Cairn Terrier health: what owners should know

Cairns are generally robust, but the breed is known to be predisposed to ocular melanosis, a pigment condition that can lead to glaucoma, portosystemic liver shunts, patellar luxation, skin allergies and globoid cell leukodystrophy, a rare inherited nerve disease with a DNA test. Responsible breeders have eyes examined annually, DNA test for globoid cell leukodystrophy, check knees, and may run bile acid tests on puppies.

Regular weigh-ins, dental care and routine eye checks help catch problems early. See a vet if you notice a red, painful or cloudy eye, dark pigment spreading across the white of the eye, a puppy that is small for its litter or seems wobbly or dull after meals, persistent scratching, or a skipping gait on a back leg.