| avanese is a rare and fine animal. Havanese health | | | | Some health problems are common to any breed of |
| problems can be kept to a minimum by utilizing the | | | | dog. You should keep your Havanese’s eyes |
| utmost in preventative care, namely regular cleaning of | | | | and ears clean to prevent infection or infestation with |
| eyes, ears and teeth and regular visits to a | | | | ear mites. Also, many puppies develop internal |
| veterinarian. Keeping your Havanese from ingesting | | | | parasites, such as worms. Regularly check your |
| foods that are harmless to humans but poisonous to | | | | pet’s coat for ticks and fleas. Even indoor |
| dogs (e.g., chocolate) is another everyday preventative | | | | animals can get them. Your veterinarian can provide |
| measure. Hereditary Havanese health problems can, in | | | | treatments for worms and can provide you with the |
| some cases, be prevented before an animal is born. | | | | best treatments for fleas. |
| Havanese are prone to vision, hearing, knee and hip | | | | Some Havanese health problems are genetic. |
| problems. Breeders are starting to test their Havanese | | | | Problems such as knee and hip dysplasia (dislocation), |
| for these problems and then not breeding the afflicted | | | | early onset cataracts, retinal atrophy and genetic |
| animals. Additionally, national registries maintain | | | | deafness tend to run in the Havanese breed. These |
| databases on these hereditary problems. Prevention | | | | problems are not fatal, but might affect the quality of |
| may not always be enough to ward away Havanese | | | | life for your Havanese. For instance, eye problems can |
| health problems. Sometimes you may need to find | | | | lead to blindness. You will want to make sure that your |
| emergency care for your Havanese. If you have an | | | | breeder has tested the sire (father) and dam (mother) |
| established relationship with a veterinarian, this will help. | | | | of the puppy you wish to purchase. Breeders should |
| He or she will probably have previously given you | | | | remove animals with eye or joint problems from their |
| instructions about how to contact his or her office in an | | | | breeding stock. |
| emergency. | | | | Prevention is worth many ounces of cure when it |
| You either have welcomed or will shortly welcome | | | | comes to Havanese health problems. You can prevent |
| your new Havanese puppy into your home. She will | | | | ear parasites by cleaning your Havanese’s |
| adore you completely. You will be a hero simply for | | | | ears once a week. (Ear mites are a particular problem |
| coming home from work. More importantly, your new | | | | for all floppy eared dog breeds—the Havanese |
| Havanese puppy will trust you completely. Her | | | | included). You can prevent eye infections by cleaning |
| wellbeing is entirely in your hands. In addition to | | | | your Havanese’s eyes once a week. Be sure |
| providing her with food, water and attention, you know | | | | that your Havanese does not ingest common foods |
| you want to do whatever it takes to keep her happy | | | | that you enjoy but that are poisonous to all dogs. |
| and healthy. Some health promotion measures are | | | | These foods include chocolate, caffeine, grapes and |
| things you would want to do for any puppy. Other | | | | raisins, tomatoes, onions, garlic, chives, nutmeg, and |
| health promotion measures come with the extra fur on | | | | walnuts. |
| the Havanese. | | | | Some pet owners forget to take their pet for regular |
| You will want very much to learn about common | | | | veterinary checkups. Don’t do this to your new |
| puppy health problems in general and common | | | | Havanese. Additionally, be sure to keep your |
| Havanese health problems in particular. You should | | | | veterinarians contact information handy in case you |
| also know about arranging regular veterinary care for | | | | need emergency care for your Havanese. You can |
| your Havanese puppy as well as how to arrange | | | | also take your Havanese to the nearest emergency |
| emergency care for your Havanese. Havanese care | | | | pet clinic. |
| is a new adventure in your life. | | | | |