Poodle Health

Compiled by Breed Editor, C.A. McGinnis

As with any living entity, no matter how much you try for good health, sometimes there are individuals who develop problems.  Among the health concerns in poodles are:

Hip Dysplasia

PRA (progressive retinal atrophy)

Cataracts

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease includes several gastrointestinal diseases classified by the location of the inflammation and the types of cells causing it.  Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and change in appetite.  These symptoms are often chronic, but maybe intermittent as well.  While the cause of IBD is currently unknown, some suspect that genetics may be a factor.

Gastric torsion/bloat

Bloat and torsion, or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), is the second most common killer of large and giant breed dogs, after cancer.  In gastric dilatation, the stomach fills with air which, for some unknown reason, the dog is unable to expel.  As the stomach expands, it often twists (torsion), presenting a surgical emergency.  When the stomach bloats, the expansion compresses the blood supply to other organs, including the heart, and the bloating dog can go into shock as a result of low blood pressure and compromised blood supply.  In torsion, or volvulus, the twisting of the stomach causes necrosis of internal organs and organ death from the lack of blood supply, resulting in the death of the dog, if not treated promptly.

Sebaceous Adenitis (skin disorder)

Sebaceous adenitis is a hereditary skin disease in which the sebaceous (oil) glands become inflamed and often are destroyed.  Why the immune system attacks these glands is currently unknown.  There is no cure.

Addison's Disease

Addison's Disease is a disease of the adrenal glands, usually caused by the immune mediated destruction of the adrenal glands.  It affects dogs of all breeds and mixed breeds.  Unfortunately, there is a very high incidence of this disease in Standard Poodles, although Miniature and Toy Poodles can also be affected.

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Epilepsy

Idiopathic epilepsy (also called "primary" epilepsy) can occur in all varieties of Poodles, as well as at least 25 other breeds of dogs.  Research indicates that idiopathic epilepsy is inherited.  Recent studies by the Poodle Epilepsy Project at Florida State University suggest that at least in some bloodlines of Standard Poodles, idiopathic epilepsy is inherited as a "recessive" disorder.  That is, both parents must pass down a defective copy of the gene to an offspring in order for that offspring to have seizures.  However, neither parent needs to have seizures in order to pass down a defective copy of the gene.  Two "carriers," each of whom possesses one good copy and one defective copy of the gene, can produce offspring with seizures if they are mated with each other.  Because there are many factors that can cause seizures besides idiopathic epilepsy (such as metabolic disorders, poisoning, infectious disorders that affect the brain, etc.), it is important for dogs with seizures to get a thorough diagnostic work-up to determine if any of these other factors are causing the dog’s seizures.

Hypothyroidism

Cancer

For more information on these and other issues regarding poodle health, please visit The Poodle Health Registry.  http://www.poodlehealthregistry.com

If you have a Poodle with health issues, please register your dog's pedigree with The Poodle Health Registry.  http://www.poodleclubofamerica.org/health.htm

One benefit of registering a Poodle with a health concern is that breeders researching pedigrees prior to breeding may have a more complete picture and hopefully avoid some of the health issues that do occur within the breed.  It may also help pet buyers check pedigrees or family lines that they are looking into purchasing.

Be sure to explore the PCA site while you are there!