Standard Poodle health: what owners should know

The breed is generally long-lived, but several conditions turn up more often than average. They include bloat, hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, sebaceous adenitis (an inflammatory skin condition that damages the coat), Addison's disease and idiopathic epilepsy. Responsible breeders screen parents with hip scoring, annual eye examinations and DNA tests where available, and many also check for sebaceous adenitis with skin biopsies before breeding.

Keeping your dog lean, feeding split meals and booking a yearly check-up are the habits that help most. See a vet promptly if you notice patchy hair loss with scaly skin, unexplained tiredness with vomiting or weakness, any seizure, bumping into furniture in dim light, or any sign of bloat after eating.