Hereditary Skin Diseases in Boston Terriers

The Boston Terrier, a high-spirited, intelligent dog is the result of crossing the English Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Boxer, and White Terrier. Nicknames of the American Gentleman for his kind and gentle, the Boston Terrier is a smooth, short-haired, compactly built dog with beautiful colors, red brindle, black brindle or black with white markings.

The Boston Terrier is a relatively healthy breed requiring little grooming and maintenance, but it is susceptible to certain hereditary skin problems.

A minor problem affecting its coat is a gradual proliferation of hair loss, sometimes old female Boston terriers at about six months found. It starts at the ears and moves down to the bottom of the neck and trunk and then down to the inside of the rear legs. The skin of the underlying areas of hair loss is usually normal and have no signs of secondary infection.

Allergies could be a possible underlying> Cause of hair loss and secondary infections of the skin. Boston Terriers are listed on the breeds that are susceptible) for (inhalant allergies atopy.

The most common skin diseases is demodectic mange or red mange, by microscopic Demodex canis mites living in hair follicles and causes the skin layers, which in adolescents puppies or immunodeficient adult Boston Terriers. It is a genetically inherited defect of the immune system causing patchy to widespread hair loss and secondaryBacterial skin.

There are three types of demodicosis: localized, generalized and pododermatitis.

Localized demodicosis usually results in small red scaly skin patches and hair loss especially in the face, but can occur anywhere on the body. These lesions are not itchy if they are infected, and in 3-6 month old puppies to be found passed the carrier mother. Mild cases in puppies normally heal spontaneously and require no treatment. Demodex is not generallycontagious between dogs.

Generalized demodicosis in the skin is very red, with severe hair loss, scabs and sores, dark pigment, and deep infections accompanied by fever and anorexia. There are two groups of this type: juvenile begin when the puppy is old, 3 to 12 months old, but again, with or without treatment and adult onset diabetes especially in dogs over 2 years, the cure is difficult, but can be controlled in general will.

It is an inherited tendency to haveGeneralized demodicosis as diseased animals should never be bred.

Demodectic pododermatitis it is the paws is restricted in adult animals chronically and extremely difficult to treat.

Since these mites live in the hair follicles and in the dermis, deep skin scrapings for the diagnosis essential. Generalized demodicosis treated with antibiotics. 90% of localized and 30-50% of generalized demodicosis better with no treatment. The veterinarian aided by modern medicinesteer, if not totally cure the infection.

Another disease inherited from the English Terrier and the Bulldog are Mast Cell Tumors in the skin tissue or Mastocytomas These are increased button like skin growths with raw pink surfaces which can be malignant and spread internally.

Cushing's Disease is another skin disease, found in the Boston Terrier caused by an excess of cortisone-type hormone in the dog's system. The use of too much cortisone-typeMedication, cortisone-containing eye drops or ointments, or an ear over-active tumor of the adrenal gland or a tumor of the pituitary gland may trigger the disease.

The signs of Cushing's also a thin, poor coat, potbelly, increased water intake and frequent urination. The disease is very sociable and the changes are reversible, but left untreated can cause diabetes mellitus or life-threatening blood clots.

Theirpreventing sensitive skin, that by dealing with both extreme heat and cold. They should be checked daily - special attention paid to their eyes and ears for the content of external parasites such as ticks and mites., Caution is required when it comes to drugs for the Boston Terrier as they can be very sensitive to anesthetics, vaccines and other drugs.

nasal strips