Health guides for dogs of all breeds and ages
the Netherlands's animal shelters, rescue associations and refuges save thousands of dogs, cats and other animals every year, almost always on tiny budgets and volunteer power. To build the most objective ranking possible, we analysed public Google reviews across more than 56 registered animal-prote…
Italy's animal shelters, rescue associations and refuges save thousands of dogs, cats and other animals every year, almost always on tiny budgets and volunteer power. To build the most objective ranking possible, we analysed public Google reviews across more than 121 registered animal-protection org…
Germany's animal shelters, rescue associations and refuges save thousands of dogs, cats and other animals every year, almost always on tiny budgets and volunteer power. To build the most objective ranking possible, we analysed public Google reviews across more than 152 registered animal-protection o…
France's animal shelters, rescue associations and refuges save thousands of dogs, cats and other animals every year, almost always on tiny budgets and volunteer power. To build the most objective ranking possible, we analysed public Google reviews across more than 89 registered animal-protection org…
Portugal's animal shelters, rescue associations and municipal centros de recolha save thousands of dogs, cats and other animals every year, almost always on tiny budgets and volunteer power. To build the most objective ranking possible, we analysed public Google reviews across more than 86 registere…
Yorkshire Terriers are one of the breeds most commonly affected by collapsing trachea, largely because their windpipe cartilage is naturally softer and more prone to weakening than in larger dogs. This means the rings of cartilage that hold the airway open can flatten during breathing, causing a cha…
Sphynx cats have little to no coat, which means the skin itself takes on jobs that fur normally does — insulation, oil dispersal, and barrier protection — leaving it prone to greasiness, blocked pores, fungal infections, and sunburn. The single most important thing to know is that a Sphynx's skin ne…
Scottish Folds carry a single genetic mutation that affects cartilage throughout the entire body, not just the ears that give the breed its name — this means joint and cartilage problems are not a random risk but a built-in possibility for every folded-ear cat. The single most important thing to kno…
Saint Bernards are among the breeds most vulnerable to bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus, or GDV) because of their deep, barrel-shaped chest and large body size, which allow the stomach to fill with gas and twist on itself. This is a genuine life-threatening emergency that can kill a dog within hou…
Shih Tzus are one of the breeds most prone to eye problems, largely because their large, prominent eyes and short, flat-faced skull shape leave the eye surface exposed and vulnerable to injury, dryness and infection. The single most important thing to know is that eye problems in this breed can wors…
Ragdolls carry a well-documented genetic predisposition to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common heart disease in cats, linked to mutations in the MYBPC3 gene that cause the heart muscle to thicken abnormally. This thickening makes the heart less efficient at relaxing and filling with b…
Poodles of all three sizes—Toy, Miniature, and Standard—carry a genuine breed predisposition to inherited eye disease, most notably progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and cataracts, both of which are linked to genes that run in Poodle bloodlines. The single most important thing an owner should know i…
Huskies carry several inherited eye conditions in their genes, most notably cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, meaning problems can develop even in young, apparently healthy-looking dogs. The single most important thing to know is that many of these conditions are silent in their early stage…
Dobermanns carry one of the strongest known genetic predispositions to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) of any breed, with certain gene mutations linked to weakening of the heart muscle over time. The single most important thing an owner can do is arrange regular cardiac screening from early adulthood o…
Cocker Spaniels are one of the breeds most prone to recurrent ear infections (otitis externa), largely because of their long, floppy, heavily-furred ears and narrow ear canals, which trap moisture, wax and debris in a warm, poorly-ventilated environment where bacteria and yeast thrive. The single mo…
Chihuahuas are one of the breeds most commonly affected by luxating patella, largely because their small size and conformation predispose them to shallow knee grooves and looser supporting ligaments. The single most important thing to know is that a wobbly or skipping back leg is rarely an emergency…
Cane Corsos are one of the large, fast-growing molosser breeds in which hip dysplasia is genuinely common, because their rapid puppyhood growth and heavy adult frame put enormous strain on hip joints that are already genetically prone to developing loosely. The single most important thing to know is…
Bengal cats carry a breed-specific, inherited form of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) caused by a recessive gene mutation that leads to gradual, permanent loss of vision, usually starting in a cat's early-to-middle years. There is no cure, but the single most important thing an owner can do is ask…
British Shorthairs are one of the breeds in which hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is seen more often than average, and genetics appear to play a role in at least some affected lines, though the specific mutations responsible have not been identified in this breed as they have in Maine Coons and Ra…
Border Collies have a genuine, breed-recognised predisposition to idiopathic epilepsy, believed to involve inherited factors passed down within certain lines, meaning seizures can appear even in young, otherwise healthy dogs with no clear cause. The single most important thing to understand is that …
Boston Terriers are one of the breeds most prone to eye trouble because of their flat faces and large, prominent eyes, which leave the cornea exposed and vulnerable to injury, dryness, and ulceration. The single most important thing to know is that eye problems in this breed can progress from mild t…
Beagles are one of the breeds most commonly affected by ear infections because their long, floppy, low-set ears trap warmth and moisture over the ear canal, creating an ideal environment for yeast and bacteria to multiply. The single most important thing to know is that ear infections in Beagles are…
Rottweilers are among the breeds most commonly affected by hip dysplasia because of their heavy, fast-growing frames combined with a genetic predisposition inherited from their working-dog ancestry. The single most important thing an owner should know is that early recognition and careful management…
Labrador Retrievers are one of the breeds most likely to become overweight, thanks to a combination of a hearty appetite, a genetic quirk affecting appetite regulation, and their food-motivated, easy-going nature. The single most important thing an owner should know is that keeping your Labrador lea…
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