Miniature Poodle Health Care & Feeding

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Miniature Poodle Health Problems

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Complete list of Miniature Poodle health problems

Eye diseases

Eye diseases are the major concern – there are a lot of blind or partially blind Mini Poodles:

• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) can appear at 3-5 years old. Fortunately, a simple DNA test is available so you can find out at any time (without waiting for symptoms) whether your Mini Poodle has inherited PRA, or not.
• Cataracts that appear from birth to 3 years old usually progress to blindness. Cataracts appearing after age 3 are usually milder.
• Other eye problems in Miniature Poodles include tear duct disorders, corneal ulcers, eyelash abnormalities, retinal dysplasia, and glaucoma.

Orthopedic diseases

The most common orthopedic health problem in Miniature Poodles is luxating patella (loose knees).

Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, a degenerative hip disease, is less common, but more serious.

Hip dysplasia occurs in Mini Poodles, as well.

Intervertebral disk disease is not uncommon, especially in Poodles with short legs and a long back, which is a deformity called chondrodysplasia. But disk disease can occur in square-built Poodles, as well.

Neurological diseases in Miniature Poodles

Epilepsy (chronic seizures that usually start between ages two and four) is a concern in Miniature Poodles.

Rare neurological diseases include cerebellar ataxia (in Miniature Poodle puppies) and narcolepsy.

Skin problems in Miniature Poodles

It's ironic that Poodles are the best breed for allergic people.... yet Poodles are so prone to having chronic allergies themselves! Allergies cause itchy skin in Poodles, and constant scratching can break open the skin and lead to infections.

Poodles are notorious for having small skin growths peppered around their head and body.

• Fortunately, most growths in Poodles are non-tumorous warts and cysts. But they're a nuisance if you nick them with the grooming clippers and they bleed.
• Some are true tumors, especially sebaceous gland tumors and basal cell tumors. But again, fortunately, these are usually benign.
• Less commonly, a tumor may be malignant.

Ear problems in Miniature Poodles

Ear infections and ear mites occur in Poodles more frequently than in most other breeds.

This is because breeders have created an abnormally long and narrow ear canal simply so the breed can look "elegant" in the show ring.

Here's how this abnormal ear canal provides such an inviting home for fungi and parasites.

• The long narrow tube traps wax, providing a sticky medium in which fungi can grow and parasites can feed.
• The folded ear flap blocks air from circulating and provides a dark, moist, dirty cave for fungi and parasites to hide.
• And the long hair inside the ears acts as a magnet for moisture, dirt, and wax.
• Result: ear infections or mites move right in.

Keep your Poodle's ears clean and dry. Remove wax and either pluck out the hair (painful) or trim it short (my preference).

Digestive diseases in Miniature Poodles

Two serious digestive diseases, pancreatitis and hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, are more common in Miniature Poodles and Miniature Schnauzers than in any other breeds.

Pancreatitis attacks are especially common in middle-aged female Poodles who are pudgy around the middle, who don't get a lot of exercise, and who suddenly eat something that's very high-fat (like turkey and gravy at Thanksgiving).

The moral is to keep middle-aged and elderly poodles slim and exercised. And DON'T suddenly give them a big mouthful of high-fat food when they're not used to it. No licking of people's plates with butter, oil, or gravy!

Heart and respiratory problems in Miniature Poodles

Heart diseases in Mini Poodles includes mitral valve disease (MVD), patent ductus arteriosus, and septal defects.

MVD is the most common; indeed most Mini Poodles, as they age, will develop a mild heart murmur related to MVD. It's usually easy to manage with inexpensive medication.

Poodles are also prone to chronic bronchitis. This can be trickier to manage, often requiring both oral and inhaled medications.

Dental disease

Miniature Poodles are very prone to dental disease. To avoid frequent (and risky) dental cleaning under anesthesia, keep their teeth well-brushed and scraped clear of tartar. When brushing, focus on the cheek side of the teeth. The tongue side usually stays clean.

The best canine toothpastes contain enzymes that actually EAT plaque and tartar so that you'll need to do much less brushing. I like Virbac CET Plaque & Tartar or Zymox Oratene Gel, but there are others.

You can also use enzymatic sprays or powders. Just as toothpaste can contain tartar-eating enzymes, so can pump sprays that you spritz onto the teeth or powder that you sprinkle into his food. I recommend Leba 3 spray or VetriScience Perio Support powder.

Blood-clotting diseases in Miniature Poodles

There are two: von Willebrand's and hemophilia A. Fortunately, a DNA test is available so you can find out at any time (without waiting for symptoms) whether your Poodle has inherited von Willebrand's disease, or not.

Hormonal/endocrine diseases

Most common in Miniature Poodles are hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease, and diabetes.

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.

My best-selling book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to raise your Miniature Poodle in all the right ways that help prevent health problems. Become your dog's health care champion!