| Hereditary Diseases |
For more information click on the links below
There are 5 Known hereditary diseases in Bull Terriers (Deafness, Heart Disease,Polycystic Kidney Disease, Nephritis
Kidney Disease, Patella Luxation (unusual movement of the patella (knee Cap) ) and Lens (Eye) Luxation in (Miniature
Bull Terriers)Until 1997, we in Australia were unaware of Bull Terriers having any hereditary diseases except Deafness
and Patella and lens Luxation in Miniatures, until an Australian breeder was asked by an overseas buyer to have the
puppy tested for Polycystic Kidney disease. To their dismay the puppy did have Polycystic kidneys. At the same time, Dr
Caroline O'Leary (Queensland Uni.) was doing research into Nephritis with quite a few breeds including Bull Terriers.
The news of the puppy traveled fast and Dr O'Leary was contacted to find out about this new demon in our breed.
The Queensland and New South Wales Uni's arranged to test a cross section of Bull Terriers. In Queensland 90 dogs
from different breeders were selected to be tested and of those 90, 27% were found to have Polycystic kidney, 25%had
heart murmurs or irregular heart beats. If dogs over 7 years of age were removed from the results an extra 15% had
structural echocardiographic abnormalities and an extra 4.23% had turbulence in the blood leaving the heart or faster
rates of blood flow leaving the heart than normal. The Queensland Bull Terriers Club took up the fight with new by- laws
and responsible breeders are testing their breeding stock for the 5 known hereditary diseases.
If the general public demand to see the testing results on parents before buying a puppy these Hereditary Diseases will
be eliminated within a short time
Kidney Disease, Patella Luxation (unusual movement of the patella (knee Cap) ) and Lens (Eye) Luxation in (Miniature
Bull Terriers)Until 1997, we in Australia were unaware of Bull Terriers having any hereditary diseases except Deafness
and Patella and lens Luxation in Miniatures, until an Australian breeder was asked by an overseas buyer to have the
puppy tested for Polycystic Kidney disease. To their dismay the puppy did have Polycystic kidneys. At the same time, Dr
Caroline O'Leary (Queensland Uni.) was doing research into Nephritis with quite a few breeds including Bull Terriers.
The news of the puppy traveled fast and Dr O'Leary was contacted to find out about this new demon in our breed.
The Queensland and New South Wales Uni's arranged to test a cross section of Bull Terriers. In Queensland 90 dogs
from different breeders were selected to be tested and of those 90, 27% were found to have Polycystic kidney, 25%had
heart murmurs or irregular heart beats. If dogs over 7 years of age were removed from the results an extra 15% had
structural echocardiographic abnormalities and an extra 4.23% had turbulence in the blood leaving the heart or faster
rates of blood flow leaving the heart than normal. The Queensland Bull Terriers Club took up the fight with new by- laws
and responsible breeders are testing their breeding stock for the 5 known hereditary diseases.
If the general public demand to see the testing results on parents before buying a puppy these Hereditary Diseases will
be eliminated within a short time
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