Sloughi Health Problems and Raising a Sloughi 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 Sloughis:

The most serious potential eye disease in Sloughis is progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which appears at 2-3 years old and slowly progresses to complete blindness in a few years. Fortunately, a simple DNA test is available for PRA in Sloughis, so you can find out at any time whether your dog has the disease, carries the disease, or is completely clear of it.

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, Sloughis are at higher risk for the emergency gastrointestinal syndrome bloat.

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 Sloughi?

Yes, often you can.

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

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

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

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

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