The Poodle is a very intelligent, good natured, very elegant in appearance, and sturdy dog with a long life span. Depending on the lines in the poodles pedigree, life expectancies average between 10 to 18 years. I have heard of some poodles (all three sizes) living up to 21 years. The three sizes mature at different rates; the Toy at 7 months, the Miniature at 12 months and the Standard at 18 to 24 Months.  To help keep your poodle healthy and beautiful, always feed your puppy nutritious food use the proper health supplements and medicines for health and bathe & groom your puppy regularly.
 

Like all purebred dogs, the Poodle has its share of inheritable health problems. The Toy and Miniature seem to share the same disorders, while there is some variation in the Standard's disorders.
 

Genetically based disorders...
 

Genetically based disorders in the Toy and Miniature include:
 

Progressive Retinal Atrophy a disorder of the eye in which the light cells in the retina wither and die due to insufficient blood supply. the disease progresses Gradually, results in blindness and has no known cure. Its onset in the Poodle is between 5 to 6 years old. The presence of PRA can be detected by ophthalmoscopic examination by a veterinary ophthalmologist. As a result, screening by the Canine Eye Registration Foundation, which maintains a registry of dogs that are certified free of inheritable eye diseases by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, is advisable. This certification must be done annually.
 

Legg-Calve'-Perthes - a disorder in which non-inflammatory avascular necrosis of the femoral neck and head result in one of both of a young dog's rear leys becoming lame. Irritability and pain are other primary symptoms. Some dogs recover function without treatment, but in severe case surgical removal of the femur head is indicated.
 

Patella Sub-luxation- or slipped kneecap, a condition in which the patella slides in and out of the groove where it is normally held in place by ligaments. This causes hopping or favoring of the leg until the kneecap slips back into place. In some cases, in can be surgically corrected.
 

Epilepsy - a neurological disorder marked by recurring seizures that follow episodic, abnormal discharges of electrical impulses by nerve cells in the brain. As in humans, it is controlled with drugs such as phenobarbital or Dilantin.
 

Hypothyrodism - a condition resulting from an inadequate production of thyroid hormone. Also treated with drug therapy, its symptoms include a coarse, brittle coat that falls out, thickening and discoloration of the skin, lethargy, obesity, mental slowness and irregular heart cycles.
 

Cryptorchidism - or undescended testicle, a condition in which one or both testicles are retained in the abdominal cavity. Hormone injections, given to stimulate testicular descent, sometimes are successful. When the treatment is unsuccessful, removal of the testicles is recommended because cryptorchid testicles may become cancerous.
 

The Miniature is also subject to:
 

Hip Dysplasia - a condition in which the head of the femur fits improperly into the hip joint socket, causing Pain and lameness. Pain killers and/or surgery are the usual treatments.
 

Genetically based disorders in The Standard Poodle include:
 

PRA, Epilepsy, and Hypothyroidism (same as with the Toy and Miniature above.)
 

Hip Dysplasia (see above, same as Miniature. The Toy does not seem to suffer from this one.)
 

Von_Willebrand's Disease - a disorder that involves a tendency to bleed easily, is caused by a deficiency in the von Willebrand factor, a protein found in the blood plasma. As with PRA and hip dysplasia, VW testing is recommended.
 

Addison's Disease - a disorder caused by a deficiency in adrenocortical hormones most commonly occurring in young and middle-aged dogs. Symptoms include weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia and general physical deterioration. In the event of an adrenal crisis, corticosteroids, fluids and glucose may be needed to stabilize the animal.
 

Sebaceous Adenitis - a chronic skin disorder resulting from abnormal and/or inflamed, or in some cases a total absence of, sebaceous glands. Symptoms include hair loss, formation of silver-gray scales and secondary skin infections with an offensive odor. Therapeutic baths and antibiotics for secondary infections are the recommended treatments.
 

Standard Poodle Cancer Registry - The Standard Poodle Cancer registry has been established to gather information on the many types of cancer affecting the breed today. An estimated 40% of all Standard Poodle deaths are from cancer. However, since reporting is not required, it is difficult to say which types of cancer are most common, or determine whether the predisposition to any is inherited.

Other Considerations
 

In addition to regular grooming, a dog owner should be aware that a dog’s environment or a management problem may be affecting the quality of a dog’s haircoat.
 

A dry, brittle haircoat and hair loss may result from low humidity. Indoor housing where humidity is always low is a good example. Too frequent bathing also dries out the skin and haircoat.
 

Dietary imbalance such as excessive feeding of table scraps or extended feeding of imbalanced pet foods (those recommended for intermittent feeding only) can result in poor haircoat. Feeding a nutritionally complete and balanced dog food such as Purina® Dog Chow® brand dog food or Purina® brand Hi Pro Dog Meal helps ensure a healthy haircoat that is enhanced by regular grooming.