This page is meant for educational purposes regarding
hereditary conditions found in the backbones of Boston Terriers.
Hemivertebrae - Missing Vertebrae - Spondylosis
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Patriot Farm Boston Terriers is committed to producing Boston Terriers with sound spines. We started breeding Boston Terriers in 2018, having come from 30+ years of experience with other breeds. To improve our bloodline, we purchased two new puppies at about 15 weeks of age with the intention of keeping the best for our breeding program. One of my clients wanted the one I wasn’t going to keep, and insisted that I x-ray the dog before she would adopt him. Much to my surprise, and my vets surprise, (and the breeders surprise) this pup had a hemivertebrae at T4 that was triangular - causing his spine to make a sharp angle. This was how I uncovered this deadly issue in Boston Terriers and I made it my goal to try and select breeding dogs without hemivertebra in their thoracic, lumbar, and cervical spines for my breeding program. This has proved to be a difficult task. I have attained dogs from top breeders and top Show Kennels and only one of those dogs had a 100% perfect spine. Most have had one or more hemivertebrae of various shapes, sizes and locations. A MULTIPLE GROUP WINNING BOSTON TERRIER HAD 5 thoracic HV and a MISSING VERTEBRAE. Another contender had 1 thoracic HV and 1 lumbar HV and was exhibiting neurological symptoms and another had 7 thoracic HV and the same neurological symptoms. When I brought HV up in conversation at an AKC specialty show to a long-time breeder, she said, “It’s common, just don’t breed two dogs together if the HV is on the same vertebrae”. Having been a nurse for 35 years, I believe this breeding philosophy to be a disaster for any breed. My veterinarians agree and applaud me for my efforts.
In my opinion the Boston Terrier Club of America should list “Hemivertebrae” as their top health concern. Breeders should be more aware and cautious when choosing breeding stock and should seek bloodlines to help avoid it. I believe breeding to only win ribbons is self-defeating and damages the breed. Approximately 90 percent of dogs produced are cherished companion pets, who for the next 12-14yrs need to be functional with their families. It is well documented that Boston Terriers came from color. Colored Boston Terriers are routinely bred by non-show breeders because they make great family pets. My dogs are health tested and are registered with the AKC. Several came from non-show breeders and carried color genes or were colored themselves and these dogs did NOT have hemivertebrae. The only ethical thing left to do was to balance my show lines with my companion lines and doing so has given me excellent results. I have achieved and will continue to achieve the best of both worlds - beautiful Boston Terriers from the inside out.
Lori Chapman
In my opinion the Boston Terrier Club of America should list “Hemivertebrae” as their top health concern. Breeders should be more aware and cautious when choosing breeding stock and should seek bloodlines to help avoid it. I believe breeding to only win ribbons is self-defeating and damages the breed. Approximately 90 percent of dogs produced are cherished companion pets, who for the next 12-14yrs need to be functional with their families. It is well documented that Boston Terriers came from color. Colored Boston Terriers are routinely bred by non-show breeders because they make great family pets. My dogs are health tested and are registered with the AKC. Several came from non-show breeders and carried color genes or were colored themselves and these dogs did NOT have hemivertebrae. The only ethical thing left to do was to balance my show lines with my companion lines and doing so has given me excellent results. I have achieved and will continue to achieve the best of both worlds - beautiful Boston Terriers from the inside out.
Lori Chapman
Hemivertebrae
