How old is a pitbull when it stops growing

Here are some of the main tips to make a Pitbull grow up healthy. Here are a few of the main health concerns:. Your Pitbull will stop growing under normal circumstances after they are 3 years old if they are well-nourished, vaccinated, exercised, and well-groomed. Pitbulls will grow faster during the first year of their lives. Generally speaking, you can double your Pitbulls weight after they are 16 weeks old to get an estimate of how much they will weigh. This site does not constitute pet medical advice, please consult a licensed veterinarian in your area for pet medical advice.

Disclaimer Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy. What you feed your Pitbull up to ages 2 to 3 will also determine if he grows perfectly or not. Just like humans, dogs need healthy food to grow.

The nutritional needs of puppies are more pronounced because they need adequate amounts of nutrients to support growth. Pitbulls develop at a high rate during the first year, highlighting the need for extra calories, vitamins, and minerals.

A poor diet also makes Pitbull puppies susceptible to injuries and diseases. While different types of Pitbulls have different adult sizes, the genes play a critical role, as discussed above. Over the decades, dogs have been genetically modified to enhance so many characteristics. This makes it challenging to estimate adult size without having knowledge of the parent's physical characteristics.

If you don't know how big your Pitbull's parents are, your vet can do a test. Injuries also hinder growth. This is common among energetic dogs like Pitbulls, which love all kinds of physical activities that most dogs would avoid. The fragility is worse when he is a few months old. Desexing dogs at a young age has been proven to accelerate their growth i. The process makes growth plates open to growth for a longer time.

While some dog owners believe desexing also results in increased body mass, there's a need for more research on such growth. Offer nutritious dog food : Pitbulls need specific diets packed with all the minerals, vitamins, and adequate amounts of calories to grow. Anything short of a healthy diet will result in poor growth and other problems like increased susceptibility to injuries and disease. Avoid too much activity: As discussed above, Pitbulls are active dogs.

They are bound to be hyperactive as puppies. However, that doesn't mean you should subject them to too much exercise. You should avoid specific exercises like jumping off high ground or furniture as this affects their growth plates more than other dogs. All dogs should be vaccinated at an early stage to protect them from common diseases. It depends on factors like age, diet, spaying, neutering, disease, breed, etc.

Though this is not certain, some experts state that by doubling their weight at four months of age, you can have a close guess of their final adult weight. Since the standard Pitbull is a medium-large sized dog, they have a lot more growing to do in such a short time period. Because of this, you will see changes in their weight and height as each week passes.

In general, the growing process in a Pitbull slows down significantly at the 1 year age mark and stops completely between years of age.

Since the majority of their growing is during the first year of their life, you will see the majority of their physical changes during this age period. Some factors that can also affect the growth in Pitbulls include:. A quality puppy food is important for your growing pup, as they need the extra nutritional support during this period of growth.

During their first year of life, they are developing at a fast rate that requires extra vitamins, calories, and minerals to support their body during this process. If your Pitbull puppy does not receive the nutrition they need, this can put a huge strain on the growing process and make them more susceptible to injury.

Of course, this comes at a price. Veterinary costs as well as tick and flea prevention also enter the picture. At the very least, you will be looking at annual checkups and vaccinations, and regular parasite protection, but if your dog becomes ill, costs can run into thousands of dollars.

Choose a vet-approved product and not just one-off the supermarket shelves. Pitbulls were originally bred from bulldogs and terriers, and their genetic weaknesses can be traced back to their ancestry.

However, they are generally strong dogs with few health problems — provided you choose a reputable breeder who focuses on good genes. Hip dysplasia is a common problem across larger, active breeds, and it is inherited. If it is bad enough, it will drastically reduce the amount of time your dog can enjoy life. Fortunately, puppies can be tested for hip dysplasia and some breeders will provide certification of healthy hips. An underactive thyroid gland , or hypothyroidism, can also be problematic for pitties.

Fortunately, this condition can be treated with supplementary hormones. Ask your vet to test for thyroid issues if your dog starts to gain weight despite a controlled diet, or gets moody. Allergies, sunburn, and skin infections can be a problem too. If you notice sores or skin flakes, be sure to consult your vet to discover and address the cause. Dogs with low pigmentation — those that are white or have a lot of white in their coloring, are more prone to skin problems.

Heart problems are among the issues to have checked out annually. Pitbulls are somewhat prone to this problem, so getting treatment in time can make all the difference. Cataracts are rather common too. Fortunately, this condition need not lead to blindness since it is treatable. Despite this seemingly long litany of ills, many Pitbulls will never develop any of these problems, especially if they are well-cared-for. Overall, the breed is physically strong and likely to deliver a relatively long and happy lifespan in which you can enjoy your time together.

Adriana has been around dogs since she was a little kid. Her dream job has always been becoming a veterinarian. She has been taking care of animals all of her life and she wants to share her experience with other dog lovers. Written by Adriana. When Do Pitbulls Stop Growing? Pitbull Weight Chart This easy-to-use pitbull puppy growth chart lists the average weight of Pitbulls during the first 12 months of their development.

Use a comparison with your own body to gain an idea of what size your pitbull is. Birth — 3 Weeks Like other dogs, newborn pitbull pups can neither see nor hear. Adult Once your dog is over a year old, you can safely call it an adult Pitbull, but it is still gaining bulk in the form of muscle. How Big Do Pitbulls Get?

Review his food. The first thing to look at is the food that you are feeding your Pitbull. Is it appropriate for a Pitbull? How many fillers are in the food? Is it high in protein? If you know the food is healthy, review how much you are feeding your dog and see if you can cut back slightly. Review his treats. Just like with this food, how healthy are the treats that you are giving your dog?

Also, make sure that you are not overdoing it on the treats.