The Perfect Stunning
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Caring For Your Boston Terrier

While Boston Terriers are relatively healthy dogs, they do come with some risks and they do require regular grooming and exercise to optimize their health. ​It is important to brush your Boston Terrier's teeth often and brush their coat to spread their natural skin oils to keep their coat shiny. Bath them as necessary. Wipe their eyes daily to avoid tear build up. Keeping their nails trimmed weekly is also important to prevent any discomfort or injury.  Daily teeth brushing is recommended and using VOHC dental products in addition to at home and professional brushings help to reduce tartar.

Regular walks and playtime are also important for their physical and mental health. Additionally, feeding a well-balanced diet with the right amount of nutrients is essential for your Boston Terrier's overall well-being along with regular check ups from your veterinarian.   Read more on my blog here.

Like all flat-faced breeds, Bostons can experience difficulty breathing when not given adequate shelter from excessive heat or humidity.  They are bred to be companions and should not be left outside by themselves.​

Like all dogs, they require proper training and socialization early so I recommend taking a puppy training class to help you ensure that your dog learns manners as they are an energetic and playful breed.

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I have several blog articles devoted to caring for your Boston Terrier so please check them out and please support my dogs by buying from our Amazon links in this blog article about my favorite Amazon products to care for your dog, all commissions go to caring for my dogs at Davis Farm Boston Terriers; thank you for your support!

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No breeder can fully guarantee against several common Boston Terrier health conditions because many are polygenic (influenced by multiple genes), have incomplete penetrance, are conformational/structural (tied to the breed’s flat face, prominent eyes, and screw tail), lack complete genetic tests, or involve environmental/trauma factors. Even with testing of parents, some conditions can still appear.

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Some Conditions Breeders Cannot Guarantee Against

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• Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) and related breathing issues (stenotic nares, elongated soft palate, etc.). These stem from the breed’s short muzzle and flat face. Severity varies widely; parents can be graded or evaluated, but the risk cannot be eliminated and is inherent to the breed's conformation. Signs include noisy breathing, snoring, exercise intolerance, and heat sensitivity.

• Eye conditions (especially trauma and conformation-related ones):

  • Corneal ulcers (due to prominent, less-protected eyes)

  • Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)

  • Cherry eye

  • Entropion

  • Late-onset cataracts (the early-onset form linked to the HSF4 mutation is DNA-testable and more controllable; the later form lacks a known genetic test)

  • Glaucoma (can develop secondarily)

• Patellar luxation (slipped kneecap): Common in small breeds; it has a hereditary/polygenic component. OFA screening of parents does not eliminate it. It can appear or worsen with age or weight issues.

• Spinal/vertebral malformations (hemivertebrae and related issues): Linked to the screw tail and the near-fixed DVL2 gene variant (Robinow-like syndrome features) in the breed. Incomplete penetrance means clinically normal parents can still produce affected puppies. X-rays of breeding stock help but do not guarantee absence.

• Congenital deafness (unilateral or bilateral): Higher risk with extensive white markings. BAER testing  is done on our females before we breed them, but it is not something that can be fully predicted or prevented in every litter.

Other common multi-factorial issues

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Allergies/skin problems, some heart conditions, and dental crowding also occur with some frequency. These are influenced by genetics, environment, and care, so they fall outside absolute guarantees.

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No breeder can promise a puppy will never develop any breed-predisposed problem. Boston Terriers are generally sturdy and often long-lived (often 11–13+ years) when properly cared for, but their distinctive structure carries inherent risks that no breeder can fully eliminate. Plan for potential ongoing management (especially eyes, weight control, and heat/exercise caution). 

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Pet Health Insurance

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Your puppy comes with 30 days of AKC Pet Insurance (make sure that you activate it the day that you pick up your puppy).  Here are some reasons I strongly recommend keeping your puppy insured: 

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• Prevents pre-existing condition exclusions. This is the strongest argument. Any illness, injury, or symptom that appears during the free period (or in a coverage gap after it ends) is typically treated as pre-existing by future policies and excluded permanently or for a long time. Continuing seamlessly means conditions that develop while covered stay eligible. Letting the trial lapse and starting new coverage later creates that risk.

• Puppies are accident and illness-prone. They explore by chewing and swallowing inappropriate items (foreign body ingestion is common and can require expensive surgery), fall or play roughly (fractures, soft-tissue injuries), and have developing immune systems that make them more vulnerable to infections, GI upset, and parasites. Early claims data often show accidents as a large share of puppy insurance use.

• Veterinary costs add up fast. A single emergency (surgery for a blockage, fracture repair, severe infection treatment, or diagnostics) can easily run into the thousands of dollars—often more than a full year of premiums. Insurance lets you say yes to recommended care without depleting savings.

• Premiums are lowest when the dog is young. Rates rise with age. Starting (and keeping) coverage early locks in the most affordable stage and avoids higher costs later.

• Supports ongoing or chronic issues. Many good policies are designed as lifetime/renewable coverage: as long as you keep renewing without a gap, they continue covering eligible conditions year after year (up to annual or per-condition limits). Dropping coverage and restarting later can leave chronic problems (allergies, joint issues, eye conditions, etc.) uninsured.

• Peace of mind during a high-adjustment period. New puppy owners already manage training, housebreaking, socialization, and routine care. Knowing unexpected bills have a safety net reduces stress.

Breed context (relevant for Boston Terriers)

Boston Terriers have elevated risks for eye problems (ulcers, dry eye, cataracts), airway issues related to their flat faces, patellar luxation, and other structural concerns. These can surface or worsen over time and become costly. Early continuous insurance is especially useful for breeds with known predispositions.

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Practical tips

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• Activate any free trial promptly and note the exact end date so there is no gap if you continue or switch.

• Review the specific policy details: what it covers (accident + illness is preferable), waiting periods (often short or waived for the trial but apply for some conditions like certain orthopedic issues), deductible, reimbursement percentage, and annual limits.

• Compare continuing with the same provider versus shopping around, but prioritize continuous coverage over minor premium differences if a condition has already appeared.

• Most policies do not cover routine wellness (vaccines, spay/neuter, preventives) unless you add a wellness package. Budget for those separately.

• Read the fine print on pre-existing rules—some carriers may eventually cover certain cured conditions after a symptom-free period, and a few (like certain AKC offerings) have pathways after continuous coverage, but these are exceptions, not the rule.

In short, the free period is a low-risk way to start protection during a vulnerable time. Continuing it (or arranging seamless replacement coverage) is one of the most effective ways to keep possible future health issues insurable and manage the real financial risks of puppy ownership. If your specific trial policy details differ, check those documents or contact the insurer for clarification.