Our Toolbox 🧰

Every life stage has something that can go wrong quietly.

Here are 10 things to watch for at each one. 👇️

Weekly Bite

Puppy Stage (0-6 months)

1️⃣ Panosteitis

What is it? Bone inflammation that causes alternating limb lameness.

What to watch for: Sudden limping that switches legs. Can start as early as 5 months and last until 18 months.

At 5.5 months old, Aki developed an alternating limp on his two front legs.

Luckily, pano is just like our growing pains and will always resolve on its own.

2️⃣ Giardia

What is it? A parasite that affects about 1 in 3 puppies, usually picked up from contaminated water or grass.

What to watch for: Diarrhea, mucus in stool, lethargy.

Giardia will not resolve on its own. Always requires treatment from a vet.

3️⃣ Critical Development Periods

What is it? The critical period where puppies learn what's safe and what isn't.

What to watch for: Vets who tell you to keep your puppy inside until fully vaccinated. That advice is almost irreversible.

Don't always listen to everything your vet says. Especially on puppy socialization.

Teenage Stage (6-24 months)

4️⃣ Allergies

What is it? Chronic itching, skin infections, and digestive issues. Allergies typically surface between 6 months and 3 years.

What to watch for: Nonstop itching, chronic skin issues, ear inflammation, or GI problems.

If your dog is showing any of these signs, start here: 🔑 How To Diagnose & Treat Allergies.

5️⃣ Growth Plate Damage from Early Spay/Neuter

What is it? Sex hormones tell growth plates when to close. Remove them too early and bones keep growing, creating abnormal joint angles.

What to watch for: Increased risk of cruciate tears and other mobility issues down the road.

If you want to prevent reproduction without removing hormones, ask your vet about an ovary-sparing spay or vasectomy.

6️⃣ Hip & Elbow Dysplasia

What is it? Joint malformation causing pain, bunny hopping, and arthritis.

What to watch for: Reluctance to jump, stiffness after rest, bunny hopping on the hind legs. This is the window where symptoms first show.

Adult Stage (2-7 years)

7️⃣ Untestable Conditions

What is it? Conditions like idiopathic epilepsy don't reveal themselves until 24 to 36 months. There's no proactive test.

What to watch for: Chronic issues (like recurring seizures) with no identifiable cause.

This is why responsible breeders wait until at least 2 to breed. A breeder producing litters from dogs under 2 is skipping the window that reveals genetic problems.

8️⃣ Cruciate Ligament Tears (ACL/CCL)

What is it? One of the most common orthopedic injuries in the breed. This is when your Mal is at peak athletic output and most likely to blow a cruciate during hard play or bitework.

What to watch for: Sudden hind leg lameness, toe-touching only, or sitting with the leg kicked out to the side.

Senior Stage (7+)

9️⃣ Cancer

Belgian Malinois are over 4x more likely to die from cancer than German Shepherds.

What to watch for: Dogs are stoic. Most won't show pain until it's too late. By the time symptoms are visible, cancer is often already advanced.

I lost Lexi to hemangiosarcoma.

🔟 Arthritis & Mobility Decline

What is it? Joint degeneration that affects almost every working breed as they age.

What to watch for: Slower to get up, hesitating before stairs, shorter walks, reluctance to jump into the car.

You can get ahead of this. Joint supplements early, ramps for furniture and vehicles, and adjusted exercise routines make a real difference.

You can't prevent everything. But you can pay closer attention than your dog will ask you to.

Tail End

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Until next Thursday, ✌️

Sam