Established as a charitable organization by the American Rottweiler Club in 1998, the focus of the Rottweiler Health Foundation is to improve the overall health status of the Rottweiler. According to their website, the foundation states their goals and objectives as follows:
- To foster and promote the public’s knowledge and appreciation of dogs in general and Rottweilers in particular.
- To further the understanding of the diseases, defects, injuries and other ailments that afflict dogs and Rottweilers in particular.
- To support and promote study of and research on the history, character, breeding, genetics and particular health problems of Rottweilers.
- To establish a national database of resource materials about Rottweilers.
- To produce, publish and distribute to the general public educational materials about the proper care, treatment, breeding, health development and training of Rottweilers.
- Identify the types and prevalence of health problems affecting the Rottweiler.
- Identify quality researchers in major disease focus areas.
- Direct the organizations efforts to fund appropriate research projects.
What Does the Rottweiler Health Foundation Do?
The Rottweiler Health Foundation has funded grants for cancer and hip dysplasia research as well as donating and pledging funds to a growing series of health research grants. This ongoing research is crucial to the continued improvement of veterinary care, treatment programs and finding a cure for the health problems commonly associated with Rottweilers and other large breed dogs.
A comprehensive list of the grants currently being funded by the Rottweiler Health Foundation can be viewed on the RHF website.
Rottweiler Health Survey
In 2000, RHF widely distributed a survey on Rottweiler health that was specifically looking for data on Rottweilers that the survey takers currently owned as well as those that had died while in their care since 1994. The data was compiled by a member of the Dept. Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health at Texas A & M University.
From a final sample group of 225 Rottweiler owners representing a total of 717 Rottweilers – 437 females and 280 males – a great deal of valuable information was excised.
From these results, it was ascertained that the following were the top causes of death in Rottweilers:
- Bone Cancer 54/717 (26 males, 28 females)
- Cancer (unspecified) 48/717 (22 males, 26 females)
- Kidney Issues 20/717 (4 males, 16 females)
- Old Age 19/717 (6 males, 13 females)
- Lymphosarcoma 18/717 (8 males, 10 females)
Membership
The RHF is a founding member club of the Canine Health Foundation and continues to fund research to improve the health and longevity of Rottweilers around the world. Annual membership dues are $50 and help to fund this all important research for all Rottweilers worldwide.
More information on the Rottweiler Health Foundation can be found at the Foundation’s website at www.rottweilerhealth.org, via email to info@rottweilerhealth.org or by sending postal mail to:
Rottweiler Health Foundation
580 NW 47th Terrace
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-9337
Source: All information in this article compiled from data provided by the Rottweiler Health Foundation
