The short answer
The Border Terrier is a genuinely hardy small breed that often lives 12 to 15 years, so start from a place of reassurance. The one distinctive condition to understand is CECS, also called Spike's disease, a cramping and tremor disorder where the dog stays conscious. It is not epilepsy, and many affected dogs improve on a diet change managed with a vet. Beyond that, watch for occasional heart murmurs, joint issues, and eye conditions, keep the dog lean, and stay on year-round paralysis tick prevention. Learn the difference between a harmless CECS episode and a prolonged seizure, because the second one is an emergency.
A hardy breed first
Before the list of conditions, the honest headline is a good one. The Border Terrier is one of the soundest small breeds you can own. It was bred to work, to keep up with a pack of hounds all day and then go to ground after a fox, so a fragile dog was never any use. What survived that breeding is a rugged, functional little terrier with fewer inherited problems than many of the popular breeds, and a long life to match. Most Border Terriers live around 12 to 15 years, and plenty stay active well into old age.
So this article is not a warning label. It is a plan. The conditions below are worth knowing so you can spot them early and act, but most Border Terriers will only ever brush against one or two of them, and much of what keeps the breed well is ordinary care: a lean weight, real exercise, clean teeth, and steady tick prevention. The RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase has good general guidance on preventative care and healthy weight that applies to any dog.
CECS, or Spike's disease: the one that is distinctive
If there is one condition to understand in this breed, it is CECS. The letters stand for canine epileptoid cramping syndrome, and you will also see it called Spike's disease, after an early affected dog, or paroxysmal gluten-sensitive dyskinesia. It is a movement and cramping disorder that the Border Terrier is particularly associated with, and while it looks frightening the first time you see it, it is usually far less serious than it appears.
What an episode looks like. During a CECS episode a dog has muscle cramping and trembling, struggles to stand or walk, may arch its back, and often moves with a wobbly, staggering, drunken gait. Some dogs stretch dramatically, and many have a loudly gurgling tummy. The single most important detail is this: the dog stays fully conscious and aware the whole time. It knows you are there, it can often still respond to you, and when the episode passes, usually after seconds to a few minutes, it is back to normal with no dazed recovery.
Why the diet link matters. The other name, paroxysmal gluten-sensitive dyskinesia, points to what helps many affected dogs. A large share improve markedly, some stop having episodes altogether, on a change of diet, frequently a gluten-free one, worked out with a vet. That is not a promise for every dog and it is not something to attempt by guesswork, since the diagnosis needs confirming first and other causes ruling out. It does mean CECS is often very manageable once it is identified, which is a hopeful thing to know.
What to do. A first episode should always be seen by a vet, even though the episode itself is usually not an emergency, because your vet needs to confirm it is CECS and not something else. The most useful thing you can bring is a phone video of an episode if you can capture one safely, since a clear recording tells a vet far more than any description. From there your vet can talk through diagnosis and the dietary approach that suits your individual dog.
Seizures and epilepsy: a separate thing
Separately from CECS, a Border Terrier can also have true seizures or epilepsy, as any breed can. It is worth learning the difference, because the two look different and are handled differently. A seizure typically involves loss of consciousness, the dog collapsing and its limbs jerking or paddling, often with drooling or loss of bladder control, followed by a confused, disoriented recovery. A CECS episode, by contrast, has none of that loss of consciousness and none of the rhythmic jerking. If you are ever unsure which one you are watching, describe it to your vet or, better, show them a video.
A single short seizure that stops on its own is not usually an emergency in the moment, but a first seizure warrants a vet visit to look for a cause, and any dog with seizures needs a vet managing it. What is always an emergency is a seizure that will not stop or that comes in clusters.
Emergency: a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes, or repeated seizures
A seizure that lasts more than about five minutes, or several seizures one after another without the dog recovering fully in between, is a genuine emergency called status epilepticus, and it can be life-threatening. Get to a vet immediately, day or night. Do not put your hands near the mouth, clear hard furniture away so the dog cannot hurt itself, note the time the seizure started, and go. Phone ahead so the team is ready, and if it is out of hours head to a 24/7 hospital such as SASH, which offers round-the-clock emergency care in Sydney. A CECS episode, where the dog stays conscious and recovers in a couple of minutes, is usually not this emergency, but if you are ever unsure, treat it as urgent and call.
Heart: murmurs and conditions
Some Border Terriers have heart conditions, so the heart is worth keeping an eye on across the dog's life. Two are worth knowing. Pulmonic stenosis is a narrowing of the flow out of the heart that can be present from birth, and it is one reason a vet listens carefully to a young dog's chest. Later in life, valve disease is common in older small dogs generally, and Borders are no exception.
Often the first sign is nothing you would notice at home. It is a heart murmur your vet picks up with a stethoscope at a routine check, which is a good argument for not skipping those visits. Many murmurs are mild and simply monitored over time, while others prompt further tests such as an ultrasound of the heart to see what is happening. At home, watch for a soft cough, tiring more easily than usual on walks, faster or more laboured breathing while resting, or any fainting, and have those checked. If your vet mentions a murmur, ask what grade it is and whether a cardiac assessment is worth doing.
Joints: hips, kneecaps and Legg-Calve-Perthes
As a small, active dog the Border Terrier can have a few of the joint issues seen across terriers and small breeds. Hip dysplasia, where the hip joint does not fit together smoothly, can occur and shows as stiffness, a change in gait, or reluctance to jump. Patellar luxation, where the kneecap slips out of its groove, is a common small-dog problem and often looks like a brief skip or hop on a back leg that then rights itself.
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is one to know in small breeds specifically. It is a problem of the hip in young dogs where the top of the thigh bone loses its blood supply and begins to break down, causing pain and limping, usually in a dog under a year old. A young Border Terrier that develops a persistent limp on a back leg should be seen by a vet, since these conditions are diagnosed with an examination and imaging and are very treatable when caught. Keeping the dog lean takes strain off every joint and is the simplest thing you can do for its legs.
Eyes: cataracts, PRA and lens luxation
The breed can carry a few inherited eye conditions, so the eyes are worth a look now and then. A cataract clouds the lens so the pupil looks milky or bluish-white and vision fades as it thickens. Progressive retinal atrophy, or PRA, is a slow degeneration of the retina that leads to gradual vision loss, where the first sign is often a dog becoming hesitant in dim light or bumping into things at night. Neither is painful, and dogs adapt remarkably well to slow sight loss, but both are worth confirming with a vet.
Lens luxation is the one to treat with more urgency. It is a condition, seen in a number of terriers, where the lens slips out of its normal position, and it can come on suddenly with a painful, red, cloudy or obviously uncomfortable eye. A sudden painful eye is always a same-day vet matter, because some eye problems can cost the sight quickly if they are not treated fast. The general rule for a Border Terrier's eyes is simple: any slow cloudiness or night-time hesitancy earns a routine check, and any red, painful, weepy or suddenly cloudy eye earns an urgent one.
Teeth and weight
Dental disease. Like most small breeds, Border Terriers can suffer dental disease, because a small mouth crowds the teeth and traps plaque. Left alone it causes pain, tooth loss and infection that can affect the rest of the body. Regular tooth brushing, dental chews and professional cleans when your vet advises keep it in check, and it is one of the easiest problems to stay ahead of.
Weight. A Border Terrier that is not exercised enough will gain weight, and a fat terrier is a set-up for joint strain, a harder-working heart, and a shorter, less comfortable life. This is an energetic working breed that needs around an hour a day of walking and play, so give it the exercise it was built for and measure meals to a visible waist rather than free-feeding. In a Sydney summer, walk in the cooler hours of the early morning or evening and carry water, because heat, not cold, is the local dog-safety risk. Our Border Terrier grooming and coat care guide covers the wiry coat and skin routine alongside this.
The Sydney paralysis tick point
One health risk has nothing to do with the breed and everything to do with where you live. The paralysis tick is native to the east coast of Australia, including the coastal and bushland areas around Sydney, and its bite releases a toxin that causes an ascending paralysis which is fatal without veterinary treatment. It is a year-round risk here, not just a summer one, which matters for a game little terrier that loves nosing through bush and long grass.
The response is straightforward. Keep your Border Terrier on a vet-recommended tick prevention product every single month with no gaps, and after any walk through bush or long grass run your hands slowly over the whole dog, feeling for a lump. A Border Terrier's dense, wiry coat gives a tick good cover, so check carefully, under and inside the ear flaps, around the face and muzzle, under the collar, in the armpits and between the toes. If your dog develops a wobbly back end, a changed or weak bark, gagging, vomiting or heavy breathing, treat it as an emergency and get to a vet at once. Ask your own vet which prevention product suits your dog.
Browse adoptable Border Terriers in Sydney
Adopting an adult lets you learn a dog's health history directly, including whether it has ever had a CECS episode, with a vet check already done. Border Terriers reach rescue less often than mainstream breeds, so browse live NSW listings and set an alert to hear the moment one comes in.
See Available Border Terriers →Why adopting a Border Terrier is not a health disadvantage
People sometimes worry that a rescue dog is a health gamble next to a breeder puppy. For a hardy breed like the Border Terrier the picture is more balanced than that. A Border Terrier adopted through a reputable Sydney rescue arrives desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, treated for parasites and vet-checked, with all of it included in the fee. You are not taking on an unassessed animal.
Adopting also means the things that matter most in this breed are often known upfront. Because CECS episodes and heart murmurs tend to show themselves over time, a foster carer who has lived with the dog can tell you whether it has ever had a cramping episode, how it copes on walks, and how it has gone day to day, which is real information a puppy cannot offer. If you are weighing it up, our Border Terrier adoption guide for Sydney covers where to look and what it costs. Sydney rescues worth watching include RSPCA NSW, AWL NSW, Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, Monika's Doggie Rescue and Maggie's Rescue.
Keeping a Border Terrier healthy: the checklist
Most of what keeps a Border Terrier well is routine. This is a rugged breed, so the habits below do the heavy lifting.
- Give it real exercise. Around an hour a day of walking and play keeps a working terrier fit and holds a healthy weight, which protects joints and heart alike.
- Keep the dog lean. Measure meals to a visible waist and go easy on treats. A lean Border Terrier carries less risk of joint and heart trouble and tends to live longer.
- Learn the two episodes. Know the difference between a conscious CECS episode and a seizure with loss of consciousness, and film any episode you can to show your vet.
- Look after the teeth. Regular tooth brushing and dental checks prevent painful disease in a small, crowded mouth.
- Watch the eyes. A slow cloudiness earns a routine check, but treat any red, painful or suddenly cloudy eye as urgent.
- Book regular vet checks. Annually while adult, then twice yearly for a senior, so a heart murmur or early joint issue is caught early.
- Stay on year-round tick prevention. Use a vet-recommended product every month without a gap, because the paralysis tick on the NSW coast is a fatal risk.
When to see the vet urgently
Most Border Terrier health issues are handled at a normal appointment. A few need a faster response. Get to a vet immediately, including out of hours, if you see any of these:
- A seizure lasting more than about five minutes, or repeated seizures without full recovery in between (status epilepticus, which is life-threatening).
- A red, painful or suddenly cloudy eye, or squinting and holding an eye shut (some eye problems, including lens luxation, can cost the eye quickly).
- A wobbly back end together with a changed or weak bark, gagging, vomiting or heavy breathing (possible paralysis tick).
- Sudden collapse, fainting, or laboured breathing at rest (possible heart problem).
For the everyday things, such as a first CECS episode where the dog stayed conscious and recovered, a slow-growing cloudiness in an eye, a persistent limp, a soft cough, or steady weight gain, book a normal vet visit soon rather than waiting. Catching those early gives your Border Terrier the best outcome. When in doubt, phone your vet or a 24/7 hospital and describe what you are seeing, or show a video. They would far rather you called and it was nothing than the other way around. For a broader look at the breed before you commit, browse the full Sydney adoption resources hub, or talk to your own vet, whom the Australian Veterinary Association can help you find.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Border Terriers a healthy breed?
Yes. The Border Terrier is one of the hardier, longer-lived small breeds, and that soundness is a big part of its appeal. It was bred as a working terrier that had to keep up with hounds and go to ground after foxes, so it is a genuinely rugged little dog with fewer inherited problems than many popular breeds. That said, no breed is free of health issues. The one that is genuinely distinctive to the Border Terrier is a movement disorder called CECS, or Spike's disease. Beyond that, the breed can have occasional heart, joint and eye conditions, plus the small-dog issues of dental disease and weight gain if under-exercised. Most of it is manageable with routine vet care, a lean weight and year-round tick prevention. Border Terriers often live around 12 to 15 years.
What is CECS or Spike's disease in Border Terriers?
CECS stands for canine epileptoid cramping syndrome, also known as Spike's disease or paroxysmal gluten-sensitive dyskinesia, and it is the signature Border Terrier condition. It is a movement and cramping disorder, not epilepsy, and the key difference is that the dog stays conscious throughout. During an episode the dog has muscle cramping and tremor, difficulty standing or walking, an arched back or a staggering, drunken gait, and sometimes a gurgling tummy or exaggerated stretching. Episodes usually last from seconds to a few minutes and then resolve, with the dog fully aware the whole time. Many affected dogs improve a great deal on a change of diet, often a gluten-free one, managed with a vet. A first episode should always be checked by a vet to confirm what is going on and rule out other causes.
Is CECS the same as epilepsy?
No, CECS is not the same as epilepsy, and telling them apart matters. In a CECS episode the dog stays fully conscious and aware, the movements are cramping, tremor and difficulty walking rather than the rhythmic jerking of a seizure, and there is no loss of consciousness, no collapse into a fit, and no confused recovery afterwards. A true epileptic seizure, which Border Terriers can also have separately, usually involves loss of consciousness, collapse, paddling or jerking limbs, and often drooling or loss of bladder control, followed by a dazed recovery. Because the two look different and are managed differently, a vet needs to see or hear a clear description of an episode to diagnose it. Filming an episode on your phone, if it is safe to do so, gives your vet the single most useful piece of information.
How long do Border Terriers live?
Border Terriers often live around 12 to 15 years, which is a good long life and one of the reasons the breed is so well regarded. They are a rugged working terrier with fewer inherited problems than many small breeds, so with sensible care a Border Terrier has every chance of a long, active old age. The things that most affect a long life are within your control: keeping the dog lean and fit, staying on top of dental care, keeping up year-round paralysis tick prevention, and booking regular vet checks that become twice-yearly for a senior. Ask about the dog's health history when you adopt, and learn to recognise a CECS episode and a prolonged seizure so you know when to act.
What are the signs of a CECS episode?
The signs of a CECS episode are muscle cramping and tremor, difficulty standing or walking, an arched back, a wobbly or staggering gait, and sometimes a gurgling tummy or dramatic stretching, while the dog stays fully conscious and aware the whole time. Episodes tend to come on suddenly, last from seconds to a few minutes, then pass, leaving the dog normal again. Some owners notice a link with excitement, or after eating, though triggers vary between dogs. Because the dog does not lose consciousness, an episode is usually not an emergency, but a first one should be vet-checked to confirm the diagnosis. If you can, film an episode on your phone to show your vet, as it makes diagnosis far easier than a spoken description.
Do Border Terriers have heart problems?
Some Border Terriers do have heart conditions, so a heart check is part of good routine care in the breed. The two worth knowing are pulmonic stenosis, a narrowing that can be present from birth, and later-life valve disease, which is common in older small dogs generally. Often the first clue is a heart murmur that a vet picks up with a stethoscope during a check-up, which is one reason regular vet visits matter. Many murmurs are mild and simply monitored, while others warrant further tests such as an ultrasound of the heart. Watch at home for a soft cough, tiring more easily on walks, faster or laboured breathing at rest, or fainting, and have any of those checked. If your vet hears a murmur, ask what it means and whether a cardiac assessment is worthwhile.
Do rescue Border Terriers come health checked?
Yes. A Border Terrier adopted through a reputable Sydney rescue arrives desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, treated for worms and fleas, and vet-checked before it is listed, with all of that included in the adoption fee. Any known health issue, such as a history of CECS episodes, a heart murmur or a joint problem, is usually noted on the listing or shared by the foster carer. That is a real advantage, because a foster carer who has lived with the dog can tell you how it has been day to day, including whether it has ever had a cramping episode, which is information a puppy from a listing simply cannot offer. Border Terriers reach rescue less often than mainstream breeds, so setting an alert is the practical way to hear when one comes in.
How do I keep my Border Terrier healthy?
Keep the dog lean and fit, exercise it well, look after the teeth, stay on year-round tick prevention, and book regular vet checks. The Border Terrier is a hardy breed, so most of keeping one well is routine rather than firefighting. Give it the hour or so of daily walking and play a working terrier needs, because a fit Border Terrier holds a healthy weight and a lean dog carries less strain on joints and heart. Brush the teeth and book dental checks, since small mouths trap plaque. Keep up a vet-recommended tick prevention product every month without a gap, because the paralysis tick on the NSW coast is fatal without treatment. Learn to recognise a CECS episode and a prolonged seizure, and have any first episode, new cough, or change in the eyes checked by your vet.
Keep reading
Adoptable Border Terriers in Sydney
Live listings of Border Terriers and Border crosses across Sydney and NSW rescues.
Border Terrier Adoption in Sydney
Where to adopt a Border Terrier or Border cross, the real costs, and the terrier instincts people underestimate.
Border Terrier Grooming & Coat Care
The wiry weather-resistant coat, hand-stripping versus clipping, and keeping a working terrier tidy.
All Sydney Adoption Guides
Browse every breed and how-to guide for adopting a rescue dog in Sydney.