History of congenital heart disease in the American Staffordshire terrier
The American Staffordshire Terrier is not one of the healthiest and heartiest dog breeds and unfortunately the dog tends to suffer from some congenital health issues. Until recently, some of the medical conditions were not known to cause serious health problems. Veterinary medicine has found that the American Staffordshire Terrier is prone to certain congenital diseases that are classified as heart diseases, especially congenital heart disease. The condition is called CHD, present from the moment the puppy is born; it differs from acquired heart disease, which is a condition that develops later in life. While CHD is rare, it can lead to serious heart failure and death in the dog.
Heart failure results when the heart is unable to meet the body’s needs for blood because it cannot pump normally. A pumping problem can cause blood to back up to other vital organs of the body and can also include the lungs and heart. The blood vessels are constricted and usually the dog experiences increased blood pressure. When there is pressure from blood in the vessels, fluid can leak out and build up in body tissues and the lungs can become congested, which can also happen in the liver. The signs of CHD can be hard to spot, especially when they appear in the early stages. Dogs may become inactive and cough after a period of vigorous activity; these may be warning signs of CHD. The dog may also become lethargic, lose weight, pass out, pant rapidly and display a bloated abdomen when suffering from CHD. Sometimes CHD can cause a fluctuation in blood flow through the heart, and the vet may hear sounds of turbulence when listening to the dog’s chest area with a stethoscope.
A septal defect is a condition where there is a hole in the heart, meaning there is a passage between the heart chambers that has failed to close after the dog is born. There are a large number of other types of birth defects that can affect the American Staffordshire Terrier, which can be fatal. If heart disease is suspected, the dog should be taken to a veterinarian immediately for examination. The owner should be aware of the fact that an American Staffordshire Terrier can also die without showing any outward signs of CHD or other congenital heart disease. Regular veterinary check-ups should always be done to monitor or detect any hidden defects that the dog may have and can lead to saving the dogs life.
There are different conditions that are considered CHD. One example is a condition called Patent Ductus Arteriosus, which occurs when small blood vessels that connect two large arteries in the heart do not close after the dog is born. The small blood vessel is imperative during fetal development as it surrounds the immature lungs, which are not yet able to oxygenate the blood properly. When the vessel remains open after the dog is born, the condition prevents blood from circulating normally. Another condition is called pulmonary stenosis, which results in blood from the right side of the heart not being able to flow normally to the lungs due to narrowing. Perhaps the most common canine condition of all CHD defects would be aortic stenosis, which occurs when blood from the left side of the heart cannot reach the rest of the body.
Although CHD cannot be prevented, with due care and regular veterinary care, the condition can be detected early and eventually treated. CHD does not have to lead to the death of the dog and some forms can be corrected by early medical intervention. You should never take any of the warning signs of CHD for granted and always make sure your pet has the best veterinary care possible.
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