The Bichon Frise is a relatively healthy breed of dog on the whole, which was one of the deciding factors when we chose to buy one, but as responsible owners there are measures we must all take regarding healthcare to ensure they remain as fit and well as possible.
Initial Check up
It is a good idea to take your new puppy or dog for its first check-up at the vets within a couple of days of acquiring it. The vet should check its overall condition, including listening to the heart, checking respiration, the abdomen, muscles, joints, eyes, ears (for infection and mites), the mouth (for gum disease and plaque build up) and the condition of the skin and coat. The vet will probably require some information, such as eating habits, and perhaps a stool sample (fresh, under 12 hours) to check for internal parasites. Take your pet’s vaccination record along too.
Immunisations
Immunisations should be started early. It’s not unusual for a puppy to receive vaccinations for distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza every 2-3 weeks from the age of 5 or 6 weeks. The rabies vaccination is given at 3-6 months and a vaccine for kennel cough (bordetella) can be given anytime from the age of 5 weeks. The vet will advise on this, especially as immunisations can affect long term health if given all at once (the rabies vaccine should be given at least 4 weeks before or after any other vaccine). An annual check-up should be arranged with the vet, which will include booster vaccinations and checks for internal parasites and heartworm. This is important as the most common health issues associated with dogs are caused by parasites, which includes worms but also fleas and mites. The latter are easily dealt with using flea powder.
Getting your dog spayed / neutered
Getting your dog neutered or your bitch spayed by a vet at 6 months is important. The operation involves the removal of both testicles in male dogs and the womb and ovaries in bitches. This may sound harsh but it not only reduces the risk of unwanted litters (which can be dangerous if the bitch has bred with a mate whose pups will be too big to deliver safely), it comes with significant health benefits for the dogs and improved temperament. Neutering prevents testicular tumours, may reduce the risk of prostate problems, and reduces the risk of perianal tumours and hernias that are common in older dogs. Spaying reduces the risk of breast cancer and helps eliminate the threat of uterine and ovarian cancer and uterine infection. As for temperament, neutering reduces aggression in dogs, stops them being distracted by females in heat and makes them less likely to mark their territory or to try to mate with objects and people's legs. Similarly, spaying stops stray males camping in your garden.
Ears
Ear infections can occur in breeds with drop ears that do not allow air circulation, therefore it is important to keep your Bichon's ears clean and free of internal hair. It is a good idea to check your dog's ears once a month for any sign of mites or illness. If you do notice anything unusual, such as red blotches, areas differing in colour to the skin, or an unpleasant odour, then a trip to the vets is advisable. Bichons can be susceptible to ear infections because of the amount of continually growing hair around the outside of their ear canals. Excess hair should be removed by pulling out, but do this in small clumps at a time to lessen the shock. Ears should also be cleaned once a month, using a damp cloth or cotton buds to wipe the visible inside portion of the ears (do not stick anything inside the ears).
Dental Care
Most puppies have teeth by 4 weeks, and they need to chew to develop physically and mentally. Those with adequate chew toys will be less destructive and their teeth will develop properly. The permanent teeth should be complete at 6 months and this is when dental care is required. Dental care should not be overlooked because oral disease not only impacts on a dog's mouth, it can also affect the heart, lungs or kidneys if left untreated for long enough. Oral examinations and dental cleaning should be part of the annual visits to the vet, and you may also choose to brush you dog’s teeth occasionally and buy special chews that help remove plaque.
Diet
Plenty of fresh water and a properly balanced diet containing the essential nutrients in the correct proportions is the best preventative way to ensure a dog remains healthy. As well as being essential, water will help prevent bladder and kidney disease. Dog food should preferably be top quality, organic, human-grade food bought in a pet store or a home-made diet. The vegetable content of any dog food is important, but so are protein and fat; after all, dogs are carnivores. Avoid foods with high levels of artificial colourants as they will discolour the Bichon's beard. If staining becomes a problem, try Aristopet tear stain remover
Bichon puppies need to eat 3 times a day until about 6 months, and then twice a day reducing to once a day when reaching 10-12 months of age (1 cup per day suffices). Alfie took to this fine. Occasionally he is rewarded with doggy snacks but he is never offered any of the kids' sweets or chocolate. Also, he is never allowed to eat scraps from underneath the dinner table, but he can sometimes have these mixed in with his dinner later - this is to avoid him from becoming a pest at meal times.
Chocolate - Is it poisonous to dogs?
Absolutely! In sufficient doses chocolate is lethally toxic to dogs (and some other pets) because it contains a stimulant known as theobromine that dogs are unable to metabolize effectively. If ingested this can remain in a dog's bloodstream for up to 20 hours and may cause increased heart rate, heart attack, hallucinations, severe diarrhea, epileptic seizures, internal bleeding, and eventually death. If your dog does accidentally eat chocolate, the best advice is to contact a vet as soon as possible. If done within 2 hours, the vet will most likely give the dog medication to induce vomiting. Outside of this time and the chocolate will have passed into the small intestine to be absorbed by the body. Inducing vomiting will no longer help and the dog will need monitoring until the theobromine has left its system. Theobromine has a half life of 7½ hours, meaning after this period half the theobromine will have left the dogs system. Symptoms can last up to 72 hours.
Weight
The normal weight of an adult Bichon is 10-18lbs (4.5-9kg) depending upon the size of the dog. To assess if your dog’s weight is normal, rub across the ribs with your fingertips. You should be able to feel each rib but with slight padding on them. If the ribs are prominent with no padding, your dog is underweight. If you can't feel the ribs due to excessive padding, your dog is overweight. Older dogs will excercise less and may need less food or a senior diet to avoid becoming overweight.
Lifespan
Healthy Bichons have a good lifespan, something in the region of 15-17 years (and in some rare cases reaching past 20). To find what the equivalent age is in human years, it is common to assume that 1 human year = 7 dog years. Unfortunately this is slightly inaccurate since dogs reach adulthood within the first couple of years whereas humans take somewhat longer than this. In addition, breed and size take a major role. Large breeds mature more quickly and live shorter lives, while small and toy breeds tend to live longer. Large and giant breeds are considered seniors by the time they reach five, medium sized breeds at about seven, and small and toy breeds reach seniority at roughly ten years. For a Bichon Frise, the equivalent ages are:
| Equivalent dog years for a Bichon Frise | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| Canine | 0 | 15 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 |
| Pup | Adult | Senior | |||||||||||||||||||
Noted Health Problems
As noted earlier, Bichons are a relatively healthy breed on the whole, which was one of the deciding factors when we chose one, and the diseases most commonly noted amongst them tend to be allergy and skin conditions, dental problems such as early tooth loss if proper oral care is neglected, and on a lesser scale this is followed by bladder stones, knee and hip joint problems, cataracts and occasionally diseases of the endocrine system and liver shunts.
Allergies. Although Bichons are generlly hypoallergenic, and therefore suitable for people with allergies, the breed itself is prone to them. The most common allergies include those to food, flea bites, contact dermatitis, and substances inhaled through the environment such as dust or cleaning products. Symptoms generally include excessive scratching. Although not all allergies can be prevented fully, measures can be taken to limit contact with certain allergens, such as providing healthy dog food, limiting treats and human foods, and only using flea preventatives recommended by a vet. Shots are available for flea allergies, and special soothing shampoos are available to reduce itching.
Skin growths. Generally found in older dogs, these can be unsightly but are generally not considered dangerous. It is wise to let a vet take a look to make sure they don't need removing, and if the dog starts chewing or biting them then you need to watch for signs of infection or bleeding.
Bladder stones. These can be caused by excessive protein, magnesium, and phosphorus in the dog's diet, combined with spells of long confinement that force the dog to hold its urine. Symptoms include frequent urination, straining to urinate, bloody urine and loss of appetite. The best way to prevent this painful condition is to ensure there is a ready supply of fresh drinking water available at all times. For a dog with bladder stones, verinary assistance is required to determine whether surgey is required or not to remove them, or whether the stones can be dissolved through a special diet and antibiotics.
Luxating patella. This is a dislocation of the kneecap casued by weak ligaments that don't hold the knee securely in place. It is an inherited condition but one that can be aggravated by being overweight. The condition needs to be corrected by surgery otherwise the ligaments will eventually tear, causing a lot of pain and difficulty in walking.
Hip dysplasia. This is a malformation of the hip joint and can be inherited also. Symtpoms include limited range of movement, limping, and stiffness in the rear legs in the mornings. The dog can experience short or long-term discomfort but again the condition can be alleviated by surgery.
Cataracts. These are the most common eye disease found in Bichons and can be inherited. A cataract is a clouding that develops in or around the lens of the eye and obstructing the passage of light. Cataracts get worse with time and will eventually lead to blindness if surgery is not performed, where the lens is surgically removed and replaced by a plastic one.
Endocrine diseases. There are 4 diseases relating to the endocrine system (a system of glands that secrete hormones to regulate the body) sometimes found in older Bichons (and occaasionally younger ones too).They all share similar symptoms, can be triggered or inherited, and having one disease can often lead to acquiring another. All are treatable but be can be life-threatening if neglected:
Pancreatitis tends to occur in overweight dogs that get too little exercise, their diets high in fat. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, an ill appearance and possibly seizures. Early treatment may lead to no recurrence of the condition, as long as a proper diet and a change in life style are undertaken, although the chronic form may necessitate special enzyme therapy.
Diabetes mellitus, inadequate insulin manufacture, results in excess sugar entering the blood and urine, causing increased kidney activity. Symptoms include increased thirst, more frequent urinating and weight loss. Breath can become sweet smelling and the dog may begin to pant and have laboured breathing. The next stage is a diabetic coma if left untreated and a seizure may occur. A lifelong health issue, the treatment required will continue for the rest of the dog's life.
Cushing’s disease is often associated with an extended use of steroids to suppress allergy symptoms. Known as hyperadrenocorticism, it occurs when too much cortisone (or glucocorticoid) is present, a hormone that maintains blood glucose levels amongst other things. Symptoms include lethargy, panting, odd behaviors not previously noticed, excessive thirst and frequent urination, obesity and especially an enlarged abdomen, thinning hair coat and change in sleep habits. Another lifelong health issue, the treatment required will continue for the rest of the dog's life.
Hypothyroidism, a malfunction in the thyroid gland, is less common than the other conditions and generally slows down metabolism. Symptoms develop slowly and include lethargy, obesity, erratic heat cycles in bitches, coat thinning, bald patches, darkening of the skin, and a lack of mental awareness. Treatment is usually an oral supplement taken on a daily basis.
Liver shunts. This is a bypass of the liver by the circulatory system and can lead to liver failure. It is a serious condition concerning smaller breeds, and although not often associated with Bichons, more and more are being afflicted by this condition. Underweight Bichons are more susceptible, as are the runts litters or those experiencing negative reactions to high protein foods. Symptoms include seizures, dark urine, lethargy, loss of appetite and an increase in drinking. Caught early enough, shunts can be corrected with surgery.
Please don't let the above information alarm you. By all means let it make you aware of these conditions but don't panic. Compared to many breeds, the Bichons is a very healthy dog and has every chance of remaining so if a healthy lifestyle is maintained.