Common Diseases and Disorders
In general, the Boston is a healthy dog with few medical concerns. However, the following diseases or disorders have been reported:
Atopy is an itchy skin disease of animals that is caused by an allergy to substances in the environment.
Mast Cell Tumors are malignant tumors than can occur in the skin or within the body.
Hyperadrenocorticism is a disorder affecting the adrenal glands. When overactive, the adrenal glands secrete excessive cortisol, resulting in illness.
Cryptorchidism is a condition in which one or both testicles do not descend into the scrotum.
Cataracts cause a loss of the normal transparency of the lens of the eye. The problem can occur in one or both eyes and can lead to blindness.
Brachycephalic syndrome a group of conditions that cause resistance to airflow through the upper respiratory tract (nose, larynx) in short-nosed breeds of dogs.
Congenital Deafness can be present at birth.
In addition, although these occur infrequently, the following disorders have also been reported:
Pyloric Stenosis - is a congenital hypertrophy of the pyloric muscle that causes vomiting and obstruction.
Craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO) is a non-cancerous disorder that almost exclusively affects the bones of the head.
Congenital Elbow Luxation - is a dislocation of the elbow joint.
Melanoma is a tumor arising from melanocytes, which are the cells that produce pigment.
Hydrocephalus a neurological disease in which there is excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the ventricular system of the brain.
In addition, the Boston terrier is prone to generalized demodicosis, heat stroke and brain tumors.
Life Span
The average life span of the Boston terrier is 14 to 16 years.
We realize that each dog is unique and may display other characteristics. This profile provides generally accepted breed information only.
