The Alapaha is a very striking looking dog boasting a long life span which can be anything up to 15 years when well cared for. These sturdy looking canines like many other pure breeds, are prone to suffer from certain health issues which includes Entropian, but they are also predisposed to other eye disorders as well as certain hereditary conditions and acquired ones too.

If you are thinking about getting a puppy, it cannot be stressed strongly enough the importance of contacting a reputable breeder who only uses health dogs and bitches in their breeding programmes which reduces the risk of any puppies developing a congenital or hereditary disorder. However, knowing that your pet may develop one of them means you are able to recognise the first signs there may be something wrong and this in turn means the prognosis is typically that much better. Below, is a list of the more common health issues seen in the Alapaha.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a condition that affects a dog's hips and which is caused by an abnormal development in their joints. The disorder typically affects larger dog breeds including the Alapaha although all dogs are susceptible to developing the condition. It's a very painful disorder that causes dogs to be constantly lame which needs to be treated as soon as any sign there may a problem is detected.

Entropion

This is a very painful condition where a dog's eyelashes turn inwards and which needs to be treated as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage to a dog's eye and to avoid any unnecessary pain and suffering.

Cherry Eye

Cherry Eye is another painful condition that affects a dog's third eyelid. The cause is not known but vets usually recommend surgery as soon as possible to prevent any infection taking hold and again, the earlier the condition is diagnosed, the better the outcome. If dogs develop the condition in one eye, it's really important to make sure the other eye does not get affected too.

Congenital Deafness

Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs are also predisposed to suffering from congenital deafness which is why breeders should never use any lines known to suffer from the condition in their breeding programmes. Dogs with the condition live perfectly normal lives but owners need to be aware of their pet's deafness so they can make sure any commands given can be seen by them.

Skin Allergies

The breed is also known to suffer from certain skin conditions which need to be treated sooner rather than later and then managed to prevent them from recurring which is often the case with any sort of allergy. Vets would need to establish just what triggers an allergy before recommending the right type of treatment to control and manage it. This often means frequent return visits to the vet to check on a dog's progress and to make sure the treatment is effectively treating the condition.

Obesity

Because of their build, the Alapaha is also prone to putting on too much weight which can lead to all sorts of other health issues including heart disease. This is why it's so important to keep a close eye on their diet and to make sure they get adequate and regular exercise which goes a long way in extending their lives.

Conclusion

If you are thinking about sharing your home with an Alapaha puppy, it's really important to contact a reputable breeder making sure they only use healthy dogs and bitches in their breeding programmes. Although there is never any guarantee that a puppy would not develop a congenital or hereditary disorder because the "bad" genes are very capable of skipping a few generations, it does reduce the risk of this happening. Knowing there is a chance of a dog developing a condition helps owners recognise early signs there may be something wrong and the sooner a health issue is diagnosed and treated, the better the prognosis.