Health

Common Injuries, Defects, and Dietary Issues

Collapsing Trachea is a common airway obstruction in small dogs. It is progressive and does not heal. Avoid trauma and irritation to the trachea by attaching the leash to a harness and not the collar, making sure the collar remains loose on the neck, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding exposure to irritants, such as smoke and dust

Falls occur when a small dog jumps out of their owner's arms. Poodles are very good jumpers but that doesn't necessarily mean they're invincible landers. Be aware of what part of the dog hit the ground first, and check for anything that's sensitive to the touch or feels/looks wrong.

Gastric Dilation-Volvulus - commonly GDV or Bloat - is a life-threatening injury to the stomach. It can be prevented by putting the food bowl on the floor, feeding small meals, slowing down fast eaters and drinkers, and limiting exercise for an hour before or after meals.

Pancreatitis is mostly a dietary concern. It can be caused by a normally fatty diet, or by a low-fat diet suddenly infused with an abnormal amount of fat. Other causes are trauma, drugs, scavenging, obesity, and a thyroid condition.

Hereditary Conditions

If a dog that you got from us develops a condition that may be hereditary, we would appreciate being informed so we can reassess our pairs.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease is potentially hereditary and occurs during youth. The puppy experiences reduced blood flow to the hip joints, which makes them weak and easily fractured. The puppy would be limping due to the pain, and the condition should heal itself with adequate rest.

Patellar Luxation is common in small dogs and it means the dog's kneecap has a habit of moving out of the groove. It could be hereditary, congenital, or a result of injury, excessive exercise, joint stress, obesity, or inadequate nutrition. Treatment depends on the severity and could be as simple as massage or as serious as surgery.

Hip Dysplasia is most common in large and giant dogs but is possible in any size. It's similar to the above but involving the hip rather than the knee. Prevention involves weight maintenance and exercise control.

Addison's Disease is a failure of the adrenal glands to produce enough hormones. It can be caused by atrophy of the adrenal glands due to a hereditary autoimmune response, withdrawal of steroids, and treatment of other conditions. It is frequently misdiagnosed as just about anything else, so keep in mind that it can poodle-prone if your pet becomes a medical mystery.

Idiopathic Epilepsy is one of many possible causes of convulsions in dogs, but we'd like to hear about it if it happens anyway because of the potential for inheritance. Other sources to investigate include head trauma, liver disease, tumors, adrenal/kidney function, electrolytes, stimulants, and toxins. Check the bad treats page for more information about toxins.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy in miniature poodles starts between 3 and 6 years of age with night blindness and progresses to day blindness over the course of 1-2 years.

Sebaceous Adenitis is a skin condition in mature dogs resulting in dry hair, flakes, and hair loss. Untreated or severe cases can develop secondary infections. Treatment involves bathing with gentle skin and/or hair conditioners to maintain healthy skin and hair.

Autoimmune Thyroiditis may begin at age 2-5 years. It creates antibodies to attack the thyroid for months or years, resulting in hypothyroidism.

Von Willebrand disease is definitely hereditary and makes it difficult to clot blood. Severity can result in no symptoms at all, prolonged bleeding from cuts, or spontaneous hemorrhage. There is no cure for the disease but episodes can be treated as needed.