Dermoid Sinus in the Rhodesian Ridgeback
Ridgebacks in general are a very hardy breed, as they were originally bred in Africa to hunt down and hold Lions at bay for the hunters. They would go for days over the African terrain with little food or water. The only real concern that is specific to the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed would be a dermoid sinus. The dermoid sinus (D.S.) has been known by many names, a few of which are dermoid cyst, hair cyst, and African cyst. It is a sinus, in that it is tubelike and does drain, and dermoid because it is skinlike. It may or may not contain hair follicles or be lined with hair. As the hair sheds on the outer coat of the pup, so does the hair inside this tube. The body's natural response to dead material is to flush it out and thus the serum builds up and expels the debris. Not all of the dermoid sinuses are true tubes. Some are not hollow and the serum and debris cannot drain. In these cases an abscess forms and the resulting swelling that accompanies can rupture the skin. This can result in a painful situation for the pup. The D.S. is a congenital condition, meaning that it is present at birth. All our puppies are always checked by two breeders and two or three vets to make sure that they do not have D.S.
D.S. is likened to spinal bifida in humans where if the mother makes sure she takes folic acid and good vitamins before and during the pregnancy, then odds of having a baby with spinal bifida are extremely remote. It's the same with Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and consequently we guarantee that your puppy will not have a dermoid sinus.
Here is a link to an excellent site that has questions, answers, and even lots of pictures of dermoids and pictures of surgical removal of dermoids: http://www.dermoids.org/