Do Cairn Terriers have health problems?
Cairn Terriers are generally healthy, but like all purebred dogs, they are prone to certain health problems. Some common health problems that can affect Cairn Terriers include:
- Craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO): Otherwise known as “Lion Jaw,” CMO is caused by excessive bone growth in the jaw, which can cause discomfort when chewing. Though it is quite painful and can cause feeding issues, most puppies grow out of it once they reach adulthood.
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: This degenerative hip joint disease causes pain, lameness, and arthritis in the affected hip joint.
- Globoid cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe disease): This rare and fatal genetic disorder affects the nervous system and can cause neurological symptoms and decline.
- Portosystemic liver shunt (PSS): This hereditary issue obstructs proper blood flow to the liver, sending toxins in unfiltered blood to the heart, brain, and other body parts. PSS can be life-threatening if not treated early. Antibiotics and diet changes can help in the short term, but surgery is the only permanent treatment for the problem.
- Eye problems: Issues include progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a group of genetic eye disorders that can lead to progressive vision loss and blindness over time, and ocular melanosis, a condition that begins with dark patches in the white portion of the eye and causes secondary glaucoma.
- Patellar luxation: This is a condition where the kneecap (patella) dislocates or moves out of its normal position, causing lameness and discomfort.
- Hypothyroidism: This is a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, leading to symptoms such as weight gain, lethargy, and skin problems.
- Bronchoesophageal fistula: This is a congenital defect that involves an abnormal tube near the esophagus.