| An American Staffordshire Terrier is not one of the | | | | the dogs' chest area with a stethoscope. |
| most healthy and hearty of dog breeds, and | | | | A septal defect is a condition in which there is a hole |
| unfortunately the dog has a propensity to suffer | | | | in the heart, which means there is a passageway |
| from some congenital health conditions. Some of the | | | | between the heart chambers which failed to close |
| medical conditions were not known to cause serious | | | | after the dog was born. There are a large number of |
| health problems until recently. Veterinary medicine has | | | | other types of congenital defects that can affect an |
| discovered that the American Staffordshire Terrier is | | | | American Staffordshire Terrier, which can lead to |
| prone to suffer from certain congenital conditions | | | | fatality. If a heart condition is suspected, the dog |
| which are classified under heart disease, particularly | | | | should be taken to the veterinarian immediately for |
| congenital heart disease. The condition is referred to | | | | examination. An owner should be aware of the fact |
| as CHD, is present from the time the puppy is born; | | | | that an American Staffordshire Terrier can also die |
| it differs from Acquired Heart disease which is a | | | | without having shown any outward signs of CHD or |
| condition that develops later on in life. While CHD is a | | | | other congenital heart conditions. Regular veterinary |
| rarity, it can lead to serious heart failure and death in | | | | check-ups should always be done to monitor or |
| the dog. | | | | detect any hidden defects the dog may have and |
| Heart failure is a result of when the heart is unable to | | | | can result in the dogs' life being saved. |
| meet the body's demands for blood because it | | | | There are a variety of conditions that are considered |
| cannot pump normally. The problem with pumping can | | | | to be CHD. One example is a condition called Patent |
| result in a backing up of blood to other vital organs | | | | Ductus Arteriosus, which happens when small blood |
| of the body and can include the lungs and heart as | | | | vessels which connect two major arteries in the |
| well. Blood vessels are constricted and commonly the | | | | heart do not close after the dog is born. The small |
| dog experiences an increased blood pressure. When | | | | blood vessel is imperative during fetal development |
| there is pressure from blood in the vessels, fluid can | | | | because it bypasses the immature lungs which are |
| leak and accumulate in body tissues and the lungs can | | | | not yet able to oxygenate the blood properly. When |
| become congested, which can also happen in the | | | | the vessel stays open after the dog is born, the |
| liver. Signs of CHD can be difficult to pinpoint | | | | condition prohibits the blood from circulating normally. |
| particularly when presenting in the early stages. Dogs | | | | Another condition is called Pulmonary Stenosis, which |
| can become inactive and can cough after a period of | | | | results in the blood from the right side of the heart |
| strenuous activity; these can be warning signs of | | | | being unable to flow normally to the lungs due to |
| CHD. A dog may also become lethargic, lose weight, | | | | narrowing. Perhaps the most common canine |
| may faint, pant rapidly and exhibit a swollen abdomen | | | | condition of all CHD defects would be Aortic |
| when suffering from CHD. Sometimes CHD can cause | | | | Stenosis, which occurs when blood from the left side |
| a fluctuation in the blood flow through the heart and | | | | of the heart cannot reach the rest of the body. |
| a vet can hear noises of turbulence when listening to | | | | |