Considering a Malshi? What health and behavior issues to expect?

Every breed has some problems and some "quirks". Overall, I would consider Malamutes one of the breeds with less problems than some of the breeds that have become more popular. I have seen a number of skin problems with Malamutes, but have also seen bone cancer and everything inbetween. If you're concerned about health issues, my best recommendation is to contact your local rescue organization. They will be able to help discuss potential health issues in the breed as well as to discuss your adoption options. I have worked with one branch of this organization for years and they are wonderful! http://www.malamuterescue.org/index.php/rescue-affiliates/ Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Congratulations on your (potential) new addition! Small dogs can live up to 15 years of age, with some dogs living up to 18 or even 20. It truly depends on any underlying health conditions and how they are managed. In general, mixed breed dogs tend to be somewhat less susceptible to hereditary conditions. However, maltese can be predisposed to heart conditions such as valve abnormalities, ocular conditions such as glaucoma, and allergies. Terriers are a very broad category of breeds, but typically have the same predispositions. Please note that just because a dog is predisposed to something, does not mean that it will have the condition at any point in life. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

There are a number of things these breeds are prone to, and I will list a couple for each. Yorkies: -Legg-Perthes disease (a disease of the hip joint where there is inadequate blood supply) -Retinal dysplasia -Luxating patella -Collapsing trachea -Portosystemic shunt -Epilepsy Schnauzers: -Hip dysplasia -Elbow dysplasia -Osteochondritis -Cataracts -Retinal dysplasia -Hypothyroidism -Heart disease -Skin issues

Chihuahua are typically healthy dogs but a few common problems associated with the breed include patella luxations, collapsing trachea, and dental disease. The best thing would be to have him examined by a vet for a check-up to identify any abnormalities. I also recommend having him neutered.

It can be a medical or behavioral problem for her. Females are more prone to urinary infections and a common sign is frequent urination. Sometimes it can contain blood. A simple urine sample can determine if this is the cause and make sure there are no sines or crystals also. A round of antibiotics can clear this and just because she has it now, does not mean it will be a chronic battle or problem It can also indicate a behavioral problem such as urinating out of excitement, fear Or anxiety. This can be harder to treat but generally improves once she is in a safe, comfortable environment.

Oh my goodness, what cuties! Congratulations! While there are certainly problems that we know that are more common in certain breeds, we know less about whether or not mixes that are from those breeds are as likely to have these issues, or not. Certainly chihuahuas are prone to "small dog problems", such as luxating patellas (laxity in the kneecap) and dental disease are common, and in dachshunds back disease is a big problem, so these would be the first things I would worry about and want to do what's necessary to prevent. Tooth brushing and good weight management are key in these issues. Blue Heelers are hearty dogs and don't have a lot of hereditary problems but be careful with overfeeding because they are predisposed to obesity. Enjoy your new pets!

Two things come to my mind when I hear about rear legs giving way suddenly. I will address both separately. 1) Luxating patellas. This is a fancy name for loose knee caps. The groove the knee cap sits in is often shallow with smaller breed dogs, especially with the Yorkie or Maltese. The knee cap can slip in and out of place on its own quite readily in some dogs. It typically is not painful but can develop arthritis with time and this causes more irritation. What typically happens is the dog goes to step on the leg, the knee cap is not in place and they cannot place weight normally. Sometimes they do not place any weight on it, almost like a little skip, or they hold the leg up. The knee cap typically goes back into place on it's own or the dog kicks backwards and this puts it back into place. The arthritis can be managed with joint supplements or anti-inflammatories but typically the knee cap problem can only be fixed surgically and is only warranted in pets with severe trouble. 2) Bone injury -- without a known trauma, such as a fall or being hit by a car, a fracture is less likely. This causes the area to weaken and can suddenly become painful. It may not break but can be difficult to walk on. If this was the case, I would expect your dog to be painful if that area of his leg is touched. If you feel up and down his leg with pressure, does he seem painful? Do you feel any areas that are swollen?