animals' hips. Splooting also allows the animal to cool themselves by pressing their belly into the ground or against tile floors. Owners may notice that their pets sploot more often when they are younger.
“Walking between someone's legs may be their way of avoiding the pet [or] an alternate behavior to jumping on someone,” she says. If you are concerned that your dog might be showing anxiety when he exhibits this behavior, you should seek the advice of your veterinarian.
Most Australian Shepherds should begin calming down at two years of age. At this point, they're considered mature dogs who can better regulate their energy. That said, not all Aussies will tone it down at this age. It may take them reaching seniority for their energy to drop off.
While an Aussie may be left home alone for four to six hours at a time, crate training may be necessary for the dog's safety.
Female Australian Shepherds
It is suggested that females are also more sensitive and laid back. Because of this, they are said to have an easier personality to deal with. They've often got their agendas and will let you know what they want.
The answer to that question varies with the breed and size of your pet. We start calling our babies seniors on average after 8 years old. This does not mean they are already old at that particular age. Most of them actually still have the same energy and the behaviors exhibited by younger dogs and even puppies.
Australian Shepherds are considered moderate to heavy shedders, and they will shed quite a bit of fur each day. Your Aussie will likely leave fur behind on your clothes after cuddling, on the bedding it was resting on, and you will likely see a thin layer of fur on your floors.
Most Australian Shepherds will need 16 months to reach their full adult size, although many will already be at their adult height around a year old.
Epilepsy and MDR1-related drug reactions are the most common serious neurologic issues found in Aussies. Muscle tremors are common but usually benign. Infrequently seen diseases include degenerative myelopathy, exercise induced collapse, myasthenia gravis, and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.
A cluster of nerves located under the skin makes up the dog sweet spot. When you scratch your pet's tummy and hit this spot, these nerves get activated and send a message to the hind leg, via the spinal cord, to start kicking in an attempt to dislodge the source of irritation.
Potential causes include inner/middle ear infections, intoxication, strokes, tumors, infectious or inflammatory diseases (meningitis), idiopathic vestibular disease (also called “old dog” vestibular syndrome), or other less likely causes.