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HEALTH

Glass House Puppies has very high standards. We want to produce the healthiest and happiest puppies possible. To do that, we have to make sure that our breeding dogs are healthy as well. This section of our website is dedicated to that topic. We want our customers to know about the main health concerns associated with Bernedoodles, what we are doing to prevent these things in our dogs and how our customers can continue to provide their new puppy with the high level of care that we expect. We hope that this is beneficial information for our clients. And if it helps answer some questions that other owners may have about caring for their Bernedoodle or large breed dog, then that's great, too! 

HIP DYSPLASIA:

A dog's hip joint functions as a ball and socket. In dogs with hip dysplasia, this joint fails to develop properly and rubs/grinds instead of sliding smoothly. Over time, deterioration occurs and eventually the joint fails to function properly. In severe cases, hip dysplasia can be very painful and cause lameness. There are few different causes for hip dysplasia. First is genetics. Hip dysplasia is hereditary and most commonly found in large breed dogs. Second cause is environmental factors (exercise, growth, weight, nutrition). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are we doing to prevent Hip Dysplasia in our puppies?

All of our potential breeding dogs are screened for hip dysplasia before they are officially accepted into our program. They are xrayed by our vet and the films are sent off to the OFA for evaluation. We only accept dogs with a grade of FAIR or higher.

 

We also take measures to prevent hip dysplasia while your new puppy is in our home and under our care. Our dogs and puppies are fed Taste of the Wild, a high quality kibble. We provide them with appropriate levels of exercise and supervise at all times. Our puppies are raised on special bedding, where they are able to grip and crawl without slipping and possibly injuring themselves at an early age. 

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What can you do to prevent Hip Dysplasia in your dog?

Understand what activities and exercises are appropriate. Dogs are not physically mature until around 18 months of age. Until then, they have soft bones and growth plates. A puppy should NEVER be exercised strenuously. Extreme exercise at a young age can negatively impact your dog later in life. Continue feeding your dog a high quality diet and keep them at a healthy weight. Overweight dogs have a higher chance of developing hip dysplasia. 

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