As tabulated by Dr. Margaret
Slatter, Dept. Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health, Texas A & M
University.
Introduction
The Rottweiler Health Foundation contacted us about conducting a general
health survey for Rottweilers. The
purpose was to determine the frequency of specific health problems affecting the
breed, and whether there was a relationship between sex of the Rottweiler and
the frequency of any health problems.
Materials and Methods
The questionnaire was designed to survey common health problems in
Rottweilers. Respondents were asked
to complete the survey for any dogs they currently owned, or who had died while
living with them since 1994. The
survey was divided into five main sections.
The first section asked for general information on the number of
Rottweilers currently owned, the number of years respondents had owned
Rottweilers, and what activities owners were involved in with their Rottweilers.
The second section asked for information on all Rottweilers owned since
1994 including current age or age at time of death, sex, and cause of death if
applicable. The third section
addressed specific categories of health problems in Rottweilers.
Respondents were to indicate how many of their Rottweilers had a
particular disease as well as the sex of those Rottweilers.
The fourth section examined breeding and reproductive problems in
Rottweilers, as well as puppy abnormalities.
An area for respondent opinions and suggestions was included in the last
section.
The questionnaire was distributed twice to 1200 subscribers of the ARK,
the quarterly newsletter of the American Rottweiler Club.
The first distribution of the survey appeared in the March 2000 issue,
followed by the second distribution in the July 2000 issue.
Forty-one local Rottweiler clubs in addition to the ARK, were sent the questionnaire to be included in club newsletters
at their discretion. Information on
whether these clubs distributed the survey, number of surveys distributed, and
number of times the survey was distributed is unknown.
Based on characteristics of the surveys we received (color, size, page
numbers, etc), there were at least 6 different distributors.
Ten surveys were also received from Italy, where the questionnaire was
distributed in an Italian Rottweiler club newsletter.
A separate analysis for the Italian surveys is included at the end of
this report.
A chi-squared test was used to analyze the data from this health survey.
A p-value less than or equal to 0.05 was considered statistically
significant and indicated a difference between males and females in the
frequency of these health problems.
Results
Over 1200 questionnaires were sent to Rottweiler owners from the United
States and Canada. The exact number
of questionnaires sent is unknown since several organizations may have
distributed the survey. Some
Rottweiler owners could have received the survey more than once if they belonged
to more than one organization. The
final sample size for this health survey was 225 Rottweiler owners.
Since the number of questionnaires mailed is unknown, we are unable to
determine an overall response rate. One
hundred and eighty-six (82.7%) respondents were willing to supply pedigree
information on dogs afflicted with a particular health problem, two (0.8%) were
possibly willing, three (1.3%) responded that this information was unavailable,
five (2.2%) were unwilling to supply this information, and 29 (12.9%) did not
respond. Information regarding the
number of respondents is shown in Table 1.
Table
1: General survey
information for the Rottweilers in this study
|
Survey Information on
Rottweilers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Variable
|
|
|
|
|
|
No.
|
|
Total number of surveys mailed out
|
|
|
|
Unknown
|
|
Total number of respondents
|
|
|
|
225
|
|
Overall response rate for Wheaten owners
|
|
|
Unknown
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total number of dogs involved in the survey
|
|
|
1035
|
|
Total number of dogs currently owned by respondents
|
|
717
|
|
Females currently owned
|
|
|
|
437
|
|
Males currently owned
|
|
|
|
280
|
|
Total number of deceased dogs in survey
|
|
|
318
|
|
Females deceased
|
|
|
|
177
|
|
Males deceased
|
|
|
|
|
141
|
The average number of Rottweilers currently owned by respondents was
three, the median number of Rottweilers currently owned was one, and the number
of Rottweilers currently owned ranged from zero to twenty-four.
In completing this survey, respondents were to include any Rottweilers
they currently owned, co-owned, and those who died under their ownership since
1994. The 1,035 Rottweiler sample
size of this study is comprised of the 717 Rottweilers currently owned plus the
318 deceased Rottweilers. Table 2 shows the information on Rottweilers included in this
study. The “no data” column is
for those Rottweilers whose owners did not provide a response for that question.
Table
2: General information on the Rottweilers
included in this study
|
General
Information on Rottweilers from the Survey
|
|
|
|
Variable
|
|
|
|
No.
|
Median
|
(Minimum,
|
No
data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum)
|
|
|
Years of owning Rottweilers
|
|
|
3299
|
14.5
|
(2,
47)
|
3
|
|
Rottweilers currently owned
|
|
717
|
1
|
(0,
24)
|
|
|
Age of males currently owned
|
280
|
4
|
(0.1,
13)
|
63
|
|
Age of females currently owned
|
437
|
5.5
|
(0.2,
14)
|
24
|
|
Deceased Rottweilers
|
|
318
|
|
|
|
|
Life span of deceased males (yrs)
|
141
|
9
|
(1,
13.5)
|
|
|
Life span of deceased females (yrs)
|
177
|
9
|
(1,
15)
|
|
For those Rottweilers that were deceased, respondents were asked to give
the cause of their deaths. Table 3
lists the most common causes of death in Rottweilers from this health survey,
which includes 81% of all causes of death.
Table
3: Common causes of death in the Rottweilers of
this study
|
Most Common Causes of Death
in Rottweilers
|
|
Cause
|
|
No.
of instances
|
|
|
|
Males
|
Females
|
Total
|
|
Bone
cancer
|
|
26
|
28
|
54
|
|
Cancer
(unspecified)
|
|
22
|
26
|
48
|
|
Kidneys
|
|
4
|
16
|
20
|
|
Old
age
|
|
6
|
13
|
19
|
|
Lymphosarcoma
|
|
8
|
10
|
18
|
|
Bloat
|
|
6
|
8
|
14
|
|
Heart
|
|
4
|
10
|
14
|
|
Unknown
|
|
7
|
7
|
14
|
|
Euthanized
|
|
6
|
4
|
10
|
|
Arthritis
|
|
2
|
6
|
8
|
|
Accident
|
|
4
|
3
|
7
|
|
Stroke
|
|
2
|
4
|
6
|
|
Liver
cancer
|
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
|
Liver
failure
|
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
|
Hemangiosarcoma
|
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
|
Malignant
histiocytosis
|
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
|
Melanoma
|
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
|
Pneumonia
|
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
Respondents were also asked about the types of activities they
participated in with their Rottweilers. Respondents
could choose more than one activity. Table
4 shows their responses.
Table
4: Rottweiler/Owner activities in this study
|
Rottweiler/Owner Activities
|
|
Activity
|
|
|
|
No.
of owners
|
|
Pet/Companion
|
|
|
210
|
|
Obedience
|
|
|
178
|
|
Conformation
|
|
|
152
|
|
Therapy dog
|
|
|
|
78
|
|
Herding
|
|
|
59
|
|
Agility
|
|
|
48
|
|
Other activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schutzhund
|
|
|
|
23
|
|
Tracking
|
|
|
|
20
|
|
Carting
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
Rescue
|
|
|
|
6
|
Table 5 shows the health problems listed in the survey and the number of
male and female Rottweilers along with the percentage of total Rottweilers with
the problem. The values for
percentage of total males or total females with a particular health problem were
small due to the large population of total male Rottweilers (421) and total
female Rottweilers (614).
Table 5: Descriptive statistics for health problems
in the Rottweiler survey
|
Rottweiler General Health
Survey
|
|
Health
Problem
|
|
|
No.
of
|
%
of
|
No.
of
|
%
of
|
|
|
|
|
|
males
|
421
males
|
Females
|
614
females
|
|
Skin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Demodex (mange)
|
|
|
|
11
|
2.6%
|
9
|
1.5%
|
|
Flea allergy
|
|
|
26
|
6.2%
|
29
|
4.7%
|
|
Food allergy
|
|
|
25
|
5.9%
|
27
|
4.4%
|
|
Inhalent allergy (atopy)
|
|
|
19
|
4.5%
|
14
|
2.3%
|
|
Sebaceous adenitis
|
|
|
0
|
0.0%
|
0
|
0.0%
|
|
Sebaceous cysts
|
|
|
|
18
|
4.3%
|
31
|
5.0%
|
|
Seborrhea
|
|
|
|
1
|
0.2%
|
5
|
0.8%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
10
|
2.4%
|
17
|
2.8%
|
|
Ophthamology
(Eyes)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cataracts
|
|
|
27
|
6.4%
|
41
|
6.7%
|
|
Progressive retinal atrophy
|
|
1
|
0.2%
|
1
|
0.2%
|
|
Retinal dysplasia
|
|
|
|
2
|
0.5%
|
0
|
0.0%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
9
|
2.1%
|
15
|
2.4%
|
|
Nervous
System
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Slipped disc
|
|
|
5
|
1.2%
|
8
|
1.3%
|
|
Hydrocephalus
|
|
|
|
1
|
0.2%
|
0
|
0.0%
|
|
Seizures/Epilepsy
|
|
|
|
6
|
1.4%
|
15
|
2.4%
|
|
Wobbler’s Syndrome
|
|
|
|
3
|
0.7%
|
2
|
0.3%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
7
|
1.7%
|
5
|
0.8%
|
|
Orthopedic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arthritis
|
|
|
|
91
|
21.6%
|
116
|
18.9%
|
|
Cruciate rupture
|
|
|
|
28
|
6.7%
|
66
|
10.7%
|
|
Elbow dysplasia
|
|
|
|
25
|
5.9%
|
41
|
6.7%
|
|
Hip dysplasia
|
|
|
59
|
14.0%
|
68
|
11.1%
|
|
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)
|
|
|
|
15
|
3.6%
|
22
|
3.6%
|
|
Panosteitis
|
|
|
|
27
|
6.4%
|
25
|
4.1%
|
|
Spondylosis
|
|
|
|
6
|
1.4%
|
7
|
1.1%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
6
|
1.4%
|
3
|
0.5%
|
|
Stomach
and Intestines
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colitis
|
|
|
9
|
2.1%
|
2
|
0.3%
|
|
Inflammatory bowel disease
|
|
|
10
|
2.4%
|
12
|
2.0%
|
|
Liver disease
|
|
|
6
|
1.4%
|
6
|
1.0%
|
|
Long-term diarrhea
|
|
|
|
12
|
2.9%
|
8
|
1.3%
|
|
Megaesophagus
|
|
|
|
3
|
0.7%
|
4
|
0.7%
|
|
Stomach bloat
|
|
|
|
15
|
3.6%
|
12
|
2.0%
|
|
Stomach torsion
|
|
|
|
13
|
3.1%
|
9
|
1.5%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
3
|
0.7%
|
4
|
0.7%
|
|
Cancer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adrenal tumor
|
|
|
|
0
|
0.0%
|
1
|
0.2%
|
|
Hemangiosarcoma
|
|
|
4
|
1.0%
|
4
|
0.7%
|
|
Lymphosarcomas
|
|
|
|
16
|
3.8%
|
18
|
2.9%
|
|
Malignant Histiocytosis
|
|
|
|
4
|
1.0%
|
4
|
0.7%
|
|
Mast cell tumor
|
|
|
|
7
|
1.7%
|
8
|
1.3%
|
|
Melanoma
|
|
|
|
5
|
1.2%
|
9
|
1.5%
|
|
Osteosarcoma/Bone cancer
|
|
|
|
36
|
8.6%
|
39
|
6.4%
|
|
Squamous cell tumor
|
|
|
|
0
|
0.0%
|
7
|
1.1%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
20
|
4.8%
|
23
|
3.7%
|
|
Temperament
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggressive (to other dogs)
|
|
|
|
46
|
10.9%
|
62
|
10.1%
|
|
Aggressive (to people)
|
|
|
|
23
|
5.5%
|
14
|
2.3%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
6
|
1.4%
|
8
|
1.3%
|
|
Muscular
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inguinal Hernia
|
|
|
2
|
0.5%
|
1
|
0.2%
|
|
Umbilical Hernia
|
|
|
10
|
2.4%
|
14
|
2.3%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
0
|
0.0%
|
0
|
0.0%
|
|
Urinary
Tract
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bladder infection
|
|
|
14
|
3.3%
|
86
|
14.0%
|
|
Bladder stones
|
|
|
|
4
|
1.0%
|
2
|
0.3%
|
|
Kidney disease
|
|
|
9
|
2.1%
|
18
|
2.9%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
2
|
0.5%
|
3
|
0.5%
|
|
Hormone-related
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addison’s Disease
|
|
|
|
1
|
0.2%
|
2
|
0.3%
|
|
Cushing’s Disease
|
|
|
0
|
0.0%
|
1
|
0.2%
|
|
Hypothyroidism
|
|
|
|
26
|
6.2%
|
48
|
7.8%
|
|
Pancreatic insufficiency
|
|
|
2
|
0.5%
|
4
|
0.7%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
3
|
0.7%
|
2
|
0.3%
|
|
Heart
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cardiomyopathy
|
|
|
5
|
1.2%
|
5
|
0.8%
|
|
Congestive Heart Failure
|
|
2
|
0.5%
|
8
|
1.3%
|
|
Heart murmur
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patent ductus arteriosis
|
|
|
0
|
0.0%
|
0
|
0.0%
|
|
Ventricular septal defects
|
|
|
0
|
0.0%
|
0
|
0.0%
|
|
Unidentified
|
|
|
4
|
1.0%
|
15
|
2.4%
|
|
Pulmonary stenosis
|
|
|
1
|
0.2%
|
1
|
0.2%
|
|
Valve dysfunction
|
|
|
0
|
0.0%
|
2
|
0.3%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
3
|
0.7%
|
10
|
1.6%
|
|
Blood
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anemia
|
|
|
4
|
1.0%
|
4
|
0.7%
|
|
Hemophilia type disorders
|
|
|
0
|
0.0%
|
1
|
0.2%
|
|
Von Willebrand’s Disease
|
|
|
|
3
|
0.7%
|
2
|
0.3%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
1
|
0.2%
|
1
|
0.2%
|
|
Autoimmune
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
|
|
|
|
0
|
0.0%
|
1
|
0.2%
|
|
Autoimmune thyroiditis
|
|
|
2
|
0.5%
|
7
|
1.1%
|
|
Lupus erythromatosus
|
|
|
0
|
0.0%
|
1
|
0.2%
|
|
Rheumatoid arthritis
|
|
|
|
4
|
1.0%
|
1
|
0.2%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
1
|
0.2%
|
1
|
0.2%
|
|
Vaccine-related
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vaccine failure
|
3
|
0.7%
|
5
|
0.8%
|
|
Vaccine reaction
|
|
|
17
|
4.0%
|
10
|
1.6%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
0
|
0.0%
|
0
|
0.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The most common health problems were food and flea allergies, cataracts,
cruciate ruptures, hip and elbow dysplasia, panosteitis, bone cancer, aggression
towards other dogs, bladder infections, and hypothyroidism. The median age of onset of cataracts was 2.5 years.
In order to determine whether there were any associations between sex and
occurrence of a particular health problem, a chi-squared test was used.
This test was performed for health problems where there was at least a 2%
difference between the sexes. Two
percent was chosen as a level that may be of clinical importance, as a
difference of about 20 dogs would be involved.
These health problems included flea and inhalent allergies, arthritis,
cruciate ruptures, hip dysplasia, panosteitis, bone cancer, aggression towards
people, bladder infections, and vaccine reactions.
A p-value of 0.05 or less was considered significant in determining an
association. There was an
association between sex and the occurrence of bladder infections, cruciate
ruptures, aggression towards people, inhalent allergies, and vaccine reactions.
A significantly higher percentage of males than females developed
aggression towards people, inhalent allergies, and vaccine reactions based on
these results. A significantly
higher percentage of females than males developed bladder infections and
cruciate ruptures based on these results.
Table 6: Information on the association between sex
and occurrence of health problems
|
Association between sex and
health problems in Rottweilers
|
|
Health
problem
|
|
No.
with
|
No.
without
|
P-value
|
|
|
|
|
problem
|
Problem
|
|
|
Arthritis
|
|
|
|
|
0.28
|
|
Male
|
|
|
91
|
330
|
|
|
Female
|
|
|
116
|
498
|
|
|
Hip
dysplasia
|
|
|
|
0.16
|
|
Male
|
|
|
59
|
362
|
|
|
Female
|
|
|
68
|
546
|
|
|
Bladder
infection
|
|
|
|
0.000*
|
|
Male
|
|
|
14
|
407
|
|
|
Female
|
|
|
86
|
528
|
|
|
Cruciate
rupture
|
|
|
|
|
0.02*
|
|
Male
|
|
|
28
|
393
|
|
|
Female
|
|
|
66
|
548
|
|
|
Bone
cancer
|
|
|
|
0.18
|
|
Male
|
|
|
36
|
385
|
|
|
Female
|
|
|
39
|
575
|
|
|
Flea
Allergies
|
|
|
|
0.31
|
|
Male
|
|
|
26
|
395
|
|
|
Female
|
|
|
29
|
585
|
|
|
Panosteitis
|
|
|
0.09
|
|
Male
|
|
|
27
|
394
|
|
|
Female
|
|
|
25
|
589
|
|
|
Aggression
towards people
|
|
|
|
0.007*
|
|
Male
|
|
|
23
|
398
|
|
|
Female
|
|
|
14
|
600
|
|
|
Inhalent
allergies
|
|
|
|
0.04*
|
|
Male
|
|
|
19
|
402
|
|
|
Female
|
|
|
14
|
600
|
|
|
Vaccine
reactions
|
|
|
|
|
0.02*
|
|
Male
|
|
|
17
|
404
|
|
|
Female
|
|
|
10
|
604
|
|
| |
* Indicates a significant association at the 0.05
level |
Table
7 lists breeding, reproductive, and puppy health information.
Failure to conceive was the most common reproductive health problem.
Table 7: Breeding and reproductive information for
Rottweilers in this study
|
Breeding/Reproductive
Problems
|
|
|
|
General Information
|
No.
|
|
|
Number of bitches bred
|
190
|
|
|
Number of males bred
|
|
78
|
|
|
Total litters
|
|
|
285
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Puppy Problems
|
|
No. pups
|
|
|
Cleft palates
|
|
8
|
|
|
Failure to walk
|
|
10
|
|
|
Hydrocephalus
|
|
4
|
|
|
Unthrifty, small
|
|
22
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Female Reproductive Problems
|
No.
|
% of 190 females
|
|
Abortion/Resorption
|
|
20
|
10.5%
|
|
Difficulty in whelping
|
|
27
|
14.2%
|
|
Failure to conceive
|
|
43
|
22.6%
|
|
Irregular heat cycles
|
|
25
|
13.2%
|
|
Mastitis
|
|
|
30
|
15.8%
|
|
Primary uterine inertia
|
|
12
|
6.3%
|
|
Pyometra
|
|
|
14
|
7.4%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
10
|
5.3%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Male Reproductive Problems
|
No.
|
% of 78 male
|
|
Abnormal semen
|
|
1
|
1.3%
|
|
Cryptorchidism
|
|
1
|
1.3%
|
|
Other
|
|
|
4
|
5.1%
|
Respondents were also asked which health problems they were most
concerned with in the Rottweiler breed. One
hundred and ninety-eight respondents answered this question. The most common health concerns were cancer, hip dysplasia,
and elbow dysplasia.
Summary
Although the overall response rate for this survey could not be
determined, we know that it was very low. Only
225 surveys were received from over 1200 mailed, which would give a response
rate of less than 19%. With such a
low number of respondents, over 80% of possible respondents did not tell us
about their dogs. A higher response
rate would likely change these results dramatically.
The major causes of death for Rottweilers in this study were bone cancer
and other cancers.
The most common activity that owners of this study were involved in with
their Rottweilers was pet/companionship. Other
common activities included obedience and conformation.
The most common health problems in the Rottweilers of this study were
food and flea allergies, cataracts, cruciate ruptures, hip and elbow dysplasia,
panosteitis, bone cancer, aggression towards other dogs, bladder infections, and
hypothyroidism. Males were more
likely than females to become aggressive towards humans, develop inhalent
allergies, and react to vaccines. Females
were more likely than males to develop bladder infections and cruciate ruptures.
Italian Survey
Results
Ten respondents completed and returned the questionnaire distributed in
the Italian Rottweiler club newsletter. Since
the number of Italian surveys sent out is unknown, we are unable to calculate a
response rate. A total of 27
Rottweilers, 25 currently owned and 2 deceased dogs, make up the sample size for
the Italian survey. The average
number of Rottweilers currently owned by respondents was 2.5, the median number
of Rottweilers currently owned was two, and the number of Rottweilers currently
owned ranged from one to eight. Causes
of death in the deceased Rottweilers were leukemia and heart problems.
Very few health problems were reported in the Italian survey.
Health problems were reported at a frequency of only one or two dogs out
of the 27 included in the survey. These
problems were mange, food allergies, sebaceous cysts, seborrhea, cataracts,
cruciate ruptures, elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, aggression towards dogs, aggression
towards humans, umbilical hernias, and anemia.
Three respondents reported having bred their Rottweilers, with a total of
17 bitches and 20 males bred. The
breeding problems reported for the bitches included abortion/resorption (1
bitch), difficulty in whelping (2), failure to conceive (1), irregular heat
cycles (4), mastitis (2), primary uterine inertia (1), and pyometra (1).
No breeding problems were reported for the male Rottweilers.
Twenty litters were produced from the dogs bred in this survey.
No health problems were reported for the puppies from these litters.
|
Rottweiler
Health Foundation Mission Statement
