Havanese Health Problems: Symptoms and When to Worry
The most common Havanese health problems are patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, and cataracts. Havanese typically live 14–16 years. This page is organized by symptom, so you can jump straight to joint, eye, ear, and other problems, see what each one looks like in a Havanese, and know whether it is a vet visit this week, a vet visit today, or an emergency right now.
Quick answer: when to worry about your Havanese
Go to an emergency vet now if you see any of these:
- Joint, back, and mobility: Sudden inability to use the back legs, dragging the hindquarters, or crying out when touched along the spine is an emergency. A ruptured disc has a window of hours for the best outcome.
- Eye: Sudden blindness, a bulging or very painful eye, or an eye injury is an emergency. Glaucoma, a scratched cornea, or a prolapsed eye can cost the eye within hours.
- Ear: A head tilt with loss of balance or circling can mean the infection has reached the inner ear. See a vet the same day.
- Other: Collapse, difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, or severe pain is always an emergency.
- Any pet: collapse, seizures lasting more than five minutes, uncontrolled bleeding, or an inability to stand.
Book a vet visit this week if you see any of these:
- Joint, back, and mobility: Limping for more than a day or two, stiffness after rest, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, or a change in gait.
- Eye: Book a vet visit for any cloudiness, redness, squinting, discharge, or a change in how they navigate a room, especially at dusk.
- Ear: Head shaking, scratching at the ears, a smell or discharge from the ear canal, or redness inside the ear flap.
- Other: Any change that lasts more than a day or two, or anything that worries you.
Keep watching if: the change is mild, your Havanese is still eating, drinking, and moving normally, and it resolves within a day or two. Write down what you saw and when; a dated list is the most useful thing you can bring to a vet.
Joint, back, and mobility problems in Havanese
Patellar Luxation
Kneecap displacement common in small breeds.
How common in Havanese: Moderate
What it looks like in a Havanese:
- Skipping gait
- Holding leg up
- Lameness
Hip Dysplasia
Abnormal hip development, less common than in large breeds.
How common in Havanese: Lower than average
What it looks like in a Havanese:
- Hind leg lameness
- Difficulty rising
When to see a vet: Limping for more than a day or two, stiffness after rest, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, or a change in gait.
When it is an emergency: Sudden inability to use the back legs, dragging the hindquarters, or crying out when touched along the spine is an emergency. A ruptured disc has a window of hours for the best outcome.
Eye problems in Havanese
Cataracts
Lens opacity affecting vision.
How common in Havanese: Age-related
What it looks like in a Havanese:
- Cloudy eyes
- Vision changes
When to see a vet: Book a vet visit for any cloudiness, redness, squinting, discharge, or a change in how they navigate a room, especially at dusk.
When it is an emergency: Sudden blindness, a bulging or very painful eye, or an eye injury is an emergency. Glaucoma, a scratched cornea, or a prolapsed eye can cost the eye within hours.
Ear problems in Havanese
Deafness
Congenital hearing loss.
How common in Havanese: Occasional
What it looks like in a Havanese:
- No response to sounds
- Startles to touch
When to see a vet: Head shaking, scratching at the ears, a smell or discharge from the ear canal, or redness inside the ear flap.
When it is an emergency: A head tilt with loss of balance or circling can mean the infection has reached the inner ear. See a vet the same day.
Other health problems in Havanese
Chondrodysplasia
Dwarfism affecting leg length.
How common in Havanese: Genetic test available
What it looks like in a Havanese:
- Short legs
- Abnormal gait
When to see a vet: Any change that lasts more than a day or two, or anything that worries you.
When it is an emergency: Collapse, difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, or severe pain is always an emergency.
Warning signs to watch for in a Havanese
These are the early signals owners most often miss, or dismiss as age:
- Lameness
- Vision changes
- Hearing changes
- Dental issues
- Any mobility decline
Havanese lifespan: what is normal
Havanese typically live 14-16 years with proper care.
Genetic factors
Havanese are relatively healthy with fewer genetic issues than many purebreds. They benefit from a diverse gene pool.
What Havanese usually die from
Knowing what typically ends a Havanese's life is not morbid. It tells you which of the symptoms above deserve the fastest response.
- Age-related decline (about 45%): Many live to advanced age.
- Cancer (about 20%): Various cancers.
- Heart disease (about 15%): In older dogs.
- Liver disease (about 10%): Various causes.
When it may be time: from managing symptoms to saying goodbye
Most of the conditions above can be managed for a long time. Each one, though, has a point where treatment prolongs the decline rather than the life. If you are reading this page because your Havanese is older and the bad days are starting to outnumber the good, that is worth saying plainly: you may not be looking for a diagnosis anymore. You may be looking for permission.
Signs the balance has shifted in a Havanese:
- Less playful
- Not wanting to be held or touched
- Vision or hearing loss affecting daily life
- Loss of typical happy demeanor
The when to say goodbye to your Havanese guide walks through the quality-of-life scale vets use, what euthanasia actually involves, and how to prepare. If you are weighing costs and options, the pet end-of-life services guides by city cover in-home euthanasia and cremation prices, and the coping with losing a Havanese guide is there for afterward.
Preventive care for Havanese
- Patellar screening
- Eye exams annually
- BAER testing for hearing
- Dental care
- Coat maintenance
Sources
This page is compiled from veterinary references and breed-specific health studies. It is general information, not a diagnosis; your vet knows your Havanese.
- https://www.havanese.org/health/
- https://www.ofa.org/
If this has stopped being about symptoms
Many people land here when their Havanese is old or ill and they are trying to work out whether what they are seeing is the end. If that is you, the health details above matter less than the question underneath them.
Havanese Health FAQs
- What are the most common health problems in Havanese?
- The conditions most often seen in Havanese are patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, cataracts, and chondrodysplasia. Kneecap displacement common in small breeds.
- What do Havanese usually die from?
- The leading causes of death in Havanese are age-related decline, cancer, and heart disease. Many live to advanced age. Havanese typically live 14–16 years.
- Do Havanese have joint problems?
- Yes. The joint conditions seen in Havanese are patellar luxation and hip dysplasia. Limping for more than a day or two, stiffness after rest, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, or a change in gait. Sudden inability to use the back legs, dragging the hindquarters, or crying out when touched along the spine is an emergency. A ruptured disc has a window of hours for the best outcome.
- Do Havanese have eye problems?
- Yes. The eye conditions seen in Havanese are cataracts. Book a vet visit for any cloudiness, redness, squinting, discharge, or a change in how they navigate a room, especially at dusk. Sudden blindness, a bulging or very painful eye, or an eye injury is an emergency. Glaucoma, a scratched cornea, or a prolapsed eye can cost the eye within hours.
- At what age do Havanese start having health problems?
- Inherited conditions can show up in the first few years. Age-related problems like arthritis, kidney decline, and cancer cluster in the last third of a Havanese's 14–16 years lifespan, so twice-yearly checkups from about 8 years old catch most things early.
- What are the signs a Havanese is dying?
- The signs that a Havanese is nearing the end are refusing food and water, being unable to stand or get to the bathroom without help, pain that medication no longer reaches, withdrawing from the family, and more bad days than good over two weeks. Our when-to-say-goodbye guide for the Havanese walks through the quality-of-life scale vets use and what euthanasia involves.
- How do I know if my Havanese is in pain?
- Havaneses often hide pain. Watch for: changes in appetite, reluctance to move, unusual posture, excessive licking of one area, withdrawal, aggression when touched, panting (in dogs), or changes in sleep patterns. Any significant behavior change warrants a vet visit.
- At what age is a Havanese considered senior?
- With a typical lifespan of 14–16 years, Havaneses are generally considered senior in the last third of their expected life. Larger dogs age faster than smaller ones. Senior Havaneses benefit from more frequent vet visits and age-appropriate nutrition.
Keep their memory close
If you're facing a difficult time, these may bring comfort.