Ibizan Hound Health Problems and Raising an Ibizan Hound 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 Ibizan Hounds:

The most serious eye disease in the Ibizan Hound is cataracts, which appear before 8 months old and can progress to blindness.

Epilepsy is becoming a serious concern in the breed.

Allergies cause itchy skin and can lead to bacterial skin infections (pyoderma). The thin-skinned, bony elbow joint is prone to elbow hygroma.

As with all deep-chested breeds, Ibizan Hounds are at higher-than-normal risk for the emergency gastrointestinal syndrome called bloat.

Inherited deafness can occur in Ibizan Hound puppies with a lot of white on their head.

Hip dysplasia and osteochondritis can occur, but the rates are low. The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of 235 Ibizan Hounds and found only 3% dysplastic.

Other health issues in Ibizan Hounds include hypothyroidism and a serious form of polyneuropathy called axonal dystrophy.

Because of their low body fat, all sighthounds are extra sensitive to anesthetics and require an experienced vet who will follow a special Greyhound Anesthesia Protocol.

Sighthounds REQUIRE open space to run. A sighthound who can't stretch his legs and gallop off-leash will not develop proper muscle tone for good health. However, the area in which they run must be enclosed. One of the leading causes of death in sighthounds is being hit by a car. These dogs are chasers with sharp eyesight, strong prey instincts, and a one-track mind. If they spy something moving in the distance, their instincts will kick in and they will NOT respond when you call them.

Musculoskeletal injuries (fractures, pulled muscles or ligaments, broken toes, paw injuries, etc.) are common when slender sighthounds race about.

Can you prevent health problems from happening to YOUR Ibizan Hound?

Yes, often you can.

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

Here are my dog health tips for raising a healthy Ibizan Hound puppy or adult dog:

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

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

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

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