Many people consider Poodles to be one of the most elegant dog breeds, and according to the criteria for ranking intelligence in dogs, developed by professor Coren from the University of British Colombia, Poodles also belong to the group of the most intelligent dogs. They are ranked as the second most intelligent breed, after the Border Collie.
Given their size, Poodles are divided into three groups:
- Standard Poodle (average life expectancy: 12 – 15 years)
- Miniature Poodle (average life expectancy: 13 – 15 years)
- Toy Poodle (average life expectancy: 15 – 17 years)
All three types of Poodles are the same breed, only of different sizes. All have a high energy level and crave a variety of physical activities. Since they were once used to assist during the hunt, Poodles still enjoy activities such as swimming and tossing and retrieving different toys.
Lack of physical activity can affect not only the health of Poodles but also their behavior. Due to lack of activity, Poodles can become obese, unhappy, and start behaving destructively.
Poodles are generally healthy dogs, but like most other breeds, they also have potential health issues to be aware of. Health problems in Poodles vary depending on the size of the dog. Some diseases are common to dogs of all three sizes, while others are specific to one size of the Poodle only.
Table of Contents
Do Standard Poodles Have Health Issues?
The following lists of known health problems in all three sizes of Poodles are not ranked according to any specific criteria. Thus, there is no greater risk of developing diseases that are at the top of the list and vice versa.
The health issues that have been reported in Standard Poodles are the following:
- Bloat (Gastric torsion) or Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus
- Blood-clotting diseases: von Willebrand’s disease, hemophilia
- Orthopedic issues: hip dysplasia
- Sebaceous Adenitis
- Allergies
- Ear infections
- Degenerative myelopathy
- Kidney disease
- Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
Do Miniature Poodles Have Health Issues?
The health issues that Miniature Poodles are prone to are the following:
- Eye problems: progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cataracts, optic nerve hypoplasia, distichiasis, entropion
- Orthopedic issues: patellar luxation, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, hip dysplasia, osteochondrodysplasia
- Blood-clotting diseases: von Willebrand’s disease, hemophilia
- Cerebellar ataxia
- Hypothyroidism
- Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis
- Pancreatitis
- Heart diseases: patent ductus arteriosus, mitral valve disease
- Epilepsy
- Chronic bronchitis
- Tracheal Collapse
- Dental problems
- Cushing’s disease
- Degenerative myelopathy
- Hydrocephalus
Common Toy Poodle Health Issues
The health issues that have been reported in Toy Poodles over the years are:
- Orthopedic issues: patellar luxation, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, intervertebral disc disease
- Eye problems: cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), glaucoma, corneal ulcers, retinal dysplasia
- Heart diseases: patent ductus arteriosus, mitral valve disease (MVD)
- Dental problems
- Tracheal collapse
- Chronic bronchitis
- Epilepsy
- Chronic skin allergies
- Shaker dog syndrome
- Diabetes
- Cushing’s disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Hypoglycemia
The purpose of this text is to inform you about the potential health issues your pet may experience. This doesn’t mean that some or all of these diseases will surely occur in your dog. Also, it doesn’t mean that your dog can’t have a disease that is not on this list.
It’s not possible to predict whether and when a dog will get sick, but by purchasing puppies from reliable breeders you can reduce the risk of certain diseases. Any responsible breeder will provide the certificates that confirm that puppies are free of genetically inherited diseases and that they have received all the necessary veterinary care.
What you can do to keep your pet healthy is to provide him with quality food that suits his needs, to take him for a walk and exercise with him, and to visit the vet regularly. Thanks to awareness of potential health problems in Poodles and regular visits to the vet, you are more likely to notice the symptoms of a particular disease earlier and thus be able to react in time.