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Poodle Health
By peace | October 3, 2006
In the United States the Standard Poodle is 15 inches (38cm) or more in height and weighs 45 to 65 pounds. It is the oldest of the three varieties and was traditionally used as a water retriever. It is closely related to the Portuguese Water Dog and the Irish Spaniel.
The Miniature Poodle’s height range is between 10 and 15 inches (28 cm to 38cm) in the United States. He weighs 10 to 18 pounds and he is shown in the “Non Sporting” group. The Miniature Poodle is probably the best known and the most numerous of the three sizes. He is full of fun, easy to train, and a great circus performer. Because of his keen sense of smell, he was used to search out truffles during winter months. This breed really enjoys obedience work.
The Toy Poodle in the United States is 10 inches (25.5 cm) maximum in height and weighs about 6 pounds. He is shown in the “Toy” group. There is also a “teacup” or “pocket” Toy. This is not an official size designation but a marketing ploy used to sell very small Toy Poodles. These undersized Toys are often plagued with health problems.
European standards have four sizes of poodles. The European Toy Poodle has a maximum height at the withers or 28 cm (11 inches). The European Dwarf Poodle is not a true dwarf. It has a size range between 28 cm and 35 cm (11 to 13.75 inches). Miniatures in Europe range from 35 cm to 45 cm (13.75 to 18.75 inches). European Standards have a minimum height of 45 cm (18.75 inches) and some have a maximum of 60 cm (23.5 inches).
Today, Poodles are generally kept as pets. However, they are a versatile breed capable of hunting, tracking, protection, or entertainment. French customs, for instance, uses Poodles to search for illegal substances. Because of their small size, they are more unobtrusive, when searching cars and train compartments, than bigger breeds such as the German Shepherd.
Their intelligence and athletic build has made them popular as trick dogs or circus performers. They can compete well in some dog sports, such as dog agility, although their independent or playful nature can sometimes distract them from the focus and drive needed for these sports.
Poodles are known to get spinal deformities, short limbs, skin allergies, nervous system defects, epilepsy, and collapsed trachea.
No dog is immune to disease. If you’ve owned your dog since it was a tiny puppy, you’ve already had it undergo a series of shots to try to keep it from acquiring harmful viruses and bacteria. And believe it or not, some dogs are more susceptible to certain diseases than others.
When you go to visit your veterinarian, you might want to ask him or her about the common diseases for your particular breed of dog. You need to be prepared for what’s ahead and you want to provide your dog with as much immunity to these diseases as possible.
Your vet will likely give your dog the necessary shots to keep it healthy for many of these potential illnesses, but you have a right and a need as a responsible pet owner to know what may lie ahead.
In addition, knowing what diseases are common in particular breeds can help you and your vet determine what a particular illness might be. If you know what the symptoms are for the illnesses that are most common in your breed of dog, you can better diagnose your pet and catch the illness before it becomes severe. Knowing the common illnesses help you keep your dog healthy.
Poodle Health Concerns
With proper care and nutrition, many enjoy life well into their teens. As with any purebred dog, there are many health concerns for the poodle owner to be aware of. Though the poodle is usually a healthy, long-lived canine (it’s not unheard of to see a 15-year-old toy or miniature poodle or a 12-year-old standard poodle), owners should be aware of the health problems that this breed is predisposed to.
Always consult with a veterinarian that you feel comfortable with before diagnosing or treating any disease on your own.
The health concerns that people owning toy poodles must be aware of include: cataracts, entropion, epilepsy, intervertebral disc degeneration, lacrimal duct atresia (deformed or absent tear ducts that cause tears to run down the face), Legg-Perthes, patellar luxation, PRA (progressive retinal atrophy), trichiasis, and urolithiasis.
For the miniature poodle, owners must watch for: cataracts, distichiasis, entropion, epilepsy, glaucoma, intervertebral disc degeneration, lacrimal duct atresia, Legg-Perthes, PRA (progressive retinal atrophy), patellar luxation, trichiasis, and urolithiasis.
For the standard poodle, owners must watch for: Addison’s Disease, cataracts, CHD (Canine Hip Dysplasia), distichiasis, entropion, epilepsy, gastric torsion, PDA (patent ductus arteriosus), sebaceous adenitis, and vWD (Von Willebrand’s disease).
All three breeds are predisposed towards certain types of mammary tumors, so if the poodle owner doesn’t plan on breeding their female, then they should consider spaying her before her first heat cycle. This dramatically cuts down the poodle’s chances of developing quite a few different types of mammary tumors later in life.
Poodle Hybrids
Many hybrids have been created by crossing a poodle with another breed, such as Labradoodles and Cockapoos. These “hybrids” are not, however, recognized breeds. Many breeders promote Poodle hybrids as actual breeds and charge more for them than is usually charged for a mixed-breed dog.
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