Finnish Spitz Health Problems and Raising a Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz:

Epilepsy is a real concern in this breed, and diabetes occurs more often in Finnish Spitz than in many other breeds.

The most common orthopedic diseases in Finnish Spitz are luxating patella (loose knees), hip dysplasia, and occasionally elbow dysplasia. The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of over 280 Finnish Spitz and found 5.5% dysplastic.

Allergies cause itchy skin and can lead to bacterial skin infections (pyoderma). An autoimmune skin disease called pemphigus has been reported in Finnish Spitz.

Eye diseases reported in Finnish Spitz include cataracts and occasionally progressive retinal atrophy (PRA).

Can you prevent health problems from happening to YOUR Finnish Spitz?

Yes, often you can.

1. Some health problems are genetic, which means inherited from parents. Genetic health issues are common in Finnish Spitz today because of unwise breeding practices. My book, Dog Quest: Find The Dog Of Your Dreams, shows you how to find a Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz puppy (or adult dog) in all the right ways.

Here are my dog health tips for raising a healthy Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet.

The Best Dog Food For Feeding Your Finnish Spitz
The best diet for feeding your Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz
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 Finnish Spitz puppy really need? Does your adult Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz.

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

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