Page 208 - Showsight April 2013

STAFFORDSHIRE BULL
TERRIER HEALTH
By Margo Milde
SBTCA Health Chair T he Staffordshire Bull
Terrier (or, “Staffords”
as we informally call
them) is a remarkably
healthy and resilient
breed of dog. However,
all Stafford owners and breeders must be
aware of common Stafford afflictions in
order to better care for this most wonder-
ful breed! This article is a brief summary of
medical conditions occasionally found in
Staffords. I have prepared a separate bib-
liography entitled “Genetic-based Health
Resources for Owners and Breeders of Staf-
fordshire Bull Terriers” for further infor-
mation on most of the topics described in
this summary, as well as several additional
topics related to Stafford health concerns
and general canine genetics. This article is
for general information purposes only, and
cannot take the place of an actual consul-
tation or visit with your dog’s veterinarian.
Staffords only rarely act ill or injured.
However, because of their stoic nature, we
know that Staffords only rarely choose to
show pain. Therefore, any Stafford owner
must immediately attend to their dog when
it acts abnormally or otherwise in distress,
since a Stafford displaying discomfort is an
ill or injured Stafford indeed.
Because of their bold, fearless, and irre-
pressible nature, Staffords are all too often
injured. Jumping off balconies, being hit by
cars, and run-ins with wild critters occur
all too frequently with Staffords. Due to
their heavy muscular structure, Staffords
are prone to drowning since many can-
not swim well or even stay afloat. While a
proper Stafford will rarely, if ever, initiate
a dispute with another canine, if the other
dog decides to pick on your Stafford, you
can be almost certain that your Stafford
will take up the challenge; severe injuries
can result to both dogs if you don’t quickly
step in and remove your Stafford from the
scene. Many Staffords have a high prey
drive, and unless very well trained, are
inclined to chase wildlife, cats, and other
small animals at any opportunity when
they are not confined by a leash or fence.
These escapades may take them far away
from the safety of their home, or into the
path of heavy traffic. Most Staffords go
through a long puppyhood of relentless
chewing; their taste for chewing objects
knows no safe bounds, and may include
common household objects dangerous to
gnaw on such as electric cords. For all of
these reasons, always leash your dog when
you are not in a secure fenced-in area,
and always provide your Stafford with a
safe place in your home, such as a crate or
secure dog run, when you are not directly
watching him, especially when he is still
a puppy or adolescent. Basic obedience
training will help to guarantee your Staf-
ford will come when called and walk nicely
on a leash, further ensuring his safety and
a long and happy life with you.
Staffords can be escape artists, and
many have been known to tunnel under
or climb over fences, or even—yes—barrel
right through the less secure confinements.
If you can’t supervise your Stafford’s every
moment in your fenced yard, make certain
your fencing is “escape proof”. Unfortu-
nately, being occasionally misidentified as
American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffords have
been stolen from yards; make certain your
gate is securely locked when you are not
directly supervising your Stafford in your
yard. Because of their high pain tolerance,
underground “invisible” electric fencing
is often a poor choice for a Stafford; such
fencing also makes them even more prone
to theft.
Staffords are generally not heat toler-
ant. NEVER keep your Stafford out in
the direct sun on a warm day for more
than a few minutes, and, on hot summer
days, try to limit your Stafford’s most
boisterous activities, even in the shade, to
the cool of the evening hours. Because of
the structure of their head and airways,
Staffords can overheat very, very easily,
with only a few minutes of brisk exercise
on a warm day. The risk of overheating is
especially severe on days of high humid-
ity. Dark-coated Staffords are even more
prone to hyperthermia (overheating) than
the predominantly white-coated Staf-
fords. If you don’t have air conditioning,
the liberal use of electric fans will help to
keep your Stafford comfortable indoors
on those hot summer days. If your Staf-
ford is kept in a kennel, the kennels should
be situated in a breezy, shady area dur-
ing the summer. Of course, you should
always provide your dog with plenty of
fresh water, but this is especially critical
during the warmer months. While any
dog can dangerously overheat in a parked
car on a warm day, Staffords are particu-
larly at risk. In addition, because of their
short coats, Staffords do not tolerate cold
temperatures, and are never to be kept as
an outside dog or in an unheated kennel
in areas where winter temperatures can
get chilly. Older Staffords can be espe-
cially sensitive to cold. A warm, soft, cozy
indoor bed at night is a pleasure which no
older Stafford should be denied!
“STAFFORDS
ARE gEnERALLy
nOT HEAT
TOLERAnT.”
208 • ShowSight Magazine, April 2013