Health Problems To Watch For In Your Poodle Or Poodle Mix

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Poodles are awesome dogs. Whether you have a standard poodle or a miniature one, you can enjoy their soft coat, friendly personality, and athleticism. Like many other breeds, however, poodles are prone to certain health conditions. These same health conditions may pop up in poodle mixes, such as goldendoodles and cockapoos. Here are the primary health conditions to watch out for and how a vet may treat them.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a condition in which the dog's hip does not sit in the socket correctly. It is an inherited condition and is relatively common in poodles. Some poodles show obvious signs as soon as they are born, but many don't show symptoms until later on when they happen to get a lot of exercise.

If your poodle ever starts limping on one back leg, lifting its leg, or refusing to jump on furniture, it may have hip dysplasia. A vet can diagnose the condition with an x-ray. If your dog does have hip dysplasia, your vet may recommend anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy to strengthen the joint.

Addison's Disease

Addison's disease is a condition in which your dog's adrenal glands don't secrete enough cortisol. Since cortisol has a lot of roles in the body, dogs with Addison's disease present a lot of symptoms like lethargy, anxiety, diarrhea, and hyperactivity. Luckily, this disease is fairly easy to diagnose with blood tests, and vets can keep it under control with cortisol replacement medications.

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is the proper term for low blood sugar. Poodles are particularly prone to this condition, and they usually start to show signs of it when they're later in the puppy stage. The symptoms include lethargy, not eating, shaking, shivering, and falling down.

Some dogs with hypoglycemia do lose their lives to the disease. However, some dogs do well with a very specialized diet. They have to be fed foods with higher amounts of sugar and carbohydrates, and they need to be fed smaller meals more often. Your vet may also teach you how to test your dog's blood sugar levels so you can prevent an attack.

There are plenty of really healthy poodles and poodle mixes who never develop any of the problems above. However, if you own a dog of this breed, it is a good idea to keep an eye out for the issues above. Contact your veterinarian if you have any concerns.


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