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Breeding Blue APBT's
The modern American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) can trace its roots back to England and the early 19th century. Crosses between "bully" type dogs and terriers eventually produced the modern APBT. Although not recognized as a "breed" and much smaller than the modern APBT, the early "bulldogs" were used as working dogs, controlling unruly bulls for butchers as well as farmers.
These "bulldogs" resembled, phenotypically, the modern APBT but were considerably smaller, weighing in at 15-30lbs. The courage and tenacity that made these dogs good at corralling dangerous bulls made them great at the blood sport of bull baiting.
The year 1835 saw the end of deadly bull baiting (countless thousands of dogs lost their lives to this "sport") and the emergence of an even more sinister blood sport - dog fighting.
To understand the American Pit Bull Terrier, it is imperative to understand the breed’s fighting origins.
The lower class had used blood sports as an outlet for their frustration and aggression towards the monarchy - pit fighting was, in essence, an outcry and an outlet for that aggression. Dogs were bred to be courageous, utterly devoid of pain sensations (they, no doubt, felt pain but were bred and encouraged not to express that pain), tenacious and determined.
A quality that was never bred into them was human aggression. Human "aggressive" (aggression may not be the most appropriate term, it is more likely that these dogs simply had a lower bite threshold) dogs were undesirable as these dogs required extensive handling prior and during their fights - most of theses dogs were also family pets so no human "aggression" was ever tolerated.
Dogs that exhibited human "aggression" were typically killed, meaning that only human friendly lines were perpetuated and desired. It is highly unlikely, however, that these culled dogs were naturally more aggressive towards humans than their bred counterparts but their bite threshold may have been much lower meaning that it did not take much for them to turn around and bite their handler. Animals were bred for an increased bite threshold, as far as humans and only humans were concerned, which decreased the likelihood of humans becoming victims of dog bites.
In 1898, Chauncy Bennet formed the UKC, a breed registry aimed solely at the registration and acceptance of pitbulls. The AKC had wanted nothing to do with pitbulls, so Bennet sought to create an organization that would represent the breed as performance dogs. Mr. Bennet added "American" and initially dropped "Pit" from the APBT’s name but public outcry let to "Pit" being added back to the name - thus the American Pit Bull Terrier.
For a pitbull to be accepted into the UKC the dog had to have won three fights - a requirement that was later dropped. Another registry that was started solely for APBT’s, the American Dog Breeders Association was born in 1909. The ADBA was started by Guy McCord who was a close friend of one of the founding fathers of the modern APBT, John P. Colby. The ADBA was created to test the performance quality of a APBT without actual pit fighting; the ADBA’s main focus was on weight pulling competitions with a spattering of conformation shows.
The AKC decided to register Pit Bulls but under a different name - the Staffordshire Terrier, which was later changed to the American Staffordshire Terrier in 1972, or AST. Up until 1936, Pit Bulls and AST’s were physically identical. After 1936, AST’s were bred solely for conformation and their breed requirements became much more stringent. APBT’s were being bred for both performance (fighting) as well as conformation shows and the breed’s standard became much more lenient. The AST’s, phenotypically, became "flashier" with blockier heads, larger chests and a thicker jaw while the APBT’s varied phenotypically from lanky to stocky. Although the phenotypic expression varied in the APBT, relative weight, size and proportion remained constant and dogs over 60lbs were rarely seen. Both AST’s and APBT’s were bred to be exceptionally sturdy and extremely human friendly, not to mention athletic, courageous
The 1980’s saw an upsurge in the popularity of American Pit Bull Terriers as "guard" dogs for drug dealers and also as an expression of ego or "manhood" for street kids. Thus, it began - the production of disproportionately large "Pit Bulls". For all intensive purposes, these were not (and still are not!) true American Pit Bull Terriers - lines of American Bulldog, Cane Corso’s and other molosser breeds were incorporated into the APBT’s lineage to produce massive brutes. In some cases, a large APBT pup was born and was overused as a stock breeder, thus producing highly inbred dogs with serious behavioral issues. It is a myth that an APBT can weigh 80lbs or more - those are not true Pit Bulls and if a pedigree was attained, at some point, there would be molosser (mastiff) blood added or the dog would have come from highly inbred lines.
The majority of APBT breeders scoffed at these "bigger but not necessarily better" lines of dogs (I say majority as the minority would be the people who are actually breeding larger dogs).
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Even "professional" (I use that term loosely) dogmen/women (those who fight dogs) were horrified to see the onslaught of massive hulks, for in the pit ring/box, bigger does not mean better performance.
Today, the vast majority of APBT’s do not get over 60lbs (and this is true for AST’s) and the vast majority are household pets. Unfortunately, a minority of Pit Bulls are poorly socialized, chained, abused, neglected or allowed to roam free and inevitably attack a living creature, typically a child. As with any breed of dog, it is imperative for owners to properly socialize their dogs and that means exposing them to everything imaginable: from young to old children, from the elderly to the wheelchair bound, from umbrellas to kites, etc.
Dogs should never be chained outside or left outside in the backyard for most of the day as that is simply creating a dangerous dog by circumstance. The APBT’s that have attacked have ALL been poorly socialized, under trained, and neglected - they never learned appropriate behavioral skills to cope with the outside world. All that these dogs had were the poor social skills that only a chained or neglected dog can receive; since they were never taught to suppress some of their predatory instincts, these dogs inevitably hear a screaming child and see the child running and instinct takes over.
APBT’s are no more or less difficult than any other dog to train or socialize. Owners most certainly need to understand the dog fighting history and take necessary precautions by ensuring early socialization with other dogs and monitoring of their interactions with other dogs. And even with extensive socialization, some APBT’s may never become comfortable around other dogs, so each dog should be treated as an individual with careful consideration. By their very nature, APBT’s strive to be around humans - centuries of breeding have seen to that. They need a kind heart AND a kind hand - physical reprimands are useless and ineffective for any dog and should rarely, if ever, be employed.
APBT’s have been used by the FDA and USDA for sniffing out bombs and drugs and have been used by the military as well as police forces. APBT’s have also been used as therapy and service dogs; in fact, the first certified hearing dog in Alaska was an APBT. APBT’s are great at weight pulling as well as agility, schutzhund, obedience and carting. As far as temperament is concerned, APBT’s have consistently scored an 82% and higher on the American Temperament Test Society’s evaluation, higher than Goldens, German Shepherds and most other breeds. With socialization, training and a kind hand - APBT’s are wonderful companions for all walks of life: from families to single individuals, from joggers to apartment dwellers, and onward.
Can Pit Bulls get along with other dogs and can I take them to the dog park? There are some Pit Bull owners out there who answer a vehement NO! I happen to disagree. Any dog can be trained to tolerate the presence of another dog and ALL dogs should be socialized around other dogs. All well socialized dogs should be comfortable meeting and interacting with new dogs. Owners of multiple dogs should never leave their dogs unattended and alone together as behavioral cues may escalate causing a full-blown fight while the owner is gone. Understanding the cues of other dogs is imperative for an APBT to learn and that should be provided as often and as much as an owner can.
Unaltered Dogs
If a dog is left intact (not neutered), male-male aggression may be inevitable but this is not unique to the APBT.
A male, unneutered APBT would do best with females or neutered male dogs and a male, un-neutered dog APBT (and most other male, un-neutered dogs!) should not be brought to the dog park or allowed around other un-neutered males.
Unspayed females tend to be more aggressive to other unspayed females, learn the behavior of the dog and avoid the dog park where there is a chance of other un-neutered males or unspayed females being present. Some APBT’s are only aggressive towards same sized, same sexed dogs while others are only aggressive towards other APBT’s - again, intense training can teach the dog how to tolerate other dogs; however, even with the tolerance level increased, this APBT should not be brought to the dog park as it can be even more stressful for the dog to be forced around other dogs.
My Pit Bull goes to the dog park and does fine - the dog park is a great way for a dog to learn proper social interactions and generally have a fun time. If a dog park feels unsafe (or you, the owner, feels uncomfortable), find some doggie friends and let them go off leash in a safe environment (like an enclosed backyard - NEVER let your APBT’s off leash in an unenclosed area if they are not comfortable around unknown dogs).
Responsible Pit Bull Ownership
Every Pit Bull owner’s motto should be "My Pit Bull may not start a fight, but will not hesitate to finish it". This simply means that, as a responsible dog owner, all of your dog’s interactions should be monitored and if things seem to be getting out of hand, simply leash your dog and have others do the same, giving every dog a timeout. This has never happened with my APBT but I always keep a close eye on her antics, so to speak. I also have spent considerable time intensely socializing and training her.
Socialization Is Essential
I think the biggest problem with many Pit Bull owners is that they hide their dogs away from the world - it should never be shocking, then, that these poorly socialized dogs end up attacking another dog. The owner goes away thinking, "I knew he was dog aggressive" when it was really the owners fault for not properly socializing their dog. Every APBT owner should be responsible with their dog and take every precaution to prevent any type of agonistic encounter, but hiding the dog away will not help. The dog park may not be the best place for every APBT out there and each individual dog’s personality and tolerance level should be taken into consideration.
However, this is true of ANY and all dogs - there are plenty of Jack Russell Terriers who are also more than willing to "end" a fight as well as start one, that makes them no more or less aggressive than an APBT. Those who would argue that the APBT has a stronger bite are treading on thin ice - a puncture wound, regardless of how big or large, can kill a dog and the vast majority of breeds out there are much larger, some even more muscular, than an APBT and can inflict just as much, if not more, damage than an APBT ever could.
Cautious, not anal retentive or restrictive, is how every Pit Bull owner should be. Owners should be cautious around new dogs and new situations but should also allow their dog time to adjust and investigate. Owners should also be cautious around the ages of 1-3 as that is when hormones are at their peak and the likelihood of dog-dog aggression is highest. If a dog cannot properly interact with other dogs - that dog needs remedial training and socialization to at least tolerate other dogs; this does not mean the APBT has to like other dogs but must act in an appropriate manner. Physical Appearance
General Appearance - the APBT is a medium sized breed with a solid build, sleek and short coat and with appropriate muscling.
Color - any color and pattern is acceptable.
Weight: Bitches - 30-50lbs Dogs - 35-60lbs. Larger and smaller dogs are accepted as long as they are not disproportionately large or small (so those 100lb brutes would definitely be disproportionate and inadmissible to a UKC show ring).
Height: 17-23 inches (for both dogs and bitches).
Ears: both cropped and uncropped are accepted by the UKC and ADBA.
The following people have all had Pit Bulls in their lives: Linda Blair, Rosie Perez, Alicia Silverstone, Sinbad, Kelli Williams, Usher, Jon Stewart, Helen Keller loved the breed and had one, as did Fred Astaire, and James Thurber.
Some famous Pit Bulls
Petey - the famous "black" eyed pooch from The Little Rascals
Stubby - a famous WWI canine hero who also became Georgetown’s first mascot
RCA - Alaska’s first certified hearing dog
Cheyenne and Dakota - true ambassadors of the breed, became two of the first search and rescue dogs as well as some of the first therapy dogs.
BSL is Breed Specific Legislation and with the intense coverage of any all dog attacks (particularly those by bully breeds), bans and restrictions have been enacted all across the world.
Here is a short list of some banned breeds (banned in certain areas, that is):
American Pit Bull Terrier
American Bulldog
Doberman Pinscher
Rottweiler
German Shepherd
Tosa Inu
American Staffordshire Terrier
Bull Terrier
Staffordshire Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Mastiff
Bullmastiff
Presa Canario
Cane Corso
Europe is the hotbed of Breed Specific Legislation with six or seven countries having active BSL - Germany, Netherlands, France and Spain being the worst places to have a banned breed.
There are some states in the US, some provinces in Canada and Australia that all have BSL strongly enforced.
Why Is BSL Ineffective?
If an individual has a strong desire to train a dog to attack, no amount of BSL will stop that person. Golden Retrievers have been trained to seek out and attack human beings - the breed is not an issue, rather it is the lack of proper training/socialization and the dangerous practice of training dogs to be guard dogs (as opposed to watch dogs who are not trained to attack but merely "watch", as their name implies). Why are certain breeds more prevalent in dog attack statistics? Not because there are somehow more of those particular dogs existing but that more of the dogs are being owned by abusive or simply neglectful individuals who do not neuter their dogs, allow their animals to roam free and never socialize their animals, or who purchase their animal for the wrong reasons (ego).
The banning of specific breeds has been shown NOT to decrease the number of attacks or maulings. Why? Well, those same individuals who would have owned a Rottweiler or a Pit Bull are simply turning other breeds of dogs into killers. Other breeds simply replace the banned breeds as top maulers. Any dog can be trained to be aggressive towards humans and any dog that is not properly socialized can become dangerous. The list of organizations that are against BSL is staggering - they are reputable agencies and groups who realize that owners of dangerous dogs need to be held responsible but that no particular breed is more or less likely to possibly attack. Some of the agencies/organizations are: AKC (American Kennel Club), UKC (United Kennel Club), AVMA, CDC (Centers for Disease Control), ASPCA, SPCA’s, most Human Societies, most Animal Control Facilities, ADBA (American Dog Breeders Association), ADOA (American Dog Owners Association), most breeders and rescue groups as well as reconstructive surgeons for children whose groups have stated that a bite to the face of a child can be devastating REGARDLESS of the breed of dog who inflicted the wound.
What Is The Solution?
There are several dangerous dog laws out there that are geared towards owners and individual dogs with no mention of any breed. Owners need to be held responsible for their dog’s behavior - if an owner cannot properly train or socialize a dog, let alone an APBT, then that person should not have a dog. It is high time that dogs stopped being killed after biting another dog or a person, it is not hard to reform a biter and why should the dog have to suffer for the idiocy of their owner. Unless the dog has an irreversible medical condition causing the aggression, every and all biting dogs should be given a second chance. Humans need to step back and realize that dogs do not go out and seek little children to gnaw on, there is no feeling of malice being expressed by these dogs - in fact, MOST bites occur because of miscommunication between humans and dogs, why should the dogs be killed and not the people? If both made a mistake, both need to learn what is proper and appropriate and a dog is more than capable of being taught discrimination (say between a squeaky toy and a screaming child) and proper behaviors.
United Kennel Club Breed Standards
AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER
Official U.K.C. Breed Standard
Revised October 21, 2004
History
- Sometime during the nineteenth century, dog fanciers in England, Ireland, and Scotland began to experiment with crosses between Bulldogs and Terriers, looking for a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the Bulldog. The result was a dog that embodied all of the virtues attributed to great warriors: strength, indomitable courage, and gentleness with loved ones. Immigrants brought these bull and terrier crosses to the United States. The American Pit Bull Terrier's many talents did not go unnoticed by farmers and ranchers who used their APBTs for protection, as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions. Today, the American Pit Bull Terrier continues to demonstrate its versatility, competing successfully in Obedience, Tracking, Agility, Protection, and Weight Pulls, as well as Conformation.
The United Kennel Club was the first registry to recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier. U.K.C. founder C. Z. Bennett assigned U.K.C. registration number 1 to his own APBT, Bennett's Ring in 1898.
General Appearance
- The American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, solidly built, short-coated dog with smooth, well-defined musculature. This breed is both powerful and athletic. The body is just slightly longer than tall, but bitches may be somewhat longer in body than dogs. The length of the front leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) is approximately equal to one-half of the dog's height at the withers. The head is of medium length, with a broad, flat skull, and a wide, deep muzzle. Ears are small to medium in size, high set, and may be natural or cropped. The relatively short tail is set low, thick at the base and tapers to a point. The American Pit Bull Terrier comes in all colors and color patterns. This breed combines strength and athleticism with grace and agility and should never appear bulky or muscle-bound or fine-boned and rangy.
Characteristics
- The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength, confidence, and zest for life. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children. Because most APBTs exhibit some level of dog aggression and because of its powerful physique, the APBT requires an owner who will carefully socialize and obedience train the dog. The breed's natural agility makes it one of the most capable canine climbers so good fencing is a must for this breed. The APBT is not the best choice for a guard dog since they are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and highly undesirable. This breed does very well in performance events because of its high level of intelligence and its willingness to work.
The American Pit Bull Terrier has always been capable of doing a wide variety of jobs so exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog's versatility.
Head
- The APBT head is unique and a key element of breed type. It is large and broad, giving the impression of great power, but it is not disproportionate to the size of the body. Viewed from the front, the head is shaped like a broad, blunt wedge. When viewed from the side, the skull and muzzle are parallel to one another and joined by a well defined, moderately deep stop. Supraorbital arches over the eyes are well defined but not pronounced. The head is well chiseled, blending strength, elegance, and character.
SKULL - The skull is large, flat or slightly rounded, deep, and broad between the ears. Viewed from the top, the skull tapers just slightly toward the stop. There is a deep median furrow that diminishes in depth from the stop to the occiput. Cheek muscles are prominent but free of wrinkles. When the dog is concentrating, wrinkles form on the forehead, which give the APBT his unique expression.
MUZZLE - The muzzle is broad and deep with a very slight taper from the stop to the nose, and a slight falling away under the eyes. The length of muzzle is shorter than the length of skull, with a ratio of approximately 2:3. The topline of the muzzle is straight. The lower jaw is well developed, wide and deep. Lips are clean and tight.
Faults: Snipey muzzle; flews; weak lower jaw.
TEETH - The American Pit Bull Terrier has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors bite.
Fault: Level bite.
Serious Faults: Undershot, or overshot bite; wry mouth; missing teeth (this does not apply to teeth that have been lost or removed by a veterinarian).
NOSE - The nose is large with wide, open nostrils. The nose may be any color.
EYES - Eyes are medium size, round to almond-shaped, and set well apart and low on the skull. All colors are equally acceptable except blue, which is a serious fault. Haw should not be visible.
Serious Faults: Bulging eyes; both eyes not matched in color; blue eyes.
EARS - Ears are high set and may be natural or cropped without preference. If natural, semi-prick or rose are preferred. Prick or flat, wide ears are not desired.
Neck
- The neck is of moderate length and muscular. There is a slight arch at the crest. The neck widens gradually from where it joins the skull to where it blends into well laid-back shoulders. The skin on the neck is tight and without dewlap.
Faults: Neck too short and thick; thin or weak neck; ewe neck; dewlap.
Forequarters
- The shoulder blades are long, wide, muscular, and well laid back. The upper arm is roughly equal in length to the shoulder blade and joins it at an apparent right angle.
The forelegs are strong and muscular. The elbows are set close to the body. Viewed from the front, the forelegs are set moderately wide apart and perpendicular to the ground. The pasterns are short, powerful, straight, and flexible. When viewed in profile, the pasterns are nearly erect.
Faults: Upright or loaded shoulders; elbows turned outward or tied-in; down at the pasterns; front legs bowed; wrists knuckled over; toeing in or out.
Body
- The chest is deep, well filled in, and moderately wide with ample room for heart and lungs, but the chest should never be wider than it is deep. The forechest does not extend much beyond the point of shoulder. The ribs extend well back and are well sprung from the spine, then flattening to form a deep body extending to the elbows. The back is strong and firm. The topline inclines very slightly downward from the withers to a broad, muscular, level back. The loin is short, muscular and slightly arched to the top of the croup, but narrower than the rib cage and with a moderate tuck-up. The croup is slightly sloping downward.
Hindquarters
- The hindquarters are strong, muscular, and moderately broad. The rump is well filled in on each side of the tail and deep from the pelvis to the crotch. The bone, angulation, and musculature of the hindquarters are in balance with the forequarters. The thighs are well developed with thick, easily discerned muscles. Viewed from the side, the hock joint is well bent and the rear pasterns are well let down and perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are straight and parallel to one another.
Faults: Narrow hindquarters; hindquarters shallow from pelvis to crotch; lack of muscle; straight or over angulated stifle joint; cow hocks; sickle hocks; bowed legs.
Feet
- The feet are round, proportionate to the size of the dog, well arched, and tight. Pads are hard, tough, and well cushioned. Dewclaws may be removed.
Fault: Splayed feet.
Tail
- The tail is set on as a natural extension of the topline, and tapers to a point. When the dog is relaxed, the tail is carried low and extends approximately to the hock. When the dog is moving, the tail is carried level with the backline. When the dog is excited, the tail may be carried in a raised, upright position (challenge tail), but never curled over the back (gay tail).
Fault: Long tail (tail tip passes beyond point of hock).
Serious faults: Gay tail (not to be confused with challenge tail); kinked tail.
Disqualification: Bobbed tail.
Coat
- The coat is glossy and smooth, close, and moderately stiff to the touch.
Faults: Curly, wavy, or sparse coat.
Disqualification: Long coat.
Color
- Any color, color pattern, or combination of colors is acceptable, except for merle.
Disqualification: Merle
Height and Weight
- The American Pit Bull Terrier must be both powerful and agile so actual weight and height are less important than the correct proportion of weight to height. Desirable weight for a mature male in good condition is between 35 and 60 pounds. Desirable weight for a mature female in good condition is between 30 and 50 pounds. Dogs over these weights are not to be penalized unless they are disproportionately massive or rangy.
Gait
- The American Pit Bull Terrier moves with a jaunty, confident attitude, conveying the impression that he expects any minute to see something new and exciting. When trotting, the gait is effortless, smooth, powerful, and well coordinated, showing good reach in front and drive behind. When moving, the backline remains level with only a slight flexing to indicate suppleness. Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward center line of balance.
Faults: Legs not moving on the same plane; legs over reaching; legs crossing over in front or rear; rear legs moving too close or touching; rolling; pacing; paddling; sidewinding; hackney action; pounding.
Disqualifications
- Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Unilateral or bilateral deafness. Bobbed tail. Albinism. Merle. Long coat.
Note: Although some level of dog aggression is characteristic of this breed, handlers will be expected to comply with U.K.C. policy regarding dog temperament at U.K.C. events.
Diseases: None of this information is meant to replace the advice of a qualified veterinarian.
Consult your veterinarian about what's right for your pet.
Zoonotic Diseases ~ What is a Zoonotic disease? Zoonotic diseases are those that can be transmitted from your pet to you or your family. Children are especially susceptible to zoonotic disease.
Keeping your pet healthy: Take your pet in for regular veterinary exams. Parasite preventives may help (worming, Sentinel® - talk to your vet about what's right for your pet).
Keeping your family healthy: Wash hands regularly & wear shoes outdoors.
Fleas~ The most common of all canine parasites. Severe infestation of flees can cause anemia, as fleas feed on blood. Dogs pick up tapeworms from fleas. A normal dog may only experience minor skin irritation, but some dogs can flea allergic and have a severe reaction to flea bites.
Giardia~ Giardia is a parasite that lives in the intestine of affected animals. These small parasites are very easy to miss on a fecal exam and may not be present in the stool of animals infected with the organism. Repeated fecal exams are sometimes necessary to identify this parasite. Not all animals in which infection can be demonstrated have clinical signs. **Clinical signs of giardia include weight loss, inability to gain weight appropriately during growth, diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite and greasy appearing stools.** The most commonly used medication for giardia infection is metronidazole (Flagyl), which WE RECOMMEND. The giardia organisms come from the environment and live in moist to wet areas. They are susceptible to quatenary ammonium disinfectants (Lysol and dilute chlorine bleach - these disinfectants should be used cautiously around your pets). Keeping the dog's environment dry helps a lot.
This disease may be contagious to people from infected dogs so good sanitary practices, like washing your hands after handling an infected puppy, are very important.
Heartworms~ Heartworms are the deadliest of all canine parasites. They are spread by mosquito. Transmission of the parasite occurs when a mosquito draws blood from a heartworm infected dog or cat. Once inside the mosquito, the microfilaria develop into larvae. Later, when the mosquito bites a new victim, the larvae are injected into the dog, thereby causing the infection. It generally takes about six to seven months for the larvae to mature and to start producing the microfilaria inside the dog or cat’s circulatory system. The adult worms end up occupying the right chamber of the heart and the pulmonary arteries, while the microscopic microfilaria circulate throughout the bloodstream. All these worms within the blood vessels produce an increased workload on the heart, along with restricted blood flow to the lungs, kidneys, and liver, eventually causing multiple organ failure. At first, pets may exhibit a chronic cough and/or reduced exercise tolerance, followed by sudden collapse and death. Infection among humans is very rare.
Hookworms~ Hookworms are parasites that attach to your pet's intestinal wall. Despite their small size they suck large amounts of blood from the vessels in the intestinal wall. Dog's may become infected with hookworms in four ways: orally, through the skin, through the mother's placenta before birth, and through the mother's milk. Hookworm larvae can penetrate human skin. Children or adults walking barefoot on contaminated soil, or putting contaminated dirt in their mouths can become infected.
CLICK HERE to learn more about canine hookworm infection.
Roundworms~ Virtually every puppy is born with roundworms or can become infested while nursing. A simple worming can treat roundworms in pets. Children playing in contaminated areas, or in contaminated dirt can become infected with roundworms by putting their dirty fingers in their mouths. Roundworm eggs can hatch in a child's stomach causing blindness and damage to abdominal organs.
Whipworms~ Whipworms are intestinal parasites. They can cause watery, bloody diarrhea and weight loss in your pet. Whipworm eggs can survive in soil for years, even in cold climates. People can become infected through ingestion of infected dog feces, soil or grass. Infection among humans is very rare.
Other Intestinal Parasites:
Coccidia~ Coccidia are parasites that live in the lining of the small intestine. Puppies are most commonly affected. Pets may be asymptomatic (have no symptoms) or they may experience diarrhea and bloody stools. Coccidia can be difficult to confirm on routine fecal exams....special stains are required.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Coccidia
Other Health Concerns:
This section is still under construction,
but please use the following links for more information in the meantime...
Brucellosis~ Learn more here -> Canine Brucellosis
Kennel Cough~ Learn more here -> Kennel Cough Info
Parvo~ Learn more here -> Parvo Info: "Parvo FAQ"
Mange~ Learn more here -> Demodectic Mange (Demodex)
Health Testing:
PennHIP ~ A radiographic method of measuring a dog's passive hip laxity (looseness of the joint). The dog is given a Distraction Index (DI) number between 0 and 1. A DI closer to 0 would mean little or no joint laxity and less likelihood of developing Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD). The closer DI is to 1 the more laxity and therefore greater CHD susceptibility. This can be performed on dogs aged 4 months and up. This test does require anesthesia. Developed by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.
CLICK HERE for The PennHIP site.
OFA ~ The Orthopedic Foundation For Animals, Inc. A private non-profit foundation formed in 1966 to collate and disseminate information concerning orthopedic and genetic diseases of animal, to advise, encourage and establish control programs to lower the incidence of orthopedic and genetic diseases and to encourage and finance research in orthopedic and genetic disease in animals.
OFA Hips ~ Owners can submit hip x-rays to the OFA and have them evaluated for Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD). The OFA gives them a category of Excellent, Good, Fair (these 3 are normal hips) or Borderline, Mild Dysplasia, Moderate Dysplasia or Severe Dysplasia. Must be at least 24 months old for official certification, although preliminary evaluations are possible between 4 and 24 months. For best results this test should be done with the pet well-sedated.
Correction of anecdotal misinformation regarding hip dysplasia:
1. There are no environmental factors which cause CHD.
2. There is no evidence in the scientific literature that megadoses of vitamin C or any other supplement is
beneficial in reducing the effects or preventing CHD.
3. High caloric intake resulting in rapid growth and increased weight gain may exacerbate changes in dysplastic hips but will not create hip dysplasia.
4. Exercise, running, jumping up and down, and slick floors will not cause hip dysplasia.
5. Prior injuries to the femurs and/or pelvis may be detected radiographically and are taken into account when evaluating hip status.
(above corrections taken from OFA Hips booklet published by OFA)
CLICK HERE for Hip Dysplasia Treatment Options
OFA Elbows ~ Owners can submit elbow x-rays to the OFA to be evaluated for elbow dysplasia. They receive a rating of normal or abnormal. Abnormal scores are further divided into Grade I, Grade II or Grade III. Must be at least 24 months old for official certification although preliminary evaluations are possible between 12 and 24 months.
OFA Cardiac ~ Owners can have their dog examined for congenital heart disease and receive OFA certification and a breed number from OFA stating the dog is normal or affected. Must be at least 12 months old for official certification, but OFA provisional certification is possible for dogs between 6 weeks and 12 months of age. This provisional certification is great for breeders to do before selling a puppy and for assessment of the breeding potential of a dog.
OFA Patellas ~ Owners can have their dogs evaluated for patellar luxation (slippage/rotation of the kneecap) and receive OFA certification and a breed number. This is a manual examination. Dogs receive a classification of normal or abnormal, with abnormal being further divided into 4 grades. Must be at least 12 months old for official certification, but OFA provisional certification is possible for dogs between 6 weeks and 12 months of age. Again, this provisional certification is great for breeders to do before selling a puppy and for assessment of the breeding potential of a dog.
OFA Thyroid ~ A blood serum test can be done to determine if a dog has thyroid abnormalities. There are two types of thyroid abnormalities covered by OFA:
1. Autoimmune Thyroiditis (known to be heritable)
2. Idiopathically Reduced Thyroid Function
Dogs receive a category of Normal, Abnormal or Equivocal (equivocal meaning the results were not definitive and retesting in 3-6 months is recommended). Normal dogs are issued OFA certification and a breed number. OFA recommends the dogs be recertified (no OFA charge for recertification) at 2,3,4,6 and 8 years old since the classification can change as the dogs age. Dogs must be at least 12 months old.
CERF ~ Canine Eye Registration Foundation. The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) is an organization that was founded by a group of concerned, purebred owner/breeders who recognized that the quality of their dog's lives were being affected by heritable eye disease. Dedicated to the elimination of heritable eye disease in purebred dogs through registration and research. There is NO minimum age requirement. The certification is good for 12 months from the date of the exam.
CERF contact info: phone: 765-494-8179
~This is a painless examination of the dogs eyes, if free of inheritable eye disease you dog can be certified.
BAER ~ The BAER (Brain Auditory Evoked Response) test is a safe and painless testing device to determine if a dog has a hearing loss. A BAER test is performed by placing a insert earphone into the ear canal, while recording needle electrodes are inserted in the skin at the base of each ear. Each ear is tested individually. A series of one thousand clicks are transmitted via the earphone to stimulate a response. The response is detected by the needle electrodes, transmitted to the BAER device, where it is recorded. The click series starts at 70 decibels and is gradually increased to 105 decibels (if hearing is not detected at the lower levels).
By recording the response signals from the needle electrodes, the BAER
