Top Health Issues in Bichon Frise: What Every Pet Parent Should Know

Written by Kelly Gredner, RVT, VTS (Nutrition)

Bichon Frises are beloved for their fluffy white coats, cheerful personalities, and adorable teddy bear appearance. These small companion dogs bring endless joy to their families with their playful nature and affectionate temperament.

However, like many purebred dogs, Bichon Frises can be prone to certain health challenges. Understanding these common issues can help you recognize symptoms early and provide the best care for your furry fur-iend.

Let's explore the top health concerns in Bichon Frises and how proper nutrition, especially fresh food, can make a real difference in managing these conditions.

Sensitive Stomach in Bichon Frise

A sensitive stomach is one of the most common issues Bichon Frise owners encounter. This can manifest as an intolerance to a specific ingredient, either as a whole food or combined in a formulated diet.

Sometimes, a sensitive stomach signals a more serious underlying problem such as food allergies (like a chicken allergy), IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), or pancreatitis, which requires a low fat diet.

The physiological signs of a sensitive stomach include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting or regurgitation
• Loss of appetite (inappetence)
• Excessive drooling
• Diarrhea or soft stools

These symptoms can lead to food aversion or learned aversion, putting your pup off their current diet entirely. When dogs associate their meals with feeling unwell, they may refuse to eat even when the underlying issue has been addressed.

Fresh, Gently-Cooked meals from Tom&Sawyer® can help because they're made with simple, recognizable ingredients that are easier to digest. Our recipes include whole foods, zero preservatives, and minimal additional supplementation that might trigger sensitive stomachs.

For Bichon Frises with particularly sensitive tummies or those managing pancreatitis, our Low-Fat Trial Box provides gentle, complete nutrition without triggering digestive upset.

Picky Eating in Bichon Frise

Bichon Frises can develop picky eating habits for various reasons, and it's not always just about being fussy.

Age-related factors play a role—senior dogs often have a reduced sense of smell, making food less appealing. Behavioral patterns matter too, especially if your pup has been rewarded for holding out for "the good stuff" like treats or (gulp!) table scraps (our fur babies deserve better than something named that!)

However, picky eating can also signal an underlying sensitive stomach. Health issues like pancreatitis (requiring a low fat diet), food allergies (such as a chicken allergy), or IBD can reveal themselves through what appears to be simple pickiness.

If your Bichon suddenly becomes selective about food or consistently refuses meals, it's worth discussing with your veterinarian to rule out medical issues that could be treated with a dietary change.

Fresh food can be more palatable than  kibble, or even canned food The aroma, texture, and taste of Gently-Cooked meals often entice even the fussiest eaters to clean their bowls.

For Bichon Frises who turn their noses up at mealtime, our recipes loved by Picky Eaters features our most irresistibly palatable meals with variety and great taste to make mealtime exciting again.

Itchy Paws and Skin

Itchy paws and skin are often part of an allergic reaction—whether food allergies (like a chicken allergy), environmental allergies (both indoor and outdoor), or contact allergies (such as reactions to floor cleaners).

Common food allergens for dogs include chicken and beef. These allergies can manifest in various ways; some dogs experience all the symptoms while others show only a few. 

Signs of food allergies in Bichon Frises include:

• Non-seasonal itchiness of feet, armpits, or groin
• Self-induced injuries from chewing or biting skin
• Inflammation of the skin (pink or red appearance)
• Crusting or darkening of the skin
• Chronic ear infections
• Yeast or bacterial skin infections
• Gastrointestinal signs like vomiting or diarrhea

The constant scratching and discomfort can significantly impact your pup's quality of life. Many Bichon Frise pet parents find themselves trying multiple solutions before identifying the root cause.

Novel protein diets that use unique protein options like kangaroo can be incredibly helpful for eliminating these uncomfortable symptoms. Because most dogs have never been exposed to kangaroo, their immune systems don't recognize it as an allergen.

If your Bichon suffers from food allergies or sensitivities, our novel protein recipes provides a limited-ingredient solution that helps eliminate uncomfortable allergy symptoms.

Ear Infections

Ear infections are a common sign of food allergies in Bichon Frises, and sometimes they're the only symptom.

Many pet parents don't initially connect recurring ear infections with their dog's diet. They treat the infection, it clears up temporarily, then returns weeks or months later in a frustrating cycle.

Common food allergies include chicken and beef, which can manifest in various ways. The signs mirror those of general food allergies: non-seasonal itchiness of the feet, armpits, and groin; self-induced injuries from chewing or biting skin; inflammation, crusting, or darkening of the skin; persistent ear infections; yeast or bacterial skin infections; and gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea.

If your Bichon suffers from chronic ear infections that keep returning despite treatment, consider whether food allergies might be the underlying cause. An elimination diet using novel proteins can help identify the trigger.

How Tom&Sawyer® Addresses These Health Issues

At Tom&Sawyer®, our meals are specifically designed to support dogs with common health challenges like those frequently seen in Bichon Frises.

Our Gently-Cooked preparation method uses optimal cooking temperatures that kill harmful bacteria while preserving essential nutrients. This gentle process makes our meals easier to digest than many heavily processed kibble options, which is especially important for pups with sensitive stomachs.

Every Tom&Sawyer® recipe is prepared in a federally inspected Human Grade facility with restaurant-quality ingredients. We use only 100% Human Grade ingredients—whole, recognizable food components you'd find in your own kitchen.

Our novel protein options, like kangaroo*, pork and whitefish, provide an excellent solution for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities. For Bichon Frises dealing with pancreatitis or sensitive tummies, our Low Fat recipes offer balanced nutrition without triggering digestive upset.

And for the picky eaters? Our Gently-Cooked meals might be  more palatable than dry kibble. The aroma, moisture, and taste make mealtime irresistibly appealing even to the fussiest Bichon Frise.

Supporting Your Bichon Frise's

The right nutrition can make a paws-itively significant difference. Fresh, Gently-Cooked meals made with high-quality ingredients address many of these common health issues without artificial additives, common allergens, or heavy processing that can potentially trigger symptoms.

At Tom&Sawyer®, we're committed to creating meals that support happier, healthier, longer lives™ for all dogs, including beloved breeds like the Bichon Frise.

Our recipes are Non-GMO and antibiotic-free, supporting your pup's long-term wellness from the inside out. Every dog meal is naturally supplemented with no more than 3% vitamins and minerals, allowing the nutritional benefits from whole-food ingredients to shine.

Try a fresh start with Tom&Sawyer® Gently-Cooked recipes—made to keep your Bichon Frise healthy, happy, and excited for every meal. Join Sawyer's Pack today and discover the difference fresh food can make.

 

*kangaroo protein currently available in Canada only.