Havapoo Breed Maintenance
Havapoos don’t require a huge amount of exercise, so short regular walks — one or two a day — are a great idea.
As far as grooming goes, they don’t need a great deal. Brush your Havapoo a few times a week and give it a bath every month or two. Do Havapoos shed? They don’t, not much. As mentioned, this makes them great for people with allergies, and it also means that your home will benefit from not being covered in fur.
Remember, especially because Havapoos can have problems with their ears, that you should discuss with a vet exactly how best to maintain your furry one’s ears. They might advise plucking hairs to minimize infection risk.
Havapoo health risks
No dog is guaranteed to always have perfect health, and, while you can expect your Havapoo to lead a long and healthy life if it’s cared for well (a typical Havapoo lifespan is around 10-15 years), the breed is particularly susceptible to some problems that include:
- Patellar luxation
- Hypothyroidism
- Deafness
- Addison’s disease
- Cataracts
- Epilepsy
Make sure you look after your Havapoo’s health as best as you can. Is your pet covered for all of these on your pet insurance? Compare top pet insurance providers in seconds.
Patellar luxation
Patellar luxation (often spelled ‘patella luxation’) is quite common in smaller dogs, particularly toy breeds. Usually hereditary, it’s a disorder that means that the kneecap is dislocated from the dog’s knee joint. It can be quite painful for the dog (graded from 1 to 4) and it is almost always the rear legs that are affected. Make sure that if your Havapoo has patellar luxation you take it to the vet to be treated.
Hypothyroidism
Not many toy-type breeds suffer from this condition but the Havapoo does. Hypothyroidism can be tricky to spot because the symptoms — which can be one of about 25 different things — will often lead vets in a different direction. The condition - often attributed to an underactive thyroid gland - causes the hormones in a dog’s thyroid to fall out of balance, slowing down the animal’s metabolism.
At its most serious, the condition can cause a dog to go into paralysis or even a coma. But it’s easily treated, so make sure you treat it and the symptoms will go away, allowing your dog to live its life freely.
Deafness
If your Havapoo is failing to respond to stimuli like squeaky toys and their name being called, they may well be suffering from some form of deafness or hearing loss. This is a problem that can be particularly common in Havapoos. A vet will need to look into your dog’s ear as soon as possible and check for any obstructions or tumors or inflammation, among other things. The condition is often temporary, especially if it has been caused by an infection, but if it’s contracted later in life, it may well be permanent; a sign that your dog’s nerves are degenerating as it gets older.Addison’s disease
It’s not just your Havapoo who might get Addison’s disease. The condition affects humans as well as dogs. If you notice that your dog has lost weight or appetite, has diarrhea or vomiting, or is feeling weak, you will need to look out for Addison’s. Your dog’s endocrine functioning won’t be taking place because its adrenal glands aren’t making enough hormones.
It’s a condition that is more common in female dogs and means that the balance in the animal’s metabolic and electrolytes can be adversely affected, making it harder for the dog to regulate the amount of water, salt and potassium in its body.
Cataracts
Here’s another one that can also affect humans, as we well know. An extremely common issue in dogs, cataracts are caused by the eye’s inability to hydrate the lens. The result of this problem is that the eye clouds up and afflicts the dog with partial (or sometimes total) loss of vision. So, if you notice any discoloration in the eye, or if your Havapoo is bumping into anything, stay alert. Left untreated, cataracts can get worse, of course, so make sure you have them treated when you can.
Epilepsy
It can be scary and very unpleasant when a dog suffers an epileptic shock. Occurring at any time, whether your dog is awake or asleep, an epileptic seizure might last between 30 and 90 seconds. Like many conditions, there is no one-size-fits-all explanation for why epilepsy might occur in a Havapoo but the problem could be an internal one, pertaining to its kidneys, for example, or it might be related to an infection or a brain tumor.
Your dog won’t be able to control its movements and it may even lose consciousness. When it is happening, keep your hands away from its mouth and speak to it gently. A vet might give the dog daily medication; is likely to do a blood test; and may supply intravenous diazepam if the seizures are particularly severe.
Feeding a Havapoo - what’s the best food?
Your Havapoo’s precise diet will depend on plenty of personal factors, including its exact size, but always try to provide it with a well-rounded diet that features real meat, vegetables, and perhaps fruit. Our trusted friends at Dog Food Advisor can advise you on the best nutrition for small-breed puppies and for small-breed dogs.
You do need to be mindful of exactly how much you feed your Havapoo, as the breed has a tendency to put on weight easily. In order to do this, pace things: don’t let the dog have access to the food whenever it likes; instead, divide the day’s food into two or three installments (this could rise when the animal is a puppy). Keep an hour free, either side of feeding time, before considering an offer of more food. This will reduce the risk of bloat.
