The American Staffordshire Terrier, the American Bulldog, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier all come under the name Pit Bull, fondly called Pitties or Bully dogs. These dog breeds are some of the most dangerous but with the right training, you will enjoy their company for a long time. Generally, Pitties are predisposed to certain health conditions capable of shortening their life span. However, pet parents can help their canine companions to live longer by practicing some simple dog care tips.
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Tips On Giving Your Pit Bull A Chance At Long Life
1. Feed your fur-buddy with high-quality food
It has been proven that humans who consume healthy diets outlive those that go for junk food; this rule is also applicable to the canine population. Thus, the content of your Pit Bull’s diet must be well examined to ensure that it is packed with only ingredients that have nutritious value, especially real meat. Avoid cheap dog foods made with filler ingredients like meat by-products (those parts that humans won’t eat, including beaks and hooves) and corn.
2. Maintain a healthy weight for your Pit Bull
To maintain a healthy weight for your Pit Bull, feed the dog a healthy diet and you cannot go wrong with exercise. If your pooch must have treats, then, the kibbles must be reduced to create space for the calories and you must never overdo it with the treats. Substitutes can also be given in the form of healthy veggies and fruits that are considered safe for canine consumption. Carrots are healthy treats that won’t lead to additional weight. Being overweight in Pit Bulls can lead to these health conditions;
- High blood pressure
- Cancer (some types)
- Arthritis
- Kidney disease
- Reduced quality of life
- Shortened lifespan
A Pit Bull that is already overweight can be helped. Just consult your local vet on the safe ways to aid a dog in shedding weight. Sometimes, reduced food portions may not work; you may need to equally reduce the calorie content of the dog’s diet.
3. Abundance of exercise and training
Pit Bulls are energetic breeds and to keep them in tip-top shape, you have to expose them to daily exercise. At least, an hour of vigorous exercise on a daily basis. In the absence of daily exercise, your bully dog may likely become bored and resort to unpalatable behaviors like chewing away at the furniture and swallowing things that can cause intestinal obstructions; this type of situation calls for immediate expert attention, otherwise, it can be fatal.
Also, plenty of socialization and training can keep your Pit Bull from displaying aggression. This should be started from a very young age and pet owners must try to be firm but never dominate the pup. Shun punishment and domination while training your canine friend and embrace positive reinforcement.
4. Regular dental care
Many pet parents downplay the importance of canine dental health, but it has been proven that a dog’s general health can be greatly impacted by its dental condition. Periodontal disease should be prevented in the life of a dog. The gum-line of a dog that is not exposed to good oral care is home to all sorts of germs like bacteria. This may not end in the mouth as it is capable of accessing the pup’s bloodstream and causing extensive damage to its internal organs; this includes the heart.
5. Brushing of teeth for your Pit Bull can be done once a day
Take note of the following to learn more about taking care of your dog’s oral health;
- If you are too busy to manage the “once a day” brushing, once or twice a week can suffice
- There are toothpaste brands specifically made for the canine population
- Be sure to use a soft brush for your pup’s teeth
- The next best thing to teeth brushing in dogs is the use of chew toys and bones. While a dog chews on these hard objects, they help in dislodging the tartar or plaque build-ups; besides. This has proved to be effective in stimulating the gums.
6. Get regular vet care
Going for regular vet checkups will expose any health condition on time before extensive damage is done. Besides, when health issues are discovered on time, treatment will be easier. Even when your Pit Bull is not showing any symptoms of an ailment, ensure that it goes for vet checkups at least once a year when it is young and twice yearly as the dog ages. When health issues are allowed to fester without treatment, they can shorten the life span of your Pit Bull.
7. Acquire your Pit Bull breed from only trusted breeders
There are reputable dog breeders that work towards reducing the possible genetic conditions that can be passed down from parents to puppies. They achieve this by conducting extensive blood tests on dogs to ensure how healthy they are before using them in breeding projects. This way, the potential of developing several health issues like thyroid problems, hip dysplasia, allergies, and heart disease will be greatly reduced.
On the other hand, puppy mills, backyard breeders, and pet stores have more interest in the profit side than in breeding healthy puppies. Besides, any dog acquired from these people categorized as disreputable breeders are more likely to develop genetic health conditions and deadly infections such as parvo may be common among them. The ones categorized as reputable breeders are those that do the following;
- Provide answers to every question and ask some of their own
- Allow pet parents access to the parents of the puppies
- Be ready to receive the puppies back in case of rejection
- They also carry out tests on parent dogs before breeding
- They offer prospective pet parents some health guarantees
Reasons For Differences In Life Span Among Pit Bulls
The differences experienced in the life expectancy within the Pit Bull breed may be due to several reasons, including;
1. Gender
It is generally believed that male Pit Bulls tend to die faster than females owing to environmental factors such as trauma. We must also consider genetic factors like hormones as well as the aging process.
Read Also: Pug Pitbull Mix: Everything You Need To Know
2. Genetics
Genes play a huge role in determining how healthy the Pit Bull is and as a result, how long they will end up living. Healthy Pit Bulls with unproblematic genes tend to outlive those that inherited sickly tendencies from their parents.
3. Lifestyle
The type of lifestyle your Pit Bull is exposed to is completely up to you. Any pet parent who wishes their canine companion to live longer would do their best in taking care of the dog. This entails proper and regular grooming, a great diet, regular exercising, and general care.
4. Size
How long a Pit Bull lives can be determined by its size. The breed is very eclectic in weight, ranging from 30 pounds to the 60 pounds variety. In general, smaller Pitties have the propensity to live longer if they are in tip-top shape.