Knowing the different diseases that can affect your M altese is essential to be able to prevent and anticipate any symptoms of illness. However, if you see your bichon with brown ears, diarrhoea, allergy or vomiting, clear illness situations, do not hesitate to go to the vet.
In this article we will show you the main diseases that affect the M altese Bichon. Like any other breed of dog, infectious diseases are the most common, but there are also other diseases, known as hereditary, which may be more frequent in some breeds than in others.
Discover on our site the most common diseases of the M altese dog:
Infectious diseases that affect the M altese Bichon
The viral diseases are undoubtedly the most dangerous, because many of them are deadly for dogs or can be left with important consequences for life.
Fortunately there are very effective preventive treatments, such as vaccines. Among them are Rabies (there are very few cases in Spain, the same occurs in Central and South America), canine Distemper, Parvovirus, Marbled Hepatitis and the disease caused by the canine Coronavirus.
Infectious diseases caused by bacteria include kennel cough and Leptospirosis. Although the latter can be treated with antibiotics, there are also very effective vaccines.
Inherited diseases that affect the M altese Bichon
hereditary diseases usually appear as a result of crossbreeding between dogs that are genetically closely related, that is, due to high consanguinity. The main one is patella dislocation. It is a disease that is characterized by a slight deformation in the tibia and patella (knee joint, one knee or both), which causes the patellar ligament to move in or out when the knee is bent, generating a blockage of the joint and lameness. Depending on the severity of the deformation, the lameness can have different degrees, from intermittent to constant.
Cryptorchidism or testicular retention, is a disease that consists in the failure of one of the testicles to descend from the abdominal cavity to the scrotum. The retention of the testicle causes its long-term tumor. The only possible treatment is castration.
Inherited diseases that can compromise the life of the M altese Bichon?
The answer is yes An example would be the disease known as "patent ductus arteriovenosus". At birth, a communication between the pulmonary artery and the aorta must be closed. If this communication is not closed, the puppy has a very short life expectancy. It is much more frequent in bitches than in dogs.
Hydrocephaly is another hereditary disease, which consists of an increase in intracranial pressure, which usually causes seizures and sudden and unexplained changes in behavior. The life expectancy of these animals is not usually very high.
Any dog diagnosed with a congenital disease, in addition to veterinary treatment, is recommended not be used for breeding.
