Bichon fries are small dogs with a thick curly coat and are one of the most popular dogs to have as a pet. They are known to be very cheerful and happy natured, and very easy to train. They are great dog with children and the elderly so make a great all round pet.

They are a pretty healthy dog breed as they have a lifespan of between 15-20years old, and out of the registered deaths the main percentage of them was due old age. However a high 20% of the deaths registered were down to cancers including; hematologic diseases like; autoimmune hermolytic anemia in which their immune system attack their red blood cell and also Thrombocytopenia, this is when they don’t produce enough platelets in their blood.

It is also common for some Bichon Frise’s to suffer from liver shunts, due to the blood flow not reaching the liver resulting in shunts on the inside or outside of their liver, surgery is normally used to treat this condition. Shunts are often a cause of old age though some dogs can inherit the disease so it is always useful to get them check out at an early age as the earlier it is caught the easier it is to treat. 

The main illness you should be aware of is those linking to their immune systems, e.g. haemolytic anemia, AIHA. AIHA and other immune system diseases are the most common causes of early death of Bichon Frise dogs, symptoms to look out for include; loss of energy and eating, diarrhoea, vomiting, pale or yellow gums. As soon as any of the symptoms for AIHA are noticed you should get them down to the vets as soon as possible because the chances of survival depend on the treatment and how fast they receive it.