Here is a list of common health concerns for Newfypoos. Many of these are common for all breeds of puppies, some are more specific to either the Newfoundland or the Poodle.
Allergies
Allergies are becoming more and more common in all breeds of dogs these days and Newfypoos are no exception. The Newfoundland Dog breed is prone to allergies especially of the skin. Some common symptoms are, itching, dry skin, break outs, licking paws, eye infections, ear infections, gastrointestinal troubles. If you dog is having allergy symptoms I recommend considering the following. .....
1) Avoid all chicken based foods, treats and chews. Try a lamb or fish based food. Chicken dogs foods are a major trigger for allergies in all breeds. Check if the dog is having a reaction after a certain chew such as rawhide or bully sticks etc., both these chews are known to cause many reactions. Make certain your treats are free of allergy inducing ingredients. Stick to a freeze dried salmon for training treats:) And try a Sensitive skin and stomach food like pro plan Salmon SSS as these are designed to be easy on the system.
2) Get a good probiotic!!!!!! I like Forti Flora from Pro Plan. Good gut health goes a long way in reducing allergic reactions.
3) Do not over bathe. I recommend no more than every 4-6 weeks at the most. Otherwise you risk stripping away all the good bacteria from the skin and coat. Also use a non irritating, scent free shampoo. Make CERTAIN you rinse the shampoo thoroughly (groomers are notorious for leaving it on the underbelly) and dry the dog COMPLETELY to avoid yeast setting in. If outbreaks are occurring within the week after grooming...talk with you groomer! I also like the VETERICYN PLUS antimicrobial spray when outbreaks do happen. This seems to sooth the skin quickly.
4) Watch your laundry soap. Harsh soaps such as Tide etc. can cause severe breakouts in dogs. These detergents do not rinse out clean and can rub off on the dogs underbelly and armpits causing a breakout.
5) Check any furniture sprays, cleaning supplies, perfumes, candles, air fresheners, etc. the dog may be having a reaction to. Remember they are MUCH more sensitive to these things in their environment than we are!
6) Know that most dogs will outgrow their reactions with maturity. They tend to be at their worst during the rapid growth of puppyhood.
Ear Infections
Ear infections are quite common in all floppy ear breeds, Newfypoos are no exception. Some occur due to trapped moisture in the a ears, some are due to allergic reactions, some are from grooming procedures( yes, ear plucking can cause open sores in the ears leading to infection). Using the Dr. Bens ear tonic recommend on the "getting ready" page will greatly help in keeping your dogs ears healthy.
Eye Troubles/Infections
All of our Newfoundlands have healthy well set eyes. Crossing them with a poodle can greatly diminish the possibility for Newfoundland related eye problems. That said, some puppies will still have issues and some eye problems are prevalent in both breeds. Watch for excessive tearing, excessive eye "gunk", reoccurring eye infections, etc. If you are having any of these problems with your pup seek veterinary treatment. Although the vast majority of puppies will have most eye issues resolve with age and the maturing of the face and skull, some need early treatment to avoid complications long term. You can read the link below for more information on Newfoundland related eye problems such as Entropion, Ectropion, and Cherry Eye.
http://www.newfoundlanddog-health.org/page26.html
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
The larger and thicker the dog breed, the more prone to Dysplasia they become. The Newfypoo is no exception. Hip and elbow dysplasia are multifactorial diseases. Over the past 30 years there has been great progress in reducing the occurrence of the disease by OFA certification of hips and elbows of parents before breeding. But although all our breeding dogs are certified, statistically some of our puppies will still be affected. Environmental factors also play a huge role in this. From the type of food a puppy eats while growing to the type of exercise they get daily and their weight as a growing puppy. Too many factors for a breeder to control. This is one category where we do have a limited(first year of life), genetic guarantee for your pup. You can see the heath guarantee section for more. I recommend the following to keep your puppy healthy long term...
1) Keep your puppy thin!!!! An overweight pup is at HUGE risk for long term joint issues. Their weight during their rapid growth phase(before one year of age) is the biggest determining factor. Make certain you can very easily feel their ribs. Have your vet show you how to do this!
2) Feed a high quality food for "all ages" or "large breed puppies". Do NOT feed a regular puppy food. This will result in RAPID growth and damage to joints long term. Remember slow and steady growth is the friend of healthy joints!!
3) A good daily walk at "heel" is the best exercise. Also best to do this on soft surfaces (dirt or grass) when the pup is young. A walk at heel daily keeps good muscle tone to help growing and mature joints stay in their proper place. Dog parks, doggie daycare, fetch and other free play areas can cause damage to growing joints. While playing with other puppies is important, it should be done in short increments and not as the primary source for exercise. Not to mention all the horrible habits and behavioral issues that spring up from long term dog park/daycare frequency:((( another post on that some day!
4) Watch the slippery floors!!! Make sure you are not playing with your pup on slippery surfaces where they have no traction. This puts serious stress on the growing joints. This is even more important for you pups playing "fetch" in the house etc. Make sure they have good traction!
5) Wait to spay and Neuter. Every pup from our program whose owner was talked into early spay and neuter by their vet( before 6 months of age) ended up with joint issues in adulthood!!! WAIT until they are old enough for their hormones to help close the growth plates!!!!
Inverted Vulva (Females)
This can also be called "recessed vulva". This condition is also very common in all puppies but Newfoundlands are prone due to their massive size. Most cases are not even recognized by owner or vet and resolve on their own with growth or heat cycle. Females that are larger seem to be more prone during their rapid growth phase and it typically shows up between 8-16 weeks of age. This is due to all the excess skin they are meant to grow into with time.
One common side affect may be bladder infection which should be treated by your veterinarian.
Inverted vulva will almost always resolve itself during the first heat cycle when the vulva is enlarged due to hormonal factors. Again it is also important to keep your female pup thin as extra fat in the area can make the condition worse. And do not spay until after the first heat cycle!! Some cases may need home care such as wiping the area clean daily to prevent infection. In very rare/extreme cases during spay the extra skin will be surgically removed. Again I would recommend you only consider this after the first heat cycle.
Undescended Testicle(Males)
This is common in all puppies. It will usually be detected by vet at their 7 week check up and the new puppy owner will be notified of the condition. The condition is fixed at the time of neuter when both testicles are removed. A puppy with an undescended testicle should not remain in tact into adulthood.
Other Common Health Concerns
Here is also a much more comprehensive list of Newfoundland specific health issues at this link below..
Here is a more comprehensive list of possible Poodle related health issues below....
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