American Staffordshire Terrier Health Care & Feeding
By Michele Welton, Dog Trainer, Breed Selection Consultant, Author of 15 Dog Books
Start your American Staffordshire 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
American Staffordshire Terrier Health Problems
Or check out my advice for raising a healthy American Staffordshire puppy or adult dog:
Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way
Read my advice on daily health care so your American Staffordshire Terrier lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet... [read more]
3 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 American Staffordshire are... [read more]
A Quick Way To Make Homemade Dog Food
Your American Staffordshire 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]
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]
Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not?
How many vaccinations does your American Staffordshire 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]
Spaying Your Female Dog: Pros and Cons
Should your female Staffordshire 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]
Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons
Have you been told that you must neuter your male Staffordshire? 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]
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 Review
Does your AmStaff 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]
Complete list of American Staffordshire Terrier health problems
Though many breeders pretend it isn't so, hip dysplasia is a major problem.
The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of 3300 American Staffordshire Terriers and found 26% dysplastic. That's just terrible.
Elbow dysplasia is another serious problem. Over 900 X-rays of American Staffordshire elbows were examined and 17% were dysplastic – the 11th worst rate of 82 breeds.
Other orthopedic diseases that occur in the AmStaff are luxating patella and osteochondritis.
According to the Michigan State University Thyroid Database, American Staffordshire Terriers have the 18th highest rate of hypothyroidism of 140 breeds (up to 20% affected).
Heart disease (especially subaortic stenosis, but also cardiomyopathy) is occurring more frequently in AmStaffs.
Skin problems are common in American Staffordshires, especially allergies that cause itchy skin and can lead to bacterial skin infections (pyoderma).
Demodectic mange is very common in American Staffordshire Terrier puppies and teenage dogs.
Tumors (especially mast cell tumors) and cancer are a big concern in the AmStaff.
Serious eye diseases in the breed are progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cataracts, and entropion.
Inherited deafness can occur in American Staffordshire 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.
But most health problems can be prevented by the ways you raise your dog.
My best-selling book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to raise your American Staffordshire Terrier in all the right ways that help prevent health problems. Become your dog's health care champion!
About 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.
To help you train and care for your dog
Dog training videos. Sometimes it's easier to train your puppy (or adult dog) when you can see the correct training techniques in action.
The problem is that most dog training videos on the internet are worthless, because they use the wrong training method. I recommend these dog training videos that are based on respect and leadership.
Respect Training For Puppies: 30 seconds to a calm, polite, well-behaved puppy. For puppies 2 to 18 months old. Your puppy will learn the 21 skills that all family dogs need to know.
Respect Training For Adult Dogs: 30 seconds to a calm, polite, well-behaved dog. Again your dog will learn the 21 skills that all family dogs need to know.
Teach 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.11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy helps your dog live a longer, healthier life.
Dog Quest: Find The Dog Of Your Dreams will help you find a good-tempered, healthy family companion.