Health issues in small breed dogs

Small-breed dogs certainly have big personalities; sometimes, being adorable can come with a price. From whiffy anal glands to kneecaps that like to pop out of place, our pint-sized pups sometimes need a little extra love. With the right care, good nutrition and regular veterinary check-ups, your little sidekick can stay happy, healthy and full of sass for years to come.

Anal glands

Let’s start with the back end first: anal glands. Signs of anal gland problems include scooting, bum-licking, and a foul, metallic or fishy smell. Certain breeds, such as Pugs, Lhasa Apsos, and Maltese Terriers, seem more commonly affected.

Sounds gross, what are anal glands?

Anal sacs, or anal ‘glands’ are two small bubble-like structures just inside your dog’s bum. A smelly oily material is stored in the sacs and excreted on the poo as it passes through the rectum. It’s all part of your doggo marking their territory.

When do anal glands become a problem?

These sacs can become impacted or infected. If the secretions become too thick, this can mean the sacs do not empty properly, and they become blocked or ‘impacted’ causing pain and infections. In these cases, because of their anatomy, small dogs will need some help by having their anal sacs emptied or ‘expressed’ manually by a veterinarian or skilled pet parent. More severe cases might need antibiotics. If you want to know more, read our blog post on anal glands.

What to do about anal gland issues

In addition to regularly expressing every few weeks, changing to a high-fibre diet can help, such as Petzyo’s Kangaroo & Sweet Potato dry food recipe. Fibre can help produce a bulkier stool, emptying the sac as it passes through. There are also fibre supplements available on the market, and your vet can recommend a product for you.

Knee problems (luxating patella)

Medially luxating patella: it’s a mouthful, but it is quite common in small and toy-breed dogs. Their kneecap flicks out of the socket and gets stuck. Little dogs with patella luxation will do a little skip and hop on with three legs, holding one of the back legs up. They then do a bit of a jiggle and return to walking normally when the kneecap flicks back into position. This makes walking uncomfortable and can cause pain from joint degeneration.

What can be done to help a dislocated kneecap?

Your vet will assess your dog by giving them a Grade of 1 to 4 based on the severity. It’s recommended that surgery be considered in Grade 2 affected dogs to prevent progression to joint injury and pain with the higher grades.

How can diet help my dog’s joints?

Joint support supplements can help ease and slow the progression of osteoarthritis, but they’re no substitute for surgery. Our Salmon & Oceanfish dry food is formulated with natural anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil and therapeutic levels of green-lipped mussels to specifically target arthritic joint pain and stiffness.

Keeping your small breed dog at their optimal weight can help relieve stressors on the joints. Our dog food calculator is a helpful place to check you’re feeding the optimal portion sizes to your pooch.

Eye issues

Dry-eye

Small and brachycephalic (squish-faced) dog breeds like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Shih Tzus and Pugs are prone to a condition called keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye). Dry eye is a condition where the eye doesn’t produce enough tears leading to dryness, irritation and thick gunky discharge (eye goobies). Treatment usually involves lifetime prescription eye drops and artificial tears.

Cataracts

In their senior years, Jack Russel Terriers, Chihuahuas and Toy Poodles can develop cataracts. Cataracts are a clouding of the lens and sadly cause gradual vision problems affecting their day-to-day life.

My dog is starting to develop cataracts, is there anything I can do?

Specialised veterinary ophthalmologists can perform cataract surgery to restore vision. This procedure is complex and can be quite expensive. Regular vet check-ups, coupled with a balanced diet rich in eye-supporting nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids can help maintain their ocular health. Vitamin E, omega fatty acids and beta-carotene in our raw food recipes provide antioxidants that may slow the progression of cataract formation for your tiny pooch.

Heart murmurs

The most common form of heart disease in small breed dogs such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Dachshunds and Pomeranians is a heart murmur caused by Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). A heart murmur is a term that describes the abnormal whooshing sound of blood flowing through your dog’s heart. Early detection through regular veterinary check-ups can help manage its symptoms and slow its progression through medications.

Heart murmurs usually get worse with age and can cause coughing, exhaustion and heart failure. You may notice that your dog tires easily on walks and is breathing faster than usual.

How can I manage my dog’s heart murmur?

A veterinarian, or specialist veterinary cardiologist, may prescribe lifelong medications to help. At home, keeping your doggo at a healthy weight, and feeding a balanced diet rich in heart-supporting nutrients like taurine and omega-3 fatty acids can all support heart health. Check your dog’s portion size using Petzyo’s dog food calculator.

While some small-breed dogs may have their fair share of quirks, being aware and staying on top of their health can help your tiny companion live their best, sassiest life. A few extra vet trips (and maybe a little bribery with treats) can be balanced with plenty of cuddles, zoomies and an unshakeable belief that they’re the biggest dog in the dog park.