Burden of poof: 10 medical perils in poodles

(Photo: Getty Images)Editor's note: Breed details are reprinted with permission from Medical, Genetic & Behavioral Risk Factors of Poodles. And you can click here for details on Dr. Clark's entire series on dog breeds.

Poodles have been getting mad love as a dog breed for a long time now. Historians trace their poofy-haired ancestors back to 1st century A.D. But even pet owners enamored of the look, the reputation or the history of these breeds should be clear about the dogs' peculiarities and genetic predispositions to medical issues. None of those issues have to make a loving pet owner question their love … just to be better-informed.

Let's dig into 10 interesting medical issues for poodles, first with toys and miniatures and then with standards.

(Photo Getty Images)

MINIATURE AND TOY POODLES

Red in tooth and claw

Miniature and toy poodles are documented to have deficiencies of several factors in the coagulation pathway.

• Prekallikrein deficiency has been associated with factor XII deficiency and may result in prolonged bleeding times but is usually subclinical.

• Factor VIII deficiency is inherited as an X-linked recessive trait, with males being affected and females being carriers. The severity of the clinical signs depends on the activity level of the factor present and ranges from spontaneous hemorrhage to lameness due to bleeding into joints and muscles.

A matter of the heart

Studies indicate that toy and miniature poodles are prone to develop myxomatous atrioventricular valvular degeneration. In poodles, the mitral valve appears to be most involved. Older poodles have been reported to have a higher incidence of atherosclerosis than most breeds. Severe hypothyroidism may increase the risk of this disease.

All ears

Atopic dermatitis is common in toy and miniature poodles. The condition can be a predisposing factor for secondary Malassezia dermatitis and otitis externa. The latter condition is also exacerbated by the heavy growth of hair in the ear canals. Poodles' chronic otitis externa can also result in otitis media.

A problem diversion

Portosystemic shunts have been reported in toy and miniature poodles. Portal blood is shunted to the vena cava without passing through the liver, allowing toxins to build up in the blood. Affected dogs show a failure to thrive and develop seizures due to hepatic encephalopathy.

The eyes have it

Epiphora or excess tearing occurs in toy and miniature poodles. It may be caused by microphthalmia (an abnormally small eyeball), distichiasis or trichiasis (abnormally located eyelashes), entropion (in-rolling of one or both eyelids), or even imperforate lacrimal punctum (the absence of the opening of the lacrimal duct at the medial lid margin).

In the case of imperforate lacrimal punctum, the result is a chronic discharge below the medial canthus. Surgical correction has been effective.

(Photo Getty Images)

STANDARD POODLES

Not a lotta clots

Factor XII deficiency and von Willebrand's disease are a particular problem in standard poodles. Von Willebrand's disease is characterized by the abnormally low production of a protein found in the blood called von Willebrand's factor, which plays a key role in the complex process of clotting a damaged blood vessel.

VetGen offers a DNA test for von Willebrand's disease in all varieties of poodle.

Sebaceous cases

Sebaceous adenitis is a significant problem in standard poodles. It is currently thought that 9% of poodles are affected and 42% are carriers. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) currently ranks the poodle first in its sebaceous adenitis database.

The disease is thought to be immune-mediated with a genetic predisposition that results in destruction of the sebaceous glands. The disease begins with hyperkeratosis, leading to alopecia. The coat is dull and brittle with silver-white scale. Lesions often begin on the face and spread along the neck and trunk.

Panel decision

Standard poodles have an increased incidence of hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease). The cause is most likely immune-mediated destruction of adrenal tissue. Clinical signs include lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and bradycardia. Hyponatremia and hyperkalemia can be seen on serum chemistry panels.

Gut instinct

Gastric dilatation-volvulus is a significant problem in standard poodles.

Bad hips

Hip dysplasia is a greater problem in standard poodles than other varieties because of their size and growth rate. The OFA lists 12.2% of all poodle hips examined as abnormal. This figure includes all varieties.

Breed details are reprinted with permission from Medical, Genetic & Behavioral Risk Factors of Poodles. And you can click here for details on Dr. Clark's entire series on dog breeds.