Practical and useful info about Rottweilers

Last Updated on January 28, 2025 by Dr. Julie

If you’re a Rottweiler owner, or thinking of getting a Rottie, you should know the most common health issues that this breed can get. As a veterinarian with over 20 years of experience working with Rottweilers, I’m going to discuss below these issues as well as give you practical and useful advice about how to prevent these diseases from affecting your Rottie.

Rottweilers are a strong and resilient breed but are prone to certain health conditions due to genetic predispositions and their physical characteristics. Here are the 7 most common diseases and health issues that affect Rottweilers:

1. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia

I’m lumping these two issues together because they have a common cause and are treated very similarly. Unfortunately there’s not a lot that you can do to prevent your Rottie from getting dysplasia. It’s a genetic issue that is passed on from either the parents of your puppy or potentially even other ancestors a little further back in the tree.

Dysplasia itself is when a joint doesn’t develop the way that it should. In the hip, dysplasia involves the hip socket not developing fully so that it forms a proper C-shaped cup such that the ball of the femur fits in and is comfortably seated in that cup.

Elbow dysplasia is a more complex condition involving one or more abnormalities in the elbow joint, which consists of three bones: the humerus, radius, and ulna. These bones must grow and align perfectly for the joint to function smoothly. If something goes wrong during development, it can lead to elbow dysplasia.

In both cases a joint that has dysplasia will start to have problems such as:

• Pain where the bones rub against each other; dogs will limp or avoid using that particular leg once the pain starts; you can see this as early as 6 months of age in more severely affected dogs
• Arthritis after the bones have begun to rub against each other; you can start to hear a clicking sound as this progresses and likely start to feel swelling or heat around that particular joint
• Weakness when the dog decides it doesn’t want to use that particular limb and they “cheat” by placing more weight on the other limbs; this is something that usually comes on later in life after significant arthritis has formed in that joint.

Can It Be Prevented?

Although breeders will try and convince pet owners that they could have “prevented” the disease by not letting the Rottie do things like go up and down steps or run around and play a lot, the truth is that you, as the pet owner, did not cause this problem.

Unfortunately it can only be mitigated by following certain recommendations or treated with medications, physical therapy, and even surgery.

2. Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer)

Osteosarcoma is cancer in the bones. Unfortunately it’s fairly common in Rottweilers. Typically it comes on after the age of 7 (although it could come earlier) and shows itself usually as either a swelling along the upper foreleg around the shoulder or along the lower leg near the knee.

To some pet owners, it may look like an ACL tear (in the rear leg) or even a foot injury. Your veterinarian will palpate the entire area of the affected limb to try and determine where the pain is coming from. I find that osteosarcoma will be easy to diagnose with an xray, but frequently finding pain in the bones with an exam will make me strongly suspicious of bone cancer.

Can You Prevent It?

Again, this is not a disease you can prevent by feeding a certain food, choosing not to neuter, or even by picking a puppy from a litter with no prior history of cancer in the parents.

3. Heart Disease (Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis – SAS)

• Description: A hereditary condition where the aorta is narrowed, causing strain on the heart.
• Signs: Lethargy, fainting, difficulty breathing, or sudden death in severe cases.
• Prevention/Treatment: Regular heart evaluations and medication to manage symptoms.

4. Bloat (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus – GDV)

GDV/Bloat in a Rottweiler will present itself as severe bloating and swelling in the abdomen. The vast majority of the time this happens in the evening after the dog has eaten a full meal. If there is significant activity either before or after this meal, the air that’s swallowed during this time will result in a stomach that’s far more full than usual. If the stomach does bloat, there is a significant risk that it will turn on itself and the top and bottom entrances will become closed off due to the twist.

5. Obesity

This is by far the most common disease that Rottweilers get. It can start as earlier as puppyhood if the pet owner is not careful about how much they are feeding and what they are feeding. For general recommendations, check out this article on my suggestions for feeding puppies.

Can You Prevent It?

100% Yes!! Having an obese dog is the fault of the pet owner. Of course, most dogs aren’t going to self-regulate how much they eat. It’s very important that a dog owner know how much to feed.

6. Hypothyroidism

• Description: Underactive thyroid gland causing a slow metabolism.
• Signs: Weight gain, lethargy, skin issues, and hair loss.
• Prevention/Treatment: Regular thyroid screenings and daily thyroid hormone supplements.

7. Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Anterior Crucial Ligament injuries (ACL) are very common in many large-breed adult dogs these days. Must of this has to do with the angle of the knee joint in the rear leg. The more that a dog’s rear limbs are “straight” (not much natural bend at the knee when standing), the more pressure they put on that ACL when they are up and moving around.

An observant Rottie owner can start to see some occasional limping in their dog as early as a year or two of age in some cases. Once an ACL is truly torn, or mostly torn, Rotties can’t help but hold the leg up almost completely off the ground and not use it at all.

Can You Prevent It?

You can delay the onset of an ACL tear in many cases by keeping the Rottie at a healthy weight (or even a little skinner)….

You can also choose a puppy from a breeder who has their dogs tested for hip dysplasia before they start breeding. This is typicaly done by doing xrays of the hips when they are at least 2 years of age. While this isn’t 100% certain, having good-looking hips at the age of 2 years old is one thing

How to Promote a Rottweiler’s Health

• Diet & Weight Management: A healthy diet prevents obesity, which contributes to joint and heart issues.
• Regular Exercise: Keeps joints, muscles, and the heart healthy.
• Veterinary Check-ups: Routine exams and early screening for genetic diseases.
• Responsible Breeding: Choose breeders who test for genetic conditions like dysplasia and heart disease.

By being proactive and informed, you can help your Rottweiler live a long and healthy life!