Longevity
Life expectancy
With attentive care, a suitable diet and good medical follow-up, the Prague Ratter can live from 12 to 16 years. Longevity depends on the quality of the breeding, the lifestyle and hereditary predispositions.
Constitution
Is this a robust breed?
Fragile to shocks, cold and falls, but lively and resilient for its size if it lives indoors. This is not an unsupervised garden dog.
Things to watch for
What to look out for
Teeth, kneecaps, tremors, hypoglycemia, domestic accidents. Too long a fast in the puppy is dangerous.
Patellar luxation: Unstable kneecaps are common in toy dogs.
Fragile teeth: Tartar and tooth loss appear early without hygiene.
Trauma: A fall, being stepped on, or playing with a large dog can be serious.
Puppy hypoglycemia: Very small puppies do not tolerate fasting and stress well.
Climate
Tolerance to cold and heat
Sensitive to cold and humidity. Coat in winter, short outings in bad weather. In summer, watch out for the heat of sidewalks and bags.
Weight
Prone to weight gain
The Prague Ratter must maintain a silhouette suited to its morphology, with palpable ribs without excess. The ration must follow the actual activity, age and sterilization. Regular weighing prevents overly significant variations.
Everyday care
Good habits to keep your pet healthy
- Brush the teeth very regularly.
- Forbid jumping off furniture.
- Protect from the cold and from large dogs.
- Do not let a puppy fast for too long.
Vaccination
Prague Ratter vaccinations: schedule
Which vaccines does a Prague Ratter need? Like all dogs, Prague Ratters should receive their core vaccines from 8 weeks of age: CHPPi (core vaccine) and Leptospirosis. Puppies receive their initial Prague Ratter vaccinations in several shots spaced 4 weeks apart, followed by a first booster at 1 year. Depending on their lifestyle (hunting, hiking, boarding, travel, region), your veterinarian may add vaccines against Rabies, Kennel cough, Piroplasmosis, Lyme disease and Leishmaniasis.
| Vaccine | Primary vaccination | First booster | Then | For whom? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CHPPi (core vaccine)Core Distemper, Rubarth hepatitis, parvovirosis and parainfluenza | 8 weeks · 12 weeks · 3 months | 1 year | every year | All animals |
LeptospirosisCore Leptospirosis (bacterium transmitted by rodent urine and stagnant water) | 8 weeks · 12 weeks | 1 year | every year | All animals |
RabiesDepending on lifestyle Rabies | 12 weeks | 1 year | every year | Mandatory for travel abroad, categorized dogs, most boarding kennels and shows |
Kennel coughDepending on lifestyle Bordetella bronchiseptica and parainfluenza | 8 weeks | 1 year | every year | Dogs attending boarding kennels, daycares, dog clubs and shows |
PiroplasmosisDepending on lifestyle Tick-borne babesiosis | 5 months · 6 months | 1 year | every year | Hunting dogs, dogs living in rural or wooded areas, dogs highly exposed to ticks |
Lyme diseaseDepending on lifestyle Tick-borne borreliosis | 12 weeks · 3 months | 1 year | every year | Hiking dogs, hunting dogs, forest areas of the East and the Center |
LeishmaniasisDepending on lifestyle Leishmaniasis transmitted by sandflies | 6 months | 1 year and 6 months | every year | Dogs living or staying in the South of France, Corsica and the Mediterranean basin |
Adult Prague Ratter booster shots are given annually for leptospirosis and rabies. For distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus, a booster every three years is often enough after the first booster. Your veterinarian will tailor the schedule to your dog's actual risk.
Which boosters does your Prague Ratter need?
Enter your companion's age to see which vaccines are due now and when the next boosters are needed.
Choosing well
Adopting a healthy Prague Ratter
Patellas, teeth, weight, neurological examination if needed. Regular handling to accept care.
This information is for guidance only and doesn't replace advice from a veterinarian. If you have any concerns about your pet's health, consult a professional.
