Health Testing Info 

why do we health test? 

    Health testing is very important for this breed, as the American Bully breed was not founded with health in mind. Due to this, as well as the fact so very few breeders are testing their stock, our options are limited for dogs with passing scores.  We test our dogs to be able to makes educated breeding choices to better each generation. Currently most bullies will fail one or more of the tests we do; so we use this information to breed for better results. We have used a system to grade each health issue so we can focus on the issues that affect our breed, the dogs and owners the most directly, and we have seen many improvements over the past two years in health scores. Health is very important to us within our program, we know that for a dog to be the ultimate companion it needs to be able to keep up with its family, whether it be performance sports or just family adventures such as hiking, lake visits, etc. 

We want families to have piece of mind when bringing an American Bully into their family, therefore we offer a 3 year genetic health guarantee. Our guarantee covers any health issue we can actively test our dogs for; such as Hips, Elbows, Patellas, Cardiac, Genetic health panel, Shoulders, Trachea, etc. 

You can view our Guarantee policy Here .

We do also put alot of consideration into heath issues that cannot easily be tested for, such as allergies, sensitive GI tracts, and chronic ear infections. While we do not guarantee anything we cannot actively test for at this time, we are constantly trying to improve our lines and puppy rearing processes with these issues in mind. 

What do we health test for?

We test for genetic disease through Embark as well as OFA tests including hips, elbows, cardiac, patellas, shoulders, and trachea. 

More about each test:

• 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 Elbows: 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 Trachea: With Tracheal Hypoplasia the trachea has a decreased luminal diameter resulting in breathing difficulties. The condition is common in Bulldog and non-Bulldog brachycephalic breeds. The radiographic evaluation is performed on a lateral view of the cervical and thoracic trachea obtained with the patient awake and at peak inspiration. The evaluation consists of a subjective evaluation of tracheal size and uniformity by a board certified veterinary radiologist, and an objective evaluation based on the ratio (TLR) of the tracheal lumen diameter at the thoracic inlet to the width of the proximal third rib.

• OFA Shoulders: While the exact mode of inheritance is unknown, Osteochondrosis is considered to be an inherited disease. In affected individuals there is a disruption in ossification of the cartilage mold beneath the articular cartilage of the joint. This results in aseptic necrosis and when the weakened area collapses, the articular cartilage fractures resulting in lameness. OCD has been reported to occur in the shoulder, elbow, stifle, hock, and spine, and can be unilateral or bilateral. Most affected dogs that develop clinical signs are less than one year of age. OCD is seen in many breeds but appears to be more common in the larger body type breeds. It is also seen more frequently in males than females.