Airedale Terrier Health Care & Feeding
By Michele Welton, Dog Trainer, Breed Selection Consultant, Author of 15 Dog Books
Jump down to this list of
Airedale Health Problems
Or check out my advice for raising a healthy Airedale puppy or adult dog:
Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way
Read my advice on daily health care so your Airedale 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 Airedale are... [read more]
A Quick Way To Make Homemade Dog Food
Your Airedale 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 Airedale 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 Airedale 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 Airedale? 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 Airedale 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 Airedale Terrier health problems
The Airedale Club of America conducted a health survey that included over 500 Airedales. About HALF were reported with skin conditions, including allergies, pyoderma, seborrhea, follicular dysplasia, and lick granuloma. About 40% were reported with non-tumorous growths (sebaceous cysts, papillomas, lipomas). So skin is a central area of potential health problems in Airedales.
More ominously, 26% of the Airedales in the club survey were reported with malignant tumors and cancers, especially mammary cancer, skin cancers, and lymphoma. Cancer is the #1 cause of death in Airedales (but that's true of many, perhaps even most, other breeds, as well).
The most common orthopedic diseases in Airedales are hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. The Orthopedic Foundation of America examined the hip x-rays of over 6400 Airedales and found 12% to be bad. Of 400+ elbow x-rays, 9% were bad. Other orthopedic health issues include Wobbler's syndrome, cruciate ligament rupture, panosteitis, osteochondritis, and luxating patella.
The most common (serious) eye disease in Airedales is cataracts (8% reported in the club survey). Other eye diseases reported were glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, retinal dysplasia, entropion, eyelash abnormalities, and corneal dystrophy (a particularly severe form in Airedales).
Finally, a very serious kidney disease (juvenile renal disease) can strike young Airedale Terriers.
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 Airedale 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