Corgipoo

Though it sheds a fair amount, the Corgipoo is considered one of the more hypoallergenic breeds, making it a perfect pet for anyone suffering with pet allergies. Just be aware that no dog breed can be classed as completely hypoallergenic though; some breeds are more allergy-friendly than others, and the Corgipoo is one of those.

We’d recommend running a brush through your dog’s gorgeous hair every day, just to prevent any knots and matting further down the line. Monthly baths are a good idea, as is brushing your furry friend’s teeth around every few days. 

The Corgipoo is a perfect house pet — friendly about children and around any other pets big or small. With children they may not have endless patience with rough play, so make sure that any small kids in the house understand this. The kids may actually be bigger than the dog, hence the need to be gentle with the little pup.

Corgipoo health risks

The Corgipoo is generally a very healthy dog but no Corgipoo will be entirely immune from health problems, no matter how healthy they are. Some of the conditions to which this breed can be particularly vulnerable are:

• Bloat
• Addison’s Disease
• Legg-Calvé Perthes Disease

Bloat

Known technically as gastric dilatation volvulus, bloat can be a life-threatening condition for your dog. Because a Standard Poodle is one of the most vulnerable breeds to bloat, the Corgipoo is also at some risk of falling victim to the condition.

If you see your Corgipoo suffering bloating of the abdomen, excessive drooling, rapid breathing or a faster heart rate, you should consult a vet straight away; your dog may be suffering an attack of bloating and may suffer complications like rupturing of the stomach wall or serious difficulty breathing. 

If your Corgipoo is at risk of going into shock, the vet will need to increase oxygen to the dog’s body and stabilize them. They’ll then need to release air from the stomach. If the stomach has revolved, the vet will conduct surgery to rotate it back again. If they’re worried about bacteria, the vet will want to prescribe antibiotics to your pup.

Addison’s Disease

When your dog’s adrenal glands can’t make enough hormones for endocrine function to happen properly in the body, it can be affected by something called Addison’s Disease. It’s a condition that can also happen to humans. In dogs it’s most common in female dogs between young and middle age but it can affect any dog at all. Some of the symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss. 

The prognosis for Addison’s tends to be good; your vet may give your Corgipoo an injection or a pill, or, if the condition is sufficiently advanced, the dog may require liquids administered intravenously. Generally, your dog will require medication for the remainder of its life.

Legg-Calvé Perthes Disease

Because Legg-Calvé Perthes Disease occurs most often in young miniature and toy breeds, the Corgipoo is bound to also be vulnerable, poor thing. Hopefully you’ll never need to know all this but Legg-Calvé Perthes Disease is a hip condition affecting the femur bone of a dog’s hind leg. Various causes have been proposed, including limited blood supply; infective degenerative arthritis; an endocrine system disorder. It’s not a straightforward disorder.

What we do know, however, is how it manifests: you’ll need to be on the look-out for your little Corgipoo limping, struggling to walk, developing muscle atrophy, or pain when a vet tries to stretch its hip joint. These are all reliable signs of Legg-Calvé Perthes but, of course, your vet will need to confirm. 

Once they have, giving the dog a period of enforced rest often works wonders but it might be necessary to perform surgery, easing the pain with the removal of the head and neck of the femur bone. If it’s even worse, your dog may need an entirely new hip.

Feeding a Corgipoo - what’s the best diet?

The Corgipoo is an active dog. A full grown Corgipoo — or Corgi Poodle, to give it one of its available titles — does a good deal of scampering about and, as such, needs to be fed properly with good-quality food (like all dogs do, in fact). This breed is, however, a little liable to become overweight. In terms of quantity, therefore, about one cup of food a day is about right for an average Corgipoo.

Consider a chondroitin and glucosamine supplement because of the breed’s short legs, and avoid giving it human food if you can help it.

If you want comprehensive information about the best dog foods available, check out our friends at Dog Food Advisor — it has everything you need to know, and more.