Papillon Health Care & Feeding
By Michele Welton, Dog Trainer, Breed Selection Consultant, Author of 15 Dog Books
Start your Papillon off on the right foot by feeding the right food, giving the right vaccinations, finding the right vet, and if you're going to spay or neuter, don't do it too early.
Jump down to this list of
Papillon Health Problems
Or check out my advice for raising a healthy Papillon puppy or adult dog:
Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way
Read my advice on daily health care so your Papillon 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 Papillon are... [read more]
A Quick Way To Make Homemade Dog Food
Your Papillon 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 Papillon 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 Papillon 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 Papillon? 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 Papillon 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 Papillon health problems
The Papillon Club conducted a health survey that reports the average lifespan of the breed is 11-13 years. That's a shortish lifespan for such a small dog.
The leading health concern in toy dogs is INJURY. You must keep Papillons under constant surveillance and leash/arm control. Too much can happen to these small creatures in the blink of an eye.
- Bone fractures or a concussion can occur from jumping off furniture, or falling or leaping from your arms, or being hit on the head by a thrown or falling object, or being stepped on.
- Papillons can choke on the tiniest object and it takes very little to overdose them with anything toxic.
- Papillons can squeeze through the smallest crack of a door or fence and be gone.
- If you allow them to act foolishly aggressive toward larger dogs, their neck can be broken with a single grab.
- If you let them off-leash, their excitable chasing instincts may send them under the wheels of a car.
The most serious eye disease in Papillons is progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which appears at 3-4 years old and causes blindness.
Cataracts can appear between 6 months old and 8 years old.
Eyelash abnormalities, tear duct disorders, and persistent pupillary membranes have also been reported in Papillons.
Heart disease (specifically, mitral valve disease) is a growing concern in the breed, as is epilepsy.
The most common orthopedic problem is luxating patella (loose knees). Occasionally intervertebral disk disease occurs in Papillons.
Blood-clotting disease (von Willebrand's) occurs in Papillons. Fortunately, a simple DNA test is available so you can find out at any time whether your Papillon has von Willebrand's, carries it, or is clear of it.
Papillons often have sensitive stomachs. Digestive diseases include colitis (inflammatory bowel disease) and pancreatitis.
Hormonal/endocrine system diseases include hypothyroidism, and occasionally Addison's disease.
Allergies cause itchy skin and can lead to bacterial skin infections (pyoderma). A rare skin disease in Papillons is a hair loss disorder called follicular dysplasia.
Papillons can be born deaf, or partially deaf.
Other health issues that occur in Papillons are hypothyroidism, collapsing trachea, liver stunt, urinary stones, and hernias.
Papillons are prone to dental disease (harmful) and reverse sneezing episodes (harmless).
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 Papillon in all the right ways that help prevent health problems. Become your dog's health care champion!
About the author: Michele Welton has over 40 years of experience as a Dog Trainer, Dog Breed Consultant, and founder of three Dog Training Centers. An expert researcher and author of 15 books about dogs, she loves helping people choose, train, and care for their dogs.
My best-selling books – now available FREE on my website
Respect Training For Puppies: 30 seconds to a calm, polite, well-behaved puppy is for puppies 2 to 18 months old. Your puppy will learn the 21 skills that all family dogs need to know. Click here to read for free.
Teach Your Dog 100 English Words is a unique Vocabulary and Respect Training Program that will teach your adult dog to listen to you and do what you say. Click here to read for free.11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy helps your dog live a longer, healthier life. Get my honest advice about all 11 Things before you bring home your new puppy, because some mistakes with early health care cannot be undone. Click here to read for free.