Do Teddy Bear Dogs Have Health Problems?

Dogs are lovely, and most people would agree with that statement. However, a particular breed currently has the spotlight, and it’s none other than teddy bear dogs!

A teddy bear dog is a general and one of the few names of the Shichon breed. This dog is the Bichon Frise and Shih Tzu offspring, which gave them the traits that made them look like a soft, teddy bear in our eyes.

What makes them great?

Teddy bear dogs are known to be intelligent and affectionate puppies, along with an outgoing personality. These attributes contribute to their ability to get along with a lot of people. This led them to be a favorite breed for households looking for an addition to their families.

The highlight of their features is their coat colors, which could vary on black, brown, cream, silver, chocolate, and even a mix of all these colors with some patches.

Additionally, teddy bear dogs are also known to be great pets for individuals living on their own or in an apartment. These animals typically mature in height between 9 to 12 inches with the possible weight from 9 up to 15 pounds, allowing them to take up a small space in a home.

Aside from this, they tend not to shed too much, so they’ll rarely trigger their owners’ allergies. Though, regular brushing of their coat is necessary to prevent the hair from being matted. Moreover, these puppies would need a frequent amount of time to chase, walk in the park, and playing fetch is recommended to maintain their healthy body weight.

Not only that, but teddy bear dogs sometimes serve as companions for senior citizens due to their gentle nature and presenting themselves as emotional support and therapy animals. Unexpectedly, they are not barkers and would prefer to sit on their human’s lap for an extended period.

Common health issues

Despite the efforts of both the veterinarians and owners of this breed, teddy bear dogs could still succumb to various diseases, such as cataracts, sensitive skin allergies, Cushing’s disease, chronic dry eye, gum disease, and patellar luxation. These health issues are believed to have been inherited by these dogs from their parents so that regular veterinary check-ups could detect these illnesses early on.

What can you do as an owner?

Teddy bear dogs incline to overeat, which could lead them to reach beauty in some cases. And even their high-energy activities aren’t able to reduce all these fats from their tiny bodies.

It’s best to request a piece of advice from your dog’s veterinarian in setting your pet’s dietary plans, as their regular feeding schedule could differ from their puppyhood up to their maturity as a full-grown dog.

Your vet could then have the opportunity to assess the factors that could affect your dog’s diet plan and your dog’s diet plan that will suit its lifestyle and health status.

And even though you might be tempted to give in to the puppy eyes of your pet, it’ll be better for all if you’’ stray away from giving them treats more than you should.