The two main health problems in Bassett hound puppies are ear problems and being overweight. The main causes of these two health problems are the Bassett hound’s conformation. Those extra-long ears and short legs may look adorable, but they do place Bassett hounds more at risk from health problems than longer-legged, shorter-eared breeds.

Preventing Ear Problems

Those long ears were bred for a reason. They help scoop scent up off of the ground towards the Bassett hound’s nose. The ears also hug the sides of the puppy’s head. This makes it difficult for the ear to air out properly and can encourage bacterial growth. This can lead to painful ear infections. Every now and then, flip your puppy’s outer ear so that the bottom of the outer ear and the ear canal are exposed to air.

Those ends of the long ears often drag in dirt or get in your puppy’s food. Bassett hound puppies do not clean their own ears. You will need to do that for them. Every day, check the ends of the ears for any accumulated detritus and remove it with a damp cloth. Let the ears air dry. If the puppy is especially wriggly, wait until the puppy is taking a nap in order to clean the ears.

Keeping the Puppy At a Healthy Weight

When it comes to food, puppies do not know when to say when. Bassett hound puppies will always seem hungry even when their bellies are full. Do not give in to their begging. Avoid giving puppies any human junk food. Put garbage in locked outside trash cans to prevent mischievous puppies from eating table scraps.

Keep your puppy active. Although Bassett hounds do not need as much exercise as other scent hounds, they do need at least one brisk walk every day. They also should have time to romp. All this activity helps to keep the puppies from getting overweight. Extra weight makes the growing puppy more prone to spinal problems and arthritis. This can sometimes lead to paralysis of the hind legs.