Buying a Basset Hound Puppy
What to expect from a breeder who puts Health, Welfare and Temperament first.
Basset Hounds can have exaggerated body features that compromise their health and welfare. Avoid a puppy whose parents have excessive loose skin particularly on the face (which affects normal eyelid function), excessively long ears or very short legs
Essential Documents
- Heath Certificates (both parents)
- Signed AWF Puppy Contract
- KC Registration Certificate (if applicable)
- Microchip Registration Certificate
- Temporary Pet Health Insurance
- Vaccination Certificate
A Good Breeder Will:
- have socialised and habituated the puppy
- provide a supply of food
- provide a blanket smelling of Mum
- follow the Code of Practice for Dog Breeding
Official Health Schemes
- BVA/KC scheme for elbow dysplasia (ED)
- abnormal formation of the elbow joint – pain and lameness
- BVA/KC screening for eye disease, to include gonioscopy. DBRG recommends that all dogs should be visually examined by an ophthalmologist before breeding (includes checks for inherited and conformation-related diseases)
- checks many inherited and physical abnormalities that can cause progressive blindness or pain. Gonioscopy tests for goniodysgenesis; PLA (pectinate ligament abnormality) assesses a predisposition for primary closed angle glaucoma, a painful progressive eye disease leading to blindness. Gonioscopy should be carried out every three years to assess progression of PLA.
Other Diseases
- Bloat/GDV (gastric dilation and volvulus
- where the stomach inflates with air and twists,sometimes fatally
- Dermatitis
- inflammation of skin, more likely if excessive loose skin; often with Malassezia (yeast) infections
- ‘Cherry eye’
- protruding gland of third eyelid in young dogs, may require surgery
- Ear infections
- more likely in long, drooping ears; can be allergy related
- Ectropion
- drooping lower eyelids
- Entropion
- inturned eyelids that rub on eyeballs (may be combined with ectropion)
- IVDD – Intervertebral disc disease
- degeneration of spinal discs and spinal cord compression, pain, possible paralysis
DNA Tests Relevant to Breed
- CDDY – Chondrodystrophy
- abnormal intervertebral discs in spine
- POAG – Primary open angle glaucoma
- another type of glaucoma, causing gradual blindness
- Lafora disease – a type of epilepsy
Further Information
The Basset Hound Health Group runs a Health Award Scheme at bronze, silver and gold levels. All levels require a basic health check. Silver level upwards require further tests.