“...with 577 Staffords having been evaluated using hip x-rays, 17.2% ARE RATED ABNORMAL (DYSPLASTIC), AND 80.4% HAVE BOTH HIPS GRADED NORMAL.”
over-feeing a puppy into too-rapid growth, may be partially to blame as well, especial- ly if a genetic tendency is present. Injury to the joint might also be a cause. Depending upon the age of the dog, the actual cause, and the severity of the symptoms, treat- ment can include modalities ranging from anti-inflammatories medications up to surgery. According to the latest OFA statis- tics (2012), with 217 Sta ff ords having been evaluated using elbow x-rays, 16.6% of these Sta ff ords have elbow dysplasia, while 82.9% are rated as having normal elbows. Hereditary (Juvenile) Cataract Hereditary (Juvenile) Cataract is a hereditary condition that causes an opac- ity or cloudiness to develop in the lens of a dog’s eyes at a relatively early age. Although the eyes are normal at birth, bilateral cataracts form usually by several months of age. Th is condition often pro- gresses rapidly, leading to total blindness by three years of age. Surgery (canine lens extraction using phacoemulsification) can be used to restore sight to the a ff ected dog; however, it has only a 75% long term suc- cess rate in restoring useful vision. Heredi- tary cataract is now known to be transmit- ted by means of an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. A simple DNA test, using a small sample of the dog’s blood, is now available which will identify carriers, clears, and a ff ecteds for this condition in the Sta ff ordshire Bull Terrier. A dog who is a carrier has one copy of the mutated gene, but does not itself show signs of the disease. Th e a ff ected dog has both mutated copies of the gene and develops cataracts, while the clear dog has two normal genes. A carrier, if bred to another carrier, will produce on average one a ff ected puppy, two carriers, and one clear puppy for every
four puppies produced. By using the new DNA test, breeders can test their breed- ing stock, and, based upon this test, breed appropriately to prevent a ff ected puppies from being produced. With limited testing in the U.S. approximately 8% of all U.S. Sta ff ords tested for Hereditary Cataract have been shown to be carriers when this test was first widely introduced in 2007. Hip Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia is a crippling condition in which laxness in the hip joint causes premature breakdown of the cartilage lining, leading to arthritis. Th e tendency to hip dysplasia can be passed on from one generation to the next; researchers believe that it is a polygenic-based disor- der, having more than one causative gene. Symptoms may include di ffi culty jump- ing or using stairs; unusual sti ff ness after exercise; and a peculiar “bunny-hopping” gait. While there is a strong hereditary component to this a ffl iction, many believe environmental factors, such as overfeed- ing leading to too-rapid growth in pup- pies, can cause the condition to progress much more rapidly if a genetic tendency is already present. Often, the e ff ects of mild hip dysplasia are not seen until the dog is middle-age or older, and can be managed by weight control and anti-inflammatory medications. Occasionally, however, pup- pies and young dogs can show symptoms of hip dysplasia which are rapidly pro- gressive and crippling; special surgical techniques have been developed for these dogs to help them lead a more normal and pain-free life. According to the latest OFA statistics (2012), with 577 Sta ff ords hav- ing been evaluated using hip x-rays, 17.2% are rated abnormal (dysplastic), and 80.4% have both hips graded normal. Since this
is at least partially a hereditary condition, careful breeding will reduce its incidence in a breed over time. If both parents have normal hips, there is a lessened possibility for one or more puppies in a litter to be later rated dysplastic. L-2-Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria (L-2-HGA) L-2-HGA is a metabolic condition of Sta ff ordshire Bull Terriers in which a ff ect- ed dogs lack an enzyme to properly break down a metabolic byproduct, an organic acid, L-2-hydroxyglutaric acid. Th is com- pound then builds up in the cerebrospi- nal fluid and plasma of the a ff ected dogs, causing the symptoms of this illness. Cen- tral nervous system symptoms include lack of coordination, tremors, personality disorders, poor learning abilities, and sei- zures. Th ese a ff ected dogs usually excrete high levels of the compound in their urine, hence the term “aciduria”. Unfor- tunately, treatment is entirely symptom- atic; there is no cure. A ff ected dogs often must be euthanized at an early age, and even the more mildly a ff ected will never behave like a “normal dog.” L-2-HGA is now known to be transmitted by means of an autosomal recessive mode of inheri- tance. A simple DNA test, using a small sample of the dog’s blood, is now available which will identify carriers, clears, and a ff ecteds for this condition in the Staf- fordshire Bull Terrier. A dog who is a car- rier has one copy of the mutated gene, but does not itself show signs of the disease. Th e a ff ected dog has both mutated cop- ies of the gene and develops L-2-HGA, while the clear dog has two normal genes. A carrier, if bred to another carrier, will produce on average one a ff ected puppy, two carriers, and one clear puppy for
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