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American Pit Bull Terrier Health Care & Feeding

By Michele Welton, Dog Trainer, Breed Selection Consultant, Author of 15 Dog Books

American Pit Bull Terrier

Start your Pit Bull Terrier off on the right foot by feeding the right food, giving the right vaccinations, finding the right vet, and if you're going to spay or neuter, don't do it too early.


Jump down to this list of
Pit Bull Terrier Health Problems


Or check out my advice for raising a healthy American Pit Bull Terrier puppy or adult dog:

Obedience instructor and author Michele Welton Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way
Read my advice on daily health care so your Pit Bull Terrier lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet... [read more]

numeral 33 Best Ways To Feed Your Dog Healthy Food
You can dramatically increase your dog's chances of living a long, healthy life by feeding the right food. Cutting right to the chase, the best foods for your Pit Bull Terrier are... [read more]

Real homemade dog food A Quick Way To Make Homemade Dog Food
Your Pit Bull Terrier will love real chicken, turkey, beef, fish, eggs, yogurt, broccoli.... this is not just "people food" and I'll tell you why... [read more]

Dry kibble and canned dog food 5 Best Kibble and Canned Dog Foods
Some are better than others, but I must be honest – I'm not a huge fan of dry or canned dog food. Here are my concerns... [read more]

Information on booster shots for your German Shepherd. Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not?
How many vaccinations does your American Pit Bull Terrier puppy really need? Does your adult dog need yearly booster shots? The vaccination guidelines have changed! Find out what some vets aren't telling you... [read more]

Information on spaying Spaying Your Female Dog: Pros and Cons
Should your female Pit Bull Terrier be spayed? Current research says, "The AGE at which you spay can be vitally important to your dog's future health." So what's the best age? [read more]

Information on neutering your male dog. Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons
Have you been told that you must neuter your male Pit Bull? Current research shows that the issue is not so simple. Pet owners are not being told about some risks associated with neutering male dogs, especially neutering too early... [read more]

Information on choosing the best vet Make Sure Your Vet is the Best!
Is your current veterinarian really the best choice for your dog? Here's how to tell... [read more]

Assisi Loop Assisi Loop Review
Does your Pit Bull suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia, disk disease, colitis? My honest review of a veterinary device you can use at home to reduce inflammation and pain. [read more]

American Pit Bull Terrier

Complete list of American Pit Bull Terrier health problems

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 888 Pit Bulls and found 24% dysplastic. That's an extremely high rate for a medium-sized dog.

Elbow dysplasia is another serious problem. Over 300 X-rays of Pit Bull Terrier elbows were examined and 16% were dysplastic.

Other orthopedic diseases in the Pit Bull are luxating patella (loose knee joints) 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 diseases (especially subaortic stenosis, but also cardiomyopathy) are 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.

The major eye diseases are progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cataracts, and entropion.

Inherited deafness can occur in Pit Bull Terriers.

Preventing health problems

Some health problems are inherited. For example, if your dog inherits from his parents the genes for an eye disease called PRA, he will go blind and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

Dog feeding and health book by Michele Welton But most health problems can be prevented by the ways you raise your dog.

FREE eBOOK! My free online health care program, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to raise your American Pit Bull Terrier in all the right ways that help prevent health problems. Become your dog's health care champion!

Michele Welton with BuffyAbout the author: Michele Welton has over 40 years of experience as a Dog Trainer, Dog Breed Consultant, and founder of three Dog Training Centers. An expert researcher and author of 15 books about dogs, she loves helping people choose, train, and care for their dogs.

My best-selling books – now available  FREE  on my website


book coverRespect Training For Puppies: 30 seconds to a calm, polite, well-behaved puppy is for puppies 2 to 18 months old. Your puppy will learn the 21 skills that all family dogs need to know. Click here to read for free.
book coverTeach Your Dog 100 English Words is a unique Vocabulary and Respect Training Program that will teach your adult dog to listen to you and do what you say. Click here to read for free.
book cover11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy helps your dog live a longer, healthier life. Get my honest advice about all 11 Things before you bring home your new puppy, because some mistakes with early health care cannot be undone. Click here to read for free.