Chow Chow Health Issues: An Ottawa Guide

The Chow Chow’s distinctive features drive its main health concerns. The most characteristic is entropion, an eyelid rolling inward so the lashes and hair rub against the eye, extremely common in the breed because of the heavy, folded facial skin and deep-set eyes, and it causes pain and eye damage and usually needs surgical correction. Beyond the eyes, Chows are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, hypothyroidism, autoimmune and other skin conditions, and, because of the heavy double coat plus a somewhat short muzzle, serious heat sensitivity. As a deep-bodied breed they carry some bloat risk, and, like many breeds, cancer with age. The breed’s deep-set eyes also mean somewhat limited peripheral vision, worth knowing for handling. Most conditions are manageable, and the highest-value things an Ottawa owner can do are watch the eyes closely (entropion), keep the dog lean, manage summer heat carefully, and use a good vet. Always make health decisions for your individual dog with your veterinarian.

Entropion is a condition where the eyelid rolls inward, causing the eyelashes and facial hair to rub against the surface of the eye (the cornea), and it is one of the most characteristic and common health issues in Chow Chows, driven by the breed’s heavy, folded facial skin, deep-set eyes, and abundant wrinkling. It is painful and, if untreated, can cause corneal ulcers, scarring, and vision damage. Signs include squinting, excessive tearing, redness, pawing at the eyes, and apparent eye discomfort. The good news is that entropion is correctable with surgery (a relatively routine procedure that turns the eyelid outward to its normal position), and once corrected the dog is comfortable, though it is a real cost to budget for, and some Chows need it. For an adopted Chow, watch closely for the signs, especially squinting and tearing, and have any suspected entropion assessed by a vet promptly, because leaving it untreated damages the eye. Responsible breeders select against the most extreme wrinkling that worsens entropion.

Yes, seriously, and it is a genuine Ottawa summer concern. The Chow’s thick, profuse double coat, combined with a somewhat short muzzle that makes panting less efficient than in a long-nosed breed, means the breed is notably prone to overheating, and heatstroke is a real, potentially fatal risk in Ottawa’s hot, humid July and August. Signs of overheating, heavy frantic panting, drooling, weakness, bright red gums, and collapse, are an emergency needing immediate cooling and veterinary care. Prevention is the key: in summer, keep the dog cool with air conditioning, shade, and water, exercise only in the cool of early morning or evening, never leave a Chow in a parked car or a hot space, and never over-exert the dog in heat. Do not shave the coat to cool the dog, that is a myth and can make things worse, and can also damage the coat; instead manage the environment. The flip side is that the Chow’s coat makes it very comfortable in Ottawa winters, so heat, not cold, is the season to plan around.

Yes, hip and elbow dysplasia occur in the breed, as in many medium-large dogs, and the Chow’s stocky, straight-legged build can contribute to joint stress. Hip and elbow dysplasia are inherited malformations that lead to arthritis, with signs including stiffness, difficulty rising, reluctance to jump or climb, and lameness. Patellar luxation (slipping kneecaps) also occurs. Management ranges from weight control, joint supplements, physiotherapy, and anti-inflammatory medication for milder cases to surgery for severe ones. Prevention starts with breeders who screen hips and elbows (OFA or PennHIP), and the biggest lever an owner controls is keeping the dog lean and providing appropriate, non-jarring exercise, and not overexercising a growing puppy. The Chow’s characteristic stilted, stiff gait is a breed feature, but genuine stiffness, difficulty rising, or lameness warrants a vet check. For an adopted Chow, weight management and joint support are among the most valuable things you can do for long-term comfort and mobility.

Routine annual care for a medium-large heavy-coated breed, a wellness exam, vaccines, parasite prevention, and dental attention, runs roughly $1,000 to $1,700 a year for a Chow in Ottawa, plus Ontario’s 13 per cent HST, and on top of that comes significant grooming for the profuse coat. The budget wildcards are the breed-specific conditions: entropion surgery (relatively common in the breed and a real cost), hip or elbow surgery if severe, thyroid and skin management (ongoing but inexpensive), and any cancer care in older age. Heatstroke, if it occurred, would be a serious emergency cost, another reason to manage summer heat carefully. This combination of predictable grooming plus the potential for eye and orthopedic surgery is exactly why pet insurance, taken out while the dog is young and healthy, tends to pay off for the breed, ideally before entropion or a joint issue becomes a pre-existing exclusion. See our Ottawa low-cost vet guide for routine-care savings.

Often yes, given the breed’s predictable and potentially expensive conditions. Chows carry real wildcards, entropion surgery (common enough in the breed to be a genuine consideration), hip and elbow issues, thyroid and skin conditions, and cancer risk with age, several of which can be costly. Insurance taken out while your Chow is young and healthy, before any condition is documented, locks in coverage before exclusions apply. This matters especially for entropion and joint issues, which, once on the record, become pre-existing exclusions no insurer will cover, and they are exactly where the big Chow bills can come from. Premiums for a young Chow commonly run $50 to $85 a month in Ottawa. Note that insurance covers illness and injury, not routine grooming, which stays your ongoing cost. Weigh it against your savings buffer, and if you insure, do it early and confirm the breed’s known conditions, especially eye and joint conditions, are covered from the start. For a breed with real surgical risks, early insurance is sensible.

Chow Chows typically live around 9 to 12 years, on the shorter side for a medium-large breed. A well-cared-for Chow, kept lean with attentive eye and joint care and careful heat management, has the best chance of reaching the upper end, while untreated entropion, joint disease, or heat-related problems can affect quality of life. Longevity depends on the usual levers: watching and treating the eyes (entropion), keeping the dog lean to protect the joints, managing summer heat carefully, staying on top of thyroid and skin issues, and annual (later twice-yearly) vet checks that catch conditions early. For Ottawa owners, that lifespan means around a decade of a dignified, loyal companion, and budgeting for the ongoing grooming plus the possibility of eye or joint surgery. A Chow adopted as an adult still has good years ahead, and with attentive care, especially eye vigilance and heat management, most enjoy a comfortable life, thriving in the Ottawa winters their coat was built for.