When it comes to looking after a Sprollie, there’s one thing that you’re going to need to set aside a lot of time for and that’s exercise. These are dogs with boundless energy and need at least an hour’s activity a day — this can include walking, running, hiking, swimming or playing canine sports. Having a large backyard is also helpful in this regard.
However, this is only when they’re fully grown. A Sprollie puppy shouldn’t be over-exercised as this can damage their still-developing joints, and occasionally lead to developmental conditions, such as hip dysplasia.
The Sprollie isn’t as fussy when it comes to grooming. Their coat will need brushing several times a week and only very occasionally washing. Pet parents will also need to stay on top of brushing their teeth and wiping their ears to prevent infections. Nails might need to be clipped as well, but often, the amount of exercise a Sprollie does will wear them down naturally.
Sprollie Health Risks
Both English Springer Spaniels and Collies have health conditions which they’re predisposed to developing at some point or other in their lives. Some scientists may argue that widening the gene pool through crossbreeding helps eliminate that risk, but this theory isn’t wholly agreed upon.
As a result, some of the health issues that prospective Sprollie parents should be clued up on include:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Eye conditions
- Epilepsy
Elbow and Hip Dysplasia
Both parent breeds of the Sprollie are medium in size and love running around — unfortunately, dogs fitting this description often suffer from
elbow or
hip dysplasia. This is when either the elbow or hip joints fail to develop correctly, leading the ball and socket to become misaligned.
This is often a hereditary illness and breeders should attempt to prevent puppies from being born with the disease by screening their animals for the condition. This method isn’t foolproof, but it’s a lot better than doing nothing — be sure to ask your breeder for evidence of this before taking a Sprollie home with you.
The most common symptoms of elbow or hip dysplasia are reduced mobility and evident pain. Once a vet has made a diagnosis, there are various treatment options available. This includes weight control and supplements for milder cases, and physiotherapy and surgery in more serious instances.
Eye conditions
It’s been noted that a Sprollie’s eyes can sometimes be afflicted by disease during their lifetimes. Collie Eye Anomaly is an example. As the name suggests, this mainly affects Collies and is a defect that’s present at birth. Luckily, this is not a deteriorating condition, so whatever vision your dog has at 10 to 12 weeks old is the same as it’ll be throughout life.
The symptoms range in severity and some dogs will barely be impacted. However, others might start bumping into objects, be fearful of new environments, have pale spots on their eyes or lose their menace reflex (the instinct to blink or turn their head away from an oncoming object).
Vets will be able to diagnose this problem from around the age of eight weeks old, but unfortunately, there’s no cure. Collies or Sprollies affected by the disease shouldn’t be bred further.
Retinal Dysplasia is another inherited condition associated with the two parent breeds. This is caused by an abnormal development of the retina, which can lead to impaired vision. Again, there are no effective treatments, so the only thing parents can do is try to maintain an affected dog’s quality of life.
Epilepsy
Both English Springer Spaniels and Collies are breeds that have higher rates of epilepsy and as the neurological condition is thought to have a genetic basis in many cases, this might also be true of the Sprollie, too.
The main symptom is seizures, which are often accompanied by shaking, incoordination, drooling and lack of bladder control. If a vet suspects that a dog has epilepsy, they will usually prescribe anticonvulsant medication. Pets can normally resume a normal life once they start these, although they will require regular veterinary monitoring.
Catching diseases early can make a huge difference when it comes to effective treatment — a wellness plan includes regular testing and examinations for this very purpose.
What to Feed a Sprollie
As an incredibly active dog, a Sprollie will have a voracious appetite and parents should be looking for recipes packed with protein, vegetables and vitamins to keep them fuelled up. Avoid starchy or filler ingredients as these won’t be doing your dog’s body any good.
It’s also important that parents pick a dog food that has been specifically designed for their pet’s age. Meals for puppies will contain the vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy growth — too much calcium at this age, for example, can sometimes lead to hip dysplasia developing in later life. The same principle applies to senior dogs, too.
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