Although Poodles are generally fairly well-bred dogs that enjoy good health and longevity there are a number of health conditions that can and do crop up.  Anyone who loves this breed should know about these issues prior to purchasing a Poodle puppy.

Just as with human beings dogs also have to face their hereditary health concerns.  Poodles are prone to some conditions that can be avoided by the informed potential owner and therefore it is wise to discuss the health background of the puppy's parents with the breeders.

There should be no objection to their parent dogs being tested for cataracts, for example.  If one or both of the parents suffer from conditions such as epilepsy you should know about it and whether or not the condition is under control.  You also need to know if either of the parent animals has any orthopaedic issues and, if so, what they are and their severity.

Below you will find a selection of conditions that affect the health of Poodles and other breeds in general.  Of course that is not to say that all Poodles will display any of these issues but it is in the potential buyer's best interests to know about these conditions.  It is also worth bearing in mind that no reputable breeder would undertake breeding any dogs that already have or display any of the hereditary problems.

Poodle Eye Problems

Cataracts

Usually it affects the older dog and the cloudiness can be easily seen on the eyes.  This is a hereditary condition which demands that parents be tested prior to breeding in order to combat the condition.

Glaucoma

This is the main cause of blindness and results from an increase in fluid pressure within the eye.  This is also a hereditary condition and warrants testing of the parents prior to breeding.  Narrow-Angle Glaucoma is common in the Miniature Poodle and this condition causes both redness and pain in the eyes.  It can be treated with medication and/or through surgery.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

This hereditary disorder affects the retina of the eye and the animal slowly but surely loses the ability to see.  A good first warning sign is night blindness.  Unfortunately there is no way to prevent the onset of this eye problem.

Poodle Skin Conditions

Atopic Dermatitis

This condition is tricky to diagnose and refers to an unusual or atypical condition of the skin.

Sebaceous Adenitis

This is when the hair follicles and sebaceous glands become inflamed due to damage.  Although it is more common in Standard Poodles it also shows up in both the Toy and Miniature Poodles.  Although there is no cure for this hereditary condition it can be controlled and treated through regular bathing.  This results in the skin being moisturised and so lessens the scaling that is apparent.

Color Dilution Alopecia

Again frequent washing and moisturizing will help to lessen the severity of dry and scaly skin which is the visible sign of this anomaly.  Generally dogs that are bred to display unusual coats colors, such as blue are affected.  It cannot be cured once it manifests.

Seborrhea

This is when the sebaceous glands in the skin secrete far too much discharge.  Treatment must be medical in nature.

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Article written by:

Edie MacKenzie