Havanese Health Issues
Havanese & Health
For small dogs, Havanese are exceptionally healthy. They live for up to 16 years and never lose their cuddly, happy energy. They don’t have any serious respiratory problems, they don’t have heart issues, And I don’t have a lot of the other serious health conditions that can plague small dogs.
That said, Havanese can still suffer from some fairly common health issues. While most of these issues are fixable, if left untreated they can become severe. If you ever suspect your Havanese is having problems with their health, the first thing you should do is get off The Internet and go to the vet.
If you have not adopted a Havanese yet and are curious about what kind of ailments are most common, here is a full list of the most inherited health issues that Havanese dogs may suffer in their long lifetimes.
Most Common Havanese Health Issues:
- Cataracts
- Cherry Eye
- Chondrodysplasia
- Deafness
- Hip Dysplasia
- Liver Shunts
- Legg Perthes
- Slipped Kneecaps
Cataracts
Cataracts are a high risk in Havanese dogs. It is an issue in which a small area or ‘cataract’ takes over a part of the lens of your dog’s eye. It can happen in one eye or both eyes, and cataracts can be small or large. Cataracts are also common in people, and the effect is like trying to look out of a fogged glass window. They can dramatically affect how well your dog sees the world.
If the cataract grows too large and affects both eyes, your dog will go blind. However, small cataracts are not going to affect their vision too much. The best way to prevent cataracts is to have your Havanese dog checked annually by a certified veterinarian.
Inflamation
Inflammation is just a general catch-all for disease or issues within the body. It’s usually something that happens when the body is trying to fight off disease or infection. When it comes to dogs, there are case of chronic inflammation and general inflammation.
There are also medicines and other best practises you can use to help.
One of those is Previcox, which is more for muscle pain, inflammation and arthritic pain. And there is Duralactin which is specifically for inflammation.
Chondrodysplasia
This is a major issue for Havanese. It is not super popular in these dogs, but it is one of the most common afflictions that are found. Basically, chondrodysplasia is a sort of metabolic disorder in the skeletal development of an animal. This can exhibit itself through growth deficiency, a problematic bowing of the legs, and abnormally short stature.
In essence, chondrodysplasia is an irregularity in the size or shape of your dog’s bones. The result of a horrible case of chondrodysplasia is skeletal dwarfism with your dog’s front legs being short and crooked.
You will notice pretty quickly if this is a problem with your Havanese dog, as they will appear warped from the front. You will definitely need to consult your veterinarian and take X-rays. If a case is confirmed, your veterinarian will discuss how to proceed. Typically, there is no surgery required for this type of problem.
Deafness
Deafness is relatively common with Havanese dogs. It tends to take place more frequently when the dog is older. It is important to get your dog tested for deafness as they begin to age, or if they show signs of not being able to hear when you call to them. The test is very easy and only takes about 10 or 15 minutes.
Hip Dysplasia
If your Havanese is displaying pain or lameness in their hips, they may have hip dysplasia. This is an abnormality in the development of your dog’s hip joint. Hip dysplasia can exist either with clinical signs or without them. It generally happens on one or both of the rear limbs, and when untreated, severe arthritis can develop in the hip joint.
This is generally something that happens during the growth period, and if your dog is exhibiting pain after they are fully grown then you need to take them in to get tests done. The good news is that hip dysplasia yet can be treated if it is caught in time, either medically or surgically.
Read our article on Best Supplements for Dogs with Hip Dysplasia
Legg Perthes
As you may have noticed by now, hip joints can be a big problem for Havanese dogs. Legg Perthes, or LCP, can occur when the ball portion of your dog’s hip becomes damaged due to a lack of proper blood supply. The symptoms of this will appear generally between 5 and 12 months of age. You will see your dog limping, being in pain, and if untreated this can lead to arthritis.
This condition must be confirmed with X-rays. As for treatment, it really depends on the severity. There may be atrophy of the affected leg, and severe atrophy can slow your dog’s recovery considerably. They may need medical therapy and they may need surgical treatment to completely recover.
Liver Shunts
This is really the only internal issue that you might find with your Havanese dog. Luckily, clinical symptoms generally start to show prior to six months of age, so you may catch it early. The only problem is that with liver shunts, you may not notice any signs until much later in their life. If your dog is displaying loss of appetite, depression, lethargy, poor balance, blindness, weakness, or disorientation, you definitely need to see the vet and do some tests. Obviously, these symptoms are quite vague, so it is not easy to identify.
A liver shunt is what happens when blood bypasses the liver – which it definitely shouldn’t because the liver is there to clean toxins from the blood – and goes straight to the heart. What happens is the toxins will then build inside the bloodstream and cause serious damage.
An untreated liver shunt can lead to serious kidney disorders. The only good news is that a liver shunt is able to be treated often by a special diet. However, depending on where the shunt is located and what the severity is, your Havanese dog may need to go for surgery.
Up to You
Most of these medical issues you have no control over as an owner. There isn’t much you can do to stop hip problems or bone deformation. However, it is up to you to take your dog in to get them checked every year. This is something you should do annually. Always check for any of the medical problems mentioned above.
Pet insurance may cover some of these conditions, so if you are concerned about the cost related to these issues, check pet insurance plans and coverage for details.
