General Health Care

Chow Chows are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they can be prone to certain health conditions. It is important to be aware of the following diseases if you're considering this breed.

The following problems aren't common in the breed, but they may occur:

• Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) is a heritable condition in which the thighbone doesn't fit snugly into the hip joint. Some dogs show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs, but you may not notice any signs of discomfort in a dog with hip dysplasia. As the dog ages, arthritis can develop. Hip dysplasia is hereditary, but it can be caused by or worsened by environmental factors such as rapid growth from a high-calorie diet or injuries incurred from jumping or falling on slick floors. Health testing can be done on both the sire and the dam but this does not guarantee your puppy will still not susceptible to Dysplasia.   

• Entropion causes the eyelid to roll inward, irritating or injuring the eyeball. One or both eyes can be affected with either of or both the upper and lower eyelids rolling in. If your Chow Chow has entropion, you may notice him rubbing at his eyes and extra tear stains. The condition can be corrected surgically. This condition is inherent in the breed and can appear over night. A dog/puppy can be vet checked and cleared one day and have entropion the next. This is due to the deep set eye and structure of the the chows head, not because of "bad breeding".

      If the condition presents during early puppyhood, eye tacking may be possible- in any case your breeder should be your first contact with your       concerns.
                                                                                 
Surgery may be suggested and should be done by a vet familiar with chows, again consult your breeder as to the best vet to use for this procedure.