Boston Terrier
Medical Conditions
By Lee Weston

        The Boston Terrier is a very healthy breed of dog.  Care must be taken in purchasing a puppy from a reputable breeder.  A reputable breeder should be willing to show you the parents of their current litter; tour the kennels where the pups were raised; and provide you, the purchaser, with a written contract that includes health certification for the puppy you are buying.  As the new owner of the latest addition to your family it is your responsibility to make arrangements for the new puppy to visit the veterinarian for an exam as soon as possible, and to visit the vet at regular intervals.
        There are some medical issues that any owner, or breeder, of Boston Terriers should be given special awareness.

Patellar Luxation
        The first issue is that the Boston Terrier, being a rather small dog, can incur a patellar luxation.  The patella (kneecap) is a small bone which guards the knee joint.  The patella sits in a grove in the femur, and is held in place by a combination of ligaments and muscles.  This bone can slip out of position due to injury, poor alingment, weak ligaments, or insufficient grove in the femur.  Generally the dog will limp, carry the leg off the ground, or hop when running.  If the problem is severe it can necessitate surgery.
        Patellar luxation can be either hereditary or due to injury. For further information please see : Medical Index/Patellar Luxation.

Cleft Palate
        Occasionally pups can be born with an opening (cleft) in the roof of the mouth.  If the opening is tiny at birth, it may close on its own.  Most often in Bostons this condition is genetic in nature.  In minor cases the cleft can be surgically corrected, although a pup that has had cleft surgery should never be bred. For further information please see : Medical Index/Cleft Palate.
 

Bilateral Cataracts
         Cataracts in dogs can be identified as opaque spots on the lens of the eye.  These spots may cause total or partial loss of vision.  Some cataracts are hereditary while others are not.   In some cases surgery may help the dog recover. For further information please see : Medical Index/Bilateral Cataracts.


Epilepsy
        Epilepsy is a hereditary seizure disorder.  This disease cannot be cured, but it can be controlled with medication. The dog with epilepsy can live a fairly normal life, but cannot be placed in the stressful situation of showing, and certainly should not be bred. For further information please see : Medical Index/Epilepsy.
 

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