Health Issues Seen In Bull Breed Dogs

There are quite a few bull breed dogs around which includes the Staffordshire Bull Terrier amongst others. Some of these dogs have earned themselves a bit of a bad reputation with certain breeds now being banned in many countries including the UK as a result.

A lot of the "Bull" breeds are prone to suffer from certain health conditions some of which are genetic whereas other are acquired. These disorders are worth knowing about especially if you are thinking about sharing your home with one of these dogs. The earlier a health issue is detected, the better the outcome tends to be. On top of this, the sooner your dog is treated the quicker they are made more comfortable.

Below is a list of conditions commonly seen in the Bull breeds which if caught early enough are that much easier for vets to treat.

Mange

This is a skin condition that's caused by mites that live in a dog's hair follicles. If left untreated the infestation just gets worse and worse. However, the condition can also be connected to a dog's immune system which means they may be suffering from some other form of health issue that's triggered the condition.

Signs your dog may be suffering from mange include the following:

• Itchy, scratchy skin


• Bald patches appear on their coats which can easily spread over their entire body


• Skin may look red and sore especially around your dog's eyes and feet

Treatment for Mange

If you suspect your dog has mange, you need to get them along to the vet as soon as you can so they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. A vet would need to take skin samples to establish if it is indeed mange but it is a very easy procedure because the mites can be seen under a microscope.

However, mange can sometimes be a tricky condition to treat and vets normally like to use a topical medication to begin with. This has has to be applied to a dog's skin as needed. If however, mange has really taken hold, you might need to give your dog a weekly bath using a veterinary prescribed medicated shampoo.

Mange is a nasty condition that's easily transmitted between dogs. In short, you should never leave this condition untreated

Damage Ligaments

Bull breeds also tend to suffer from ligament damage more especially around their knee joints. It's thought this is an hereditary disorder that's passed down to puppies from their parents, but it can be due to normal wear and tear on the ligaments too.

Signs to watch out when a dogs may be suffering from a damaged ligament includes the following:

• Dogs are often quite lame


• Dogs sometimes don't want to put their paw to the ground often walking on three legs


• They tend to be quieter than usual and unwilling to go out for a walk


• The affected knee may be painful to the touch

Treatments

If you are at all concerned your dog has a damaged ligament, you would need to get them along to see a vet as soon as you can for them to be thoroughly examined. A dog with this condition would need to be put on immediate rest until the results of an X-ray can be examined. If necessary, dogs might need to undergo surgery to correct the problem and would therefore need to be hospitalised.

Ear Problems

Bull breeds are also quite susceptible to ear infections because all too often their inner ear canals are a lot narrower than in other breeds which means they don't drain as well. These narrower ear canals also provide the ideal breeding ground for many bacteria which is another reason "bulls" often suffer from ear issues.

Signs to Watch Out For

There are some pretty obvious signs to watch out for when a dog has an ear infection which includes a rather nasty smell coming from affected ears. Other signs include the following;

• Itchy ears


• Shaking their heads continually


• Ears might be red and sore looking


• There could be a nasty build up of brown gunk that starts to seep out of their ears


• There could be a yellowish coloured discharge coming from affected ears


• Ears can often appear "crusty"


• Dogs often don't like it when their ears are touched when they have an infection

Treating Ear Infections

It's always best to seek veterinary advice if your dog develops an ear infection because if caught early enough, they are so much easier to treat. Naturally, this makes life a lot more comfortable for dogs too which is essential to their well-being.

Vets normally prescribe ear drops which are a very effective at getting rid of ear mites. However, if the infection is really bad, the vet might need to sedate your dog in order to thoroughly clean their ears which they typically do by flushing them with a specific ear medication.