Choosing an Irish Terrier

Choosing an Irish Terrier

By: Barbara Maroon

Common Diseases and Disorders

Irish terriers are generally healthy with few medical problems. In addition to cystine bladder stones, this breed is also prone to some behavior problems such as digging.

Although these occur infrequently, the following disorders have also been reported:

  • Melanoma is a tumor arising from melanocytes, which are the cells that produce pigment.

  • Cataracts cause the lens of the eye to loose transparency and can result in blindness.

  • Retinal dysplasia - is a congenital disease of the retina of the eye which can lead to blindness.


    Life Span

    The life expectancy of the Irish terrier is 12 to 15 years.


    We realize that each dog is unique and may display other characteristics. This profile provides generally accepted breed information only.


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