He needs few baths and appreciates rubdowns with a coarse cloth or hound glove. Although he is generally healthy, the Basset is susceptible to several genetic conditions and to glaucoma, obesity , gastric torsion , panosteitis, and allergies. His long back predisposes him to disc problems and can cause problems if he is overweight, out of condition, or jumps on and off furniture. He is also subject to von Willebrand's disease, a genetic blood disease similar to hemophilia, and to elbow dysplasia. Panosteitis is a wandering lameness of unknown cause and cure.
Puppies generally outgrow the condition by two years of age.
Like other deep-chested breeds, Bassets should be fed twice a day throughout their lives to minimize chances of bloat and torsion. They should have a daily walk and a moderate diet to avoid the problems that can come with overweight. You may print or download this material for non-commercial personal or school educational use. All other rights reserved. If you, your organization or business would like to reprint our articles in a newsletter or distribute them free of charge as an educational handout please see our reprint policy.