Thinking about taking in a bull terrier? Undoubtedly it is a good idea, it is a strong and muscular dog, which is also intelligent, brave, playful and needs the company of its human family, so much so that if they spend a lot of time alone they can end up developing stress and depression.
You should know that welcoming a dog with these characteristics requires sufficient time to train it. In addition, the responsibility of an owner is also to find out about the care that a certain canine breed needs as well as the prevention of the most characteristic diseases. To make this task easier for you, in this article on our site we talk about the most common diseases of the English bull terrier
The he alth of the English bull terrier
The average life expectancy of the English bull terrier is approximately 10 years, but it will be of great importance that they reach this age with a good quality of life, as older dogs can enjoy a he althy longevity too.
Obviously, optimal care from puppyhood to adulthood will also result in a he althier old age with fewer complications, which is why it is important to know what diseases can most frequently affect this breed of dog, to prevent them and if necessary treat them as soon as possible to improve their prognosis.
Deafness
Approximately 18% of bull terriers can be born with hearing problems, this disorder occurring more frequently in white specimens and for hereditary causes.
Deafness can affect both ears or it can be unilateral, in the event that it is unilateral, the dog will be able to lead a normal life without major complications, although always with a veterinary follow-up specifically adapted to its state of he alth and needs.
Before adopting your bull terrier you must ask the kennel for the certificate confirming that the BAER test has been carried outat five weeks of age. age. The BAER test consists of auditorily stimulating the dog with sounds while evaluating the brain's response to these stimuli. This test is essential for bull terriers as it is also the only 100% reliable test capable of determining a dog's deafness and its degree of severity.
Kidney conditions
This breed of dog is especially predisposed to kidney problems, since in some lines it is clearly seen as the kidney develops in insufficient proportions, obtaining a very small organ and therefore may lose functionality.
The bull terrier can develop kidney failure, in this case his kidney will not filter the blood properly and this will lead to an accumulation of toxins in the whole organism. This situation requires specific treatment and adequate nutrition.
Another of the most characteristic kidney conditions in the bull terrier is polycystic kidney syndrome or polycystic kidney disease. In this case, the pathology can be so serious that it leads the animal directly to kidney failure, with the consequent risk to the entire organism.
To detect kidney problems like the above as soon as possible, it is recommended that once a year a simple urine test be performed to measure the proteins present in this fluid to determine kidney functionality.
Patella dislocation
In this condition the kneecap slips out of place,causing symptoms such as pain when moving, lameness and weakness. It originates during the development and growth of the dog due to poor alignment of the limb. The impossibility of adequate development of the patella may be due to a hereditary problem or to trauma, therefore, it will be essential to control the amount and type of physical exercise that our bull terrier performs throughout its different life stages.
In most cases this pathology requires a surgical intervention and it is very important to go to the vet if we notice in our pet any of the symptoms that we have shown above, as this will prevent the aggravation of the disorder and facilitate the response to treatment.
Heart problems
Among the most common heart diseases in the bull terrier are, mainly, aortic stenosis and mitral valve dysplasia. If aortic stenosis occurs, the outflow of the heart's left ventricle is narrowed, this flow obstruction implies a very high pressure for the ventricle that ends up hypertrophic, that is, increasing its size. This pathology affects the heart's own circulation (coronary circulation) and can generate areas with ischemia (where the heart tissue is not nourished, since the blood does not reach it), as well as syncope and sudden death.
In the case of mitral valve dysplasia, the defect is located in the left valve that separates the ventricle from the atrium. In this case, the blood flow returns to the left atrium, which translates into an increase in the workload that the heart must bear to maintain blood circulation.
In both cases the treatment will be pharmacological, but it should also be aimed at changing the dog's diet and controlling the physical efforts.
Skin allergies
The bull terrier has a tendency to develop skin problems associated with allergic reactions. To the bite of a mosquito or a flea, it can respond in a generalized way with itching, rash and inflammation.
Depending on the degree of allergic response, the veterinarian will recommend one treatment or another, using topical antihistamines in the mildest cases and oral cortisone in the most severe cases to reduce the activation of the system immune system and the release of histamine, the substance that causes the manifestation of the allergy.
Obviously, when dealing with a bull terrier, we should always apply topical products that are suitable for dogs and that, moreover, are specially formulated for hypersensitive skin.
