Wirehaired & Smooth Fox Terrier Health Care & Feeding
By Michele Welton, Dog Trainer, Breed Selection Consultant, Author of 15 Dog Books
Jump down to this list of
Fox Terrier Health Problems
Or check out my advice for raising a healthy Fox Terrier puppy or adult dog:
Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way
Read my advice on daily health care so your Fox Terrier lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet... [read more]
3 Best Ways To Feed Your Dog Healthy Food
You can dramatically increase your dog's chances of living a long, healthy life by feeding the right food. Cutting right to the chase, the best foods for your Fox Terrier are... [read more]
A Quick Way To Make Homemade Dog Food
Your Fox Terrier will love real chicken, turkey, beef, fish, eggs, yogurt, broccoli.... this is not just "people food" and I'll tell you why... [read more]
5 Best Kibble and Canned Dog Foods
Some are better than others, but I must be honest – I'm not a huge fan of dry or canned dog food. Here are my concerns... [read more]
Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not?
How many vaccinations does your Fox Terrier puppy really need? Does your adult dog need yearly booster shots? The vaccination guidelines have changed! Find out what some vets aren't telling you... [read more]
Spaying Your Female Dog: Pros and Cons
Should your female Fox Terrier be spayed? Current research says, "The AGE at which you spay can be vitally important to your dog's future health." So what's the best age? [read more]
Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons
Have you been told that you must neuter your male Fox Terrier? Current research shows that the issue is not so simple. Pet owners are not being told about some risks associated with neutering male dogs, especially neutering too early... [read more]
Make Sure Your Vet is the Best!
Is your current veterinarian really the best choice for your dog? Here's how to tell... [read more]
Assisi Loop Review
Does your Fox Terrier suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia, disk disease, colitis? My honest review of a veterinary device you can use at home to reduce inflammation and pain. [read more]
Complete list of Fox Terrier health problems
All terrier breeds are prone to allergies, which cause itchy skin and scratching, which often leads to bacterial infections.
Lens luxation, glaucoma, and cataracts are the eye diseases causing the most concern in Fox Terriers. Cataracts can appear before 3 years old and often progress to blindness. Progressive retinal atrophy, which always leads to blindness, has been reported.
Fox Terriers are at high risk for a devastating neurological disease called degenerative myelopathy, which leads to total rear-leg paralysis. It occurs in both varieties, but is more common in the Wirehaired.
Fox Terriers are at higher-than-normal risk for epilepsy, bladder stones, bladder cancer, and inherited deafness.
Heart disease (especially pulmonic stenosis) is becoming a concern in Fox Terriers.
Hip dysplasia occurs in Fox Terriers. The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of 400 Smooth Fox Terriers and found 12% dysplastic, which is very high for a small breed. The affected rate is lower in Wire Fox Terriers, but then again, fewer of the Wirehaired dogs have been tested for it, so those stats are less useful.
Luxating patella (loose knee joints) occurs in Fox Terriers. Also a serious degenerative hip disease called Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.
Less common health issues in Fox Terriers include thyroid disease, myasthenia gravis, megaesophagus, and cerebellar ataxia.
Preventing health problems
Some health problems are inherited. For example, if your dog inherits from his parents the genes for an eye disease called PRA, he will go blind and there's nothing anyone can do about it.
But most health problems can be prevented by the ways you raise your dog.
FREE eBOOK! My free online health care program, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to raise your Fox Terrier in all the right ways that help prevent health problems. Become your dog's health care champion!
My best-selling books – now available FREE on my website