Do Portuguese Water Dogs have a lot of health problems?
Portuguese Water Dogs are a healthy breed with a relatively long lifespan, but they are prone to certain genetic disorders given near-extinction in the 1930s and a limited gene pool:
- Hip and/or elbow dysplasia: Hip and elbow dysplasia are two of the most common skeletal diseases seen in dogs. They are similar diseases in which either the hip or elbow joint has grown abnormally or is misshapen. The abnormal shape prevents the joints and sockets from adequately meeting one another, resulting in rubbing and grinding instead of sliding smoothly. Though the main complication with hip dysplasia is joint instability, the abnormalities present in elbow dysplasia often result in pieces of bone and/or cartilage breaking loose and irritating the joint tissues. Over time, the rubbing from dysplasia can cause a variety of issues, such as pain, lameness, and secondary osteoarthritis. Surgery can be done to fix the joint if diagnosed before the onset of arthritis.
- Eye problems: Portuguese Water Dogs may develop glaucoma, a disease that causes excessive pressure on the eye, damages the optic nerve, and eventually leads to vision loss and blindness; cataracts, a common eye condition that causes cloudiness in the eye and obstructs vision; and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a progressive degenerative disease affecting the retina that eventually leads to blindness.
- Gangliosidosis: This genetic disorder is caused by an enzyme deficiency. The deficiency affects the nervous system and may cause tremors, odd gait, and involuntary eye movements. This condition is progressive and eventually results in death, but there are screenings available.
- Others: Portuguese Water Dogs may also develop gastric dilatation-volvulus, a sudden, painful, and life-threatening swelling and twisting of the abdomen, as well as ear infections due to their floppy ears.