Leonberger Health Care & Feeding
By Michele Welton, Dog Trainer, Breed Selection Consultant, Author of 15 Dog Books
Jump down to this list of
Leonberger Health Problems
Or check out my advice for raising a healthy Leonberger puppy or adult dog:
Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way
Read my advice on daily health care so your Leonberger lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet... [read more]
3 Best Ways To Feed Your Dog Healthy Food
You can dramatically increase your dog's chances of living a long, healthy life by feeding the right food. Cutting right to the chase, the best foods for your Leonberger are... [read more]
A Quick Way To Make Homemade Dog Food
Your Leonberger will love real chicken, turkey, beef, fish, eggs, yogurt, broccoli.... this is not just "people food" and I'll tell you why... [read more]
5 Best Kibble and Canned Dog Foods
Some are better than others, but I must be honest – I'm not a huge fan of dry or canned dog food. Here are my concerns... [read more]
Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not?
How many vaccinations does your Leonberger puppy really need? Does your adult dog need yearly booster shots? The vaccination guidelines have changed! Find out what some vets aren't telling you... [read more]
Spaying Your Female Dog: Pros and Cons
Should your female Leonberger be spayed? Current research says, "The AGE at which you spay can be vitally important to your dog's future health." So what's the best age? [read more]
Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons
Have you been told that you must neuter your male Leonberger? Current research shows that the issue is not so simple. Pet owners are not being told about some risks associated with neutering male dogs, especially neutering too early... [read more]
Make Sure Your Vet is the Best!
Is your current veterinarian really the best choice for your dog? Here's how to tell... [read more]
Assisi Loop Review
Does your Leo suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia, disk disease, colitis? My honest review of a veterinary device you can use at home to reduce inflammation and pain. [read more]
Complete list of Leonberger health problems
The Leonberger Club conducted a health survey that included over 800 dogs.
The club reported that the average lifespan was only 6.5 years for male Leonbergers, 7.5 years for females – depressingly short for a companion dog.
Of the Leonbergers (in the club survey) who were deceased, cancer killed 37% of them. Bone cancer (osteosarcoma) is especially prevalent in the breed.
Hip dysplasia is the main orthopedic disease to be concerned about. The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of 2100 Leonbergers and found 14% dysplastic. That's moderately high.
Of 1800 elbow X-rays, 4% were dysplastic. So elbows are much better than hips!
A number of serious health issues have become concerns in Leonbergers:
- Addison's disease (a life-threatening disease of the adrenal glands)
- Heart disease (especially cardiomyopathy)
- Perianal fistula (an autoimmune disease)
- Laryngeal paralysis (a neurological disease)
- Polyneuropathy (a neurological disease)
According to the Michigan State University Thyroid Database, up to 15% of Leonbergers have hypothyroidism.
Cataracts affect nearly 3% of the breed, according to the club survey. Eyelid abnormalities (entropion and ectropion) also occur regularly in Leos.
Allergies cause itchy skin and can lead to bacterial skin infections (pyoderma).
Blood-clotting disease (von Willebrand's) occurs in Leonbergers.
Chronic diarrhea can be caused by food intolerances or colitis.
As with all deep-chested breeds, Leonbergers are at higher-than-normal risk for the emergency gastrointestinal syndrome called bloat.
Preventing health problems
Some health problems are inherited. For example, if your dog inherits from his parents the genes for an eye disease called PRA, he will go blind and there's nothing anyone can do about it.
But most health problems can be prevented by the ways you raise your dog.
FREE eBOOK! My free online health care program, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to raise your Leonberger in all the right ways that help prevent health problems. Become your dog's health care champion!
My best-selling books – now available FREE on my website