Some potcake health issues can be attributed to the hardships the dogs encountered while living as strays before being rescued, and other issues may be genetic in origin, accidental, or from unknown causes.  Below are comments directly from owners describing potcake health issues. 

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SKIN ISSUES

• He did have a skin issue when he was younger. The vet said it had something to do with his immune system not being strong. But with proper diet he has been OK. He was tne runt of the litter

• When we adopted him he had to stay in foster for 3 weeks to have a severe fungal infection of the skin treated, he also had tick disease.

• Some skin issues nothing serious

• Itchy skin

• Skin issues- on cyclosporine every day.

• Alfie has very sensitive skin and is allergic to flea bites

• she has lost most of her hair on her back side and scratches constantly

• some skin issues

• Has some skin issues, but other than that he just has a bit of an attitude problem.

• Itchy skin, lots of licking and gnawing

• Mange

• bites itself itchy scratchy dog, will scratch instead of following a command

• Demodex Mange!

• Dexter came with 2 types of worms and had a fur fungus and pneumonia in Bahamas. he is in great health now.

• ear issues... where they fold over, that dries out and cracks.

• mange

• skin mites and worms

• Mange, parvovirus

• skin growths (benign)

• oral papillomas

• worms and mange (as puppy)

• When we got her she had mange. She has since recovered and no longer has any health issues.

• Had mange as a puppy but is fully recovered

• She has very itchy skin!

• Sensitive skin and occasionally gets a rash on belly and sensitive ears

• She has some sort of skin issue on her ears and occasionally around her mouth, comes and goes.  Otherwise she is perfectly healthy.

• She had mange as a puppy. Every now and then she breaks out in a red rash under her chest and stomach.

• knee issues, demodex mange as a puppy

• had Mange when shipped healed well

• Mange when first acquired.  No other health issues.

• Mange

• Tapeworm, mange, sensitive skin, sensitive stomach.

• Skin bumps

• obsessive chewing on her butt but not in the way where it bleeds or gets sores.

• Very sensitive skin rash at friction points

• skin allergies, arrived with mange as a puppy

• seems to have dry skin/with little scabs

• Skin irritation and mange

• Max has trouble with skin and ears..we cut his hair short....he gets hot spots and his under belly gets very red. We have him on natural food of salmon and sweet potatoes.

• no health issues.....(her litter mate, Max has issues) and we know another litter mate (Cora Leigh) who also has very bad skin issues.

• Skin rash on stomach from allergies.

HEARTWORMS

• She has been hospitalized for liver failure and heartworm, so she really gets anxious at the vet

• He had to be treated for heartworms.

• Leggs...heartworm & tick fever

• heart worm - is now negative but treatment seems to have killed his thyroid so he is on thyroid meds

• Heartworms. ACL repair.

• She contracted heartworm during her first 8weeks of life in the Bahamas...she has since been treated.

• She had tick fever and is being treated for heart worm

• Heartworm, allergies, Anaplasmosis

• heart worm - but is now negative

• heartworm

• Heartworm (prior owner did not medicate)

• Heart worm

• She had heart worm. It was successfully treated in Canada.

• Heart worms diagnosed and treated successfully in 2012.  Otherwise healthy.

• When we got her she had hook worm, Ehrlichia which caused anemia and auto immune problems.  She also had heart worms. It took us from December to April to get her healthy enough to start working with her.

• She was heart worm positive when we brought her home but had her treated and all fine now.

• Heartworm, but is treated for that now

• Heartworm, digestive issues, cancer

• Heartworm disease that was treated

• Diagnosed with tick disease Ehrlichiosis and heartworm test inconclusive. Waiting to retest. Cannot spay until heartworm test comes back.

• Heart worms

• Heartworm because rescued from South Caicos at 1.5 yrs and already had heartworm from being a stray

• heart worm

• heart worms and has been poisoned

• Had heartworms and ehrlichia
  
   

• OTHER PARASITES AND RELATED DISEASES

• When I first rescued her from the shelter she had: mites, infection in her bowel, and tape worms.

• Sensitive stomach some times. Bad breath. Tick-borne diseases when he came from T&C.

• treated initially for mange and worms, no real issues lately

• Copd. Ashthma. Allergies. tick borne diseases even tho she is treated monthly yearround.

• diarrhea when first adopted (usual internal parasites), diarrhea after being spayed, not sure if that was an after-effect of the anesthetic, or something he ate

• Treated for erlichia

Surgery on hind leg from on island injury. Arthritis. Lymes positive. Erlichia positive. Anaplasmosis positive.
 

• only external so far, erlichea.

• Giardia (before we adopted her,) ehrlichia: (lameness in back legs, eye goop, ear swelling, depression)took antibiotics but don't think it's completely gone so going back to vet this week because of return of some previous symptoms and as well as some new ones- vomiting and unexplained hives.

• erlichia as a puppy

• Caico has Erlichia and had worms and Turk hasn't had any health issues.

• Both have had erichlia

• erlichia which is controlled

• Leggs...heartworm & tick fever

• Eyrlichia, skin problems from time to time

• Erlichia, skin yeast infection

• None so far - ticks and ear mites are a problem

• Chronic giardia last summer

• Canine meningitis when she was 6 months old

• ticks when first rescued, but otherwise healthy

• Prone to ear infections

• intestinal parasites, kennel cough, ear and chest infections.

• Dexter came with 2 types of worms and had a fur fungus and pneumonia in Bahamas. he is in great health now.
  pneumonia

• Diagnosed with Ehrlichia

• skin mites and worms

• Yeast infections in her ears

• Ehrlichia

• When we got her she had hook worm, Ehrlichia which caused anemia and auto immune problems.  She also had heart worms. It took us from December to April to get her healthy enough to start working with her.

• Very sick tummy when he first arrived. Explosive poop! Went to vet's and put him on a rice and chicken diet and antibiotic. He is doing much better.

• Mange, parvovirus

• UTI's

• Giardia (upon arrival); gastroenteritis

• worms and mange (as puppy), Hip dysplasia, ear infections, dental issues, Tartar on teeth, rare Gi distress

• Ehrlichia when I first got her

• Some diarrhea from eating dead animal!

• UTI, tapeworm

• Giardia

• Gurtie has Arthritis & last year was diagnosed with Lyme disease.

• None so far. She was badly infested with parasites when we got her. Took several rounds of meds to finally rid her of them.

• Pink eye, hook worms. Virally induced growth in paw pad requiring surgery.

• Diagnosed with tick disease Ehrlichiosis and heartworm test inconclusive. Waiting to retest.

• They have both had ehrlichiosis.  When I adopted Turk, he had kennel cough.

• Other than a bladder infection when we first brought him home and has had a few ear infections.

• Ehrlichia and arthritis

• when we first adopted her she had a virus known to the other island dogs which made her extremely sluggish/lazy

• Ear infection and UTI

• tick disease - fine now.

• gets ear infections often.

• ear bacteria

• Had giardia / corona / round worm all as a young pup Giardia - treated at Royal Potcake Rescue and corona and round worm treated when I picked her up. Cracking joints, uti

• Tapeworm

• Ehrlichia

• occasional cold from doggie day care, sometimes loose stools

• Had worms when we brought her home. That was taken care of by an additional dewormer given to her by the vet. Other than that, she's been very healthy.

• Parvo, parasites

• ear infection

• UTI, limping sometimes and had an eye infection.

• Had heartworms and ehrlichia

• Ehrlichia as a puppy

• Had parvo. Very healthy now!

• Worms when we got him

• Ehrlichiosis

• Giardia, Ehrlichia, Bronchial and respiratory issues, high fevers

• UTI, tapeworms

• Dealing with ear infection.

• We found her at 3 months, belly bloated with worms. Covered in ticks. I removed ticks, gave her meds for worms. She has had shots, she still gets ticks but we check her regularly and remove them.
  
   

LEGS, HIPS AND BACK

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• I don't believe it is a trait, but when she was puppy "teenager", she had to have back surgery. She has 10 to 15% nerve damage. Still a very sweet dog!

• Only health issue is bad knee joints - vet has recommended surgery to both. Knees pop out of socket a little - supposed to worsen with age or arthritis. She takes glucosamine every day.

• Tartar on teeth, hip dysplasia, worms and mange (as puppy)

• knee problems. Keeps popping out, surgery on right knee. Don't think it took. Left knee pops out as well.

• hip dysplasia

• Maybe arthritis

• We think he may have erlechia. He goes tot he vet today. He has lameness in his back legs and his xrays did not suggest either dysplasia or a knee problem.

• Surgery on hind leg from on island injury. Arthritis. Lymes positive. Erlichia positive.

• chronic ear problems and in later years hip and leg stiffness.

• suspected arthritis right front leg (lower joint)

• hip weakness (maybe from a fall down stairs), puts on weight easily

• She used to full out sprint at the dog park and run into stationary dogs with her shoulder. She jammed it and needed attention. She was adjusted by a dog chiropractor and hasn't had a problem since. She has also learned to not run into other dogs like that anymore.

• grew fast when we got her, blew out both knees at about age 3-4 and had surgery on both knees, also has hip issues and gets adequan shots,

• ACL reconstruction X2, Had tplo surgery on both back legs

• Prone to ear infections and strained joints/muscles. Her teeth are beautiful.

• he recently had happy tail which we had to get amputated

• Retained primary canines

• none yet Molly was born with crooked tail

• Hip dysplasia

• Lots!  Both rear knees replaced/surgically corrected.  Mass cell tumors removed.  Bad underbite.  Arthritic, obviously someone's backyard breeding gone bad.  Such a sweet dog....she's love everyone!

• None except for the deafness.

• Sienna has had major issues with her back knees. She had to have 3 surgeries on her right rear knee when she was about a year and a half old. Her left knee is causing some issues now and popping in and out of place.

• Gurtie has Arthritis & last year was diagnosed with Lyme disease.

• nothing major.  a couple of fat deposits (lipomas) removed. recovered quickly.

• Her left lower eyelid turns in, and she's got a slight malformation of her maxilla with 2 teeth overlapping.

• Medial luxating patellas. One knee needs surgery this week.

• Perhaps old injury but unstable front paw.

• Bad knee, required surgery.

• Don't know if he has a possible defect with his hind legs? Because he doesn't jump ever. Hasn't shown any mobility issues with that yet but sometimes doesn't seem very sturdy on them. Will continue to monitor as he just turned a year old we think.

• Ehrlichia and arthritis

• knee issues

• had Mange when shipped healed well, teeth looked like he was undernourished, ( teeth missing)

• She was dragging a leg when rescued, but seemed to have recovered, until she jumped off a wall months later. An x-ray revealed a badly broken and badly aligned back leg still trying to heal.  Surgery would have been worse than letting nature heal it, so we took care with her for a few months, and she is fine now, except for a bit of a waddling gait when she is tired from running. Luckily, no other health issues.

• hip dysplasia, arthritis, Geriatric Vestibular syndrome, was paralyzed for a year after a disc ruptured into her spinal cord (at 14 yrs old) but she is walking again now.

• Very sensitive skin rash at friction points and starting to notice some hip dysplasia.

• Boca has a cloudy "Florida spot" on her right eye and had to have one tooth removed. She is prone to ear infections.

• none yet - though I worry about her knees and hips - she, along with many of the potcakes I've seen (did some volunteer vet work in Turks), seem to have very straight conformation in their back legs.  Plan on x-raying her as she ages

• limping sometimes

• Torn ACL on rear leg

• Operation on the knee when she was 1 year old, Arthritis

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ALLERGIES AND DIGESTION

•  

• One was diagnosed with erythema multiforma. All have hypersensitivity to ant an insect bites/stings, need to keep inj antihistamine around.

• Food allergy (on prescription allergy food to prevent recurring ear infections)

• Sensitive stomach some times. Bad breath. Tick-borne diseases when he came from T&C.

• some allergies/skin dryness

• mange she lost most of her fur, pneumonia when she arrived

• Anal glands are full or whatever you call when they make a smell a lot

• sensitive stomach, inflammation of gums from gingivitis at early age, eating non food items such as hair, sand, potting soil, and dirt...

• Haggis has just been diagnosed with severe allergies to corn, pork, white potaotes, alfalfa and barley.

• Food allergies - possibly chicken and carrots

• Allergic to wasp stings (had a few run-ins while exploring our property).

• food allergies

• mucus in stool. seems to have sensitive digestion.

• Has a few seizers(sp). About 5 total. Mostly when he was younger. Not sure if it,s age or the fact that we stopped giving him rawhide's???

• allergies to some kibble - skin bumps, loses hair.

• Sensitivity to high protein foods.

• Stomach issues. Acid reflux.

• alleregies which create skin or ear infections

• She has a problem with loose stool. We tested her for everything, but it appears to be a sensitive digestive systems. We got it stabilized using a special IAM food for digestive problems, but now it's back. She also has a problem with sensitivity to her own tears / eye discharge in the corner of her eyes. We treat it with antihistamine tab and antibiotic ointment.

• diarrhea when first adopted (usual internal parasites), diarrhea after being spayed, not sure if that was an after-effect of the anesthetic, or something he ate

• Copd. Ashthma. Allergies. tick borne diseases even tho she is treated monthly yearround.

• when we first got her she had a nervous head twitch but she has outgrown it

• food allergies.

• Pannas in left eye, loss of fur under chin

• Sensitivity to proteins

• Sensitive stomach.

• Rosie is allergic to fleas

• Heartworm, allergies, Anaplasmosis

• Nervous stomach.

• Facial swelling due to a suspected allergy of some sort

• Isak gets hot spots on his tail. :-( Suffered twisted stomach, requiring immediate/life-saving surgery Sept. 2010. Ima seems to be prone to allergies.

• Allergies.

• loose stools

• She almost died from eating crushed shell as an infant because she got an intestinal blockage, but since then, nothing.

• at poison once, has had a tooth removed

• allergies

• Liver toxicity (ate something)

• Very healthy. He prefers people food to dog food and is very picky. Loves fish and conch, ice cream & cheese

• Allergies, possibly to chicken or gluten. Likely the cause of the skin rashes and hives he used to develop. Now feeding him Salmon and potato dog food, haven't seen a recurrence of the issues.

• Stomach problems when changing brand of food. Very sensitive digestive system.

• intestinal parasites

• none, very healthy a little underweight as he is not that interested in his food

• None - just a sensitive stomach sometimes.

• Sensitive stomach - possible allergy to chicken

• Allergic to some dog foods currently on limited ingredient diet dog food.

• Food allergies - possibly chicken and carrots

• sensitive stomach.

• ear infections, dental issues, Tartar on teeth, rare Gi distress

• Heartworm, digestive issues, cancer

• calcium deficiency as a little puppy-resolved now

• Allergies; licks paws and sneezes seasonally.

• Possible allergies, runny nose. Had ear drops. And something was found in her fecal test that we had to treat.

• She was sensitive to the antibiotics she was on for a cut, got bad diarrhea from it, then had to have an antifungal, and that seems to get her anal glands blocked up. But she's basically very healthy.

• None so far. Owned for 4 months. Slow eater.

• occasional ear infections (food related, sensitive to chicken and wheat), seasonal allergies.

• None to date.  Minor issue with eating too quickly and choking.

• sensitive digestive system

• sensitive skin, sensitive stomach.

• Eye watering and allergy issues

• Irritable bowel disease

• skin allergies, arrived with mange as a puppy, allergic reaction 2x to unknown reason.. Possible insect bite

• Sensitive stomach & eats his poo :(

• allergic reaction to soap that we didn't wash off all of the way, rawhide makes him sick

• Food poisoning with a brand of organic food

• Allergies to grasses, trees etc.  No food allergies.

• Skin rash on stomach from allergies.
  
   

MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES AND ACCIDENTS

• constant ear infections

• Has a few seizers(sp). About 5 total. Mostly when he was younger. Not sure if it,s age or the fact that we stopped giving him rawhide's???

• none, except umbilical hernia he was born with but does not bother him

• Overbite. Throws up. Hasn't done it in a while. However, when it was happening it was 1-2 times a day up to 4-5 times a week. He was on medicine and at the vet a few times. He is doing better though.

• kennel cough

• Ear hematoma. Fatty tumor.

• Several ear infections

• alleregies which create skin or ear infections

• when we first got her she had a nervous head twitch but she has outgrown it

• encephalitis when he was a pup

• Pannas in left eye, loss of fur under chin

• Surgery on hind leg from on island injury. Arthritis. Lymes positive. Erlichia positive. Anaplasmosis positive.

• chronic ear problems and in later years hip and leg stiffness.

• Giardia (before we adopted her,) ehrlichia: (lameness in back legs, eye goop, ear swelling, depression)took antibiotics but don't think it's completely gone so going back to vet this week because of return of some previous symptoms and as well as some new ones- vomiting and unexplained hives.

• She was diagnosed with pulmonary stenosis at age 5 months; a valvuloplasty was done at U Penn; she currently takes atenolol and sees a canine cardiologist once a year for evaluation. Has some heart enlargement.

• Luxating patellas

• Isak gets hot spots on his tail. :-( Suffered twisted stomach, requiring immediate/life-saving surgery Sept. 2010. Ima seems to be prone to allergies.

• Ideopathic epilepsy - Possibly caused by scar tissue from a head trauma as a puppy

• Was hit by a car and rear leg seriously broken before we adopted

• hit by car/or attacked by dog before rescued. Back leg injury, but mostly healed

• tends to leak urine occasionally while resting

• Both came to me with severe malnutrition and mange

• Had one undescended testicle.

• Pancreatitis

• very healthy-starting to get bumps under caot(age)

• Very healthy, tartar build up is only health issue. Cleaning and scaling at vets is done.

• Urinary incontinence

• cancer

• Very healthy except her teeth. Doesn't like hard cheese. Have to brush teeth.

• None, unless you count eating feces, which is between behavior/medical.

• Had a kidney infection once but it was easily treated.

• Bad teeth

• Minor ear infection

• coccidia

• makes a funny sound sometimes when he is sleeping - breathing is odd

• UTI

• None- all health issues related to early abuse/neglect- otherwise she's been very healthy.

• Had a rock dropped on his head and had a seizure.

• She has no known health issues. I did have her thyroid tested due to the shedding issue.

• She almost died from eating crushed shell as an infant because she got an intestinal blockage, but since then, nothing.

• at poison once, has had a tooth removed

• Luckily none barring odd cuts and insect bites.

• Liver toxicity (ate something)

• Very healthy. He prefers people food to dog food and is very picky. Loves fish and conch, ice cream & cheese

• received at 8 weeks, very healthy, but skinny

• Nemo has an overbite.

• Some nerve damage after back surgery as a puppy "teenager";

• Pink eye

• One was diagnosed with erythema multiforma.

• ​sensitive stomach, inflammation of gums from gingivitis at early age, eating non food items such as hair, sand, potting soil, and dirt...

• anxiety

• he was skinny and a little beat up when he arrived here- owing to life on the run - but has filled out and now sleek and healthy.

• Breathing issues before we got her, skin mites and worms

• Chewed up a rope toy and had to have surgery to remove blockage.  :-(

• Hematomas in her ear

• Very sensitive hearing, sensitive stomach.

• UTI's, anal glands need expressed

• She ate too many sticks and required $3000 of stomach surgery this summer, but is recovered now.

• Currently has an incurable brain tumor

• Heartworm, digestive issues, cancer

• treated her for abnormal cells 2x the first year and clear cells ever since. Other than that perfect health

• She has some incontinence issues

• Bad gas (smelly farts!)

• There surgery's due to a dog attack as a baby. Before he was rescued.

• Epilepsy (idiopathic)

• so far she's healthy; she's been on a raw food diet and she's doing great and looks very healthy.

• Vet checked. Very healthy 4 yrs old

• Healthy, have had her since she was a puppy.

• heart worms and has been poisoned

• Left ear gets ear wax

• She gets very car sick with nothing to stop that.

• sometimes loose stools, sheds a lot

• Mammary tumor

• hotspots

• Surgery for piece of hard rubber toy he swallowed as a puppy

• Umbilical hernia (will be repaired with neutering when 6 months old)

• Bronchial and respiratory issues, high fevers

• She is incontinent and will be medicated for life

• 4 operations for lumps, cancer was detected in one lump in January this year, came back and another operation was performed, so far the dog is doing fine
  
   

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