Hip Dysplasia is one problem that has been seen in Samoyeds however, most breeders will only breed from parents that have good hip scores and as a consequence
the average hip score of Samoyeds in Australia has dropped significantly. Always ask to see the Hip Evaluation Report from the parents of any puppy you are considering buying. Because Hip dysplasia is what is known as a polygenic disorder (having more than one source) it is not possible to guarantee that the puppy is free of the condition. All we as responsible breeders can do assess the status of our breeding stock, breeding only dogs with low scores, and raise our puppies in good environments, (not slippery floors) and to also try and educated our puppy buyers as to the factors that will lessen the chance of their puppy developing this disease, such as weight gain etc.
A lot of responsible breeders are also having their dogs xrayed at the same time as the hips for elbow dysplasia this doesnt appear to be a big problem at the moment in Australia but has occured in Samoyeds from time to time.
More breeders in Australia are also now starting to test for Eye problems, some of those that are known to have occurred in Samoyeds are Cataracts, Corneal Dystrophy, Distichiasis, Glaucoma & Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (X-Linked). Parents of puppies should have a current eye examination certificate issued under the AVA-ANKC Australian Canine Eye Scheme. Again you can ask to see a copy of this certificate for the parents of any puppy you are considering buying. This is not a guarantee that the puppies will not develop a problem but it does show that the parents do not at the time of the examination have a problem.
Other health problems occasionally seen in Samoyeds are Thryoiditis, Cardic problems and Diabetes.
Vaccination is vital to protect your puppy against Infectious diseases such as Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, Canine Parvovirus, Parainfluenza and Bordetella these can now all be prevented with a series of injections in the first few months and then a yearly booster. All dogs not just Samoyeds should also be treated on a regular basis for worms and protected against Heart Worm. For further information on this talk to your vet.