If your Lhasa Apso is still a puppy, the first thing you need to nail down is their routine vet visit schedule. Don’t skip their initial puppy vaccine series, and make sure to get them spayed or neutered around 6 to 9 months old if you don’t plan on breeding them – that cuts down their risk of certain cancers later in life, a ton. Once they’re adults, annual wellness checks are non-negotiable, even if they seem totally fine. Once they hit 7 years old, they’re considered seniors, so switch to twice-yearly checkups to catch issues like kidney disease, thyroid problems, or arthritis early. I’ve had so many clients tell me they skipped a checkup cause their pup looked fine, just to find out a few months later their Lhasa had a developing health issue that would’ve been way easier to treat if caught earlier. They ain’t just a unnecessary expense, those visits are the easiest way to keep your pup healthy long term.
Next up, eye and ear care, which is extra important for this breed. Lhasa Apsos have long, flowing fur that constantly falls into their eyes if you don’t keep it trimmed or tied back. That constant irritation can lead to redness, corneal ulcers, or even chronic dry eye, which is super uncomfortable for your pup. Trim the hair around their eyes every 2 to 3 weeks, or use a small, soft hair tie to pull the fur up into a tiny topknot if you want to keep their coat long. Check their eyes every couple days for excessive tearing, yellow or green gunk, or squinting – if you notice any of those, head to the vet right away, it could be a sign of progressive retinal atrophy, a genetic eye condition that’s common in the breed, or just a simple infection that needs antibiotics. For their ears, Lhasas have floppy, hairy ear canals that trap moisture and dirt super easy, which leads to ear infections if you don’t keep up with cleaning. Wipe the outer part of their ear with a vet-approved ear cleaner and a cotton ball once a week, never stick anything deep into their ear canal, that can damage their eardrum real bad.
Skin and coat care is another big one for Lhasa Apsos, since they have a thick double coat and are super prone to skin allergies. First off, brushing is non-negotiable. If you keep their coat full length, you need to brush them every single day to prevent tangles and mats that can pull on their skin and cause irritation, even infections under the matted fur. If you keep them in a shorter puppy cut, 2 to 3 brushes a week is enough. Brushing also spreads their natural skin oils, keeps their coat shiny, and lets you check for fleas, ticks, or weird lumps and bumps on their skin while you work. Bathe them every 4 to 6 weeks with a gentle, dog-safe shampoo – if they have sensitive skin or allergies, use a hypoallergenic or medicated shampoo your vet recommends. A lot of Lhasas are allergic to flea bites, grain, pollen, or dust mites, so if you notice your pup scratching nonstop, losing fur, or has red, flaky skin, don’t just write it off as normal itching. Talk to your vet about allergy testing, or trying a limited ingredient diet to figure out what’s triggering the reaction. And don’t skip monthly flea and tick prevention, even if your Lhasa is 100% indoor – you can track fleas into your house on your shoes, and one single bite can make an allergic Lhasa itch for weeks.
Dental and joint care are two areas a lot of Lhasa owners forget about, but they’re super important for long term health. Lhasa Apsos have small, crowded jaws, which means plaque and tartar build up way faster than it does for larger breeds. If you don’t keep up with dental care, they can get gum disease, tooth infections, even lose teeth by the time they’re 5 or 6 years old. Brush their teeth at least 3 times a week with dog-specific toothpaste – human toothpaste has xylitol which is toxic to dogs, so never use that on them. Give them dental chews or hard rubber toys to chew on, that helps scrape plaque off their teeth between brushes. You should also get a professional dental cleaning at the vet once a year, especially once they’re seniors. For joint health, Lhasas are prone to hip dysplasia and patellar luxation, which is when their knee cap slips out of place. Don’t let your young puppy jump off high couches or beds all the time, that can damage their still developing joints. Keep them at a healthy weight, extra pounds put a ton of extra pressure on their hips and knees, which makes joint issues way worse. If you notice your Lhasa limping, having trouble climbing stairs, or not wanting to play like they used to, talk to your vet about joint supplements like glucosamine, or other treatment options to keep them comfortable.
Diet and exercise might seem simple, but they make a huge difference in your Lhasa Apso’s overall health. Lhasas are small dogs, so they don’t need hours of exercise every day, but you can’t skip it entirely. 20 to 30 minutes of walking a day, plus 10 to 15 minutes of playtime at home, is more than enough to keep them fit, stop them from getting bored and destructive, and keep their joints moving. For their diet, feed them high-quality, age-appropriate dog food – puppy food for pups under 1 year, adult food for 1 to 7 years, and senior food for pups over 7. Avoid feeding them too many table scraps, especially fatty foods, and make sure you never leave toxic foods like grapes, raisins, chocolate, garlic, or xylitol gum where they can reach it. A lot of Lhasas are prone to obesity, so measure their food every time you feed them, don’t just free feed them all day. Even an extra quarter cup of food a day can make them gain a pound or two in a month, which is a lot for a 10 to 15 pound dog. Obesity leads to all kinds of health issues, like diabetes, heart disease, and worse joint pain, so keeping them at a healthy weight is one of the easiest things you can do to extend their life.
Finally, there are a few warning signs you should never ignore with your Lhasa Apso. If you notice persistent coughing, trouble breathing, sudden weight loss or gain, excessive thirst or peeing, loss of appetite, constant lethargy, frequent vomiting or diarrhea, limping, or sudden changes in their behavior, take them to the vet as soon as possible. These are all early signs of serious health issues that need treatment right away. At the end of the day, paying attention to your pup’s normal behavior and routine is the best way to catch health issues early. You know your Lhasa better than anyone else, so if something seems off, don’t second guess yourself, get them checked out.