Lagotto Romagnolo Health & Care
A healthy Lagotto begins with thoughtful breeding, appropriate health testing, proper preventive care, and owners who understand the breed’s needs. This page explains how Premier Truffles approaches health and what families should know about caring for a Lagotto throughout its life.
Health Testing Before Breeding
Before breeding a dog, Premier Truffles reviews breed-appropriate health testing along with temperament, structure, and overall health. This includes evaluation of the hips, patellas, and eyes, as well as relevant DNA testing for inherited Lagotto conditions. These screenings help us make thoughtful breeding decisions and reduce avoidable risk, but no test or breeding program can guarantee that a dog will never develop a health problem.
Lagotto Health Conditions We Screen For
Recommended Lagotto health screening includes hip and patella evaluations, regular examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist, and DNA testing for Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy (BFJE) and Lagotto Storage Disease (LSD). We review these results carefully when planning a breeding. A clear DNA result applies only to the specific genetic variant tested—it does not mean that a dog is guaranteed to remain free of every health condition.
Coat, Ear, Dental and Nail Care
The Lagotto’s curly coat is low-shedding, but it is not low-maintenance. Regular combing and trimming help prevent painful mats, especially around the ears, legs, feet, collar area, and places where the coat rubs. Ears should be checked for redness, odor, moisture, or debris—particularly after swimming or bathing. Routine nail trimming and dental care are also important parts of lifelong health. Your veterinarian and an experienced Lagotto groomer can help establish a care schedule appropriate for your individual dog.
Excercise, Weight, and Everyday Wellness
Maintaining a healthy weight supports comfortable movement, joint health, and overall well-being. A Lagotto in appropriate body condition should have ribs that can be felt without heavy pressure, a visible waist when viewed from above, and an abdominal tuck when viewed from the side. Daily physical activity should be balanced with mental work such as scent games, training, exploring, and problem-solving. Regular veterinary examinations, appropriate vaccinations and parasite prevention, and prompt attention to changes in behavior, appetite, movement, or energy are also essential.
Our Health Guarantee and Lifetime Support
Bringing home a Premier Truffles puppy begins a relationship that continues long after go-home day. Our health guarantee is provided in the puppy contract, and families are encouraged to stay in touch throughout their dog's life with questions about health, training, grooming, truffle work, or everyday Lagotto life.
We believe responsible breeding includes both careful health testing before a litter is planned and continued support for the families who raise our puppies.