What are the health problems in Portuguese Water Dogs?
No breed of dog is free from genetic health disorders, and the Portuguese Water Dog is certainly no exception. The health issues of greatest concern within this breed include Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD), Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Storage disease (GM-1), and Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy (JDC). For detailed information on these diseases, please see the HEALTH ISSUES page of this web site. CHD, PRA, Storage disease, and JDC are only four of the countless genetic diseases found in purebred dogs. Because there are as many genetic diseases in dogs as there are found in humans, no breeder can guarantee an owner that his or her puppy will be completely free of genetic disease. However, a breeder can reduce the chances of producing genetic disease in the kennel line by being familiar with their stocks ancestors and subsequent potential disease risk. As a prospective owner, you can protect yourself by talking with your breeder about the frequency of occurrence of genetic disease in th
