Havanese health: what owners should know

Havanese are generally long-lived, but the breed is known for a handful of inherited concerns: slipping kneecaps, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease of the hip, cataracts and other eye disease, congenital deafness and liver shunts. Good breeders have eyes examined by a specialist, run BAER hearing tests on puppies, and have knees and hips assessed before breeding.

At home, keep your dog lean, brush teeth several times a week and keep hair out of the eyes. Book a vet visit if you notice a skipping back leg, cloudiness in an eye, a dog that stops responding to sounds, or a young dog that has seizures or seems confused after eating.