Last Updated:
07.03.2010

Sadly the Bull Terrier as some other pure breeds has their health issues, we have tried to cover most of them on this page. Remember, it will not always be easy to find a litter where both parents are tested since testing is not always done on both parents.

I believe that the best Bull Terrier is a healthy Bull Terrier, and will therefore test all our Bullies before using them in breeding. This is not a standard, but as we want to improve the breed and try to avoid getting pups that will suffer from illness we will be testing our dogs. More and more serious breeders start health testing their dogs, as they start to see the positive effect it has on their breeding lines. That said, there are great dogs out there which has not been tested, so there is not automatically a bad Bull Terrier if it has not been tested! If you do decide to get a bullie from health tested parents, make sure that the breeder will let you see the test results, as some breeders claim they health test their dogs- though that is not the case!!

At the same time, one must realize that even though parents are tested, some illnesses may occur since some the form of inheritance is not dominant. To buy a puppie from health tested parents may reduce the chance of illness, but will never be a guarantee that the pup you bring home with you will become 14 years old!

Skin Problems
All bully's can  get a bald patch on their heads and near the base of their tails. It is just a gland and is very normal.

Skin problems is the most common problems with Bull Terriers, but not always the most serious one, as it usually is far from lethal. The skin problems can be allergy related. The best way to prevent skinproblems is to proparly feed your bullie with good quality food! If the dog does exhibit signs of allergies, it may be smart not only to treat the problem, but also do a allergy test so one can avoid the allergen if possible. Typical signs of allergy may be small rashes, blotches and spots. If untreated a secondary infection may occur, or the dog may suffer from a complete hair loss in the effected area.

Kidney Problems
A Bull Terrier with kidney problems should not be used in breeding as it can lead to kidney failure in future pups.Inherited Kidney Disease (KD) can lead to kidney failure and death. The main problem with KD is that there is no cure! KD is a dominantly inherited disease, which means that if one parent has the gene for the disease, half of the litter produced will get the disease. But it also means that it is a disease which can be bred out of the breed. Luckely more and more breeders do a UPC test on their breeding stock before considering breeding that particular dog or bitch.

Heart Problem
As heart problems may cause serious problems I recommend using tested parents, as it decrease the chance of any heart problems occurring in the future lines of Bull Terriers. This is one of the most serious problmes with in the breed, and though testing is expensive it is helpful for reducing the chance of getting litters with pups with heart problems.

Remember that if you get a bull terrier with a health problem, do take contact with your breeders as most breeders are more than willing to come with good advice and may know a way to help both you and your bull terrier. No serious breeder wants to breed a sick dog or bitch.

Kennel TurboBull.
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Revised: mars, 2010.