Poodle joints, weight and aging: what to watch and when

What a Poodle owner should watch depends on the size. In Toy and Miniature Poodles it is the knees, the hips in the first year, and the teeth. In Standard Poodles it is the hips, bloat and Addison's disease.

What is a Poodle built for?

The Poodle began as a duck-hunting water retriever in Germany more than 400 years ago. The Standard was later bred down to the Miniature, and the Toy was first bred in America in the early 20th century as a city companion.¹ All three are bred to one standard and differ only in size.¹

The American Kennel Club describes the Standard as over 15 inches tall and 40–70 pounds, the Miniature as 10–15 inches and 10–15 pounds, and the Toy as no more than 10 inches and 4–6 pounds.¹ That is a tenfold spread in weight, so the body's weak points differ. Small, light legs tend toward kneecap problems. The larger frame tends toward the hip and stomach problems of bigger dogs.

Which joint problems are Poodles prone to?

AKC states that Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and luxating patellas are more likely in Toy and Miniature Poodles than in Standards, and lists hip dysplasia among the breed's health issues.¹

The American College of Veterinary Surgeons names Miniature Poodles among the small breeds predisposed to patellar luxation, and says it affects both knees in about half of cases.⁴ Cornell lists Toy and Miniature Poodles among the breeds most often affected by Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.⁵ We could not read OFA's breed percentages for this article. When you see them, remember they come from dogs whose owners submitted X-rays, not a random sample.

How long do Poodles live, and when is one a senior?

A UK analysis of 6,427 Poodles found a median life expectancy of 14.0 years.² That dataset does not separate the three sizes. AKC states 10–18 years for each variety.¹ We did not find a large dataset that gives lifespan by size, and UK dogs may differ from US dogs.

AAHA defines senior as the last 25% of estimated lifespan.³ By our arithmetic on the UK median, that starts at about 10.5 years. Ask your veterinarian whether your Standard should start senior checks a little earlier.

What else should a Poodle owner watch?

• Bloat and skin (Standard). AKC says the Standard is more at risk for gastric dilatation with volvulus (bloat) and for sebaceous adenitis, an inflammatory skin condition.¹
• Addison's disease (Standard). The Merck Veterinary Manual lists the Standard Poodle among overrepresented breeds. It usually starts in young to middle-aged adults, and females are affected more often. Signs are vague and come and go: poor appetite, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, low energy.⁶
• Teeth (Toy). In a UK study of 22,333 dogs, 12.5% had dental disease recorded in a year. Toy Poodles had 3.97 times the risk, and dogs under 10 kg (22 pounds) had about three times the risk of dogs weighing 30–40 kg.⁷

What can you do at home?

Watch weight. AKC notes that some Poodles are prone to getting overweight and that too many treats can cause obesity.¹ Extra weight is extra load on small knees and on large hips alike.

Poodles of every size are active dogs that need good exercise every day. AKC suggests swimming, retrieving games and long walks.¹ For the vet, note which leg skips, how often, and whether it is getting more frequent.

What should you ask your veterinarian?

• "Is my dog at a lean body condition for his size?"
• "Can you check the kneecaps and hips today?" The breed club lists a patella evaluation for Toys and Miniatures and a hip evaluation for Miniatures and Standards.¹
• "Which other screens apply?" All three sizes have an eye exam listed. Toys and Miniatures also have a DNA test for progressive retinal atrophy. Standards have thyroid and von Willebrand tests.¹
• "How often should the teeth be checked and cleaned?"