HEALTH

Overall, the American Staffordshire Terrier is a very healthy breed. Nevertheless, there are a number of possible conditions that our breed can suffer from.
By screening the parent through DNA testing, X-rays and ultrasound, as well as the well-thought-out combination of male and female, these conditions are excluded as much as possible. However, environmental factors such as nutrition, exercise and rest also have an impact on the dog's further health. Following the breeder's advice regarding exercise, nutrition and rest is therefore also extremely important!

The most common conditions within our breed are described below.

Hip dysplasia (HD)

Hip dysplasia (HD) is a developmental disorder of the hips that causes wear and tear of the hip joints. It has a hereditary predisposition and occurs in both young and older dogs. The hip joint is often not properly developed in the first year of the dog's life.

Elbow dysplasia (ED)

Elbow dysplasia is a collective name for four common elbow disorders in dogs: LPCM, LPA, OCD and incongruity. The elbow is the hinge joint in the front legs. The joint is between the humerus in the upper arm and the radius and ulna in the forearm. To strengthen this joint, the ulna is extra long and has a number of bulges that hinge with the humerus.
These protruding pieces of bone make the joint strong, but also complex. Small deviations in the dog's growth can therefore have major consequences.

Degenerative Myelopathie (DM)

Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive neurological disorder in dogs in which the spinal cord slowly deteriorates, leading to loss of coordination and muscle strength in the hind legs. Eventually, the dog may develop paralysis as the nerves that control movements continue to die.

Heart disorders (MVD)

MVD is the most common heart disease in adult dogs.
The mitral valves are the valves between the left ventricle (pumping chamber) and the left atrium (anterior chamber or atrium). When the ventricles contract, the valves must prevent blood from flowing back into the atrium.
In dogs suffering from MVD, a kind of scar tissue gradually forms on the valves, causing the valve to become increasingly deformed and no longer close properly. As a result, with each contraction, some of the oxygen-rich blood flows back into the atrium instead of out of the heart. This is called mitral valve regurgitation (MR). As the disease progresses and the valve becomes increasingly deformed, the leakage becomes greater and the left atrium will enlarge.
In an advanced stage, the suspensory ligaments are also affected at their attachment to the valves.

Neuronale ceroid lipofuscinose 4A (NCL4A)

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 4A (NCL4A), now known as lysosomal storage disease, is characterized by the accumulation of toxic substances in neurons. Unlike other lipofuscinoses, this disease occurs late, in adulthood. NCL4A is caused by a deficiency in the enzyme activity of arylsulfatase G.
The first symptoms of the disease occur between the ages of 3 and 5. The onset of the disease is later and slower compared to other lipofuscinoses. Symptoms include lack of muscle coordination, tremors, abnormal eye movements, abnormal walking, and difficulty with balance and jumping. Unlike other lipofuscinoses, there are no visual disturbances.
Since the provision of the NCL4A test in 2008 and mandatory testing, the number of sufferers within the American Staffordshire Terrier population with pedigree in Flanders has been reduced to zero.
However, screening the breed for this condition still remains a must!

Hyperuricosurie (HUU)

Hyperuricosuria and hyperuricemia (HUU) is the presence of unusually high amounts of the waste product uric acid in, respectively, the urine and blood. The condition can lead to urolithiasis (kidney and bladder stones), which in turn can lead to potentially serious urinary tract blockages.
Clinical features include high uric acid levels, which can lead to urinary stones.
Symptoms of urinary stones may include straining to urinate, frequent urination, bloody urine, and in advanced cases, life-threatening urinary tract obstruction. Surgery is often necessary to remove the stones. The chance of developing urate stones can be reduced by using specialized nutrition.

Polyneuropathy and juvenile laryngeal paralysis (ALPP)

This mutation (ALPP) in the American Staffordshire Terrier is responsible for a neurological disease, polyneuropathy, which is almost systematically associated with juvenile laryngeal paralysis.
The first symptoms can occur after 3 months and are usually manifested by breathing disorders (presence of sounds) and a change in the bark. The ataxic approach (loss of movement coordination) usually occurs several months to several years later.
Detailed symptoms: Progressive intolerance to exercise, loss of coordination of movements, especially in the hindquarters, progressive atrophy of the muscles to the point where the animal is no longer able to support its own weight, laryngeal paralysis manifested by difficulty breathing (sounds are audible) and altered barking (dysphonia), vomiting and swallowing problems.
Since March 2022, a DNA test has been available to detect this condition. Currently, the test in Europe can only be requested from the Antagene laboratory in France.