Weimaraner: Health and veterinary triage

For a health question about Weimaraner, use screening records as background and let the individual dog's symptoms and trend guide the next step. Treat the record as background information, not proof of how this individual dog will respond. Keep the named test or screening record with the dog's age, result date, clinician, and any follow-up recommendation. For an active concern, record onset, severity, triggers, appetite, movement, breathing, skin, and recovery so a veterinarian can assess the pattern. Bring the dated pattern and the named record to the veterinary visit rather than trying to interpret the result alone.

What the screening record means

Weimaraner's recommended parent-club health tests is recorded as ['Hip Evaluation', 'Cardiac Exam', 'Ophthalmologist Evaluation', 'Thyroid Evaluation', 'Spinal Dysraphism (SD) - DNA Test', 'Hypomyelination (HYM) - DNA Test', 'Hyperuricosuria (HUU) - DNA Test']. Here, that matters because it identifies a record to verify, not a diagnosis of the dog in front of you.

Prepare useful information for the vet

  1. Keep the named test or screening record with the dog's age, result date, clinician, and any follow-up recommendation. For an active concern, record onset, severity, triggers, appetite, movement, breathing, skin, and recovery so a veterinarian can assess the pattern.
  2. Keep the recommended parent-club health tests in view (['Hip Evaluation', 'Cardiac Exam', 'Ophthalmologist Evaluation', 'Thyroid Evaluation', 'Spinal Dysraphism (SD) - DNA Test', 'Hypomyelination (HYM) - DNA Test', 'Hyperuric) and make the next step reversible, observable, and easy to stop.
  3. Bring the dated pattern and the named record to the veterinary visit rather than trying to interpret the result alone.

Seek prompt veterinary care if

Arrange veterinary assessment for pain, breathing difficulty, fainting, repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, sudden weakness, rapid weight change, neurological signs, or a persistent behaviour change; use urgent care for severe or rapidly worsening signs.

If this may be a health problem

This page is not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Do not change food, medication, exercise, or care for an individual dog based on this page alone; contact a veterinarian for symptoms, pain, weight change, skin changes, persistent behaviour change, or any urgent concern.

References

Height: 25-27 inches (male), 23-25 inches (female)
AKC page PageMap DataObject > height

Weight: 70-90 pounds (male), 55-75 pounds (female)
AKC page PageMap DataObject > weight

Life expectancy: 10-13 years
AKC page PageMap DataObject > life_expectancy

Grooming: The biggest job in grooming the Weimaraner is keeping the nails short. This is important for the comfort and health of your dog and cannot be overemphasized. When nail length gets out of hand, it's difficult to get it back to a proper length. (If you can hear a tap-tap-tap when they cross a hardwood floor, the nails are too long.) The short coat should be…
AKC page Grooming > official section copy

Exercise: Weimaraners have high exercise requirements. They need consistent exercise for their physical and mental well-being. They love a good run. While walking is OK, stretching their legs and getting
AKC page Exercise > official section copy

Training: As one longtime breeder says, 'The good news is that Weimaraners are smart; the bad news is that Weimaraners are smart.' They learn quickly, and that includes both good and bad behaviors. Get to a training class and be consistent with your training methods. Weimaraners operate on the principle of 'What's in it for me?' Be creative in your training by making…
AKC page Training > official section copy

Official breed description: The Weimaraner, Germany's sleek and swift 'Gray Ghost,' is beloved by hunters and pet owners alike for their friendliness, obedience, and beauty. They enjoy exercise, and plenty of it, along with lots of quality time with their humans.
AKC page About the Breed > official breed description

Recommended parent-club health tests: ['Hip Evaluation', 'Cardiac Exam', 'Ophthalmologist Evaluation', 'Thyroid Evaluation', 'Spinal Dysraphism (SD) - DNA Test', 'Hypomyelination (HYM) - DNA Test', 'Hyperuricosuria (HUU) - DNA Test']
AKC page Health > Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club

Official breed standard: http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Weimaraner.pdf
AKC page The Breed Standard > View Full Breed Standard

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