Bluetick Coonhound health: what owners should know

The breed is known to be predisposed to hip dysplasia, bloat, ear infections and weight gain. A rare inherited nerve disease, globoid cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe disease), has been reported in some lines. Responsible breeders hip-score both parents, may have eyes examined, and can explain the health history of their hunting lines.

Keep your hound lean and clean its ears weekly. See a vet for head shaking, a strong smell from the ears, limping that lasts more than a couple of days, or clumsiness and poor coordination in a young dog. A swollen belly with repeated unproductive retching is an emergency and needs a vet immediately.