If you’re interested in the Miniature Schnauzer dog breed, you’ll likely want to know if these dogs have any health problems that these cute little pups could potentially suffer from.
Thankfully, our comprehensive guide has everything you might need to know about the health of Miniature Schnauzers and what to specifically look out for if you decide to purchase or adopt one.
If you get your Miniature Schnauzer puppy from a breeder with a good reputation who is known for producing healthy dogs, then your dog will likely not have many health problems.
However, this is not guaranteed, and your Miniature Schnauzer could be born with or develop one or more of these health problems over the span of their lives.
Below, we have listed 3 of the most common health concerns that you should look out for if you have a Miniature Schnauzer.
Urinary stones, which are also known as bladder stones, can make it difficult for your dog to urinate, cause them to have blood in their urine, and cause your dog’s urine to be foul-smelling, according to the Pet Health Network.
If a urinary stone ends up blocking your dog’s urinary tract, it could be life-threatening for them, so you should make sure to pay attention if your dog needs to urinate frequently. You can stop these stones from developing by changing your dog’s diet; however, they will still need to pass any stones that they have already developed with the help of a vet.
These stones are usually calcium oxalate stones, which form due to the body not handling calcium appropriately, or struvite stones, which are normally caused by bladder infections.
This hereditary disorder is one of the more recently discovered Miniature Schnauzer health problems. Miniature Schnauzer puppies born with this condition have muscles that contract too easily.
As these dogs grow older, their muscles will begin to bulge, and they may start to have trouble with walking and standing up. Their tongues will also become too large, and the shape of their jaws will change, which will make it difficult for them to swallow.
There is no cure for this disorder, as it is an inherited disease. However, a simple DNA test will be able to tell you whether the parents of a Miniature Schnauzer puppy will be affected by this disease or if they are a carrier and will pass the genes down to any puppies that they have.
Von Willebrand’s Disease affects the blood flow of your dog, and it will cause your dog’s blood to be unable to clot.
This disease can, unfortunately, not be cured, but it can be managed. Affected dogs will show symptoms such as blood in their excrement, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, and excessive bleeding during surgery.
Von Willebrand’s Disease can usually be diagnosed by the time your dog is between 3 and 5 years old. The way this disease is managed is by cauterising open wounds, blood transfusions before surgeries, and avoiding certain medications that could thin the blood.
Mini Schnauzers, like many other breeds, would definitely benefit from pet insurance, as this could allow you to afford any expensive surgeries that could otherwise cause you to need to put your dog down.
If you want to ensure that your Mini Schnauzer has a long and healthy life, then pet insurance can help you afford any medical care they might need over the span of their lives.
If you want effective pet insurance to cover your Mini Schnauzer or other dogs, you need to know exactly what you are covered for.
Effective pet insurance should not make you pay any excess, should at least pay up to 80% of your vet bills, and should allow you to claim between $11,000 and $20,000 per year.
A healthy Miniature Schnauzer puppy should grow up to live between 12 to 14 years old, provided that they receive adequate medical care and are fed quality, age-appropriate dog food throughout their lives.
Mini Schnauzers are generally healthy dogs, but owners should make sure to check that the breeder they plan to purchase their puppy has proof that the parents do not have any genetic diseases that they could pass on to their litter.
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