04-07-2007, 05:17 AM
Yesterday, Bear and I had to put our beloved Rottweiler, Mauka, to sleep due to bone cancer. Needless to say, we are disconsolate, as is his littermate Makai. We "inherited" these two as adults, so had not researched the breed for health issues. (The reputation of the breed for being vicious is exaggerated IMHO, and these two have always been sweethearts.)
When Mauka became ill, I got on line and did a lot of research. Bone cancer is very prevalent in this breed, affecting up to 20% in one study. Neutered males seem to be the highest risk category. Anyone with a Rottie should be alert for unexplained lameness and/or lumps on the bones of the legs and hips. The disease is treatable under some circumstances, but since Mauka's tumor was on the hip, it was untreatable.
Not so cheerful today,
Jerry
When Mauka became ill, I got on line and did a lot of research. Bone cancer is very prevalent in this breed, affecting up to 20% in one study. Neutered males seem to be the highest risk category. Anyone with a Rottie should be alert for unexplained lameness and/or lumps on the bones of the legs and hips. The disease is treatable under some circumstances, but since Mauka's tumor was on the hip, it was untreatable.
Not so cheerful today,
Jerry