Bichon Frise Health Problems and Life Expectancy

The Bichon Frise has a life expectancy of around 14 years, but some have been known to live as long as 20.

Ours lived to 17 1/2 and we eventually had to out him down not because he was physically ill,  but because he was mentally suffering due to having gone blind from cataracts and did nothing but whimper, howl, cry, and never sleep.

Even sedating him did not help, so we had to sadly part from our little friend we had found wandering on the street when he was 10 (he had been thrown out because of a urinary leakage problem–when we found him, all 4 legs and his whole belly were stained and even burned with urine).

A number of health problems and disorders are associated with this breed, and this includes luxating patella, epilepsy, cataracts, bleeding disorders, allergies, and bladder stones. The parents of your Bichon Frise puppy should have OFA and CERF certificates.

You should NEVER give all his vaccinations on the same day; this breed is know for dying from this due to extreme allergic reaction.

They tend to have allergies, especially to grass, sensitive skin, and delicate paws and nails, so always examine your dog after walks. They can often get skin hot spots as well, irritations which they then make worse by licking and scratching.

Bichon Frise History

The Bichon Frise originated from Tenerife and France, and although the exact details of its origins are unknown it is thought to have a very long history in terms of its ancestry. The breed’s name means ‘curly lap dog’ and was given to it because of its appearance. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1972.