Are you considering getting a Bull Terrier as a pet? Bull Terriers are robust, muscular dogs noted for being fearless, clever, and sociable. Taking in a Bull Terrier necessitates the availability of time to properly train them. As the owner, it is also your job to educate yourself about the breed’s special needs, including the most frequent illnesses.

The Bull Terrier is generally healthy, however, heart illness, deafness, luxating patella, and eye abnormalities like ectropion and keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or dry eye, have been found in the breed. Bull Terriers are prone to allergies, which can result in skin irritation and secondary illnesses, such as ear infections.

Here’s a detailed article on Bull Terrier health issues and what you can do to keep your canine companion happy and healthy.

5 Common Health Problems That Bull Terriers Are Prone To

The most common health problems for this breed of dogs include:

1. Deafness:

Deafness in Bull Terriers has been documented since the breed’s beginnings. According to recent research in the United States, up to 18 percent of white Bull Terriers may have hearing problems, For many years, it was assumed that hereditary deafness only afflicted White Bull Terriers. However, it is now recognized that colored Bull Terriers can be affected as well, albeit this is significantly less common, with studies in the United States showing that less than 2% of colored are affected. Deafness can affect one or both ears.

Fortunately, Bull Terriers can now be tested electronically to see how well they can hear. The Brain Auditory Evoked Response Test may be performed on puppies as young as 5 weeks old and is a relatively basic and uncomplicated process.

2. Kidney Disease:

Kidney Failure in Bull Terriers has been recognized as a concern for many years, much like deafness. It can strike at any point in a dog’s life, and it frequently leads to the animal’s premature and sad death. There is little that can be done once an animal has been diagnosed with kidney failure because there is no cure, although specific veterinarian diets may assist to prolong an animal’s quality of life if the condition is detected early enough.

A disorder called “Polycystic Kidneys” has just been discovered. This condition may be detected by an ultrasound examination of the kidneys, but the prognosis is the same.

3. Patella Luxation:

The canine patella is the canine homologue of the human knee joint. It’s about halfway up and in front of the dog’s hind leg. Patella Luxation occurs when the groove in the knee joint is not deep enough to keep the patella in place, allowing it to slide out to either side.

This can be very painful for the animal, who may limp or “hop” on the afflicted limb. This problem can be corrected by surgery to “deepen” the grove, but this is a costly procedure that should only be performed by a professional veterinarian and can often lead to arthritis.

4. Heart Disease:

Bull Terriers have been found to be prone to heart disease in varying degrees. This generally causes a constriction of the arteries or a failure of the heart valves to seal correctly. Heart attacks can occur in affected animals, and additional symptoms include lack of movement and shortness of breath.

A veterinarian can typically identify these problems with a simple stethoscope, but it is advised that animals that will be bred from be checked by a qualified veterinary cardiologist, who will be able to rate the severity of the murmur and offer a certificate to that effect.

Some Bull Terriers may have a heart murmur for the rest of their life with no negative effects. Puppies often have a murmur when they are young that goes away as they get older, thus breeding animals should have their heart examined when they are at least one year old before breeding.

5. Skin Problems:

Skin issues in Bull Terriers are possibly the most frequent disease. They generally appear to be allergy-related and might be seasonal. The symptoms can range from minor rashes and patches to other disorders, which, if left untreated, can result in full hair loss and the formation of Rhino-like hard skin. Even while the disease is rarely lethal, it can cause significant discomfort and itching.

Because skin rashes can readily get infectious, they should be treated as soon as possible.

What Is The Lifespan Of A Bull Terrier?

The Bull Terrier has an average life expectancy of 10 to 14 years.

How to Keep Your Bull Terrier Healthy?

Much of what you can do to keep your dog happy and healthy is common sense. But sometimes they need a little extra care. Here are some tips on how to keep your Bull Terrier healthy:

• Keep an eye on their diet and nutrition.
• Make sure they get plenty of exercises.
• Wash their coat and groom them on a regular basis.
• Call your vet or a pet emergency hospital if anything appears out of the ordinary
• Follow all the checkups and vaccine plans that your vet proposes for them.

You can also sign up for pet health insurance for your pet. Throughout their life, they will almost probably require medical tests and operations, and pet health insurance can assist you in covering those costs.

Conclusion

Bull Terriers are active, but they have a lot of health problems. The most common health problems for these dogs are ear infections, skin allergies, kidney disorders, and heart diseases. Make sure your Bull Terrier follows a healthy lifestyle and provide them with proper nutrition so they will be able to stay fit.

Thank you for reading the article.

Here are other articles on Bull Terriers if you’re interested to know more about the breed.

What health problems have your Bull Terriers suffered from? Let us know in the comments!