Health Concerns Of
  The Bichon Frise

How can a dog so darling, without fault and absolutely loveable have anything but perfect health? Surely they must go through their lives of 16 or so years without one problem.

Well pay attention; we're going to sort out some of the problems of our best friends and hopefully alert owners to potential problems. While prevention is always the best policy, some health problems can't be avoided by prevention. Being aware of the possible health problems, preventative measures and treatments will go a long way to save your Bichon pain, you worry for your buddy and of course money, sometimes a great deal of money. Having information on the history of the parents and dogs out of the same breeding will also give you an idea of the health history.

While the primary health problems are listed below, Bichons are subject to other health problems just as other dogs. Cancer, hip problems, heart defects, old age and any other condition or problem that affects other dogs, can also be a problem for Bichons. There are two web sites that are good sources for research: Encyclopedia of Canine Veterinary Medical Information and Veterinary Diseases and Conditions.

The Bichon Frise Club of America lists six areas as the primary health problems for the Bichon.

1. Skin and allergy
2. Dental
3. Bladder infections and stones
4. Patellar luxation
5. Ear infections
6. Eye disease