Coton De Tulear: Health and veterinary triage
For a health question about Coton De Tulear, use screening records as background and let the individual dog's symptoms and trend guide the next step. Treat the record as background information, not proof of how this individual dog will respond. Keep the named test or screening record with the dog's age, result date, clinician, and any follow-up recommendation. For an active concern, record onset, severity, triggers, appetite, movement, breathing, skin, and recovery so a veterinarian can assess the pattern. Bring the dated pattern and the named record to the veterinary visit rather than trying to interpret the result alone.
What the screening record means
Coton De Tulear's recommended parent-club health tests is recorded as ['Patella Evaluation', 'Hip Evaluation', 'Cardiac Exam', 'Ophthalmologist Evaluation']. Here, that matters because it identifies a record to verify, not a diagnosis of the dog in front of you.
Prepare useful information for the vet
- Keep the named test or screening record with the dog's age, result date, clinician, and any follow-up recommendation. For an active concern, record onset, severity, triggers, appetite, movement, breathing, skin, and recovery so a veterinarian can assess the pattern.
- Keep the recommended parent-club health tests in view (['Patella Evaluation', 'Hip Evaluation', 'Cardiac Exam', 'Ophthalmologist Evaluation']) and make the next step reversible, observable, and easy to stop.
- Bring the dated pattern and the named record to the veterinary visit rather than trying to interpret the result alone.
Seek prompt veterinary care if
Arrange veterinary assessment for pain, breathing difficulty, fainting, repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, sudden weakness, rapid weight change, neurological signs, or a persistent behaviour change; use urgent care for severe or rapidly worsening signs.
If this may be a health problem
This page is not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Do not change food, medication, exercise, or care for an individual dog based on this page alone; contact a veterinarian for symptoms, pain, weight change, skin changes, persistent behaviour change, or any urgent concern.
References
Height: 10-11 inches (male), 9-10 inches (female)
AKC page PageMap DataObject > height
Weight: 9-15 pounds (male), 8-13 pounds (female)
AKC page PageMap DataObject > weight
Life expectancy: 15-19 years
AKC page PageMap DataObject > life_expectancy
Grooming: Grooming the Coton puppy is a breeze. During that time you should groom him regularly and ensure that he learns to see grooming sessions as positive times of bonding with his person. Unless you are going to keep your Coton in a short 'puppy clip,' your dog will require a great deal of brushing. You must be careful to get your comb and brush all the way to…
AKC page Grooming > official section copy
Exercise: The Coton is a fairly active dog who requires a moderate amount of exercise. Daily walks with his human at a slow speed will keep him in good weight and condition. Chasing a tennis ball around his backyard can keep his mind active as well as his body. A bored and unhappy Coton can become destructive. He does best when provided with enough exercise, lots of…
AKC page Exercise > official section copy
Training: The Coton is an alert dog and naturally territorial. Cotons should be well socialized from an early age so that they will enjoy going with you wherever you go. Obedience training is a good idea, for socialization as well as reinforcing lessons and manners. A bored Coton will be unable to learn anything. Keep your training sessions lively and entertaining…
AKC page Training > official section copy
Official breed description: The Coton de Tulear, 'Royal Dog of Madagascar,' is a bright, happy-go-lucky companion dog whose favorite activities include clowning, cavorting, and following their special human around the house. The Coton is small but robustly sturdy.
AKC page About the Breed > official breed description
Recommended parent-club health tests: ['Patella Evaluation', 'Hip Evaluation', 'Cardiac Exam', 'Ophthalmologist Evaluation']
AKC page Health > Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club
Official breed standard: http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/CotondeTulear.pdf
AKC page The Breed Standard > View Full Breed Standard
Use the tools