Yes we all have health concerns. Humans need glasses, have arthritis, diabetes, thyroid problems  and are affected by many diseases, so are dogs whether they are a purebred or a mixed breed. Some of these illnesses are genetic others are influenced by the environment.

Health Issues in Poodles

All of the varieties (toy, miniature and standard) are not affected with the same health concerns.
These issues are not meant to keep you from enjoying a poodle, information is presented to help poodle owners find the best treatment for their poodle in conjunction with their veterinarian.

Addison's, Chronic Active Hepatitis, Bushings, Ear Care, Eyes, Epilepsy, Gastric Dilation - Valveless (Bloat), Heart, Hip Dysplasia, Hypothyroidism, Legg-Calve-Perthes, Patella Luxation, PRA, Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, Sebaceous Adenitis (SA), Von Willebrand's disease (vWD)
You can learn more at The Poodle Club of America


Health Testing

A good breeder strives to breed healthy dogs. One of the tools they can use is health testing on the parents prior to breeding a litter. Toy, miniature and standard poodles do not have all of the same health concerns.

Health testing results may be publicly posted on one of the health registries.

CERF is for eye disease.
OFA is for hips, elbows and heart and other screenings.
OVC is the certifying body in Canada
PennHip is for hip certification
CHIC is for a variety of disease for which there is a genetic test or health screening at this time and also includes results from CERF, OFA, and PennHip .
Poodle Club of Canada health registry.

Von Willdebrand's disease has a true genetic test. This is a recessive gene, which means both parents must contribute the gene to produce a puppy with Von Willdebrand's. If one parent is a carrier and the other is clear of the disease the resulting puppies will not have the disease.

PRA is an eye disease which has a  genetic test. Dogs are given a ranking of A, B or C. A is clear a non- carrier, B is a probable carrier and C is affected with this eye disease.  All dogs who are affected should be spayed or neutered. This eye disease is most common in toy and miniature poodles.

There are two kinds of test.

1. A true genetic test for which a gene has been located that causes a specific disease.

2. A health screening tells you the health status of the dog at the time it was tested. This is only a snapshot in time and does not tell you if the dog will or will not develop a disease itself or produce a puppy with that disease. Example - thyroid testing tells you that the thyroid is healthy on a specific date. The dog may later develop a thyroid problem. Or it may produce a puppy with a thyroid problem. A good Breeder screens for health issues prior to breeding, it gives them the best chance to produce a healthy dog.

Hint - Not all illness has a genetic cause. The exact mechanism that causes illness is not always known. Environmental influences may also contribute to illness. The medical community has considerable research to do.
Consider donating to a research project.

Example of a poodle with health testing. Follow the health link to the CHIC website. You can also see test results for parents and siblings.  
    Health Testing

Health screenings are only a snapshot in time and tells you the health status of the dog at the time it was tested. There are a limited number of genetic test that are conclusive and help breeders eliminate a disease.

Health testing tells you a breeder is trying to eliminate disease. A breeder must listen to the results and when they are aware that a puppy they produced has developed a health problem re-evaluate their breeding program.

Hint - Breeders do not know every disease that their dogs may produce, just as people do not know about their future children. It is about making the most informed decisions they can.

Testing recommended by CHIC
(Canine Health Registry)
Standard Poodles

Miniature Poodles

Toy Poodles

How Can You as A Poodle Owner Help Breeders produce health dogs?

You can help by entering your poodle into the poodle database. If your poodle has a health issue please add that information. If your poodle has lived a long and healthy life please add that information to the database.

PoodlePedigree.Com

Toe Cancer Registry

Add your poodle to the Poodle Club of Canada's health survey below.

How can you help researchers find answers?

Donate to dog research.

Rabies Challenge Fund

Poodle Club of America

Poodle Club of Canada

Please add your poodle to:
Poodle Club of Canada's Health Survey 
Open to all Poodles Around the World

Click here  
Our Survey is aimed at a worldwide statistical look at the health of Poodles.  Individual owners can also use their dog's record to keep track of shots, etc, and can print off the record.  Owners with dogs which have one or more diseases can volunteer to participate in research studies, thus making the task of finding suitable research subjects easier for the researchers.

Health information and links

Addison's is a disease of the adrenal glands it's common name is hypoadrenocorticism. Addison's support group and more information click here

Bloat is a life threatening emergency situation. If you suspect your dog has bloat take it to your veterinarian right away. For symptoms and more information click here. Bloat is more common in deep chested dogs like the standard poodle. Learn more click here.

Cardiac disease are disease or malformation of the heart which may be congenital (from birth) or develop later in life. More info. click here.