If you are looking for a little canine friend that is not prone to suffer from lots of genetically inherited health disorders, you would not go far wrong by choosing to get a Bolognese. These little dogs boast a very long lifespan that can be anything up to 18 years and they are considered to be one of the healthiest dogs of their size.

However, like many other pure breeds, the Bolognese may suffer from certain hereditary health issues although not as many of other pedigree dogs. Knowing a dog is more predisposed to a health disorder allows owners to pick up on the early signs of a problem sooner rather than later and as a rule of thumb, the earlier a condition is correctly diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome tends to be for the dog. Below is a list of health conditions more associated with the breed.

Hip Dysplasia

A condition that commonly affects these little dogs, hip dysplasia is caused by the abnormal development of the hip joint which typically occurs when dogs are still growing. Dogs with the condition tend to be extremely lame and in severe cases, arthritis sets in debilitating a dog's movement even more. Veterinary attention should be sought if you are at all worried about your dog because the sooner the condition is diagnosed, the sooner your pet would be made to feel more comfortable.

Luxating Patella

This is a condition that affects a dog's kneecaps where they become dislocated or slightly out of position. Although it is an hereditary condition that the Bolognese often suffers from, trauma and injury can also cause Luxating Patella. If the condition is very severe, a vet would recommend surgery to correct the problem.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Legg-Calve-Perthes disease affects the hip joint and is caused by an inadequate amount of blood reaching it. This results in the dog's femur bone weakening and the end result is that it collapses due to the cartilage around the joint becoming malformed or cracked. Clinical signs of a problem are quite obvious and includes the following:

• Limping
• Pain and discomfort

Vets typically take X-rays to establish whether a dog is suffering from the condition before recommending the right sort of treatment or therapy.

Peridontal Disease

Many of these little dogs suffer from dental issues due to the small size of their mouths which results in overcrowded teeth. Regular check-ups are essential so any dental issues can be treated and sorted out as soon as possible to avoid any unnecessary discomfort and to reduce the risks of secondary infections setting in.

Early Diagnosis is a Must

As with any type of disease or disorder, the earlier it is diagnosed the better the prognosis usually would be. With this said some disorders would need to be treated on a ongoing basis because there is no known cure for them. This would mean regular scheduled trips to the vet so your dog can be thoroughly examined and their condition assessed.

Living and Managing Congenital Disorders

It really does depend on the disease and its severity as to how a vet would want to manage and treat it. The most important thing is to make your dog comfortable as quickly as possible after which a vet would need to carry out a lot of test to establish what the problem is before recommending treatments and therapies.

Discussing Things with Breeders is Essential

It's really important to discuss any disorders with a breeder if you are thinking about buying a puppy. A reputable breeder would be more than happy to show you their breeding stock's bloodlines. Having this kind of information gives you peace of mind although genes responsible for a lot of hereditary disorders can skip generations which means there's no guarantee a puppy would not develop a genetic or congenital disorder.

Conclusion

The Bolognese is a healthy little dog although they are predisposed to developing a few hereditary and acquired health issues but not as many as other pedigree breeds. The sooner a condition is correctly diagnosed and treated, the faster dogs are made to feel more comfortable and as a general rule of thumb, the better the outcome tends to be for them. Another thing to bear in mind, is that no matter how well bred a dog might be, bad genes are able to skip several generations.