Editing Chow Chow (section)

== Health ==
A UK study found the life expectancy of the Chow Chow to be 12.1 years, just higher than the 12 year average for [[Mongrel|crossbreeds]] and lower than the 12.7 years average for purebreeds.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=McMillan | first1=Kirsten M. | last2=Bielby | first2=Jon | last3=Williams | first3=Carys L. | last4=Upjohn | first4=Melissa M. | last5=Casey | first5=Rachel A. | last6=Christley | first6=Robert M. | title=Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death | journal=Scientific Reports | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC | volume=14 | issue=1 | date=2024-02-01 | issn=2045-2322 | doi=10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w | page=531| pmid=38302530 | pmc=10834484 | bibcode=2024NatSR..14..531M }}</ref>

===Skeletal conditions===
A North American study looking at more than a million records of dogs found 6.44% of Chow Chow dogs to have [[Canine hip dysplasia|hip dysplasia]] compared with 3.52% overall. The study also found 4.3% of Chow Chow dogs to have [[cranial cruciate ligament deficiency]] compared to 2.52% overall.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Witsberger | first1=Tige H. | last2=Villamil | first2=J. Armando | last3=Schultz | first3=Loren G. | last4=Hahn | first4=Allen W. | last5=Cook | first5=James L. | title=Prevalence of and risk factors for hip dysplasia and cranial cruciate ligament deficiency in dogs | journal=Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association | publisher=American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) | volume=232 | issue=12 | date=2008-06-15 | issn=0003-1488 | doi=10.2460/javma.232.12.1818 | pages=1818–1824| pmid=18598150 }}</ref>

Another North American study looking at more than 250,000 elbow scans found the Chow Chow to have the highest prevalence of [[elbow dysplasia]], with 48.6% of dogs over the age of 2 having elbow dysplasia.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Oberbauer | first1=A. M. | last2=Keller | first2=G. G. | last3=Famula | first3=T. R. | title=Long-term genetic selection reduced prevalence of hip and elbow dysplasia in 60 dog breeds | journal=PLOS ONE | publisher=Public Library of Science (PLoS) | volume=12 | issue=2 | date=2017-02-24 | issn=1932-6203 | doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0172918 | doi-access=free | page=e0172918| pmid=28234985 | bibcode=2017PLoSO..1272918O }}</ref>

===Ophthalmological conditions===
A North American study looking at [[glaucoma]] in dog breeds found the Chow Chow to have the third highest prevalence with 4.7% of Chow Chow dogs having glaucoma compared to 0.89% overall.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Gelatt | first1=Kirk N. | last2=MacKay | first2=Edward O. | title=Prevalence of the breed-related glaucomas in pure-bred dogs in North America | journal=Veterinary Ophthalmology | volume=7 | issue=2 | date=2004 | issn=1463-5216 | doi=10.1111/j.1463-5224.2004.04006.x | pages=97–111}}</ref>

===Dermatological conditions===
A study looking at records from a small animal clinic at the [[University of Montreal]] found the Chow Chow to be predisposed to [[alopecia X]].<ref>{{cite journal | last1=DW | first1=Scott | last2=M | first2=Paradis | title=A survey of canine and feline skin disorders seen in a university practice: Small Animal Clinic, University of Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec (1987-1988) | journal=The Canadian Veterinary Journal | date=1990 | volume=31 | issue=12 | pages=830–835 | issn=0008-5286 | pmid=17423707 | pmc=1480900 }}</ref>

A review of studies in Australia found the Chow Chow to be prediposed to [[atopic dermatitis]] with a 7.1 odds ratio.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Mazrier | first1=Hamutal | last2=Vogelnest | first2=Linda J. | last3=Thomson | first3=Peter C. | last4=Taylor | first4=Rosanne M. | last5=Williamson | first5=Peter | title=Canine atopic dermatitis: breed risk in Australia and evidence for a susceptible clade | journal=Veterinary Dermatology | publisher=Wiley | volume=27 | issue=3 | date=2016-05-18 | issn=0959-4493 | doi=10.1111/vde.12317 | page=167| pmid=27188769 }}</ref>

A US case study found a predisposition to [[pemphigus foliaceus]] with an odds ratio of 12.3.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Kuhl | first1=K. A. | last2=Shofer | first2=F. S. | last3=Goldschmidt | first3=M. H. | title=Comparative Histopathology of Pemphigus Foliaceus and Superficial Folliculitis in the Dog | journal=Veterinary Pathology | publisher=SAGE Publications | volume=31 | issue=1 | year=1994 | issn=0300-9858 | doi=10.1177/030098589403100103 | pages=19–27| pmid=8140722 }}</ref>

A breed specific mutation causing [[tyrosinase]] deficiency which results in leukotrichia exists in the Chow Chow.<ref>{{cite book | last=Englar | first=Ryane E. | title=Common Clinical Presentations in Dogs and Cats | publisher=Wiley | date=2019-07-03 | isbn=978-1-119-41458-2 | doi=10.1002/9781119414612 |chapter=Changes in coat color| page=140}}</ref>
===Gastrointestinal conditions===
A UK study looking at [[exocrine pancreatic insufficiency]] in breeds found the Chow Chow to be predisposed to the condition.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Batchelor | first1=Daniel J. | last2=Noble | first2=Peter-John M. | last3=Cripps | first3=Peter J. | last4=Taylor | first4=Rebecca H. | last5=McLean | first5=Lynn | last6=Leibl | first6=Marion A. | last7=German | first7=AIexander J. | title=Breed Associations for Canine Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency | journal=Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine | publisher=Wiley | volume=21 | issue=2 | year=2007 | issn=0891-6640 | doi=10.1111/j.1939-1676.2007.tb02950.x | pages=207–214| doi-access=free }}</ref>

===Neoplastic conditions===
An Austrian case series found an odds ratio of 23.53 for contracting [[stomach cancer]].<ref name="chowchow">{{cite book | last1=Gough | first1=Alex | last2=Thomas | first2=Alison | last3=O'Neill | first3=Dan | title=Breed Predispositions to Disease in Dogs and Cats | publisher=John Wiley & Sons | publication-place=Hoboken | date=2018-04-23 | isbn=978-1-119-22554-6 | pages=71–72}}</ref>

A US study looking at cases of oral [[melanoma]] found the breed to be over-represented with an odds ratio of 7.89.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Ramos-Vara | first1=J. A. | last2=Beissenherz | first2=M. E. | last3=Miller | first3=M. A. | last4=Johnson | first4=G. C. | last5=Pace | first5=L. W. | last6=Fard | first6=A. | last7=Kottler | first7=S. J. | title=Retrospective Study of 338 Canine Oral Melanomas with Clinical, Histologic, and Immunohistochemical Review of 129 Cases | journal=Veterinary Pathology | publisher=SAGE Publications | volume=37 | issue=6 | year=2000 | issn=0300-9858 | doi=10.1354/vp.37-6-597 | pages=597–608| pmid=11105949 }}</ref>

===Reproductive conditions===
In a Belgian study Chow Chow bitches made up 6.4% of cases of [[pyometra]] despite the breed making up 1.6% of the population. Pyometra was found to be more extreme in the breed with [[anaemia]] and [[endotoxaemia]] reported.<ref name="chowchow"/>

===Other conditions===
The Chow Chow can suffer from [[diabetes mellitus]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Diabetes Mellitus|url=http://www.akcchf.org/canine-health/your-dogs-health/disease-information/diabetes-mellitus.html|access-date=July 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002223949/http://www.akcchf.org/canine-health/your-dogs-health/disease-information/diabetes-mellitus.html|archive-date=October 2, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[gastric cancer]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Positional Cloning of the Gene(s) for Gastric Cancer in the Chow Chow|url=http://www.akcchf.org/research/funded-research/1093.html|access-date=July 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002224035/http://www.akcchf.org/research/funded-research/1093.html|archive-date=October 2, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Chow Chows are a high risk breed for [[autoimmune disease]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Establishment of a Genetic Database for Disease Association Studies in the Major Histocompatibility complex for Purebred Dogs|url=http://www.akcchf.org/research/funded-research/0079.html|access-date=July 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002225050/http://www.akcchf.org/research/funded-research/0079.html|archive-date=October 2, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<gallery widths="200" heights="200">
File:IMG 0382 - Chow Chow, front.jpg|A Chow Chow with reddish coat
File:IMG 0383 - Chow Chow, side.jpg|The Chow Chow's fur is particularly thick in the neck area, giving it a distinctive ruff or mane appearance.
</gallery>