Boston Terrier: inherited diseases and health
The inherited conditions below have been documented in this breed in published research. That does not mean your dog has them or will get them – but it helps to know the names when you talk to a breeder or a vet.
Conditions this breed is prone to
Veterinary charities list this breed as more likely than others to get these conditions. Read the signs and what to do:
Cherry Eye
HeatstrokeBoston Terrier and chocolate: how much is dangerous?
Typical adult weight: 11.3 kg. Grams of chocolate at which signs can start (20 mg/kg) and at which severe signs are reported (40 mg/kg):
| Dog weight | Milk | Dark 70–85% | Baking / unsweetened |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11.3 kg | 113 g signs 226 g severe | 28 g signs 56 g severe | 16 g signs 32 g severe |
Based on published doses: signs from about 20 mg/kg, severe signs from 40 mg/kg (US FDA, Cortinovis & Caloni 2016, Swedish Poison Information Centre). An estimate, not a diagnosis.
Inherited conditions documented in the breed
Conditions documented: 10
A gene variant is known for 4 of the conditions below, so a DNA test may exist. Ask your vet or the breed club.
| Condition | Body system | Inheritance | Gene variant known |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS)[2] | – | – | – |
| Cataract, early onset, HSF4-related[1] | Vision / eye | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
| Dystocia[2] | – | – | – |
| Eyelid gland, third, prolapse of[1] | Vision / eye | – | No |
| Hemivertebrae[2] | – | – | – |
| Hereditary Cataract[2] | – | – | – |
| Mucopolysaccharidosis I[1] | Lysosomal storage disease | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
| Muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle, type R6 (LGMDR6)[1] | Muscle | Probably autosomal recessive | Yes |
| Pelger-Huet anomaly[1] | Haematopoietic system | – | – |
| Screw tail[1] | Limbs / fins / digit / tail | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
What this list means
- “Documented in the breed” means at least one published case or study – it says nothing about how common the condition is.
- Many of these conditions are rare. A responsible breeder can tell you which health tests the parents have had.
- Where the gene variant is known, a DNA test may exist – ask your vet or the breed club.
- If your pet shows signs of illness, contact your vet. This page cannot tell you whether your pet is ill.
About the breed
- Origin
- United States
- Weight
- 11.3 kg
- FCI number
- 140
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Sources
How this page was made: the list is taken directly from the sources below; nothing on it was written by AI. Names of conditions may be machine-translated. It is information, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages