Fun With Our Boston Terriers

Tank/elvis mommy writes: No haven't used a water pick but Snoopy is doing great! He is up to date with all shots and has been neutered, although the cleft palate can not be proven to be hereditary, the vet made us face reality by saying if you were going to pay to breed your dog, wouldn't you want your stud to be perfect? Snoopy is having surgery on tues May 27th to repair a cherry eye. One afternoon in March my son asked me what's that red stuff on Snoopy's eye at first I didn't know what he was talking about because the dog was fine all day but then I looked at him and I was on the phone to te vet immediately. The vet sent us to the animal eye clinic in Medford, NJ. We learned that this is common in bostons (pugs and cocker spaniels too.) The surgeon told us to wait until the end of spring because it would probably happen in the other eye as well, he said it usually occurs in bostons between the 5th and 8th month, but can occur up to the 18th month. We have decided that enough is enough, and althogh it doesn't hurt the dog, we will have it fixed next week. Besides, he has to look good for his graduation from puppy class! I had to send Snoopy to puppy school because he has a problem with aggression towards children. He is great and plays well with them as long as he comes to them. But if he was in a room first and a child enters he chases them and bites the back of their legs. One day my son tried to run away and he jumped on the couch thinking it was safe, but Snoopy jumped up there and bit him in the side. Puppy school has helped with a lot of common problems and he knows a lot of commands and tricks , but he doesn't like small children. I am told Bostons have a Napoleon complex. My next step is to write to Caesar Milan (the dog whisperer) and see if he can help snoopy with his aggression towards kids. Any suggestions?

Lets face it, if it weren't like this we probably wouldn't even want a dog. We have as deep of an emotional bond with our pets as any human member in our close knit families, some people would go as far to say they have a deeper bond with their k-9 companions over their human relationships.

RE: cherry eye:
First off here’s my disclaimer. I have never personally experienced cherry eye with any of my dogs from childhood years threw now. Because of no experiences, I have called puppy owners from past litters and have done a little chit chat with other dog owners, not breed specific it seems most people knows someone who dog had cherry eye. I’ve talked to our vet about it and yes, they do see it in some breeds more then other breeds.

I was explained about the cherry eye problem as something that happens in some dogs, like with a cleft pallet, it’s not breed specific as more as it happens in dogs sometimes, but they do see it more frequently for what ever reason in some breeds.

Please think about this
If you are getting a surgery to repair a problem, and you have an elective surgery you want done on your dog (such as neutering), ask the vet if he/she would do both procedures at the same time.
I have enquired and yes our vet would do eyes and a spay/neuter while the dog was under.
It’s my believe any time you can prevent a surgery in your k-9, the better for the animal. natural is way to go in my book, and it‘s important to have a good working relationship with your vet or it will cost you thousands of dollars to gain that knowledge.


Just a little snippet of Boston terrier eye problems I’ve experienced with my dogs.
When I had my first Boston terrier, I was concerned about the tearing of his eyes and the vet assured me that it was common in the breed. He explained how with their slightly bulging eyes, their tear ducts and other eye parts can get clogged.
Flash back to my last born daughter had to use eye drops that at the time was prescription now over the counter Opcon-A manufactured by Bausch & Lomb.
My daughter was born with a clogged tear duct and they would have done surgery, but preferred to try the eye drops.
The drops are not a replacement for an eye injury fix that needs vet attentions, but when the dogs are experiencing allergy type irritants.
Simply put, I wouldn't use eye drops in my dogs eyes if I wouldn't use them in my eyes for the same condition.
Since the first start of using the Opcon-A, I have always liked using the eye drops. Our Boston’s eye looks nicer, bonus features, it keeps the eye boogies and stains from happening.
I’m guessing here as I’m NOT a vet, I think the allergy drops possibly keeps the irritant under control that might cause the inflammation that makes the cherry eye pop.

I talked to one lady that has an older Boston terrier, she was watching her sister’s Boston terrier one day and the two dogs got in a tiff about nothing at all and I think she told me the dog was a few years old when the cherry eye popped out. Her vet suggested waiting it out, she gently massaged it back in and it never popped out again.
My daughters each have pups from all from different litters Those have never experienced the cherry eye, nor have we with their parents.
A new Boston terrier owner not related to ours, has recently described the events prior to the cherry eye popping out the pup being stressed. I thought that was interesting.

RE: puppy training
I really think it’s an excellent idea for any K-9 owner who have never had a dog to take classes with their pup. Learn the techniques and train other family members to respond in same manner.
Keep the lessons short and keep the lessons fun for both the pet and the family members and you’ll experience a better dog.
I wouldn’t like a nippy pup/dog in my family and I think you’re doing the right thing in taking snoopy to classes to get that corrected.