Do Cairn Terriers have health problems? July 2, 2018 16:48 7 Comments
On the whole this is a hardy breed, with no health or welfare issues due to confirmation (body shape and physical characteristics), and a low hereditary rate of passing on disease. This was a breed raised to hunt vermin in all weathers over rough ground, they bred them tough.
However, there are of course some issues to be aware of. I asked one of the UK’s top breeders and Cairn experts to give me a top three of problems she has encountered over the years. Number three, heart murmurs. Number two, liver shunt. This is when a blood vessel bypasses the liver, which would normally bring blood from other vital organs for filtering. When the liver can’t do its job, increased levels of toxins, waste, sugar and bacteria pose a major threat to health. Top of the list are issues with the eye, including cataracts, ocular melanosis and progressive retinal atrophy.
A straw poll conducted with our lovely Facebook family of Cairn lovers has added skin allergies and cancer to the list.
Over twenty-five years of Cairn ownership, cancer was the culprit in two of the dogs, one had a heart issue, none of them had any eye problems, and one, once had an itchy skin reaction to fleabites. We did have some dental issues where cleaning and extracting were required, but as my dear mother says, “old age doesn’t come alone.” I add this personal experience to reassure you that your new Cairn will not, by a long chalk suffer with all of these things, they have just been observed over many years and many dogs and are a useful guide to keep in the back of your mind.
I would say that vet visits over those twenty five years have actually included many more accidents than illnesses, this tenacious little dog will jump off the back of the sofa, leap out of the boot of the car and think he can fly with no hesitation. We have the paperwork for two ruptured ligaments to prove it. There was also one bee sting and the shameful time I sat on a paw and snapped a little claw off. I was devastated!
There are no guarantees with health, but on the scale of things, the Cairn is in general a healthy breed.
Why not take a look at our fabulous Cairn Terrier ironwork while you are here?
We hope this answers your question Do Cairn Terriers have health problems?
Comments
Sharon Spiller on March 22, 2021 07:22
My girl developed sick sinus syndrome at 10 . We opted to do pacemaker. Now almost 12 depigmentation of conjunctiva, nose ,lips and rectum. Initially dx as skin infection,symptoms at bay with antibiotics. Once stopped continued to progress.
Just did biopsy, Vet thinking autoimmune disease. Looking for input. She has had idiopathic elevated liver values since age 9
Improved with Denamarin.
No idea re breeder since one of my kids gave her to me. Knew I was looking for a smaller Terrior.
Sarah on October 16, 2018 14:57
She was the cutest little puppy I had ever seen. I fell instantly in love with her – unfortunately she wasn’t mine. Turns out her people could not keep her & they thought of me. Of course I SAID YES. I’ve had her now 9.5 years – she’s 10. She’s fiesty, an instigator, loves to dig & bark at everything. She’s very protective. Loves to go for car rides, runs really fast & chases squirrels. She’s the best watchdog – she watches over me. Has been with me through thick & thin. Loves me regardless. I found out today – she is filled with cancer. Her time is very limited. I can’t imagine replacing her with another…
Jason from Manhattan on August 6, 2018 15:48
My boy Pablo just turned 6 on July 4th this month. (So far so good health wise, God willing).
Met a Cairn owner in Boston a couple years back who’s Cairn (although nearly blind and fully deaf), was going on 23 years of age!! They’d adopted the girl when she was already 16 from an elderly lady who couldn’t care for her anymore and they figured the Cairn was in her twilight year(s).
Junice Peloquin on July 18, 2018 07:34
My 9 year old Cairn Maggie has dry eye and gets daily drops. She recently had multiple teeth extracted, and 2 weeks ago, awoke with paralysis of her hind legs and eventually, all 4 legs. We brought her to a veterinary teaching hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, an hour from our home and she was admitted through the emergency room. She was diagnosed with fibrocartilaginous embolism. She was followed by a neurologist and spent 2 days in ICU. She is improving. She is weaker on the right side and is in meds to relax her bladder. She was unable to urinate but now can. She goes for acupuncture crure and physical therapy. I hope for a full recovery.
Patricia Pennington on July 4, 2018 15:53
I lost one of my cairns due to an eye condition resulting in one of here eyes being removed. She ultimately wad put down after the disease spread to her other eye
The professor at the Veterinaruy Hospital did say that cairns were susceptible to serious eye problems.
Having said that i have had 6 cairns and only one had eye disease.
Louise Gray on July 4, 2018 15:53
We have had three Cairns from a very good breeder. The current one is a six month old female. The first one lived 12 years and had a scrotum problem which was being treated. He was not neuteed, He also had a tumor on one eye which was not cancerous but caused hi. to lose sight in that eye. He had itchy skin, The second Cairn was also not neutered due to a heart murmur which did disapppear. He lived to be 15 years old and died from kidney disease. He also was a little scratchy. We now have a female from the same breeder and love Cairns. So,far, so good.
Eunce Kelly on July 4, 2018 15:53
My cairn lived to be 10 years! Most intelligent loving boy! He started with high enzymes in his liver, he had cataracts forming and then he got diabetes and went blind! We had to make the decision for him to go to sleep. Most heartbreaking moment ever! Cairns are such a fantastic breed.