Nobody likes to see their dog become ill. Because some breeds are more likely to suffer from certain health problems than others, owners need to familiarize themselves with issues unique to their breed. While the Jack Russell isn't associated to too much illness, there are certain issues owners should be prepared for.

Common Ailments Of The Jack Russell - Recognize These Symptoms

One of the most common Jack Russell health issues is patella luxation. This is when the kneecap pops out of joint. The results include lameness, temporary lameness, or an odd painful gait, however, this condition tends to be identifiable at birth.

A similar leg joint issue is known as Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. Roughly speaking this is a hip deformity many small dogs share which wears on the joints and can cause arthritis. Treatments include surgery with physical therapy and follow-up appointments.

Other Jack health issues are difficulty seeing and problems of the eye. Cataracts can sometimes develop as can glaucoma, and a hereditary condition known as lens luxation is also sometimes seen in Jack Russells. Lens luxation occurs when the eye lens grows displaced, leading to blindness if not properly cared for. Such problems are not apparent at birth, so owners need to make eye examinations a priority for Jacks and other small dogs to ensure proper vision.

Steps To Stop This

If you're using a breeder to get your puppy, be careful about who you select. Your breeder should provide you with absolute proof that the parents of your Jack Russell were disease free, making your dog more likely to be healthy. Regardless, regular visits to your vet is the best prevention as well as observing your dogs behavior at home.

If you're adopting a rescue, the same principles should be applied. While you won't have the medical history of the dog's parents, so vet appointments are even more essential. There's unfortunately no real way to prevent any Jack Russell health issues, and the only thing to do is to take proper care of them to keep them as healthy as you possibly can.

Check-Ups Make All The Difference

While completely avoiding Jack Russell health issues is never going to be possible, you can hopefully reduce the risk by letting your dog have regular check-ups. Check-ups can identify issues early enough to treat, often times when the problem is noticeable only to a trained veterinarian, so be sure to make these appointments.

While Jacks do have some issues to be aware of, they don't have nearly as many problems as other breeds and should be in good health provided you take them to regular appointments. Pet insurance is a sound investment for any owner, as vet bills can be very expensive. Don't let the thought of this put you off though - serious Jack Russell health issues aren't that common, so take the plunge and you'll get a fantastic pet that has a long, happy and healthy life.