Boston Terriers’ most specific health concern is their eyes. Check them for redness or irritation daily known as cherry eye.

Other health issues may include:

• Cataracts: A dog develops a cataract when the lens in its eye clouds. The clouding is caused by changes in the water balance or proteins in the lens.
• Corneal ulcers: Cornea is the transparent membrane on the front of the eye. A corneal ulcer, the cornea is damaged.
• Glaucoma: Glaucoma is caused by when the intraocular pressure (IOP) in the eye is increased.
• Deafness: Deafness can be hereditary or can happen through infection, trama, or a degenerative cochlea.
• Allergies: Histamine, which is a chemical in the body associated with immune responses, is released during allergic reactions.
• Patellar luxation: Luxating simply means out of place or dislocated. Patella is a kneecap. A Luxating patella is a kneecap that chronically moves out of its normal position.
• Brachycephalic syndrome: This syndrome describes anatomic abnormalities in certain breeds where the upper airways dysfuntion and/or are obstructed.

Lastly, be mindful flat-faced breeds have difficulty breathing in extreme weather conditions.

While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.

Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.

Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.

Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.

Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:

1. Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
2. Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
3. Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
4. Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
5. At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.

Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.

Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.