| You are serious about learning more about how to | | | | sires, dams and puppies for these disorders. The |
| care for the Havanese puppy you wish to purchase. It | | | | Havanese Club of America recommends breeders |
| may have been many years since a dog has been in | | | | perform annual examinations of eyes, knees and hips, |
| your home, or perhaps this will be the first do you | | | | and hearing for their dogs. Eye test results are |
| have ever owned, or perhaps you have never spent | | | | registered with Canine Eye Registry Foundation |
| much time with small breeds. What questions will you | | | | (CERF) and knee and hip tests with the Orthopedic |
| want to ask your Havanese breeder before you | | | | Foundation for Animals (OFA). An honest breeder |
| commit to the purchase of a particular animal? What | | | | should be able to provide you with the results |
| simple, regular routines will you undertake to ensure | | | | concerning your Havanese. |
| your Havense's continued good health? What are the | | | | You are the first line of defense against Havanese |
| signs of health problems in any dog? What are the | | | | health problems. You should keep an eye on your |
| signs of particular Havanese health problems? | | | | Havanese and notice any changes in behavior or |
| Do you know what you would do if needed to arrange | | | | appearance. An animal that is usually lively and playful |
| emergency care for your Havanese? What should | | | | who becomes dull and listless may be unwell. A loss of |
| you do if your Havanese suffers an injury such as a | | | | appetite or weight may also signal illness. Regularly |
| broken bone? Do you know how to talk to your | | | | check your Havanese's coat for fleas and ticks. A |
| veterinarian about the injury? | | | | mass under the skin may be a sign of an abscessed |
| Havanese' tend to be long-lived and very healthy. | | | | wound and should receive prompt veterinary care. |
| However, you should know about common Havanese | | | | Keep your veterinarian's phone number readily |
| health problems that might affect your dog. Since all | | | | available in case you need to arrange emergency |
| Havanese in the United States can trace their | | | | care for your Havanese. If you need to transport your |
| ancestry to one of eleven animals, genetic Havanese | | | | Havanese to the veterinarian, be sure to do the |
| health problems can arise. Havanese' are prone to | | | | following. Muzzle the animal, because injured animals |
| displacement of leg bones (luxating patellas), genetic | | | | may bite even their owners. If you suspect a limb is |
| deafness, and eye problems. The problems are | | | | broken, wrap the limb in a towel and loosely tape it. Do |
| relatively rare and not fatal. Some of the leg problems | | | | not splint the limb. You can lift small dogs directly under |
| with the Havanese can be corrected for surgery, but | | | | their belly. For small dogs with a suspected neck, back |
| this will render the dog ineligible to compete in shows. | | | | or hip injury, lift the dog on a board. Lift large dogs on a |
| Luckily, Havanese breeders regularly test their stock of | | | | board. |