Maltipoo health: what owners should know

Maltipoos can inherit conditions from both parent breeds. Issues reported include patellar luxation, progressive retinal atrophy, dental problems, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, portosystemic shunts and white shaker syndrome. Responsible breeders test parents for eye conditions and knee problems and check general health.

Since a Maltipoo carries risks from two breeds, ask for health results on both parents: a knee check and an eye test at minimum, and ideally a PRA DNA result for the Poodle side. At home, a toothbrush and a slim body do more than any supplement. Have your vet look at a dog that skips on a back leg, bumps into things at night, trembles all over without an obvious cause, or has bad breath with red gums, and seek help quickly for a puppy that grows poorly or acts dazed or wobbly after meals.