Skin issues
SBT hair is short and more or less prone to issues starting from scratches and irritation to bacterial infections, therefore may require particular care when exposed to aggressive external environment or immunity drops
Health
Skin & fur problems commonly go together with any immune & digestive system issues, but can also happen due to hormonal changes (puberty, estrus, or abnormal processes) or aggressive environmental factors. Among those could be acne, superficial inflammation, partial alopecia (bald patches of skin), etc. Not all of them require specialized treatment, but to conclude whether the treatment is needed or not, you need to understand common correlations between the underlying causes of specific symptoms.
Most often skin & fur problems appear at periods of decreased immunity functions or/and emotional stress (moving to a new home, vaccination, seasonal changes, injuries, and illnesses) and active hormonal changes (puberty, proestrus). Together with partial alopecia (areas of bald skin), during diagnostics, you can often find demodex - it's a part of a normal skin ecosystem, which becomes hyperactive when found a “hole” in the immune system. To avoid its manifestations, it is important to remember the importance of both genetics and home care influences in the formation of functional immunity and not rush to artificially suppress it.
Most often skin & fur problems appear at periods of decreased immunity functions or/and emotional stress (moving to a new home, vaccination, seasonal changes, injuries, and illnesses) and active hormonal changes (puberty, proestrus). Together with partial alopecia (areas of bald skin), during diagnostics, you can often find demodex - it's a part of a normal skin ecosystem, which becomes hyperactive when found a “hole” in the immune system. To avoid its manifestations, it is important to remember the importance of both genetics and home care influences in the formation of functional immunity and not rush to artificially suppress it.
- BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Dermatology 2021
- Update on the role of genetic factors, environmental factors and allergens in canine atopic dermatitis.
- Genetics of inherited skin disorders in dogs. doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2021.105782
- Shared inflammatory and skin-specific gene signatures reveal common drivers of discoid lupus erythematosus in canines, humans and mice. doi: 10.1016/j.crimmu.2021.03.003
- Impact of Nutritional Supplementation on Canine Dermatological Disorders. doi: 10.3390/vetsci7020038
- García-Fonticoba, R., Ferrer, L., Francino, O. and Cusco, A., 2020. Skin microbiome in healthy dogs: from the surface to the inner layers.
- Fröhlich, E. and Wahl, R., 2019. Microbiota and thyroid interaction in health and disease. Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism.
- Gao, J., Xu, K., Liu, H., Liu, G., Bai, M., Peng, C., Li, T. and Yin, Y., 2018. Impact of the gut microbiota on intestinal immunity mediated by tryptophan metabolism. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology.
- Kelly, J.R., Kennedy, P.J., Cryan, J.F., Dinan, T.G., Clarke, G. and Hyland, N.P., 2015. Breaking down the barriers: the gut microbiome, intestinal permeability and stress-related psychiatric disorders. Frontiers in cellular neuroscience.
References
More info
More about Staffordshire bull terrier
Blue in SBT
Behind the beauty and popularity of blue colour Staffordshire bull terriers hide much more serious problems with health, quality of life and profitable business for backyard unethical breeders.
Immunity & allergies
Functional potential of dog's immunity consists of hereditary immunity (maternal), artificial (vaccinations) and gained (care and experience).
Nowadays there are many ways to get in touch with a reputable breeder. One way would be through your local Kennel Club and Breed Club, or by your own research or social media. Remember to carefully research such topics as health testing in SBT, find some insights on the chosen line and do not forget to consider parents temperament.
Average prices may vary depending on your location and chosen breeder, but usually they are somewhere between 1500 eur. and 2500 eur.
Reputable breeders always have pedigrees/passports for their puppies and do not charge for them extra. If the pedigree is absent or not offered, there must be a reason for it like lack of dog’s Kennel Club registration, individual restrictions from Kennel Club, not done tests or other requirements.
Reputable breeders always have pedigrees/passports for their puppies and do not charge for them extra. If the pedigree is absent or not offered, there must be a reason for it like lack of dog’s Kennel Club registration, individual restrictions from Kennel Club, not done tests or other requirements.
It is hard to be sure what character your future puppy will have when he matures. This can be influenced by many factors: genetics, lifestyle, socialization and training, individual experience with the world, and even health. But overall SBT can be described as high drive all-round dogs, bold, fearless, and passionate lovers, who know for sure how to enjoy this life and to get the most out of life, but may be selective or even aggressive when it comes to other animals and dogs. We looked deeper into it in our about breed section.
First of all, each dog is an individual with it’s own character and preferences, and not only genetics, but both training and life experience too can make a big impact on adult dog’s behaviour. However, when it comes to genetic part and statistics, Staffordshire bull terrier tend to be pretty good with kids (and normally counted as +1 eternal kid in the family), but selective with dogs and other animals. You can learn more about Staffordshire bull terrier temperament here, but best is to meet different breed representatives in life.
Staffordshire bull terrier is a relatively healthy breed with a low percentage of breed-specific genetic diseases currently present. However, other genetic diseases and not breed-specific conditions still need to be considered, and puppy buyers must carefully research the topic. We discussed more on health topic here.
A proper start is very much helpful when starting a new chapter with your puppy. You can learn some of the most essential steps on how to prepare your house, your family, and yourself here.
