Longevity
Life expectancy
With attentive care, an appropriate diet and good medical follow-up, the Saint-Usuge Spaniel can live 12 to 14 years. Longevity depends on the quality of the breeding, the lifestyle and hereditary predispositions.
Constitution
Is this 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.
Things to watch for
What to look out 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
Tolerance to cold and heat
Comfortable in the temperate and humid climate of Bresse. In summer, hunt during the cooler hours. A dry bedding is sufficient in winter.
Weight
Prone to weight gain
The Saint-Usuge Spaniel must maintain a silhouette suited to its morphology, with palpable ribs without excess. The ration must match the actual activity, age and neutering. Regular weighing prevents overly significant variations.
Everyday care
Good habits to keep your pet 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 vaccinations: schedule
Which vaccines does a Saint-Usuge Spaniel need? Like all dogs, Saint-Usuge Spaniels should receive their core vaccines from 8 weeks of age: CHPPi (core vaccine) and Leptospirosis. Puppies receive their initial Saint-Usuge Spaniel 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 Saint-Usuge Spaniel 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 Saint-Usuge Spaniel 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 Saint-Usuge Spaniel
Ocular and locomotor examination, ears, antiparasitics. Weight check outside the hunting season.
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.
