The Havanese is a breed of very sociable, affectionate, intelligent, energetic, and easy to train dogs. Their average life expectancy is 13 – 16 years and they are generally healthy and resilient, but like all other dogs, Havanese have certain health problems to which they are susceptible and which we have listed below. Please keep in mind that this doesn’t mean that every Havanese will develop the health issues listed below, but their breed has a history of developing them.
Common Health Issues in Havanese
The health issues that have been reported in Havanese dogs over the years:
- Orthopedic issues: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, chondrodysplasia/dwarfism, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, arthritis, patellar luxation
- Skin problems: allergies, granulomatous sebaceous adenitis
- Eye disorders: cataract, retinal detachment, retinal dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), persistent pupillary membrane (PPM), blindness
- Heart diseases: heart murmur, mitral valve insufficiency, hypertension, heart failure, hepatic microvascular dysplasia
- Lymphocytic thyroiditis
- Hepatic encephalopathy
- Liver disease
The health problems we listed above are not ranked according to any specific criteria, which means that issues at the top of the list do not occur more often than the ones listed below. Some of the mentioned health issues can be prevented by a special diet and limited exercise. They stand out strongly in sports competitions for their agility and tricks. Make sure that your dog has the optimal amount of physical activity each day and avoid feeding him the food you eat because Havanese dogs get used to human food very easily.
Havanese dogs are suitable for apartments or smaller houses. You should not leave them alone at home for too long because they have a tendency to become anxious.
The Havanese breed was declared the national breed of Cuba because in the 1800s these dogs were faithful companions of the members of the aristocratic society of Cuba. If you haven’t had a dog before and Havanese is your first choice, you will not regret it because Havanese are good house dogs and they are great with children. Those who are just thinking about getting this dog should do so from a responsible breeder who owns the health clearances of a puppy’s parents.