Longevity
Life expectancy
With attentive care, a suitable diet and good medical follow-up, the Épagneul de Saint-Usuge can live from 12 to 14 years. Longevity depends on the quality of the breeding, the lifestyle and hereditary predispositions.
Build
A robust breed?
Good in the dampness of woods and brush. The medium-length coat protects without requiring heavy grooming. However, the ears must be dried and the skin inspected after outings.
Watch points
What to watch for
Ears, grass awns, eyes, lameness, weight out of season. Any sudden drop in eagerness to search deserves a check-up.
Otitis : Fringed ears retain moisture from woods and ditches.
Foxtails and ticks : Low searching exposes to foreign bodies and parasites.
Eye irritations : Brambles and tall grasses can injure the eyes.
Locomotor wear : Intense work on hard ground tires shoulders and toes.
Climate
Cold and heat tolerance
Comfortable in the temperate and humid climate of Bresse. In summer, hunt during the cooler hours. A dry bedding is sufficient in winter.
Weight
Tendency to gain weight
The Épagneul de Saint-Usuge must maintain a silhouette suited to its morphology, with palpable ribs without excess. The ration must match actual activity, age and neutering. Regular weighing prevents overly significant variations.
Daily life
Good habits to keep it healthy
- Dry and check the ears after wet outings.
- Inspect the interdigital spaces during foxtail season.
- Maintain recall training before any off-leash freedom in the woods.
- Adjust the ration out of season.
Vaccination
Saint-Usuge Spaniel vaccines: vaccination schedule
Which vaccines for a Saint-Usuge Spaniel? Like all dogs, the Saint-Usuge Spaniel receives essential vaccines from 8 weeks old: CHPPi (core vaccine) and Leptospirosis. The puppy primary vaccination for Saint-Usuge Spaniel is given in several injections 4 weeks apart, followed by a first booster at 1 year. Depending on its lifestyle (hunting, hiking, boarding, travel, region), your veterinarian may complete the protocol with vaccines against Rabies, Kennel cough, Piroplasmosis, Lyme disease and Leishmaniasis.
| Vaccine | Primary series | First booster | Then | Who for? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CHPPi (core vaccine)Core Distemper, Rubarth hepatitis, parvovirosis and parainfluenza | 8 weeks · 12 weeks · 3 months | 1 year | every year | All pets |
LeptospirosisCore Leptospirosis (bacterium transmitted by rodent urine and stagnant water) | 8 weeks · 12 weeks | 1 year | every year | All pets |
RabiesLifestyle-based Rabies | 12 weeks | 1 year | every year | Mandatory for travel abroad, categorized dogs, most boarding kennels and shows |
Kennel coughLifestyle-based Bordetella bronchiseptica and parainfluenza | 8 weeks | 1 year | every year | Dogs attending boarding kennels, daycares, dog clubs and shows |
PiroplasmosisLifestyle-based 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 diseaseLifestyle-based Tick-borne borreliosis | 12 weeks · 3 months | 1 year | every year | Hiking dogs, hunting dogs, forest areas of the East and the Center |
LeishmaniasisLifestyle-based 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 Saint-Usuge Spaniel vaccine boosters are annual for leptospirosis and rabies; for distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus, a booster every three years is often sufficient after the first booster. Your veterinarian will adjust the schedule to your dog’s actual risk.
Which boosters for your Saint-Usuge Spaniel?
Enter your companion’s age: we list the vaccines to do now and the next boosters.
Adopting well
Adopting a healthy Saint-Usuge Spaniel
Ocular and locomotor examination, ears, antiparasitics. Weight check outside the hunting season.
This information is provided for guidance only and does not replace a veterinarian’s advice. If you have any concerns about your pet’s health, consult a professional.
