Here’s a detailed article on Bedlington Terrier health issues and what you can do to keep your canine companion happy and healthy.
Bedlington Terriers are known to be a hardy breed of dog. But they are also known to have a few health problems.
Bedlington Terriers can suffer from some of the same health problems as other breeds, such as eye problems, skin problems, and ear infections. However, they also have some very specific health concerns that only affect them.
These dogs are prone to hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia due to their short legs and long bodies respectively. They also often have liver issues due to their high energy levels and tendency towards obesity.
5 Common Health Problems That Bedlington Terriers Are Prone To
The most common health problems for this breed of dogs include:
1. Skin allergies:
Pollen, mold, and dust allergies cause people to sneeze and scratch their eyes. But allergies in dogs cause itching skin instead of sneezing. Bedlington Terriers are prone to ‘Atopy’, a kind of skin allergy. The most commonly afflicted areas are the feet, tummy, skin folds, and ears. Symptoms usually appear between the ages of one and three, and they can get more severe with each passing year. The most common symptoms are licking the paws, stroking the face, and ear infections.
2. Patellar Luxation:
The patella (kneecap) of your Bedlington Terrier may move out of position from time to time (called patellar luxation). You may observe that when they run, they suddenly pull up one of their rear legs and skip or hop for a few paces. Then they kick their leg out sideways to reposition the kneecap, and they’re good to go.
If the disease is minor and just affects one leg, your buddy might not need anything more than arthritis medicine. When the symptoms are severe, surgery may be required to realign the kneecap to prevent it from popping out of position.
3. Eye Problems:
Unfortunately, Bedlington Terriers can be born with or develop a variety of eye problems.
Distichiasis is a disorder caused by additional hairs growing inside the eyelid and rubbing against the eye’s surface. This is one of the most prevalent genetic diseases in dogs, and your Bedlington Terrier is more susceptible to it than other breeds.
Entropion occurs when the upper eyelid slides inward, rubbing the eyelashes on the cornea (surface of the eyeball). This is a very painful illness that might eventually result in blindness. It can affect any dog breed, but your Bedlington Terrier is particularly vulnerable to this heritable condition.
In Bedlington Terriers, dry eye, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca or KCS, is frequent. Tear glands generate insufficient tears to keep the eye moist, resulting in painful, itchy eyes and infections.
4. Dental Issues:
Your Bedlington Terrier, unfortunately, is more prone than other dogs to suffer dental issues. It begins with tartar build-up on the teeth and proceeds to gum infection and tooth root infection. If you don’t take steps to prevent or cure dental disease, they will lose their teeth and put their kidneys, liver, heart, and joints at risk.
5. Copper Toxicosis:
Copper Toxicosis, which affects a small number of dog breeds, including the Bedlington Terrier, is a potentially deadly illness. The disorder is caused by a buildup of copper in the liver, which can lead to liver disease and early mortality in animals.
What is the Lifespan of a Bedlington Terrier?
The average lifespan of a Bedlington Terrier is between 12 to 14 years.
How to Keep Your Bedlington Terrier Healthy?
Much of what you can do to keep your dog happy and healthy is common sense. But sometimes they need a little extra care. Here are some tips on how to keep your Bedlington Terrier healthy:
- Keep an eye on their diet and nutrition.
- Make sure they get plenty of exercises.
- Wash their coat and groom them on a regular basis.
- Call your vet or a pet emergency hospital if anything appears out of the ordinary
- Follow all the checkups and vaccine plans that your vet proposes for them.
You can also sign up for pet health insurance for your pet. Throughout their life, they will almost probably require medical tests and operations, and pet health insurance can assist you in covering those costs.
Conclusion
Bedlington Terriers are small, but they have a lot of health problems. The most common health problems for these dogs are ear infections, skin allergies, and eye problems. They also have issues with their teeth that can cause pain when eating. Make sure your Bedlington Terrier follows a healthy lifestyle and provide them with proper nutrition so they will be able to stay fit.
Thank you for reading the article.
Here are other articles on Bedlington Terriers if you’re interested to know more about the breed.
What health problems have your Bedlington Terriers suffered from? Let us know in the comments!