All dogs have health problems, whether hereditary or acquired. Compared to other breeds, the Norwegian Buhund is considered a naturally healthy breed. Because it is a hardy breed with good resistance against diseases, it does not get ill as often as other dogs.
One of the basic measures to ensure the health of your Norwegian Buhund is regular checkups at the vet. You should bring your dog for vaccination and health tests once a year. A Buhund is prone to ear and eye infection, but if you check its eyes and ears regularly, such illnesses can be easily taken care of.
The main health problem for the Norwegian Buhund is the hereditary incidence of cataracts. This problem doesn't happen to many Buhunds, but in some cases, the pups are heavily affected if their parents have the condition. To find out if your Norwegian Buhund is suffering from cataracts, a special eye examination for dogs can be arranged. Cataracts result from a recessive gene, and if such a gene is present in a dog, it is hard to make sure that its puppies will be free from the disease. You should bring your pup for eye examination as early as six weeks old, even if its parents have a certificate to prove that they don't have this health problem. Fortunately, dogs with cataracts can still lead a normal life, and the illness does not result in any physical defect.
Norwegian Buhunds that were introduced in the United Kingdom 40 years ago had some noticeable health issues like epilepsy and hip dysplasia, which is a common illness among Scandinavian dogs. If you worry that your Buhund may have hip dyslapsia, you should bring it to the vet for a checkup. Dogs that are diagnosed with this disease will be monitored by the vets so that the condition will not be passed on to their offspring.
Usually, older dogs are more prone to common ailments. To keep your Norwegian Buhund healthy during its old age, you can make use of supplement diets and certain preventative measures that are available. The common lifespan of a pet dog is between 10 to 12 years, and it will hit old age when it is 8 years old. Of course, if you take good care of your Buhund, it will live longer, maybe even up to 13 or 14 years old.
The health of your Norwegian Buhund depends on how well you take care of it. It is rather fortunate that the common health problems of the Buhunds are not life-threatening. With the right diet, maintenance, vaccination, and regular checkups, your Norwegian Buhund should live a long and healthy life. Also, remember that happiness also contributes to your dog's health.
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