Elghunds on the whole are a very hardy and healthy breed. Many elghunds remain active well into old age and can live into their early teens. This page will be used to house health data and to provide updates from research studies that affect the elghund.
One of the most common health issues with elghunds is development of sebaceous cysts. Humans also get this type of cyst. A good description of sebaceous cysts is available from Wikipedia. Cysts can be a hassle for the owner to deal with (expressing and cleaning open cysts) and some dogs will continually lick the cyst area. Cysts can range from intermittent cysts that come and go with diet or hormonal changes to multiple cysts that are a constant problem. The true cause of the cysts is unknown and there is not wide agreement on the best way to treat them. If the cyst is closed (feels like a lump under the skin) it typically doesn't bother the dog and does not require any special measures. An open cyst often can be expressed to remove the pocket of build up (typically this is a cheesy looking substance or may be more fluid with some blood) and then flushed with hydrogen peroxide. The drainage may harden and form a form a crusty length of discharge that can be felt as you pet your dog or brush him. This crust can be removed and the material underneath expressed. Problematic cysts can be removed by your vet as a fairly straight forward surgery. Many vets are not aware that sebaceous cysts are common in elghunds, so it often helps to mention this possibility to them when they are investigating a suspect bump or secretion on your elghund.
