We couldn’t stress how important it is to actively seek out healthy poodle puppies any more adamantly if we wanted to. The fact is, health is the number one factor in a poodle’s longevity since poodles in general, are the most vulnerable to canine illnesses. When you’re ready to adopt a poodle puppy, checking its status health is an absolute must. Here are a few tips that will help you verify you’re looking at a vigorous pup.

Physical Appearance

It isn’t always easy to tell when a poodle puppy suffers from an internal illness unless the disease is so bad, it physically, maims the animal. Looking for external problems however *is* easy and should you find any, seek out a different litter and breeder immediately. A breeder who fails to care for its litter’s external appearance is a breeder who may additionally neglect other important health concerns such as sanitation, emotional needs, and shots. So when perusing a litter, look for an “externally disease free” bunch.

Within this group, you’ll find a bunch of happy little furballs with clean and sparkly (yes, sparkly) coats. There’ll be no open sores nor spots of missing hair (a condition common among flea ridden dogs or dogs with mange), and there’ll be no skin biting nor hair pulling. Although it could indicate a skin problem, hair pulling could be a sign of an emotional problem instead.

When it comes to expressing themselves, every individual pup in a healthy group walks and runs freely -- showing no signs of restraint or pain. They may be clumsy in that cute, puppy, roly-poly way, but they won’t appear weak and barely able to stand. Anything other than a robust bunch that’s stubbornly willing to get up and try again could indicate a health problem .

Other signs of a healthy litter include bright, round eyes and pink ears. You should pay special attention to a poodle’s ears since they’ll indicate serious problems. Healthy ears are not red and they don’t ooze. They don’t smell either, so if you notice a strange odor when you pick one up, pass on the offer.

Mom and Dad

If they’re available, ask to see the litter’s parents. A litter of poodle puppies can be only as healthy as its parents are, and both the mother and father will act as a visual gauge of health. Healthy parents equal healthy litters.

Location, Location, Location

The environment in which a litter lives is very telling. Healthy litters come from clean environments that get plenty of fresh food, water, and air. And the bedding area of a healthy environment is poop, pee, dirt, and insect free! Anything else is a literal breeding ground for infection.

The Ultimate Bit of Advice

We described what a healthy litter of puppies looks like, but we didn’t describe what could happen should you decide to play ‘nurse’ and rescue a puppy that’s already fated for death. Plain and simple, unhealthy puppies will die before they get a chance to become adults. If by some miracle they make it to adulthood, they’ll only suffer from all the extensive veterinarian exams and treatments. Should you go ahead and adopt one anyway, you’ll suffer from the high expense and the heartbreak. Our recommendation is that you just don’t adopt a sick pup!