Boston Terrier - Health Characteristics
Dog Breeds
Boston Terriers can live up to 15 years or more, with an average age of around 13 years. Several health issues are of concern for a Boston Terrier, inlcuding cataracts, cherry eye, luxating patellas, deafness, heart murmurs, and allergies. Bostons are also prone to sensitive stomachs and intestinal gas.
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Lifespan
They can live up to 15 years or more, with an average age of around 13 years.
Common Health Problems
Several health issues are of concern for a Boston Terrier, inlcuding cataracts (both juvenile and adult type), cherry eye, luxating patellas, deafness, heart murmur, and allergies. Bostons are also prone to sensitive stomachs and intestinal gas.
Many Bostons cannot tolerate excessive heat or extremely cold weather due to the shortened muzzle, so hot or cold weather combined with demanding exercise can bring harm to them.
Bostons, along with Pugs, Pekingese, Shih Tzu and other short-snouted breeds are Brachycephalic breeds. The word comes from Greek roots "Brachy" meaning short, and "cephalic" meaning head. This anatomy can cause tiny nostrils, long palates and a narrow trachea. Because of this, Bostons maybe be prone to snoring and reverse sneeze, a rapid and repeated forced inhalation through the nose, accompanied by snorting or gagging sounds used to clear the palate of mucus.