Are bassets a healthy breed?
A. If acquired from a conscientious breeder, generally yes. Because of their anatomy, bassets can be prone to back and joint problems, particularly if they climb stairs on a regular basis or do extensive walking on hard surfaces like concrete. Bassets, like other large-chested breeds, can be affected by bloat, a twisting of the stomach that may be connected to the gulping of air while taking food or water and which must be treated immediately or else the dog will die. Genetic diseases in bassets are few but are serious, the main ones being glaucoma (build-up of pressure in the eye, leading to blindness and possibly removal of the eye); von Willebrand disease (where the blood does not properly clot, putting animals who scrape themselves or get cut at risk of bleeding to death); and thrombopathia (another disease in which the blood does not properly clot). Reputable breeders work hard to keep their bloodlines free of these genetic disorders by being personally familiar with each and ever
