Dog Breeds:  Meet the Border Terrier– Update Your Knowledge!

Staying up to date with common, let alone rare, health risks in susceptible dog breeds can be difficult. In this regular feature, our Educational Partner, the International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD), signposts resources on a particular breed and highlights breed-specific diseases

Meet the Border Terrier – Update Your Knowledge!

Meet the Border Terrier– Update Your Knowledge! 

IPFD has published “Get a GRIHP! on Border Terriers” as an in-depth examination of health and well-being of this breed. “The Border Terrier has a courageous, tenacious, and independent nature. In many countries, thanks to these traits, Border Terriers are still popular hunting dogs, but also are quite suitable as a family dogs. In the absence of training, the dogs will quickly determine their own rules. With a good education and the patience, the dogs can be obedient, but they nevertheless retain their wilful character.”¹

“Border Terriers are a relatively healthy breed, many living active lives past 12 up to 14+ years of age.”¹ The occurrence and prevalence of health conditions in the breed may vary from country to country and from family line to family line. Health strategies from various countries recommend or require screening to keep watch on conditions of interest (see figure below). The most common conditions that can impact the members of the breed are:

• Periodontal disease;
• Neurological issues: epilepsy, as well as an episodic movement disorder called Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome² (CECS; also known as Paroxysmal Gluten-Sensitive Dyskinesia (PGSD) or Spike’s Disease);
• Digestive issues (gluten intolerance) – may be associated with CECS²;
• Atopy (skin and ear infections) – may be associated with CECS²;
• Spongiform-Leuco-Encephalo-Myelopathy (SLEM; also known as Shaking Puppy Syndrome (SPS)³. This condition has a DNA test;
• Gallbladder Mucocoele (GBM)⁴;
• Endocrine disorders such as Cushing’s syndrome, hypothyroidism and diabetes;
• Cataracts;
• Patella luxation;
• The Swedish Agria insurance statistics also lists neoplasia among the most common diseases (requiring veterinary treatment) and causes of death.

The most frequent specific cause of death according to the Swedish insurance statistics is accidents/trauma/disappearance. “The breed was developed to hunt and to cover ground running with packs of hounds.” Vets should advise clients and prospective owners to always walk the dogs on a lead, unless released in a completely safe, fenced area. “The dogs are unreliable off leash. It is important that fencing be secured at ground level as the dogs can be prolific diggers.” It should also be noted that Border Terriers are prone to chase and are not reliably tender interacting with small pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, or outdoor cats.

References 

1. Get a GRIHP on Border Terriers – https://dogwellnet.com/content/health-and-breeding/breeds/breed-specific-health-reports/get-a-grihp-on-border-terriers-r787/
2. Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome (CECS) – https://borderterrierhealth.org.uk/cecs.html
3. Shaking Puppy Syndrome (SPS/SLEM) – https://borderterrierhealth.org.uk/sps.html
4. Gallbladder Mucocoele (GBM) – https://borderterrierhealth.org.uk/gbm.html

The International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD) is a non-profit working for dog health, well-being, and welfare. This article has been prepared by its acting CEO, Katariina Mäki, PhD (Anim Sc)

full