Boston Terrier Eyes

According the AKC Standard, The Boston Terrier's "eyes are wide apart, large and round and dark in color. The eyes are set square in the skull and the outside corners are on a line with the cheeks as viewed from the front. Disqualify: Eyes blue in color or any trace of blue." Because Boston Terriers have large and beautiful but somewhat protruding eyes, protecting them is extremely important. Sun exposure for long periods of time must be avoided. You can purchase small sized dog visors that will help keep the sun out of their eyes. They should never be allowed to stick their heads out of automobile windows because the air pressure on the eyes is bad (true for any dog). You should not hike with your Boston in excessively dusty conditions. Its a good idea to carry a dog eyewash eye drops with you so that if dust, sand or plant matter does get in their eyes, you can wash it out before they rub their eyes, risking scratches. If you have landscaping that contains thorny plants such as roses or cactus, you will need to arrange some way of insuring that your Boston cannot get into the area with these plants. Because their eyes protrude and their muzzles are short, there is an increased chance over other dogs that they will scratch their eyes by accident. When walking with your Boston never allow them to come into contact with thorny plants. There are over 20 different eye diseases that are known to occur in Boston Terriers so this is very important. The one we fear the most are Juvenile Cataracts which will cause total blindness in a very young dogs. With Boston Terriers it is recommended that CERF exams be given every year. Our personal recommendation, if you don't want to do it every year, is to do it before every breeding or in any year you breed your Boston Terrier. This should ensure that you don't pass a serious eye disease on to the puppies. Also make sure that all puppies are CERFed before they go to their new homes.

 •Boston Terrier Ears•

 According the AKC Standard, The Boston Terrier's ears are small, carried erect, either natural or cropped to conform to the shape of the head and situated as near to the corners of the skull as possible. Due to being carried erect, they are not as prone to certian ear infections or yeast that some dropped eared dogs are.

However, there can be a high incidence of sensorineural deafness in Boston Terriers. If puppies have been BAER tested the breeder can tell you what the status of their hearing is. Puppies that are unilaterally deaf (deaf in one ear) will not show the defect in any discernable way and will make good family pets. These puppies must not be used for breeding as they may have a higher percentage of deaf offspring and may produce a bilaterally deaf (deaf in both ears) puppy who cannot hear at all. Bostons with over l/3 white on their head and/or body may also produce deaf puppies and should not be bred but they can make wonderful pets. We know that in some parts of the country unilateral deafness in Boston Terrier puppies may run as high as 4 to 6 percent or more of the puppies produced. Bilaterally deaf puppies are "special needs" puppies and do not make good family pets without special training.

Make sure your breeder has had your puppy BAER tested and ask to see records of the puppies parents BAER test results.

　•Boston Terriers Can Have Orthopedic Issues•

 Boston Terrier health problems can include orthopedic issues, such as knee and back leg problems known as Patellar Luxation. Luxation is a fancy word for dislocation, and Patellar means knee. Signs of patellar luxation are limping, pain, and frequent stops to stretch the rear leg. This abnormal displacement of the kneecap results in pain, cartilage damage, and arthritis.

•Boston Terrier Dog's Skin Problems•

Allergic Dermatitis is another one of the Boston Terrier health problems that many owners deal with. Allergy testing by a dermatologist can help to determine the underlying causes. Sometimes the dog may have to eat a specialty diet and take medicine to combat the problem. Although it is not recommended to bathe the afflicted pooch too often, using medicated shampoos and lotions can sometimes help, but check with your veterinarian first.Another skin issue that Boston Terrierdogs can suffer from are mites. These are microscopic insects that attack sections of your dog's body. They are not dangerous, but your vet can test the skin to see if this is the problem. He can prescribe an ointment to combat the mites

 •Boston Terrier Breathing Problems•

Because of the short head of this breed, this is probably one of the most common health problems for Boston Terrier dogs. There is a little more work for them in order to breathe. For that reason, Bostons tend to snuffle, snort and even snore. (Mine snores pretty loud!) It is recommended that you use a harness-style instead of a traditional neck collar for this reason.

A Boston Terrier can go into what the vet calls a "reverse sneezing fit" every so often. It's almost like a seizure, but apparently it's not harmful. The first time it happened, it was quite disturbing, so hopefully anyone considering bringing a Boston Terrier home will read this and know that it's OK

　•Taking Care of the Boston Terrier•

Like other dog breeds, an important thing to remember about your Boston terrier is that it gets plenty of exercise outdoors to ensure that he/she stays healthy and alert. While not generally hyperactive dogs, they do need to run and play in the sunshine frequently. If they are staying outdoors, a fenced in backyard is a good idea, as well as a small doghouse to protect them from the elements. These dogs need lots of tender loving care, so spending quality time with them playing and petting them is important. Of course, feeding and providing plenty of water is a must, as with any pet.

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