Bichon Frise Health Guide
The Bichon Frise is a wonderful breed of dog that works exceptionally well as a family pet and in most cases, for show. Although this specific breed is considered a healthy choice, as with any dog breed, there are certain risks.
The most common problems associated with the Bichon Frise include eye disease, allergy, ear infections, luxating patella, tooth problems, and bladder infection/stones. Typically, buying from a reputable breeder eliminates many of these problems.
Bichon Frise Health Guide
With a Bichon Frise, it is important to offer good dental hygiene. In fact, it is generally recommended that the dog’s teeth be brushed and that canned foods be avoided. Unfortunately, without proper dental care, this dog is prone to early tooth loss.
For the allergy problem, many times the issue is associated with seasonal things like trees, grass, etc. You can work with your veterinarian on the best preventative and treatment medication to use. The same is true for fleas. This particular breed is highly sensitive so you want to make sure any problem with fleas is treated.
You will also find that the Bichon Frise suffers on occasion from Immotile Cilia Syndrome, also known as Kartagener’s Syndrome. In this case, the dog’s autoimmune system causes a variety of symptoms to include runny nose, respiratory infection, pneumonia, and difficulty getting past infection.
Then, although many forms of cancer are seen in dogs, the Bichon Frise is prone to prostate cancer for the males and mammary gland carcinoma for females. To expand the life of this breed, veterinarians often recommend neutering and spaying.
As mentioned, the Bichon Frise is prone to bladder infection and stones. The best prevention in this case is providing your pet with clean, fresh waters. If you happen to notice any blood in the dog’s urine, it should be checked by a veterinarian.
Finally, many smaller breeds experience problems with what is known as a luxating patella or problems with the knees. The Bichon Frise is no exception so take care not to allow the dog to jump off furniture or climb excessive steps. If you happen to notice limping or the dog favoring one or more legs, have it checked.
Again, health problems with this breed are not overly common. For this reason, we see the Bichon Frise remaining a popular choice of dog. The good health coupled with excellent temperament make this breed a wonderful choice.
With proper care, there is no reason why your dog cannot live a full, healthy life, anywhere from 10 to 16 years of age.
Read More About Bichon Frise
- Bichon Frise Breed Information
- Bichon Frise : 10 Most Common Questions
- Bichon Frise Training Guide
- Owning a Bichon Frise : Breeder Recommendations
