Common Health Problems in Bull Terriers

Like any other dog, Bull Terriers are subject to the health problems and ailments. However, there seem to be certain conditions that either occur more frequently or are almost unique to their breed. Since the Bull Terrier is a stoic dog and may not express any visible symptoms, it can be several days or even longer before an owner recognizes that something is wrong.

For this reason, it is important to thoroughly understand each of the conditions that commonly affects the breed.

Bull Terriers, like many dogs, are orally fixated and will swallow almost anything. Often times the object that has been swallowed can become lodged in the dog’s gut and sometimes surgical intervention is necessary to remove the object. Socks, various plastic objects, rubber, toys large enough to swallow, etc can become stuck in the dogs gut or intestines. Symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, and bloat. Any of these symptoms is grounds for a swift trip to the vet.

Bull Terriers are especially prone to various skin conditions. This is particularly true in the case of white Bull Terriers. Dermatological conditions can often respond favorably to changes in diet – natural food with few chemical preservatives work well. There is some evidence that the skin problems commonly seen in Bull Terriers are linked to faults in their immune system and sometimes they require long term treatment with either antibiotics, steroids, or some combination of the two.

One specific type of skin condition that appears to be unique to the Bull Terrier breed is a immune problem that is associated with a zinc defiency. The disorder is seen in young puppies (Zinkies) who develop skin lesions on the toes and on the muzzle. Often they have trouble eating solid food because the roof of their mouth is domed and has deep ridges. These puppies are often considerably smaller than their littermates and can have certain neurological problems. They are very often put down due to problems with the hindquarters or poor temperaments with rage-like tendencies. Puppies that are not euthanized frequently develop lethal infections.

Kidney problems are frequently seen in this breed, often at a very young age. The kidneys in the breed are often very small and not developed. Sometimes kidney failure due to a malfunction of the filters in the kidneys (referred to as glomerular nephritis) develops before age 3.

A variety of neurological problems is also seen very frequently in this breed. Spinning usually begins at about 6 months of age and occurs when a dog is obsessively focused on its tail and spins in a circle for hours at a time. Affected dogs lose interest in food and water and usually results in the dog being euthanized. Less severe cases can respond favorably to anti-seizure medications or anti-obsessive medications. Treatment appears to be more successful in females than males.

Bull Terriers can also suffer from grand mal type epileptic seizures. Seizures seem to develop between 6 and 18 months and can be controlled somewhat with medication, however, the prognosis is generally not great. Bull Terriers who suffer from grand mal seizures typically only survive one to two years after onset. Prolonged use of the medication (phenobarbital) can also cause liver damage.

Another seizure type disorder that is frequently seen in the Bull Terrier is rage. It is frequently seen in spinners and it is very different from dominance or any other types of aggression. Owners often report a glazed look in the dogs eyes just before an incident. This is a neurological condition, not a behavioral one and therefore it does not respond to training.