Do Lhasa Apsos have health problems?
Lhasa Apsos are generally a very healthy breed with a relatively long lifespan, but, like all dogs, may experience some health issues. Diseases to keep an eye out for include:
- Eye problems: Lhasa Apsos may experience cherry eye, a condition where a gland on the lower eyelid known as the third eyelid pops out and swells, causing a red oval mass on the inner corner of the eye, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a progressive degenerative disease affecting the retina that eventually leads to blindness
- Renal cortical hypoplasia: This inherited condition causes abnormal kidney development, resulting in improperly filtered toxins from the bloodstream. Though the progression of the disease can vary, renal cortical hypoplasia eventually ends in renal failure. Dogs with the condition will be excessively thirsty, need to urinate often, and may be small for their age.
- Sebaceous adenitis: This genetic skin disease causes very scaly, dry skin and hair loss
- Patellar Luxation: This is a common problem in many dog breeds that causes the knee joint to slide in and out of place.