Are American Bulldogs healthy?

• Hip and elbow dysplasia: Hip and elbow dysplasia are two of the most common skeletal diseases seen in dogs. They are similar diseases in which either the hip or elbow joint has grown abnormally or is misshapen. The abnormal shape prevents the joints and sockets from properly meeting one another, resulting in rubbing and grinding instead of sliding smoothly. Unlike in hip dysplasia, where the main problem is joint instability, the abnormalities seen in elbow dysplasia often result in pieces of bone and/or cartilage breaking loose and irritating the joint tissues. Over time, the rubbing from dysplasia can cause a variety of issues, such as pain, lameness, and secondary osteoarthritis. Surgery can be done to fix the joint if diagnosed before the onset of arthritis. If you are rescuing an American bulldog, have them checked out by a vet to see if they have or are prone to getting dysplasia so you know what they will be able to handle in terms of activities and exercise.

• Eye problems: This breed is prone to cherry eye, a condition where a gland on the lower eyelid known as the third eyelid pops out and swells, causing a red oval mass on the inner corner of the eye; cataracts, a common eye condition that causes cloudiness in the eye and obstructs vision; and entropion, a genetic defect where one or both eyelids are inverted or roll inward and rub on the surface of the eye.

• Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCl): This family of degenerative nervous system disorders affect how the body breaks down certain types of fat or proteins within the body’s cells. The body’s inability to break down these proteins eventually causes the cells to stop working properly and leads to a decline in mental and motor functions.

• Others: Bone cancer, thyroid, and kidney disorders can also occur.