Affenpinscher dogs are known to be a generally healthy breed. However, as in with other breeds, there are a few health issues that known to affect some members of the breed. Your Affenpinscher may not get any of these diseases, but you should be aware of them if you are Affenpinscher owner, or if you are considering this breed.

Patellar Luxation

Patellar Luxation is also known as “slipped stifles”, and is a mobility problem which affects several small dog breeds. Your dog’s leg, much like your own, consists of three main parts - the femur (thigh bone), the patella (knee cap), and the tibia (calf).

Patellar Luxation is caused when these three parts do not line up properly, causing lameness in the leg or an abnormal gait, much like a skip or a hop. This condition is present at birth, though actual symptoms, or luxation, may not present until later in life. The rubbing caused by patellar luxation can lead to arthritis, a degenerative joint disease.

There are four grades of patellar luxation, ranging from grade I, an occasional luxation resulting in temporary lameness in the joint, to grade IV, in which the turning of the tibia is severe and the patella cannot be realigned manually. This gives the dog a bowlegged appearance. Patellar luxation is correctable through surgery, and severe grades may require surgical repair.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia is a condition that occurs in many dog breeds both large and small. Dogs with hip displaysia have thigh bones that do not fit snugly into the hip joint.

Some dogs show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs, but other dogs with hip dysplasia may not initially show any signs of discomfort. As the dog ages, arthritis can develop. X-ray screening for hip dysplasia can be performed by a local veteranian.

This condition is heredetary, and as such, dogs with hip dysplasia should not be used for breeding. If you are buying an Affenpinscher puppy, be sure ask your breeder for proof that the sire and bitch have both been tested and are free of hip displaysia.

Though Hip dysplasia is most commonly acquired through hereditary, it may also be triggered by environmental factors, such as rapid growth from a high-calorie diet or injuries incurred from jumping or falling on slick floors.

Legg-Perthes Disease

Legg-Perthes Disease is another disease common to many small dog breeds not limited to Affenpinschers. Legg-Perthes disease is a deformity of the ball of the hip joint. The symptoms usually appear when the dog is between 6 to 9 months of age, and is frequently confused with hip dysplasia. This condtiion also causes wearing and arthritis.

Legg-Perthes can be surgically repaired, and post-operative rehabilitation therapy is strongly recommended to ensure the most favorable outcome.

Heart Murmurs

This condition may occur in a variety of dog breeds both large and small. Heart murmurs are caused by a disturbance in the flow of blood throughout the chambers of the heart. Heart murmers may be indicative of the presence of another heart disease or heart condition that will require diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment.

Be sure to have your dog’s health checked regularly by a registered vet to ensure that his heart and other vital organs are functioning properly.

If you are trying to buy an Affenpinscher puppy, be sure to buy from a good, reputable breeder, and not a puppy mill. A good breeder will be able to provide health clearances for both your puppy’s parents. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition. Be sure to ask your breeder for health clearances, and do not take a dog for which health clearances cannot be obtained unless you are prepared to deal with health issues.

In Affens, you should expect to see health clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for hip dysplasia (with a score of fair or better), elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and von Willebrand’s disease; from Auburn University for thrombopathia; and from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) certifying that eyes are normal. You can confirm health clearances by checking the OFA web site.

This article is provided for informational purposes only. Be sure to contact a registered veterenarian for professional advice regarding dog purchases, or for health concerns regarding dogs that you own.