Understanding Pit Bull Health: Common Concerns and Vigilance
Pit Bulls are not a specific breed, but an amalgamation of a variety of mixed breed dogs with similar physical characteristics. While mixed breeding and the diversity of a Pit Bull’s lineage often provides some protection against certain genetic disorders commonly found in purebred dogs, Pit Bulls may still be afflicted with a few health concerns.
The most common health issues seen in Pit Bulls include:
- Skin disorders typically related to allergies
- Knee Injuries
- Hip Dysplasia
- Heart Disease
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of regular vet visits for your Pit Bull to ensure early detection of health issues. Your vet can also offer advice on integrating preventive health measures in your Pit Bull’s daily care routine.
Navigating Pit Bull Allergies: Symptoms, Prevention, and Management
The most common allergens affecting Pit Bulls are food, environmental, and seasonal.
Pit Bulls tend to have a healthy appetite, but allergies can arise even when feeding your Pit Bull the healthiest of diets. Most Pit Bull food allergies are related to consumption of a specific protein. A certain protein may provoke an overactive immune response in your Pit Bull, aka, an allergy.
Environmental and seasonal allergies may include mosquito or tick bites, fleas, mold, pollen or dust.
Symptoms of allergies in Pit Bulls are similar to human symptoms and can include:
- Rash
- Inflamed skin
- Excessive itching and scratching
- Hives
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Multiple ear infections
If any of these symptoms present themselves, it is a sign that you need to take your Pit Bull to the vet.
Allergies can be treated by your vet with a variety of methods, depending upon the allergen. For example, hives are typically treated with antihistamines or cortisone shots. Food allergies are most commonly identified by elimination proteins in your dog’s diet, and then reintroducing them, one at a time, to identify your dog’s specific allergy. Your vet may also recommend omega-3 fatty acid supplements. For skin allergies, anti-inflammatory wipes or a medicated shampoo are most commonly prescribed.
There are ways to minimize the risk of certain allergies. These include feeding your Pit Bull a vet-recommended diet, use of a hypoallergenic shampoo, and keeping your Pit Bull current on all flea, tick and heartworm medications.
Managing Orthopedic and Cardiac Issues in Pit Bulls
Hip dysplasia is common in Pit Bulls. It is an inherited disease that causes a Pit Bull’s hip joints to form improperly and usually leads to arthritis. Symptoms of dysplasia include limping on the hind legs, lameness, and trouble going up and down stairs. These are all signs that you need to get your Pit Bull to the vet for a thorough exam. Dysplasia is a chronic disease with no cure, but early detection can make treatment more effective. There are surgical and non-surgical treatment options. Surgery has its own risks, particularly for older Pit Bulls, it can be very expensive, and post-surgical rehabilitation may be long and arduous. Non-surgical options include physical therapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Pit Bulls are also susceptible to a torn knee ligament. Being muscular, active dogs, they can often put a strain on their cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), similar to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in humans. This strain can lead to a tear of the ligament. Many vets will recommend surgery, which is expensive and requires a long recuperation period. Non-surgical options may include massage or water therapy, canine chiropractic, and acupuncture. It is best to discuss all treatment options with your vet. It is also important to note a grim statistic. 60% of Pit Bulls with a torn CCL will eventually injure the other knee due to favoring their injured joint and their typically high activity levels.
Congenital Heart Disease is another common inherited condition found in some Pit Bulls. The most common form of heart disease is aortic stenosis which is caused by the formation of fibrous tissues in the subaortic region with the heart. Early symptoms may include lethargy, difficulty breathing, and coughing. If your Pit Bull shows any of these symptoms, it is important to schedule a vet visit as soon as possible. Your vet can diagnose aortic stenosis with chest x-rays and/or electrocardiography (ECG). In mild cases, treatment may not be required, but it is important for your vet to monitor this condition over time for signs of progression. In more severe cases, medication may be required. Pit Bulls with mild aortic stenosis can live a normal lifespan, so early detection is imperative.
One final note, treatment for some congenital issues in Pit Bulls can be very expensive. I recommend looking into pet insurance which can provide significant financial support in the event an expensive medical procedure is required for your Pit Bull. Insurance financial support can also provide some comfort when it comes to difficult future care decisions for your pet.
