Five Unconventional Knowledge About Blue Heeler Health Problems That You Can't Learn From Books.

Blue heeler

Common Health Problems
Blue Heelers are powerful and athletic dogs. As such, their joints and ligaments can suffer some wear and tear. Torn cruciate ligaments are always a concern and must be surgically treated for puppies with a long life ahead of them.

Canine hip dysplasia can also occur in Blue Heelers, but it does not normally become symptomatic until the last years of life. Symptoms include trampling, lack of physical activity and stiffness, especially after a long night's sleep.

A relatively common disease that appears in Blue Heelers is called progressive retinal atrophy, a vision condition involving deterioration of the retina leading to visual impairment. Pay attention to the way your Blue Heeler sees at night and the pupils widened. Fortunately, the condition is painless. However, it can lead to complete blindness.

In addition to blindness, Blue Heelers are susceptible to deafness. Signs of deafness include a lack of responsiveness to sound, unusual shaking and barking.

Food and Nutrition
Food is an important aspect for Blue Heelers because of its very active nature. They need a lot of nutrients to replenish their tired muscles and vitamins to supplement their clever minds. This calls for a complete and balanced diet.

The type of food you feed your Heeler should vary according to his life stage, as puppies' needs are different from those of adult dogs.

In general, dry kibbles are a good choice for growing dogs that need something hard to clean their teeth and gums. At a young age, a dog's digestive system is strong enough to break down rougher-textured foods. As they get older, it may be beneficial to switch to a canned diet or to soak their kibble before feeding - both tactics make it easier for the dog's digestive system to do its job.

First of all, active dogs like Blue Heelers need lots of protein. This should be the first ingredient mentioned in any dog food you buy your puppy. Salmon, beef and chicken are excellent sources of protein. Whole grains and vegetables are also important and should be the second or third ingredient mentioned in your dog's food. This will ensure proper nutrition for your puppy.

Supplements can be a good idea for Blue Heelers and sometimes they can be found in the food. If you can't find food with supplements added, consider buying the supplement in pill or liquid form to add to your dog's diet. Glucosamine is a good to look for to promote joint health.