Know Your Breed
If you have a purebred pet, make sure you read up on the breed and ask your veterinarian about any “breed predispositions” that you should be concerned about. A “predisposition,” as used here, refers to a pet having an increased chance of developing a medical problem due to his breed (genetics). It’s helpful for you to be aware of problems your pet may develop and allow your vet to do additional screening, if necessary. For example, several dog breeds are more predisposed to problems such as heart disease, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia or glaucoma and many cat breeds are predisposed to heart disease.
- Dog Breeds
- Cat Breeds