As a member of the pointer family, you can expect Hungarian Viszla dogs to be excellent hunters. They were developed by Hungarian ancestors, the Magyars, as they moved across Europe to settle in Hungary over a thousand years ago. They pick up various types of dogs along the way and worked to create a hunting dog that served their purposes on the plains of Hungary.
The medium-sized dogs are slim but muscular, allowing them to run swiftly after their prey. Their signature rust-coloured short-haired coat affords them some protection from the elements. Their eyes, nose, tail, and nails tend to blend in with their coats in terms of colour.
By the 18th century, warlords and barons alike had fallen in love with these excellent hunting dogs. They were not only fast but also useful for pointing and retrieving, as well as streaking across the Hungarian plains after small mammals.
They tend to be energetic and excitable, requiring plenty of daily exercise. If they don’t get enough mental and physical stimulation, they can become bored and destructive.
They are very playful, affectionate dogs and love being around their owners and other people. In fact, they can become anxious and depressed if left home alone for too long. With their high level of energy, they are ideal for active owners who like to go hiking and engage in other activities that the dog can participate in.
Hungarian Vizslas love to play and aren’t particularly picky about who they play with. They are friendly to both people and pets. As a side effect, they aren’t necessarily very good watchdogs. However, as most dogs will do, they will be protective and defend their family if the occasion arises.
Most of them tend to be quite stubborn so be prepared with a firm hand when training. Some can be timid but are in general very affectionate, sensitive, and loving dogs.
Because of their high level of energy, Vizslas need plenty of space to run around and get exercise throughout the day. They also need interaction and don’t do well being left home alone for long periods of time.
An active owner who loves to take their dog out for physical activities is the ideal owner for a Hungarian Vizsla. Families with older children are also great as Vizslas get along with everyone and they can take turns playing with the dog. Because of their high-energy and activity, they can be complicated for families with toddlers. They won’t try to hurt small children, but in their excitement, they can accidentally cause injury.
Hungarian Vizslas are moderately easy to train. The owner will need to generally know how to handle a dog but, as long as they get enough exercise and stimulation, they have few behavioural problems.
Thanks to their short hair, Vizslas are a very low maintenance dog breed and don’t shed a whole lot. They do benefit from regular brushing, which will remove loose hairs and stimulate the skin, but daily brushing isn’t strictly necessary. Grooming a Vizsla is relatively easy and doesn’t require too much time to do it.
Like cats, they tend to be self-cleaning and will lick their own hair to clean themselves. Their lack of an undercoat means they can get cold outdoors in winter, but the flip side is that the hairs don’t trap too much dirt and odours.
In general, well-cared-for Hungarian Vizslas suffer from few health issues. Other than not having to care for a sick dog, a big plus of their low occurrence of health problems is that Hungarian Vizsla pet insurance is generally quite affordable.
If trouble does arise, they tend to suffer from epilepsy which is often hereditary. If you buy a Vizsla puppy, ask the breeder for tests on both the parents and the puppy itself certifying their lack of health conditions.
Your Viszla will enjoy high-quality dog food twice a day. Portions should be based on activity level and whatever amount keeps the dog at a healthy weight.
In short, if you love an active, affectionate, intelligent, and easy-to-care-for dog, the Hungarian Viszla dog breed is an excellent choice.
Hip Dysplasia is an inherited condition that means the thighbone doesn’t fit snuggly in the hip joint.
The symptoms are generally pain and lameness which will vary in severity and can be present in one or both rear legs.
Sadly, it’s not uncommon for the disorder to lead to hip replacement.
Make sure you ask any breeder if the puppy’s parents have been tested and cleared for Hip Dysplasia. If they have not, or the issue is present in one or both, find another breeder.
Hypothyroidism is a disorder of the thyroid gland which is believed to be a cause of issues including epilepsy, hair loss, obesity, lethargy and skin conditions.
This is a disorder that can be quite easily treated through a dog’s diet and medication.
Lymphosarcoma is the third most common cancer found in dogs. It’s present in lymphocytes and lymphoid tissues which are located in many parts of the body including lymph nodes, liver, bone marrow and the spleen.
The average age of sufferers is 6-9 years, but dogs of any age can be affected and certain breeds like the German Shepherd, Scotties, Westies and Pointers are more susceptible.
There are 5 types of Lymphosarcoma which are determined by the location of the tumour. These types are external lymph nodes, bone marrow, skin, gastrointestinal tract and mediastinal.
There are a whole host of methods for diagnosis due to the multiple areas in which Lymphosarcoma can be found. Tests include a biopsy of affected tissue, a complete blood count, an abdominal ultrasound and x-rays.
Lymphosarcoma can be treated with surgery and chemotherapy, with up to 80% of dogs treated going into remission. Although it’s not a cure, it does allow the dog to have a good quality of life for an average remission time of 8-10 months.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a family of eye diseases that involves the gradual deterioration of the retina.
Early in the disease, affected dogs become night-blind, with the loss of sight during the day occurring as the disease progresses.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment, but it is known that the condition doesn’t cause any pain or discomfort and most dogs will adapt well to their limited or lost vision, so long as their surroundings and environment stay the same.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that is often, but not always, inherited.
The condition causes mild or severe seizures which may show themselves as unusual behaviour such as running frantically as if being chased, staggering, hiding, or even by falling down, limbs rigid, and losing consciousness
Although seizures are frightening and saddening to watch, the long-term prognosis for sufferers is generally very good.
If you suspect your dog has epilepsy, take your dog to the vet for proper diagnosis and treatment as there could be other reasons for seizures.