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Most Common Health Issues for Poodles

 
Ameera Mills
By Ameera Mills. Updated: September 2, 2018
Most Common Health Issues for Poodles
Dogs

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Formerly, the poodle was considered an exclusive breed to the high bourgeoisie. Currently though, the poodle has gained popularity thanks to its attractive curly coat, which gives it an elegant appearance and a unique style. They are intelligent animals with a playful personality that stay alert in all circumstances.

This breed of French origin is prone to suffer from certain diseases, mostly genetic and hereditary. If you are interested in adopting one, and want to know more about this breed, keep reading this article to know what are the most common health issues for poodles.

You may also be interested in: Most Common Dogo Argentino Health Issues

Sight related diseases

Poodles commonly suffer from vision related diseases. If you have a pet of this breed, we recommend that you maintain adequate medical control to prevent any of these following mentioned diseases:

  • Cataracts: affects the small lens that is located behind the pupil which allows the eye to focus. They are presented in the form of a cloud covers the eyes surface affecting the animals ability to distinguish things. This can cause objects to be perceived as blurred, cloudy or less colorful.
  • Progressive retinal atrophy: this is the progressive deterioration of the photoreceptors found in the retina, preventing it from capturing light. It can be prevented if detected early, otherwise it can cause total loss of vision.
  • Glaucoma: it is a silent and difficult to detect disease, in which the range of vision is reduced almost imperceptibly, until the animal is completely blind.
  • Entropion: occurs when the surface of the eyelid reverses and invades the eye area, causing discomfort, pruritus, ulcers and in extreme cases, total blindness.
Most Common Health Issues for Poodles - Sight related diseases

Skin diseases

When it comes to skin problems, among the most common ailments that affect this breed are:

  • Adenitis sebaceous: an inflammation of the skin glands caused by the accumulation of fats. Causes hair loss, irritation, scales, emanation of strong odors, dandruff, among other signs. It is possible that it gets worse with other infections due to the constant scratching.
  • Fungi: are caused by parasites that affect the skin, fur or nails. They manifest mainly as a spot on the affected area. They are very infectious, so it is recommended to keep children away from the animal until treated.
  • Allergies: Poodles are usually allergic to different elements, such as dust, pollen, mold, flea saliva, among others. They manifest mainly on the skin, causing itching irritation, especially on the face, abdomen and legs. Upon suspicion, our veterinarian can perform allergy tests on our dogs when they are puppies.
  • Pyoderma: is an infection caused by bacteria, which generates the appearance of parasites, ulcers covered with pus, different types of allergies, swelling, pruty, among other ailments.
Most Common Health Issues for Poodles - Skin diseases

Auditory diseases

Otitis externa is an ear disease that most often affects poodles. It causes inflammation of the eardrum resulting in swelling, redness, abundant secretions and bad odor. All these signs make this disease easily detectable. In addition, this intense pruritus leads the dog to scratch it constantly, which can cause bleeding. Otitis in dogs usually has a favorable prognosis, especially if it is detected promptly.

Bone diseases

Osseous problems are common in poodles, among which to mention are:

  • Hip dysplasia: is a genetic disease, which manifests progressively and degeneratively. It affects the anatomical structure of the dog, specifically the hip area. The ailment damages the back part of the body of the dog, causing intense pain, lameness and even behaviors related to aggression. It is recommended to consult a veterinarian to properly control this disease and thus give your furry friend a better quality of life.
  • Patellar dislocation: affects the patella, which is the bone located in a small groove of the femur. The dislocation occurs when the bone moves from its place, causing lameness due to pain. It is most commonly treated with surgery, although it can also happen that the bone simply dislocates and locates itself back within minutes.
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes disease: is a disintegration that occurs at the head of the femur, the bone located in the hind legs. The femur degenerates suddenly, causing intense pain due to which the dog limps, and may even cause disability.
Most Common Health Issues for Poodles - Bone diseases

Neuronal diseases

When it comes to neurological pathologies, the one that most affects poodles is epilepsy. It is a genetic and hereditary disease, characterized by the production of tiny electrical discharges in the brain, resulting in seizures. During episodes of crisis, foam can be seen in the snout, and the dog can lose consciousness. If your poodle suffers from epilepsy or has had seizures, go to the veterinarian immediately: with the right treatment it can lead a normal life.

Hormonal diseases

Canine hypothyroidism is a common hormonal disease that often affects this breed. The thyroid is responsible for managing the proper functioning of all organs of the body. When this disease occurs, there is a decrease in blood hormones, causing a loss of tension in the ligaments, tendons and muscles; resulting in a rubbing of cartilages damaging the joints.

A dog that suffers from this condition is easily fatigued during physical activities, experiences weight increase and an increase in clumsy movements. They may also project aggressive behavior and experience an abnormal heart rhythm. If you suspect your canine might be suffering from this disease, we suggest you go to your vet immediately.

Most Common Health Issues for Poodles - Hormonal diseases

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to Most Common Health Issues for Poodles, we recommend you visit our Hereditary diseases category.

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