Havanese Health Issues: An Ottawa Guide

Havanese are a relatively healthy, long-lived toy breed, but as a small dog they carry a specific set of concerns. The most common are patellar luxation (slipping kneecaps, typical of toy breeds), eye conditions (cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, cherry eye, and dry eye), and dental disease (crowded small mouths). The breed can also have hip and joint issues including Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and a form of chondrodysplasia, some heart conditions (including mitral valve disease and murmurs), congenital deafness in some dogs, and, less commonly, a portosystemic (liver) shunt. On the whole, though, Havanese are considered one of the healthier and longer-lived small breeds, with many living into their mid-teens. Most concerns are manageable, and the highest-value things an Ottawa owner can do are prioritise dental care, keep the dog lean to protect the knees, and stay on top of the eyes. Always make health decisions for your individual dog with your veterinarian.

Patellar luxation is a condition where the kneecap slips out of its normal groove, and it is common in Havanese and other toy breeds. You might notice an occasional skip or hop, the dog holding up a back leg for a few steps, or a little "bunny hop," then returning to normal as the kneecap pops back into place. It ranges from a mild, intermittent nuisance (graded low, needing only monitoring and keeping the dog lean) to a more severe, frequent dislocation that causes pain and arthritis and may need surgical correction. Keeping a Havanese at a lean weight reduces strain on the knees, and avoiding repeated high jumps (on and off furniture) helps protect them. If your Havanese is regularly skipping on a back leg or seems painful, have your vet grade the knees so you know whether monitoring or intervention is appropriate. Patellar luxation is one of the more common orthopedic issues in the breed, but it is often mild and manageable, and many affected dogs live comfortably with monitoring.

Havanese are prone to several inherited eye conditions, so responsible breeders have breeding dogs’ eyes certified. These include cataracts (clouding of the lens, one of the more common eye issues in the breed), progressive retinal atrophy (gradual, inherited vision loss), cherry eye (a prolapsed third-eyelid gland), and dry eye. For an adopted Havanese, an annual vet eye check catches problems early, and any redness, cloudiness, discharge, or vision change warrants prompt attention. Separately, congenital deafness occurs in some Havanese, present from birth, and can be in one or both ears; a BAER hearing test confirms status, and a deaf or partially-deaf Havanese can live a full, happy life with hand-signal training and a safe environment. Responsible breeders may test for both eye and hearing issues. Neither area is universal in the breed, but both are worth monitoring, and prompt attention to any eye change in particular prevents small problems from becoming serious ones.

Like most toy breeds, Havanese are prone to dental disease because their small jaws crowd the teeth, trapping plaque and food and accelerating tartar and gum disease far faster than in a larger dog, and toy breeds also tend to retain baby teeth. Dental disease is one of the more common and important health issues in small breeds, and left unmanaged it causes pain, tooth loss, and infections that can affect overall health over the breed’s long life. Prevention is routine home care plus professional cleanings: brush the teeth daily, or at least several times a week, with dog toothpaste, provide appropriate small dental chews, and have your vet assess the teeth at every checkup and perform professional cleanings under anaesthesia as needed, often every year or two for a small breed. Starting a gentle brushing routine early, especially with a rescue dog who may not be used to it, saves a great deal of pain, tooth loss, and money over a Havanese’s 14-to-16-year lifespan. Dental care is a predictable, ongoing part of owning the breed.

Havanese are among the more affordable breeds for routine care because they are small, medication and anaesthesia are dosed by weight, food is minimal, and annual wellness care runs roughly $700 to $1,300 a year in Ottawa plus Ontario’s 13 per cent HST, plus regular professional grooming. The predictable recurring cost that sets the breed apart (beyond grooming) is dental care: regular professional cleanings, and eventually some extractions, are common over a Havanese’s long life. The budget wildcards are the breed-specific conditions: knee surgery for a bad patella, eye surgery or ongoing eye management, cardiac care in older age, or, rarely, a liver-shunt diagnosis. Overall an affordable breed to feed and medicate, but the long lifespan means many years of dental and senior care, and pet insurance taken out while the dog is young helps with the unpredictable knee, eye, and heart costs. See our Ottawa low-cost vet guide for routine-care savings.

It can be, mainly to cover the breed’s unpredictable knee, eye, and heart risks. Routine Havanese care is affordable, so the case is less overwhelming than for a giant or high-risk breed, but the breed carries real wildcards, knee surgery for a bad patella, eye surgery or cataract treatment, cardiac care, and (rarely) a liver shunt, that can each be costly. Insurance taken out while your Havanese is young and healthy locks in coverage before any condition becomes a pre-existing exclusion, which matters for the knee, eye, and heart issues that can appear over time. Note that most insurance does not cover routine dental cleanings or grooming, the breed’s biggest predictable costs, so read the terms carefully. Premiums for a young Havanese commonly run $40 to $65 a month in Ottawa. For many owners, a combination of a savings buffer for grooming and dental plus insurance for the illness-and-injury costs is a sensible approach. Decide early if you insure.

Havanese are a long-lived breed, typically 14 to 16 years, with many reaching the upper end, one of the real joys of the breed and a reflection of its general hardiness. A well-cared-for Havanese, kept lean with good dental care and attentive management of the knees and eyes, has the best chance of a long, healthy life. Longevity depends on the usual levers: diligent dental care, keeping the dog lean to protect the knees, staying on top of the eyes and any heart issues, and annual (later twice-yearly) vet checks that catch conditions early. For Ottawa owners, that long lifespan means a lengthy, rewarding companionship, well over a decade, and budgeting for the ongoing grooming, dental, and senior care across those years. A Havanese adopted as an adult still has many good years ahead, and the breed’s general healthiness and cheerful temperament make it a wonderful long-term companion, one of the better small-breed choices for a family wanting a healthy, long-lived dog.