The Ultimate Schnoodle Food Buyer’s Guide

Schnoodles are a cross between a Poodle and a Schnauzer. They are a designer dog or hybrid. Poodles and Schnauzers are both dogs with some characteristics that make them very good pets so crossing them to produce the Schnoodle produces a cute, intelligent, devoted dog. Schnoodles are first-generation crossbreeds. They do not breed “true” so they are not a breed. This means that if you breed a Schnoodle to a Schnoodle you won’t reliably produce Schnoodles. You will likely get puppies that look like Poodles, Schnauzers, and other mixes. In order to become a recognized breed, dogs have to breed true and reproduce puppies that look like their parents for several generations. Schnoodles are not recognized by registries like the American Kennel Club or the United Kennel Club for breeding purposes. However, Schnoodles and other crossbreed dogs can be registered to compete in some performance events such as agility and obedience. Schnoodles are recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), the Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC), the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA), the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR) and the Designer Breed Registry (DBR).   Schnoodle Health Problems Many people are under the impression that since dogs like the Schnoodle are called “hybrids” this means they are healthier than purebred dogs. This is not the case. The term “hybrid,” as used by dog breeders, is not precisely the same as when it’s used by scientists. Crossing two dog breeds does not produce the kind of hybrid vigor that can be achieved by crossing two different species since the dog breeds are both dogs. Health problems and diseases are easily passed between dogs, whether they are the same breed or not. This means when you breed a Poodle and a Schnauzer, it’s possible for the resulting puppies to inherit some or all of the health problems found in both parents. Poodles have been bred and studied for a long time so their health issues are well-documented. Their health issues can be passed along to crossbreed dogs that have a Poodle parent. Per the Poodle Club of America, Poodles can have the following issues: Addison’s. Addison’s disease is also known as hypoadrenocorticism. With this condition the adrenal gland doesn’t produce enough adrenal hormones. These hormones are essential for life so this is a very serious disease. Adrenal insufficiency can be primary or secondary. The primary form affects the salt/potassium balance in the body and the glucorticoid. Secondary adrenocorticism usually only affects the clubocorticoids. The cause of primary adrenocorticism isn’t understood but it may be an immune mediated process. The secondary form may occur when prednisone or cortisone (given for medical reasons) are suddenly stopped. It can sometimes occur because of pituitary cancer or other things that interfere with the production of hormones that stimulate the adrenal glands. In most cases, dogs with Addison’s disease will start to show symptoms such as vomiting,. Llethargy and poor appetite can also be seen. Since these symptoms occur with so many health problems, it can be easy to miss the signs. More serious symptoms occur when the dog’s potassium levels become high enough to affect his heart function. Under stress, the dog may suffer severe shock symptoms which can lead to a rapid death. With high potassium levels the dog can have a heart arrythmia or the heart may stop. Atrial Septal Defects in Standard Poodles. ASD is considered to be a relatively rare congenital heart malformation in which the heart has a hole between its upper chambers which can be repaired through surgery. Breeds at risk include the Boxer, the Doberman Pinscher, the Samoyed, and the Newfoundland. It’s also been recognized in the Standard Poodle. It appears to run in families which suggests a genetic link. There are no particular symptoms for this issue if the hole is small but. However, you may notice signs such as coughing, difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance, and possible collapse or fainting if the hole is larger or the problem progresses. In worste cases, dogs can die from heart failure. If your dog has some of these ASD symptoms, surgery can repair the hole. Bloat. As with many larger breeds, the Standard Poodle can be susceptible to bloat or gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV). In this condition the stomach fills with gas or fluid. Torsion (twisting) happens when the stomach rotates and twists, closing itself off. At this point the dog’s blood supply to the stomach becomes shut soff. (Some cases involve the spleen torsioning.) This is a life-threatening situation that requires. Iimmediate veterinary interventionhelp is needed. Symptoms can include restlessness, getting up and down, pacing, vomiting (sometimes foamy vomit), trying to vomit unsuccessfully, and/or a swollen or hard stomach. If you notice any of these symptoms with your Poodle you need to take him/her to the veterinarian without delay! Make sure you have an emergency plan in place so you know where to go even if it’s the middle of the night. Schnauzers are considered to be generally healthy dogs though, like all dogs, they can experience health problems. Miniature Schnauzers and especially Standard Schnauzers are usually very healthy. Health issues that can surface in Miniature Schnauzers include problems with high fat levels, cataracts, hyperlipidemia (the inability to process fat properly), MAC or Mycobacterium Avium Complex (a very rare but lethal immune system disease), pancreatitis, diabetes, Portosystemic Shunts (PSS) or liver shunts, and stones in the urinary tract. You will probably notice that several of these issues deal with fat, which is something that you should watch in your Miniature Schnauzer’s diet. No greasy table scraps and don’t let your Miniature Schnauzer become overweight or obese. Feeding a diet with low or non-fatty, unsweetened foods can help avoid some of these problems. Miniature Schnauzers are also prone to comedone syndrome. This is a condition that produces pus-filled bumps, typically on the dog’s back. The bumps are treatable. Von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD) is also found in Miniature Schnauzers. This is an inherited bleeding disorder. Standard Schnauzers can be […]