No breed is without its health issues, and that includes Standard Poodles. A reputable breeder with the best interests of the breed at heart will be happy to provide you with information on the health certifications of their dogs PRIOR to the purchase of a puppy. Selecting a puppy from a reputable breeder doesn't guarantee you will never have a problem, but it certainly gives you an advantage.

Click HERE to view a number of very useful files that you may download for your own use.

Here's more information to put in your "data bank" of research towards your ultimate goal - - being owned by a Standard Poodle! I could type huge amounts of information on the health issues of Standard Poodles, but it doesn't get much more complete than the information supplied on the Poodle Club of America website. I encourage you to browse the PCA site, and thoroughly read the information there on health issues in poodles. Don't let this information keep you from owning a poodle – these are just health problems that can appear in the breed, and things you should simply be aware of so that you can provide for the future health of your puppy.

The typical certifications you will receive from Standard Poodle breeders will be eye certifications, SA testing, OFA testing ratings for hips and sometimes elbows, vWD testing, often thyroid and heart screenings. Some breeders may supply others, but these are most usual, and the bare minimum testing to make a good decision should include eyes, hips, SA. Then it’s up to your good judgment, good research, and good questions to give you the best possible feeling you can have that you are dealing with an honest, reputable breeder before making the decision to purchase a puppy from that breeder. Ask as many questions as you need to satisfy yourself. Many breeders will also offer some form of limited health guarantee. In my personal opinion, a breeder who avoids answering direct questions about health issues should be crossed off your list. Having a health issue occur in a dog or its offspring is nothing to be embarrassed about - - continuing to breed a dog that has produced a lot of health issues should be. It is irresponsible and puts the future of the breed at risk.

 



 

Poodle Club of America
http://poodleclubofamerica.org/all-about-poodles/health-concerns

Health Issues in Poodles - Many issues concern poodle breeders today, some of which affect only one of the varieties and some of which occur in the breed as a whole. Our site will provide some insight to the topics that are of concern to Poodle owners.

Links to organizations dealing with these problems can be found on our links page. One way that you can make a difference with these issues is by giving to the PCA Foundation, which is working hard to further the understanding of the diseases, genetic anomalies and injuries which affect these dogs.
 



TO SPAY OR NOT TO SPAY, NEUTER OR NOT TO NEUTER
(IMPORTANT NOTE:  This article was written by a veterinarian, and the points are very valid, but the article does not address the health repercussions of early spay/neuter which are significant.  Please read the articles on the "Downloads For You" page of this site for more information.  Standard Poodles should not be spayed or neutered until at least one year old, if not later. Veterinarians generally start promoting spay/neuter at six months, which may be fine for small breeds, but NOT for large or giant breed dogs, especially those breeds prone to hip dysplasia issues.) 

Animal welfare groups urge pet owners to act responsibly in the face of pet overpopulation problems and to have their pets spayed or neutered. Others point out the headache and cost of raising and placing a litter of puppies or kittens. While both of these arguments are valid, I think one of the most important reasons for having a pet altered is often overlooked. Spaying and neutering assures your pet numerous medical benefits.  In fact, from a medical standpoint, spaying/neutering is second only to regular veterinary care as a means of providing your pet a long, healthy life.

The "natural" behavior patterns of unneutered male dogs—meant to ensure their dominance and survival in the wild—become a medical liability when living in an unnaturally crowded environment. Male dogs tend to roam, increasing their chances for injury by an automobile; and they also tend to fight, necessitating medical care for wounds and infections.

Neutering not only diminishes the likelihood of these medical problems, but also decreases or eliminates many of the illnesses that intact male dogs are prone to later in life. Among these are diseases of the prostate, testicles, and other tissues that are influenced by male hormones. Testicular and perianal gland cancers are the second and third most frequently diagnosed tumors in the older intact male dog. And over 90 percent of all perineal hernias occur in intact male dogs. Treatment for all these conditions includes neutering. Performing this operation on an older male dog is always a greater risk than it is on a younger dog.

Unspayed female dogs have much the same story as their male counterparts. Giving birth to a litter of pups or kittens is a stressful proposition under the best of circumstances, and most animals take weeks or months to recover their full vigor after weaning. Left unspayed, many of these females produce yet another litter before this recovery has elapsed. They can become thin, weak and debilitated. Consequently, they are more susceptible to parasites and disease.

If a female dog is spayed, all her energies can go toward protecting her own health. Further, if she is spayed when she is young before her second heat—it will lessen the possibility of her developing mammary gland cancer later in life. This is a very common cancer in older intact female dogs, and the most common cancer to spread to the lungs.  Benign mammary masses, which should be removed,  are common in older, unspayed females.

Spaying also entirely eliminates diseases of the ovaries and uterus; infections of the uterus are the major cause of illness in older unspayed female dogs and cats. These infections are so serious that spaying is generally recommended, as well as antibiotics. Just as in the males, this operation is much less risky on a healthy young female than on a sick and older one.

To help ensure your pet a longer and healthier life, and to keep your veterinary costs to a minimum, have your pet spayed or neutered.