What I’ve Seen in Practice
I’ve been practicing as a licensed veterinarian in Texas for over a decade, and Portuguese Water Dogs have been part of my caseload from early on. They’re intelligent, athletic, and deeply bonded to their families. They’re also a breed that can stay remarkably healthy into old age if you understand where the real risks are and don’t make some common, well-intended mistakes.
What follows isn’t a textbook summary. It’s shaped by dogs I’ve treated, conversations I’ve had with worried owners in exam rooms, and a few situations that could have gone very differently with earlier intervention.
A generally healthy breed, with specific weak points
Portuguese Water Dogs are not fragile dogs. Compared to many purebred dogs, they have a decent lifespan and good baseline resilience. Where owners tend to get caught off guard is assuming that “healthy breed” means “no breed-specific issues.” That assumption is what I see leading to delayed diagnoses.
The most significant health challenges in this breed tend to cluster around joints, eyes, certain genetic neurological conditions, and immune-mediated problems. None of these show up overnight, and that slow onset is precisely why they’re missed.
Hip dysplasia doesn’t always look dramatic.
Most people associate hip dysplasia with obvious limping or dogs that can’t get up. That’s not how it often starts in Portuguese Water Dogs.
A few years back, I saw a young adult Portie whose owner brought him in for what she described as “slowing down.” He still ran, still swam, still played fetch—but he’d hesitate before jumping into the car and preferred to lie down sooner after exercise. No yelping, no obvious pain.
X-rays showed moderate hip dysplasia. Not catastrophic, but real. Because we caught it early, we managed it conservatively with weight control, targeted exercise, and joint support. That dog avoided surgery and stayed active for years.
The mistake I see repeatedly is owners waiting for obvious pain to appear. By the time a dog is clearly limping, you’ve lost valuable time where simpler management could have helped.
Progressive retinal atrophy and the “sudden blindness” myth
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) comes up often with Portuguese Water Dogs, and it’s one of the most emotionally complex diagnoses for owners—even though it’s rarely sudden.
I remember a middle-aged Portie whose owner thought the dog was “just being stubborn” at night. He bumped into furniture in dim lighting and refused to go down unfamiliar stairs. During the day, he seemed fine.
An eye exam confirmed PRA. The owner was devastated, feeling blindsided. In reality, the dog had been adapting quietly for months.
Dogs compensate incredibly well for gradual vision loss, which is why owners miss early signs. Night hesitation, reluctance on unfamiliar terrain, or anxiety in low light are red flags I always take seriously in this breed.
There’s no cure for PRA, but early awareness helps owners adapt the home environment and maintain quality of life. Waiting until a dog is functionally blind turns adjustment into a crisis.
GM1 storage disease: rare, but devastating
GM1 storage disease is one of those conditions most owners have never heard of until it’s too late. It’s rare, but it exists in Portuguese Water Dogs, and I’ve unfortunately seen it more than once.
One case still sticks with me. A puppy was brought in for clumsiness that didn’t match its age. They stumbled more than expected, had trouble coordinating movements, and seemed mentally “behind” littermates. Initial exams were inconclusive, but as weeks passed, neurological signs progressed.
Genetic testing confirmed GM1. There was no treatment, only supportive care, until humane euthanasia became the kindest option.
That is why I’m firm—sometimes uncomfortably so—about responsible breeding and genetic screening. Owners who buy puppies without asking about parental testing aren’t being reckless on purpose. They’re just unaware of what’s at stake.
Addison’s disease can masquerade as stress.
Addison’s disease shows up across breeds, but I see it with some regularity in Portuguese Water Dogs. It’s also one of the most misdiagnosed conditions early on.
A dog I treated last spring had intermittent vomiting, diarrhea, and episodes of weakness. The symptoms flared after boarding or travel, then seemed to resolve. Multiple visits elsewhere had chalked it up to stress or a sensitive stomach.
Bloodwork during a crisis told a different story. Once correctly diagnosed and treated, that dog stabilized and returned to an everyday life.
The takeaway here is that recurring, vague illness—especially tied to stress—should never be dismissed. Addison’s doesn’t announce itself clearly, and that’s what makes it dangerous.
Ear problems aren’t just about grooming.
Portuguese Water Dogs have hair-filled ear canals, and most owners know they need regular ear care. What I see less often is appropriate ear care.
Overcleaning is just as common as neglect. I’ve treated dogs with chronic ear inflammation caused not by infection, but by owners aggressively cleaning too often with harsh solutions.
One dog I saw had been on and off ear medications for years. Once we scaled back cleaning frequency and adjusted technique, the infections stopped recurring.
In my opinion, routine ear maintenance should be gentle and purposeful—not obsessive. If ears are chronically red or smelly, something deeper is going on.
Obesity quietly worsens everything.
This breed loves food and activity equally. When activity drops, but food doesn’t, weight creeps up fast.
Extra weight exacerbates hip dysplasia, strains the heart, and reduces heat tolerance. I’ve had difficult conversations with owners who didn’t see their dog as overweight because “he still swims all the time.” Swimming helps, but it doesn’t cancel out excess calories.
Keeping a Portuguese Water Dog lean isn’t cosmetic. It’s preventive medicine.
What I advise—and what I push back on
I strongly recommend:
- Genetic testing from reputable breeders
- Baseline eye exams early in adulthood
- Early joint evaluation of movement changes, even subtly
I actively advise against:
- Ignoring “minor” behavioral or mobility changes
- Over-supplementing joints without veterinary guidance
- Assuming grooming alone prevents ear disease
Experience has taught me that proactive owners almost always spend less—financially and emotionally—over the dog’s lifetime.
Living well with a Portuguese Water Dog
Despite the issues I’ve described, this remains one of my favorite breeds to work with. They’re responsive, bonded, and remarkably resilient when appropriately supported.
The healthiest Portuguese Water Dogs I see aren’t the ones whose owners chase every new product or trend. They’re the ones whose owners pay attention, ask questions early, and accept that prevention isn’t dramatic—it’s steady and sometimes dull.
That steadiness is what gives these dogs active lives alongside the people who love them.
