A toy breed with fluffy white fur and a friendly temperament, bichon frise dogs have been a popular family pet for decades, they also boast an average life expectancy of 12- 15 years. When considering getting a dog breed however, it’s important to research common health conditions the breed suffers from to help you make decisions in terms of health testing puppies, choosing vets and choosing pet insurance. This article takes you through the common health conditions seen in the bichon frise breed.

Table of contents

Orthopaedic issues

Bichons are prone to a couple of orthopaedic issues, including:

Patella luxation

Like a lot of small breed dogs, bichon frise are liable to a condition called patella luxation that affects the knee joint, or “stifle”. This is when the patella (knee cap) doesn’t sit in its groove properly, meaning it can pop out of its groove when the dog is moving, giving a typical “skipping” gait. This can come in varying degrees, the more debilitating of which require surgery. It’s worth bearing in mind that dogs have two knee joints, and if they have patella luxation requiring surgery in one leg, they may well need it in the other!

Cruciate disease

Relating to the stifle joint again, another condition that is common among this breed is cruciate disease. In this condition the cranial cruciate ligament breaks, often causing a sudden and non- weight bearing lameness. Surgery is often required, but occasionally crate rest and pain relief can suffice. This condition is most common in middle aged and older bichons.

Endocrine diseases

Cushings disease

Another disease affecting many toy breed dogs, this disease (also known as “hyperadrenocorticism”) is the overproduction of the stress hormone cortisol. Affecting older dogs most often, the common clinical signs are hair loss, increased thirst and urinating, as well as muscle loss and a distinctive “pot-bellied” appearance. This disease can be challenging to diagnose, and once treatment is started requires regular vet visits and blood tests to ensure the dosing is correct.

Diabetes 

Following on from Cushing’s disease, particularly as these endocrine diseases can happen simultaneously, is diabetes mellitus. Similar to type 1 diabetes in humans, diabetes in dogs mostly comes from the pancreas not producing adequate amounts of insulin, leading to persistently high glucose levels in the blood. Initial signs are increased urinating and drinking, weight loss and secondary conditions such as urinary tract infections. Treatment for this includes sub- cutaneous injections done at home, 12 hours apart. Again, this disease requires regular blood tests, particularly in the initial stages when establishing the correct dose of insulin.

Skin issues

Bichon frise are 30% more likely to suffer from skin disorders than average. These can affect dogs of any age and can manifest as itching, hair loss, skin infections and ear infections. It can be challenging getting to the bottom of the underlying cause of itching, with allergies to food, environmental substances and contact dermatitis all being possibilities. Treatment can be needed lifelong or may be a reoccurring problem in a dog’s life.

Dental disease

Bichons can often be prone to dental disease which is the build-up of tartar on the teeth. This can lead to inflammation of the gums, and eventually infection of the teeth that can spread throughout the body. It’s recommended therefore to try and get your dog used to regular dental cleaning at home with an enzymatic toothpaste, as well as ensuring your dog’s teeth are being checked regularly by your vet. Some small dogs require regular general anaesthetics at the vets to get their teeth professionally cleaned.

In summary, bichons do suffer from some health conditions, several of which like the endocrine disorders and skin disease can require ongoing treatment to manage the conditions. Generally, though, they are considered a fairly healthy breed and can often reach a lifespan of over 15 years.  

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