American Pit Bull Terrier Health Problems and Raising an American Pit Bull Terrier Puppy to be Healthy

How To Raise a Healthy Dog
Feeding the Best Dog Foods
Vaccinations: Needed or Not?
Spaying and Neutering: Pros and Cons

The most common health problems in American Pit Bull Terriers:

Though many breeders pretend it isn't so, hip dysplasia is a serious problem in Pit Bulls. The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of 480 Pit Bulls and found 22% dysplastic. That's an extremely high rates for a medium-sized dog – in comparison, the hip dysplasia rate in English Bull Terriers is 7%.

Elbow dysplasia is another serious problem. Over 100 X-rays of Pit Bull elbows were examined and 14% were dysplastic – the 15th worst rate of 82 breeds. Compare it to Boxers, who have a 0% elbow dysplasia rate.

Other orthopedic diseases in the Pit Bull are luxating patella and osteochondritis.

According to the Michigan State University Thyroid Database, American Pit Bull Terriers have the 4th highest rate of hypothyroidism of 140 breeds (up to 25% of Pit Bulls are affected).

Heart disease (especially subaortic stenosis, but also cardiomyopathy) is occurring more frequently in the American Pit Bull Terrier.

Skin problems are very common, including allergies that cause itchy skin and can lead to bacterial skin infections (pyoderma). Demodectic mange in Pit Bull Terrier puppies and adolescents is very common. Tumors and cancer (especially mast cell tumors) are serious concerns.

Eye diseases include progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cataracts, and entropion.

Inherited deafness can occur in Pit Bull puppies with a lot of white on their head.

Can you prevent health problems from happening to YOUR American Pit Bull Terrier?

Yes, often you can.

1. Some health problems are genetic, which means inherited from parents. Genetic health issues are common in American Pit Bull Terriers today because of unwise breeding practices. My book, Dog Quest: Find The Dog Of Your Dreams, shows you how to find an American Pit Bull Terrier puppy who is genetically healthy.
2. Other health problems are environmental – caused by the way you raise your dog. My best-selling dog health book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to prevent environmental health problems by raising your American Pit Bull Terrier puppy (or adult dog) in all the right ways.

Here are my dog health tips for raising a healthy American Pit Bull Terrier puppy or adult dog:

How To Raise a Healthy Dog – My Philosophies
Read my advice on sensible feeding and health care so that your American Pit Bull Terrier lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet. An excellent goal, yes?

The Best Dog Food For Feeding Your American Pit Bull Terrier
The best diet for feeding your Pit Bull Terrier is real food. Real chicken, turkey, beef, bison, venison, fish....This is not "people food" and I'll tell you why.

The Second-Best Dog Food For Your American Pit Bull Terrier
If you can't (or won't) feed what your Pit Bull really needs, the best I can do is to point out what to look for – and look out for – when choosing a brand of kibble or canned dog food.

Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not?
How many vaccinations does your American Pit Bull Terrier puppy really need? Does your adult Pit Bull Terrier need yearly booster shots? The vaccination guidelines have changed. Find out what many vets aren't telling you.

The Type of Veterinarian I Recommend
Does your veterinarian belong to the AVMA or the AHVMA? They're not the same at all, and which one you choose can make a world of difference to the future health of your American Pit Bull Terrier.

Spaying and Neutering: Pros and Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of spaying your female American Pit Bull Terrier or neutering your male.

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