Content
- Bichon Frize Skin Diseases
- Bichon frisé kidney stones
- Bichon frisé orthopedic problems
- Dental problems in the bichon frisé
- What is chronic gingivitis?
- Bichon Frisé Eye Diseases
- Endocrine Diseases in Bichon Frisé
- pancreatitis
- diabetes mellitus
- Cushing's Syndrome
- hypothyroidism
Knowing the different diseases that can affect your bichon frisé is essential. You must be aware and anticipate any clinical signs.
In this PeritoAnimal article we will explain some of the main diseases that affect the bichon frisé. Like any other breed of dog, they can have infectious, parasitic and other diseases. However, there are some hereditary ones that can occur more in these races than in others.
Find out in this article by PeritoAnimal as most common bichon frisé diseases.
Bichon Frize Skin Diseases
As with other breeds of puppies with white coats, the bichon frisé has some predisposition to suffer from allergies.
The explanation for the fact that bichons have a high probability of having skin problems, is due to the fact that they have less pigmentation (they have pinker skin) and therefore provide less protection. You should be aware of the following skin disease or allergy symptoms:
- Itch;
- Hair loss;
- Exaggerated licking of paws;
- Rub your body often on rugs or furniture;
- Reddened areas on the skin.
In the event of any clinical signs of a skin problem on your bichon frisé, it is essential that you visit a veterinarian who correctly diagnoses the cause so that proper treatment can be started.
Some of possible causes for skin problems in bichon frisé are:
- Allergies;
- Fleas;
- Mites;
- autoimmune diseases;
- Thyroid problems;
- Exposure to chemicals.
There is a strong possibility that some of the causes could be hereditary and that this breed has a genetic predisposition to develop some skin problems. For this reason, a responsible breeder should not breed Bichons with skin problems, as these could be genetically transmitted to offspring.
The treatment of skin diseases can be very long and expensive. For this reason, the best weapon is prevention. You should bet on fortifying your dog's immune system, ensuring that he has a good basic diet and that he gets exercise. in addition to prevent skin problems you must:
- Avoid using specific shampoos for white hair that can be too irritating to the skin;
- Do not bathe your bichon more than twice a month to avoid overdrying the skin;
- Use an appropriate shampoo if there is a skin problem;
- Avoid your puppy coming into contact with chemical products such as house cleaning.
Bichon frisé kidney stones
Bichon frisé puppies are predisposed to suffer from a disease called urolithiasis. This disease consists of the formation of urinary stones, ie, the accumulation of minerals magnesium, calcium oxalate, among others, can form stones in the dog's urinary tract.
The best way to prevent these problems is to always have fresh, clean water available to the dog. It is very important that your bigeye is always well hydrated.
Bichon frisé orthopedic problems
The most common orthopedic problem in bichon frisé dogs is patellar dislocation. You should be aware of the following patellar dislocation symptoms:
- Dog walks with difficulty;
- Paws apparently unsteady;
- Put more weight on one leg.
Dental problems in the bichon frisé
Along with the allergies we've already mentioned, dental problems are one of the main causes that bring bichon frisé puppy tutors to the veterinary clinic. Many worms start losing their teeth around the age of seven. Furthermore, there are numerous cases of chronic gingivitis in this breed.
What is chronic gingivitis?
Chronic gingivitis, very common in bichon frise puppies, is a severe inflammation of the gums that can lead to systemic infection. Due to the seriousness of this problem, it is essential that you have an oral hygiene routine with your dog.
Bichon Frisé Eye Diseases
The most common eye disease in Bichon Frisé puppies is the cataracts. These can be unilateral (in just one eye) or bilateral (in both eyes). A cataract is an opacity in the dog's eye, which implies less vision and the dog can even go blind.
According to some studies, the bichon frisé is the third breed with more cases of incidence of this problem (affects about 11% of puppies of this breed). Treatment consists of performing surgery to remove the cataract.
It is extremely important that puppies with this problem are not used for breeding, as there is a strong genetic component and the problem can be transmitted to offspring. For this reason, it is very important that if you purchase a purebred dog, do it from a registered and trusted breeder.
If your dog shows signs of cataract, consult a veterinarian ophthalmology specialist. This is the professional best prepared to deal with the problem.
Endocrine Diseases in Bichon Frisé
There are some common endocrine disorders in bichon frisé puppies. Most of these diseases affect older animals but can also occur in young animals.
pancreatitis
Overweight dogs are the most likely to suffer from acute pancreatitis that can be life-threatening. Dogs on low-fat, high-fat diets are highly likely to have this problem. The symptoms of pancreatitis are:
- Vomiting;
- Diarrhea;
- Abdominal pain;
- Apathy.
Keep your puppy on a healthy diet and encourage play and long walks to prevent this problem.
diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus occurs when there is a problem with the pancreas's production of insulin. Without insulin to process the sugar, there is an excess in the dog's blood and urine. The first clinical signs you should look out for are:
- Increased water intake;
- Increased quantity and frequency of urine;
- Weight loss.
Read our full article on diabetes in dogs - symptoms and treatment.
Cushing's Syndrome
This disease mainly affects older puppies but there are reported cases of young puppies. The symptoms are very similar to other endocrine disorders:
- Lethargy;
- Distended abdomen;
- Increased frequency with which the dog urinates;
- Increased water intake.
Your veterinarian needs to perform some additional tests, such as a blood test, to reach a diagnosis.
hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is an inadequate production of thyroid hormones. Some symptoms of this problem are:
- Lethargy;
- Obesity;
- By the weakest;
- Skin may darken.
This problem is often mistaken for an allergy. It is important that your puppy is properly diagnosed by a veterinarian. Read our full article on hypothyroidism in dogs.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.