Royal and Loyal Lagotto Romagnolo – Carla Sandrinelli – Coos Bay ORGON USA

Italian by Heritage – Lifetime of Loyalty

Lagotto Health

Lagotto Romagnolo is generally a healthy breed with a life expectancy of 15 to 17 years and being aware of the potential health issues and taking preventative measures can help ensure a long and happy life for your furry companion.

Testing breeding dogs is crucial to minimize the risk of passing these conditions on to future generations. Beyond responsible breeding, owners can promote their Lagotto’s health through regular veterinary check-ups, proper diet and exercise, regular grooming, and early training and socialization.

Reputable breeders should test their breeding dogs for genetic conditions like Lagotto Storage Disease (LSD) and Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy (BFJE). The Lagotto Romagnolo Club of America also recommends hip testing (OFA or PennHip), patella testing for all breeding dogs and eye certification testing annually.


At Royal and Loyal Lagotto Romagnolo we go above and beyond that in order to promote and protect this amazing breed. All our Lagotti come from a long line of top breeding programs.
We continue this standard. Our testing program includes

Choosing a puppy form a reputable breeder with parents tested and from a long line of tested studs and females is extremely important. Proper care to help your Lagotto live longer, stay healthier, and be happy is very important. We can not over emphasize the importance of a proper diet and exercise routine. We re available 24/7 for any questions you have.

These dogs should come with a warning label. They are just like toddlers and must be supervised as such when they are puppies because they are very intelligent and they like to explore.
We recommend grooming them regularly but comb them too often could damage their curl coat.
Lagotto Romagnolos generally have good teeth, and you can keep them perfect by brushing them at least twice a week!
Clean their ears weekly, even as a puppy. Don’t worry—we’ll show you how!
Lagotti are smart dogs with lots of energy, so keep their minds and bodies active, or they’ll get bored. Got your hands full either way. Like I said. They are toddlers…
They love the water and swimming is a great form of exercise for your Lagotto Romagnolo. Moderate exercise when whey are puppies. Let the bones grow…. the first two years is very important to not overdo it.
Keep your dog’s diet consistent and don’t give people food.
Feed a high-quality diet appropriate for the age.


Breed-Specific Health Concerns in Lagotto Romagnolo breed:

Genetic Conditions:


Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy (BFJE):

BFJE is an inherited neurological disorder found in the Lagotto Romagnolo breed. Affected dogs experience symptoms like epileptic seizures characterized by body tremors, uncoordinated movement, and stiffness. The onset of seizures is typically between 5 to 9 weeks of age and seizures usually resolve by approximately four months of age.
Some affected puppies may also develop ataxia (uncoordinated movements) and in severe cases, neurological signs, such as generalized ataxia, can occur between seizures. It is caused by a mutation in the LGI2 gene and has an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. This means that a dog needs to inherit two copies of the mutated gene to be affected by the disease. Genetic testing is available and highly recommended for all breeding stock to determine if a dog is:

Based on the results a reputable breeder can take informed decisions to avoid this disorder and bred responsibly to avoid producing affected puppies:

It is not recommended to withdraw carrier dogs from breeding entirely, as this could negatively impact the breed’s gene pool.

Lagotto Storage Disease (LSD):

LSD is a serious, inherited and progressive neurological disorder in Lagotto Romagnolos affecting the neurological system. It causes the accumulation of cellular material, leading to nervous system dysfunction.
Affected dogs can experience symptoms like movement abnormal coordination, abnormal gait, limb weakness, involuntary eye movements, and behavioral changes like aggression or depression.
It is a genetic disease caused by a mutation in the TECPR2 gene and it is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner meaning that a dog needs to inherit two copies of the mutated gene to be affected.
Fortunately there are reliable DNA tests and reputable breeders test their dogs for LSD. The DNA test can determine if a dog is:

Based on DNA results a breeder can make informed decisions to avoid this disorder and breed responsibly:

It is not recommended to withdraw carrier dogs from breeding entirely, as this could negatively impact the breed’s gene pool.

Hyperuricosuria (HUU):

This condition causes high uric acid levels in the urine, which can lead to bladder and kidney stones. It can be difficult to treat and may require surgery. HUU is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Fortunately there are reliable DNA tests and reputable breeders test their dogs for HUU using in the breeding program only dogs that are clear or breed a carrier only with a clear.

Cystinuria:

It is a genetic disorder where the kidneys cannot properly reabsorb the amino acid cystine, leading to a build-up in the urine. This can cause cystine crystals or stones to form in the urinary tract, which can cause blockages and urinary tract infections, kidney and bladder stones.
Fortunately there are reliable DNA tests and reputable breeders test their dogs for HUU using in the breeding program only dogs that are clear or breed a carrier only with a clear.

Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA):

It is a degenerative brain disease and affected dogs show neurological symptoms such as uncoordinated movements and difficulties with normal gait at a few weeks of age or later in life and dogs with this condition often have a shorter life expectancy. There is currently no effective treatment. It is a monogenic autosomal recessive inheritance but there is no DNA test available at this moment The University of Bern (Institute of Genetics) is studying this problem.
Only the dogs that never shown symptoms of CA should be used in the breeding program.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA):

PRA is a group of inherited eye conditions where the retina gradually deteriorates. This degeneration leads to progressive vision loss eventually causing blindness. There are different forms of PRA, some with early onset and others with later onset, and they can be caused by different genetic mutations. Fortunately there are reliable DNA tests that screen for various genetic mutations associated with different types of PRA in dogs. Reputable breeders test their dogs so they can make informed decisions to minimize the risk of producing affected puppies.

Incorrect / improper Coat:

An improper coat in a Lagotto Romagnolo, also known as a short coat or lack of furnishings, is a cosmetic defect where the dog’s coat is shorter than the breed standard, particularly on the head, face, and legs. This condition is not a health issue and is caused by a recessive gene, specifically a mutation in the RSPO2 gene, related to “furnishings”. While the dog will still be a Lagotto Romagnolo, it will lack the characteristic curly, dense coat with furnishings like a beard and eyebrows.
Genetic testing is available to identify dogs that carry the improper coat gene.

Orthopedic Conditions:

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a multifactorial abnormal development of the joint in dogs that is characterized by joint laxity and subsequent degenerative joint disease. It’s influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Estimates of heritability for hip dysplasia range from 20% to 60%, highlighting the significant genetic component but hip dysplasia is not determined by a single gene, but rather by the interaction of multiple genes. While genetics play a significant role in predisposing a dog to hip dysplasia other factors play an important role such as
wrong diet; overfeeding or rapid growth in puppies can contribute to hip dysplasia; excessive or inappropriate exercise, especially in young dogs, can put extra stress on the developing hip joints; being overweight or obese can exacerbate the effects of hip dysplasia and increase pain and lameness: an imbalance between muscle mass and skeletal development can contribute to joint laxity and instability.

Elbow Dysplasia:

Elbow dysplasia is a developmental abnormality of the elbow joint (formed by the humerus, radius, and ulna,) that occurs during growth, leading to pain, lameness, and arthritis. This can involve defects in cartilage growth, bone development, or joint stresses. The abnormal development leads to incongruency (the bones don’t fit together properly) and can result in fragmentation of bone or cartilage within the joint, as well as secondary osteoarthritis . Elbow dysplasia has a strong genetic component, meaning it’s inherited from parents. While genetics are primary, factors such as diet, rapid weight gain, trauma, and hormonal imbalances may also play a role.
It is important to avoid breeding dogs with a history of elbow dysplasia and ensure a balanced diet and appropriate exercise during growth.

Patellar Luxation:

The patella is a small bone in the knee joint, situated within a tendon.
The patellar tendon sits in a groove at the end of the thighbone (femur) and attaches just below the knee onto the shin bone (tibia).
Patellar luxation occurs when the kneecap slides or pops out of place from the femoral groove when the knee flexes, causing the dislocation. Dogs with patellar luxation tend to have a more shallow femoral groove or a general malalignment of the limb involving the femur, tibia or hip.
Luxations can occur on one or both knees, and the dislocation can be either medial or lateral (moving towards the inner or outer aspect of the knee, respectively).
As patellar luxation progresses, the patella dislocates more easily and frequently — persistently rubbing on the knee joint cartilage and leading to arthritis. The strain from the patella dislocating can also predispose dogs to other orthopedic knee conditions, such as cranial cruciate ligament rupture. The most commonly seen sign is a “skipping” gait, which looks like a sudden three-legged hindlimb lameness that quickly resolves after a few steps.
The exact cause of patellar luxation is based on many factors, but genetics play a significant role. Patellar luxation can also occur following trauma.

Other Health Concerns:

Hypothyroidism:

Lagottos are prone to a common condition called hypothyroidism in which the body doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone. Signs can include dry skin and coat, hair loss, susceptibility to other skin diseases, weight gain, fearfulness, aggression, or other behavioral changes. Treatment is usually simple: replacement hormones given in the form of a pill. There are DNA tests that can help identify dogs at risk for congenital hypothyroidism allowing breeders and owners to make informed decisions.


Cataracts:

Cataracts are a common cause of blindness in older Lagottos. Watch for the lenses of his eyes to become more opaque—meaning they look cloudy instead of clear. Many dogs adjust well to losing their vision and get along just fine so I am told. (Can’t repeat what my husband,a retired log truck driver, says about that) Surgery to remove cataracts and restore sight may also be an option. It is important to perform an eye exam once a year on the dogs/females prior breeding.