Health Testing

• Ataxia: is incoordination within the nervous system, the abnormal movement can occur in the legs, the head, the torso, or all three.

• PRA-CRD4: is an inherited disease of the eye that affects the cone and rod cells that make up the dog's retina and often leading to blindness but it has yet to be shown to affect American Bullies. 

• OFA Hips: Canine Hip Dysplasia typically develops because of an abnormally developed hip joint, but can also be caused by cartilage damage from a traumatic fracture. With cartilage damage or a hip joint that isn’t formed properly, over time the existing cartilage will lose its thickness and elasticity. This breakdown of the cartilage will eventually result in pain with any joint movement. Around 50% of American Bullies get failed hip results.

• OFA Eblows: Elbow dysplasia is a general term used to identify an inherited polygenic disease in the elbow. Three specific etiologies make up this disease and they can occur independently or in conjunction with one another. These etiologies include:

-Pathology involving the medial coronoid of the ulna (FCP)

-Osteochondritis of the medial humeral condyle in the elbow joint (OCD)

-Ununited anconeal process (UAP)

Studies have shown the inherited polygenic traits causing these etiologies are independent of one another. Clinical signs involve lameness which may remain subtle for long periods of time. Around 50% of American Bullies fail elbows. 

• OFA Cardiac: Congenital heart disease in dogs is a malformation of the heart or great vessels. The lesions characterizing congenital heart defects are present at birth and may develop more fully during perinatal and growth periods. Many congenital heart defects are thought to be genetically transmitted from parents to offspring; however, the exact modes of inheritance have not been precisely determined for all cardiovascular malformations.

• OFA Patellas: The patella, or kneecap, is part of the stifle joint (knee). In patellar luxation, the kneecap luxates, or pops out of place, either in a medial or lateral position. Bilateral involvement is most common, but unilateral is not uncommon. Animals can be affected by the time they are eight weeks of age. The most notable finding is a knock-knee (genu valgum) stance. The patella is usually reducible, and laxity of the medial collateral ligament may be evident. The medial retinacular tissues of the stifle joint are often thickened, and the foot can be seen to twist laterally as weight is placed on the limb.

• OFA Dentition: Dentition ensures that all adult teeth have erupted and that none are missing.