Fuck Yeah Cairn Terriers

They’re fairly uncommon here, and these dogs are very similar to the West Highland White Terrier, but I can give you a brief overview based on my experience.

Please note the disclaimer. Theseposts are about the breed from a veterinary viewpoint as seenin clinical practice, i.e. the problems we are faced with. It’s notthe be-all and end-all of the breed and is not to make a judgementabout whether the breed is right for you. If you are asking for anopinion about these animals in a veterinary setting, that is what youwill get. It’s not going to be all sunshine and cupcakes, and isnot intended as a personal insult against your favorite breed. Thisis general advice for what is common, often with a scientificconsensus but sometimes based on personal experiences, and is not aguarantee of what your animal is going to encounter in their life.

Atopy and allergies are extraordinarily common in the WHWT and also common in the Cairn Terrier. The Cairn is not as popular as the WHWT, and if it was I suspect we’d see them on more advertising for allergy products too.

Mitral valve dysplasia is a common heart condition of smaller dogs, and the Cairn is no exception. While it’s usually older dogs that are afflicted, it is reasonable common and this heart condition is managed, not cured.

Lion jaw, or craniomandibular osteopathy, is uncommon but when it does show up, it seems to be often in these dogs. This genetic condition causes abnormal bone growth to occur on the lower jaw, sometimes becoming severe enough to prevent proper opening and closing of the jaw. This usually occurs in younger dogs.

Portosystemic shunt is also relatively rare but shows up with increased frequency in this breed. In this condition there is an abnormal blood vessel that bypasses the liver, resulting in a whole host of symptoms including stunted growth, an underdeveloped liver and a range of neurological symptoms. Some pups are treatable with surgery, but it’s not a routine procedure.