Lhasa Apso Health Care & Feeding
By Michele Welton, Dog Trainer, Breed Selection Consultant, Author of 15 Dog Books
Start your Lhasa Apso 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
Lhasa Apso Health Problems
Or check out my advice for raising a healthy Lhasa Apso puppy or adult dog:
Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way
Read my advice on daily health care so your Lhasa Apso 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 Lhasa Apso are... [read more]
A Quick Way To Make Homemade Dog Food
Your Lhasa 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 Lhasa Apso 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 Lhasa Apso 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 Lhasa? 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 Lhasa 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 Lhasa Apso health problems
Lhasa Apsos have deliberately been bred to be deformed in two ways – their short legs and long back are chondrodysplastic and their shortened face is brachycephalic (though fortunately not as bad as some breeds like Pugs or Shih Tzus). But both of these deformities are associated with increased health problems.
There are a lot of blind Lhasa Apsos, from progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) appearing at 3-4 years old, or cataracts appearing at 3-6 years old, or a condition known as dry eye.
A chronic eye disease called "dry eye" can require lifelong medication.
The prominent eyes are easily scratched, which can lead to corneal ulcers.
Lhasas are also vulnerable to a condition known as cherry eye, eyelash abnormalities, corneal dystrophy, and lens luxation.
An inherited kidney disease, renal dysplasia, kills many young Lhasas.
An inherited kidney disease, renal dysplasia, can kill young Lhasas at 6-12 months old.
Fortunately, a simple DNA test is available for renal dysplasia in Lhasa Apsos, so you can find out at any time whether your dog has the disease, carries the disease, or is completely clear of it.
Chronic allergies cause itchy skin and scratching that can lead to skin infections (hot spots). A more serious skin disease, sebaceous adenitis, is a concern in the breed. Ear infections can be recurring due to profuse hair in the ear canals.
Breeds with a long back are more prone to intervertebral disk disease.
The hip and knee joints can be bad in Lhasas, leading to conditions called hip dysplasia and luxating patella (loose knees). The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of 800 Lhasa Apsos and found 6% dysplastic.
Other health issues in Lhasa Apsos include heart disease, hypothyroidism, urinary stones, blood-clotting disease (von Willebrand's), and pyloric stenosis.
Lissencephaly is a serious neurological disease that can appear in young Lhasas. Symptoms include seizures, vision problems, difficulty walking, and/or behavioral abnormalities, especially sudden aggression or unprovoked attacks.
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 Lhasa Apso 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.