Tibetan Terrier Health - An Overview

     The Tibetan Terrier is a very hardy breed and is considered long lived, most living 12 years and beyond. Many live to 15-16 years of age. Like any dog breed, the Tibetan Terrier should be given a quality diet, exercise, and regular veterinary care including appropriate vaccines, regular dental care, and parasite control as needed for ticks, fleas, and worms.  Proper grooming of a Tibetan Terrier is essential to keep the coat matt free.

    Some health issues that may occur in the Tibetan Terrier are: hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, progressive retinal atrophy, primary lens luxation, hypothyroidism, cancer, cataracts and canine neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Some health problems have proven to be hereditary, and conscientious breeders screen their breeding dogs.  Breeders can explain these health problems and their incidence.  Many breeders have knowledge of their puppies’ bloodlines.  Potential buyers are advised to ask questions.   Inquire about the health testing done on sire and dam. 

Recommended Heath Testing

    The Tibetan Terrier Club of America, Inc. recommends that parents of all litters have hip certifications through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (“OFA”) or PennHip,  patellar luxation certification through OFA and congenital deafness/BAER certification through OFA. Parents should also have passed an OFA eye or CERF exam within the 12 months prior to breeding. In order to avoid puppies being produced that might be affected with Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (“NCL”), or Primary Lens Luxation (“PLL”,) Progressive Retinal Atrophy-rcd4 (“rcd4 PRA”) and Progressive Retinal Atrophy- PRA 3 (“PRA3”), parents of litters should be DNA tested for NCL, PLL, rcd4 and PRA3 (or “clear by parentage” as per OFA). 

Ask For Verification of Health Testing

  Prospective owners are encouraged to ask for copies of the results of these tests, or links to the results in the online OFA database.

There are many other tests available to breeders of Tibetan Terriers.   BAER testing for deafness can be done on puppies as young as 35 days old. Other DNA tests are also available, such as Pituitary Dwarfism, and more and more tests are expected to be developed in the future. 

     Parents may also be certified through OFA for a  number of other health conditions including, but not limited to, autoimmune thyroiditis.

     We knowingly repeat:   Prospective owners are encouraged to talk with breeders about the testing that they have done, results, and general health concerns in their dogs.