Already formally recognized by the Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club, Havanese dogs belong to a breed that makes for excellent companion dogs. The Havanese, in case you didn’t know, is the national dog of Cuba. A Havanese dog could be very smart, wanting to please its owner, and is of course affectionate. It is also great company for teenagers, unlike other small dog breeds that are inclined to snap at little children. You need to also know that the Havanese could be very reliable watchdogs.
There are some health issues with this breed you have to be informed about. That you must find out about these problems if you happen to’re seriously considering of adding this small dog to your loved ones.
Retinal atrophy – a condition that will render the afflicted Havanese blind
This breed is vulnerable to a condition called progressive retinal atrophy. On this condition, the Havanese’s retinas, or the tissue layer behind its eyes, degenerate. This condition, given time, can aggravate into complete blindness – there’s nothing one can do to stop the retinas (blood-rich tissues within the eyes) fro deteriorating.
What’s not obvious here is how painless the gradual tissue deterioration is to Havanese dogs. Over time, the dog’d vision dim until it fades completely, however the fading won’t hurt. Right away there isn’t a treatment or cure for the said condition. But when the dog breeder performs checks to stop his breeding use of dog with this condition, then this hereditary condition won’t be passed on. Because of this it might be expensive to purchase a genuinely bred, healthy dog from a breeder – a very good breeder isn’t easily found.
Juvenile cataracts – cloudy spots that reduce the dog’s vision
Senior dogs are often those affected by this conditions, for many breeds at the very least; but in Havanese, young ones can manifest signs of getting this. Whenever you spot a cloudy area on the Havanese’s eye lens, that is Cataracts. A small spot at first, this may grow over time. In lots of Havanese puppies, this condition might not be easy to identify. The dog will go blind over time if the Cataracts aren’t removed. Surgery is the one known option that works.
Patellar Luxation – or a slipped kneecap
Patellar Luxation, is a slipped kneecap, can also be common to Havanese dogs. Dogs with this condition are inclined to walk with pronounced, painful limp. As with the previous condition, surgery is the answer.
A Havanese could also suffer from malformed hip joints resulting in arthritis, ear infections, and eye infections, amongst other things. A very good breeder can have checked his puppies and dogs and can give you the obligatory documentation as per health checks are concerned.
