Dogo Argentino Breed Maintenance
This isn’t a high-maintenance breed, you may be relieved to hear. Because its hair is short, the dog’s coat doesn’t need much in the way of grooming — just brush it when you get the chance, using a grooming mitt or bristle brush.
It will only need to be bathed once every three months but try to make sure you’re tending to its nails more frequently than this — around the two to three-week mark, ideally. You should, of course, also be keeping the dog’s teeth as clean as possible. While brushing them twice a day like humans do is probably unnecessary, you should aim for once or twice a week at least.
Because this is a breed that’s prone to ear infections, you should pay particular attention to how your Dogo Argentino’s ears are looking: clean them once a week, keeping an eye out for any irregularities. And do think about a wellness plan so that your furry friend is thoroughly inspected and cared for by professionals.
Dogo Argentino health risks
A typical Dogo Argentino lifespan is between 10 and 15 years. Looked after properly, in other words, it’s a dog that could be with you for a decent amount of time. But in those years it has a small chance of being diagnosed with the following illnesses, which are a little more likely to occur than others:
Deafness
Approximately 10% of Dogo Argentinos are born with congenital deafness and are then unable to hear. This isn’t as serious a problem as it is in Dalmatians — more than a quarter of whom are born deaf — but it’s not a small proportion. And it may be unsurprising, given that experts say that breeds with lighter coats are more likely to be congenitally deaf.
If you want to be on the lookout for the condition so that you can help tailor your dog’s life accordingly, you might want to look out for abnormal amounts of sleep, aggressiveness, jumping when being touched unexpectedly, and unusual vocalizations. All of these could be a sign that your dog is unable to hear what’s going on around them.
This condition, unfortunately, is not one that can be treated. But you can still ensure that your deaf dog has a happy life. Things like vibrating collars can help with everyday life, and it will be as easy to train your dog to learn hand signals as it would be to train a dog that’s able to hear.
Hypothyroidism
There are innumerable symptoms to look out for when it comes to hypothyroidism. If you notice that your dog’s coat is dull and dry; that it’s itching its skin; that it’s got low blood pressure; that it’s losing its hair; or that it’s lethargic, you may be looking at this condition.
It’s a problem that occurs when the thyroid gland, which makes hormones that regulate systems in the body, has a problem that causes an imbalance in these hormones. At its worst, a dog with a hypothyroidism problem can be paralyzed, succumb to hypothermia, or even fall into a coma.
Because the symptoms above can mimic other conditions, your vet may struggle to come to a confident diagnosis of hypothyroidism. Once they do, however, it’s a case of prescribing a hormone replacement. Your dog should be fine but they’re expected to need this treatment for the rest of their life.
Glaucoma
When your dog has a raised level of pressure in their eye, they may have glaucoma, a scary and often painful condition that regularly causes blindness. If you have any reason to suspect that your pup has glaucoma, rush them to a vet because this is an urgent situation: if a dog isn’t treated within hours, its chances of further problems increase.
Some of the signs to look out for in your dog are pupils being different sizes; fluttering eyelids; cloudy corneas; redness in the eye; squinting; bulging swollen eyes; and avoidance of light. Medication or surgery may be necessary.
Laryngeal Paralysis
Laryngeal paralysis is a scary condition that can stop your dog’s vocal cords opening and cause it to have real difficulty breathing. It can start on one side and then spread to the other.
As your dog gets older, the condition is likely to get worse. Indeed, laryngeal paralysis is often confused with old age but the difference will be obvious to a trained professional. The surgery they will tend to perform is a tie-back procedure, involving sutures or stitches opening one side of the larynx and tying it into an open position.
Wondering what kind of pet insurance you might need to help you if any of these conditions arises? Check out quotes from all the best companies here and browse wellness plans here.
Feeding a Dogo Argentino — what’s the best diet?
Because the Dogo Argentino is a working dog, it needs a protein-rich diet, perhaps ideally derived from raw food. In its food it will need essential fatty acids, moderate amounts of carbohydrates, plenty of drinking water, and plenty of vitamins and minerals. Beef, chicken (although not raw chicken, of course), lamb, eggs, duck and fish are important components of any well-rounded diet for your furry friend.
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.
