Allergies

Allergies can be broken down into inhalant, contact, or food allergy origins. Flea allergies, grass allergies, and environmental toxin induced allergies are the most common causes of skin conditions in Cairns. Allergies can be chronic or seasonal. They can be minor or severe in occurrence. They tend to become worse with age. Treatment is much better than in bygone days. Environmental controls, antihistamine treatment, and desensitization injections have made huge strides in the last few years.

Cataracts are generally considered a common old age change, but a juvenile form also occurs. Juvenile cataracts are inherited and are not usually present at birth, although this condition can present itself at any age- months to years. Juvenile cataracts affect different areas of the lens depending upon the breed of dog. They do not always result in the lens becoming completely opaque. Complete cataracts result in blindness that can only be corrected by cataract surgery. Yearly CERF examinations are an important tool in diagnosing this condition.

Also known as lion jaw, it is a non-cancerous bone proliferation occurring mainly on the lower jaw, maxilla and, on occasion, the long bones of the legs. It is generally a self-resolving problem that corrects as the bone remodels during the growth stage. Diagnosis is by X-ray. Onset of symptoms generally occurs at about 4 months and resolves at about 1 year of age.  This disease is inherited by a single autosomal recessively passed gene. 

Also known as Krabbe's disease. It is a degenerative disease of the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. Affected puppies die at a very early age or have to be euthanized. Mode of inheritance is by a single autosomal recessively passed gene. There is now a test available that can identify carriers of this disease.

It is characterized as an underproduction of hormone by the thyroid gland. It occurs in many breeds, including Cairns. Diagnosis is done by a blood test for complete thyroid activity. Symptoms include poor haircoat, infertility, lethargy, and cold intolerance. Treatment with synthetic hormones is very successful in controlling this condition.

This is a problem in many small breeds of dogs, including Cairns. In this disorder, the knee cap slips out of the trochlear groove. Testing, funded by the CTCA Foundation, has proven it to be an inherited disorder in Cairns. Diagnosis is by X-ray and palpation exam.

Ocular melanosis

Awareness of this condition is a fairly recent thing, with the first cases diagnosed in 1984. It occurs only in Cairns. Onset averages 8 to12 years of age. Pigmentation changes occur in the sclera (white of the eye) and chambers of the eyes. The pigment granules eventually decrease the eyes' ability to drain fluid out of the eye chambers, causing elevated fluid pressure in the eyes. If the elevated pressure goes undiagnosed and untreated, the dog goes blind. If caught early, the condition can be controlled and vision maintained through medication and, eventually, laser surgery. It is important that older Cairns be checked yearly for the early signs (heavily pigmented sclera and loss of pupil constrictability).

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Also known as PRA. Sometimes referred to as "night blindness", which is a misnomer because the blindness caused by this disease is eventually total. In the early stages, the dog's vision is impaired at night and eventually becomes worse in daylight and dim light conditions. Ultimately, the dog becomes completely blind as both eyes are affected. This condition is an inherited one with both parents being carriers. Diagnosis of PRA can be detected by a CERF exam. 

This is a bleeding disease characterized by excessive bleeding time due to delayed clotting. There is a rather low occurrence of this disorder in Cairns. There is a blood test available. Research is underway to develop a DNA test that will be much more effective in giving absolute information so this disease can also be eliminated from the Cairn gene pool.

SOURCE: THE CAIRN TERRIER CLUB OF AMERICA