Health Concerns in American Bulldogs

Article Written By: CamilleGoldin

American bulldogs tend to be healthy in general, but some diseases and disorders have been found in the breed.

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, or NCL, is caused by faulty fat and protein storage, which affects the nervous system. It can first be noticed when the dog is a puppy or young adult. It begins with the rear legs showing a wide-based stance, and progresses until it effects the same wide stance in the front legs. Sometimes the dog is observed to twitch in its sleep. As the disease progresses the dog has trouble standing up.

It is believed not to cause pain, although some suggest that American bulldogs are simply too stoic to express pain. The condition is inherited as an autosomal recessive, meaning that either gender can inherit the disease, and parents do not necessarily have to have the disease to pass it on; both parents only have to have one gene for it. A DNA test is available to check for NCL.

Ichthyosis is a disease that makes the skin dry and scaly, causing dogs to scratch their skin a great deal. It cannot be cured but can be controlled with special shampoos and oils that can be applied to dogs the skin. A genetic test has been developed at the University of Pennsylvania.

Some of the tears in dogs eyes are formed by the Hardarian gland, which in some breeds, including American bulldogs, can become dislodged and appear like a cherry in the dog s eye. Surgery can usually place the gland back where it belongs permanently.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a dog s leg corresponds to a ligament in human beings knees, and is the one most commonly torn in dogs. A tear can cause the dog to limp, but fortunately surgery can restore the leg to its full function.

Hip dysplasia is caused when the thighbone does not fit properly into the hipbone. It can be painful and debilitating. It is a disorder to which some American bulldogs are prone, but genetics is not the only cause. It is thought that feeding a high quality, high protein dog food with vitamin C to American bulldog puppies can reduce their chances of having hip dysplasia.

Elbow dysplasia can be caused when the cartilage or bones of the elbows do not develop normally. It can be painful and cause a limp. As is the cause with hip dysplasia, genetics and feeding can both play a part, and American bulldogs should not be overfed, since being overweight can be one cause of the disorder. Treatment with surgery or anti-inflammatory drugs can work well if the condition is caught early.

Entropion can affect the eyes of American bulldogs, causing the eyelashes to be turned inward. This can cause irritation and eye infections. Ectropion is the opposite condition; the eyelashes are turned outward. It, too, can lead to irritation of the eyes, as they are not well protected. Both conditions can be corrected surgically.

Bone cancer in dogs usually occurs in the limbs. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are all available.

About the Author

Camille Goldin, talks about the various health concerns of an American BullDogs. She writes for TrainPetDog.com, a website that gives information on different breeds of Dogs .

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