Cardigan Welsh Corgi Health Problems and Raising a Cardigan Welsh Corgi Puppy to be Healthy

Quiz – How Long Will Your Dog Live?
How To Raise a Healthy Dog
Feeding the Best Dog Food
Feeding the 2nd Best Dog Food
Vaccinations: Needed or Not?
Are You Sure Your Vet Is Good?

The most common health problems in Cardigan Welsh Corgis:

The most serious eye disease is progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which strikes around age 2 and progresses to full blindness by age 3. Fortunately, a simple DNA test is available for PRA in Cardigan Welsh Corgis, so you can find out at any time whether your dog has the disease, carries the disease, or is completely clear of it.

Other eye diseases reported in Cardies include cataracts, lens luxation, glaucoma, and eyelash abnormalities.

Because of their deformed chondrodysplastic build, intervertebral disk disease (which can lead to paralysis) is more common in Cardigan Welsh Corgis than in most other breeds. But the most common orthopedic diseases in Cardigans are luxating patella (loose knees) and hip dysplasia. The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of over 1000 Cardigan Welsh Corgis and found 17% dysplastic. That's very high for this size dog, and the true rate is even higher because most of the obviously bad X-rays were not sent in for official evaluation.

Epilepsy is a real concern in Cardigan Welsh Corgis.

Blood-clotting disease (von Willebrand's) occurs, as well.

Allergies cause itchy skin and can lead to bacterial skin infections (pyoderma).

Immunoglobulin deficiency is a rare but very serious immune system disease in Cardigan Welsh Corgis.

Can you prevent health problems from happening to YOUR Cardigan Welsh Corgi?

Yes, often you can.

1. Some health problems are genetic, which means inherited from parents. Genetic health issues are common in Cardigan Welsh Corgis today because of unwise breeding practices. My book, Dog Quest: Find The Dog Of Your Dreams, shows you how to find a Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppy who is genetically healthy.
2. Other health problems are environmental – caused by the way you raise your dog. My best-selling dog health book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to prevent environmental health problems by raising your Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppy (or adult dog) in all the right ways.

Here are my dog health tips for raising a healthy Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppy or adult dog:

How Long Will Your Dog Live? – Take This Quiz!
Based on your dog's breed and how you're raising him, this personalized quiz will help you understand how long your dog might live – and most importantly, how you can increase his life expectancy.

Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way
Read my advice on daily health care so your Cardigan Welsh Corgi lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet.

The Best Dog Food For Feeding Your Cardigan Welsh Corgi
The best diet for feeding your Cardigan Welsh Corgi is real food. Real chicken, turkey, beef, bison, venison, fish....This is not "people food" and I'll tell you why.

The Second-Best Dog Food For Your Cardigan Welsh Corgi
If you can't feed homemade dog food, here are your next-best choices.

Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not?
How many vaccinations does your Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppy really need? Does your adult Cardigan Welsh Corgi need yearly booster shots? The vaccination guidelines have changed. Find out what many vets aren't telling you.

The Type of Veterinarian I Recommend
Is your veterinarian really the best choice for your dog? Learn about the differences between vets who practice conventional, holistic, and alternative veterinary medicine.

Spaying Your Female Dog: Pros and Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of spaying your female Cardigan Welsh Corgi.

Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of neutering your male dog.

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