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The Bulldog
Because English Bulldogs are a Man-Made Breed their physical
structure has forced them into requiring special care. This page
contains the most common and should be attended to ensure a
happy healthy Bulldog.
Exercise
English Bulldogs are considered the Lazy Man's Breed. Minimal
exercise is all that is needed for them to remain healthy.
Although it is important to give them a walk every day, try not to
travel long distances (around the block is good) and try not to
walk the Bulldog in extreme heat and/or humidity. English
Bulldogs are very susceptible to overheating. Be sure to always
have fresh water available to them. English Bulldogs have a very
small trachea (throat opening) and because of this it is not
uncommon for them to hack and cough after they run - this is
due to a build up of saliva/mucous that accumulates in their
throat. Most times they cough it out and they are okay, but if they
continue to choke, you may want to squirt a little concentrated
lemon juice into their throat. The lemon juice breaks up the
mucous allowing them to breathe better.
Socializing
Please don't kennel an English bulldog. English Bulldogs are
people dogs - they love the company of humans and are
happiest when sleeping near and hanging around their master.
Kenneling or caging for short periods of time (housebreaking,
running to the store, etc.) is okay - just not all the time. Treat and
care for them as if they were your own child. The more your
English Bulldog is exposed to humans the better his/her
confidence and disposition will develop.
You should never leave your bulldog unattended for long periods
in a backyard etc. This can be dangerous for your dog. They
could get into dangerous situations that you may not realize until
it's too late. Also English Bulldogs are expensive making them
prime candidates for thieves.
Grooming your Bulldog
Brushing
Brushing is very important in the care of your English Bulldog.
This removes dust, traces of dirt or soil, and dead hair. It is
recommended that they be brushed once a day. Since Bulldog's
have sensitive skin and short fur, brushing the bulldog should
be done with a soft bristled brush or comb. It is preferred that
using a brush with round plastic balls at the end of each bristle
be used. Run the brush against your own skin - if it hurts or
stings, chances are it will feel the same to your bulldog.
Bathing
Puppies can be bathed when quite young (three months old).
For dogs this age, the room temperature must be 68 degrees
Fahrenheit. Since English Bulldogs are usually indoor dogs, a
bath once every month or two is recommended. You should
bathe your English bulldog in an indoor bathtub. Avoid bathing
your dog too much as this takes away the natural oils in the skin
that the dog needs to regulate its body temperature. Taking
away these oils makes the dog susceptible to the cold as well
as parasites. It takes approximately 6 weeks for this natural oil
to fully return to the skin and coat, therefore, it is wise to use
special dog shampoo that contains parasite repellents. Avoid
shampoo's and toilet soaps made for humans. A PH balanced
baby shampoo that does not sting the eyes is okay if used only
occasionally. When bathing your bulldog avoid getting the
shampoo in his/her eyes and ears. Cotton swabs in the ears
can be used as a precaution. Use warm water (95 degrees F)
and wet the dog from head to tail. Apply shampoo and begin
washing in the neck area first and work your way to the tail (this
technique prevents fleas, if any, from traveling to the head
region).
Washing under the Bulldog's tail is also important, especially if
the tail is a corkscrew shape. If the dog's tail is very tight, use a
Q Tip to get under it. Washing between the dog's toes is also
very important. Dirt and/or bacteria caught between the toes can
cause an infection. Rinse off the dog making sure to remove all
shampoo. If necessary repeat the entire process. Once you have
finished rinsing the dog, without delay take the dog out of the
bathtub and dry the dog off vigorously with a warm towel. You
can use a hair dryer (set to medium) to finish the drying process
if you prefer. If the weather is cold, please allow the dog to
remain in the house for several hours before allowing him/her to
go outside. In hot weather, dry the dog as best you can and
allow the dog to shake themselves off outside.
Face
Because of the structure of the bulldog's face, special attention
must be taken. Between the folds of skin should be cleaned at
least once a week. It is possible that an infection could occur
between these folds if dirt filled with bacteria linger. Washing
with dog soap and water on a Q Tip or cotton ball will do. Be
sure to dry this area when done so that moisture is not allowed
to be trapped - this can also cause an infection or irritation. If an
infection becomes apparent, treat with Sudocreme or
Neosporin. If it is just irritated, apply some Vaseline or better yet,
Desitin.
If your Bulldog has a white or light colored face, tear stains may
become a problem. This may be attributed to the red coloring
in the food he's eating but this is not always the case, some
bulldogs produce red tears and some don't, those with white
faces will have these stains more than dark colored faces.
Several manufacturers make solutions (for example; Crystal
Clear and Diamond Eye) which can be applied using a Q tip or
cotton swab to remove this staining. In my experience these
products only lighten the stains and don't ever rid the stains
unless you find the main cause of the tear stains and solve that
problem first, the stains only return and sometimes return worse
than before. You can do one of two possibilities to completely
remove the tear stains;
1) A daily wipe with "Optrex" eye lotion wash will help. Optrex
may be found at your local Pharmacy or purchased through
internet pharmaceutical stores. Optrex contains boric acid and
witch-hazel which will break up the stain and will not harm the
dogs eyes as this solution is made specifically for use in the
eyes.
2) Or -- If the Optrex dosen't work, make and use this recipe;
* 2 tsp Milk Of Magnesia (white)
* 3 tsp Peroxide (Human Hair Type - 20 volume)
* 1 tsp Corn Starch
Add all the ingredients above and mix well. If you want to make
the paste thicker, just add a little more corn starch but be careful
not to use too much that you turn the remedy into a powder. Only
make enough for one application. Clean and dry the stained
area and apply this paste to the tear stains using a clean cotton
swab or Q tip and avoid getting it into the dog's eyes - let dry
overnight. Wash off the paste and condition the area - dry with
cloth. Lastly, apply a thin coat of one of the following: Desitin,
Boric Acid Ointment or Bag Balm to prevent a possible rash.
Repeat this process every day until the stains are gone. It is
recommended that if the stains don't disappear by the second
application; take a 1 day break before starting treatment again.
This is just to give your dog a break. Once the tear stains are
removed you can limit the number of treatments down to once a
week depending on how fast the tear stains may return.
3) And -- Add 1 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar per quart of
water to dogs water bowl. This is supposed to adjust the PH of
the dog's body and prevent staining from tears or saliva. This is
also said to discourage fleas. At first you may want to start with
smaller doses of vinegar and work your way up to the 1
teaspoon per quart - this adjusts the dog into accepting the
water for drinking.
4) And/or-- Add Tylan (an amount equivalent to a match head) to
dog's food a few times a week. This will keep the area dry and
stain free.
Ears
Use a Q Tip with antiseptic to clean the inside of the bulldog's
ears. Never use soap and water. 60% Alcohol or ether can
alsobe used. This is important as the dog's ears get very dirty.
Onlyuse the Q Tip in areas that you can visually see, in other
words,don't shove the Q Tip way inside the dog's ear. This
cleaning should be done at least once a week. Look for ear
mites andticks when cleaning the ears.
If ear mites are present, you will
need to treat the dog with Miticide. Ticks can be removed by
dripping drops of alcohol on them. Visit a Veterinarian if you
don't want to remove these parasites yourself.
Nose
Occasionally the Bulldog's nose may dry out. To prevent this,
ruba little Vaseline on his/her nose. I do this once a week
whetherthey need it or not.
Paws
Clean and check your dog's paws often. Make sure there is
nogravel lodged in the pad, no thorns between the toes, and no
chewing gum stuck on the sole of the paw. If you see that your
dog spends hours licking his/her paw, check the paw to see the
problem. Remove the cause of the discomfort, or if you see a
cyst and/or infection between toes, take the dog to a veterinarian.
Teeth
Check the condition of your dog's teeth once a week. If you like,
you can clean the dog's teeth with a damp cloth soaked in
baking soda solution or lemon juice. There are actual
toothpastes on the market made especially for dogs. I found that
you really don't need to brush your dog's teeth as long as you
supply them with things to chew on; chew toys, steak bones,
rawhide bones, etc. Their teeth will naturally cut and clean if you
do this. Feeding your dog dry food also helps. If you feed your
dog wet food ONLY you may want to consider brushing the dog's
teeth.
Nails
As needed, clip the dog's toe nails. If they are left unclipped,
accidental injury to others and to the bulldog may occur when
the dog plays etc. If your bulldog walks on hard surfaces, such
as sidewalks every day, its nails will be worn down naturally. If
your dog does not walk on hard surfaces (carpets etc.) or
seldom goes for walks outside, make sure the dog's nails do
not grow to long. Clipping nails is not as simple as it sounds.
There is a risk of bleeding if not done right. Be sure not to cut the
quick (this is the vein that runs up inside the nail from the toe). If
your dog has white nails, the quick is easy to see and you can
trim the nails with clippers. Cut the nail approximately 2
millimeters above the quick.
If your dog's nails are dark, seeing the quick will be difficult,
therefore, make several small cuts until you see a small black
spot appear in the center of the nail and then stop cutting. If by
chance you accidentally cut the quick you can use silver nitrate to
stop the bleeding. Take your bulldog to a Dog Groomer or
Veterinarian if you are uncomfortable doing this task yourself. If
the dog's nails are grown curling past the pads of the toes, then
they need to be clipped. Be sure to always check the Dew Claw
as this nail never actually touches the ground; therefore, this nail
always needs to be cut at some point. If you are using a
guillotine type clipper always clip the nail with the cutting blade
facing away from the paw and the nameplate and screw toward
the paw. Place your bulldog on a table to clip his/her nails. Dogs
tend not to struggle in this situation, making the clipping
process much easier.
Many medications can be administered by you at home. Just be
sure that all medications are cleared by your vet and that you
provide the correct doses. To administer pills to your Bulldog,
put your hand under the Bulldog's chin and place your index
finger and your thumb on opposite sides of his/her mouth.
Firmly press the dog's lips against the teeth. This technique will
force the dog to open its mouth. Once the mouth is open, place
the pill on the back of the tongue and then quickly close the
dog's mouth. Hold the mouth shut and massage the bulldog's
neck. This helps to ensure the pill gets swallowed. I find it
easier to just wrap a morsel of meat or processed cheese
around the pill and let the bulldog eat it on his/her own. To
administer liquid medications, the same technique above is
used with the exception that the liquid should be squirted on the
tongue by use of a syringe (without needle of course).
Dewoming
Your dog can be infected with worms. Some worms you may
visually see in your dog's feces. The most common are
Hookworms and Roundworms. Others you may not see such as
Heartworms and Tapeworms. It is important to rid and/or protect
your dog from these worms. There are several worming
medications on the market that will take care of all these worms.
Of all the worms, Heartworms are the most dangerous to your
dog. Heartworms wrap themselves around the dog's heart and
can eventually cause death. Heartworm medication must be
prescribed by a veterinarian. The easiest thing to do is to get the
medication that will not only destroy and prevent Heartworms but
all the worms. Be sure to give your bulldog this worming
medication as prescribed all year round for the life of your dog.
Fleas & Ticks
Fleas and ticks are one of the most common of parasites that
can hurt your dog. Both fleas and ticks are blood suckers and
depending on the size of your dog a large infestation of one or
both of these parasites can make your dog ill and even cause
death. Your veterinarian can provide you with medication that
can rid and/or prevent your dog of fleas and ticks. Pet shops and
stores selling pet supplies also sell over the counter flea and
tick products - collars, liquids and sprays. Although some of
these work well, they tend not to last very long so you may want
to consider what type of product or medication you may want to
use.
Brewers Yeast with garlic is also a deterrent. These tablets tend
to ward off fleas and ticks because of the garlic in the blood
stream. The Brewers yeast is good for the dog's coat. Most dogs
love the taste of them and will eat the tablets without a problem.
Give 1 tablet per 10 pounds of body weight per day. Brewers
Yeast tablets are safe and can be used in conjunction with any
other flea medication or repellent you are using.
Vitamins
Giving your bulldog vitamins is important. There are several
manufacturers that provide a variety of vitamins for your dog.
There are skin and coat supplements as well as weight loss
tablets. Find the type you need or like best and use them daily. I
like to use the product called "Vita Dog". This vitamin is in paste
form and all my bulldogs love the taste so squirting a little on the
tongue is easily done.
Diarrhea
Your bulldog may experience diarrhea. Diarrhea is not a
disease but possibly a symptom of many other diseases. Most
of the time diarrhea is not serious. Usually diarrhea is brought
on by eating garbage or some other nasty morsel. Other minor
causes are stomach or intestinal viruses. You can usually treat
your pet at home for this type of diarrhea. Time is usually the
best cure, but you can give your dog a medicine such as
Kaopectate. Give your dog 0.5 to 1.0 ml per pound of body
weight every 2 to 6 hours. You will need to make sure that your
bulldog does not get dehydrated. You can give him/her a sports
drink in his water dish to guard against loss of nutrients. Do not
feed your dog any table scraps or treats while he/she is
suffering from diarrhea.
Your dog's diarrhea may be serious if any of the following
additional symptoms are present.
* Vomiting * Dehydration
* Loss of appetite * Abdominal pain
* Bloody diarrhea * Watery diarrhea
If the diarrhea is occurring in conjunction with one or more of the
symptoms above, you should bring your bulldog to your
veterinarian for a diagnosis.
At first, your dog will not like being washed, Q tipped, nail
clipped, and medicated, but if you stick to a schedule and do
these things often, your dog will grow to accept these as his
daily life and you will not have a problem with him/her.
Ailments You May Experience With A Bulldog
Itchy Skin
Probably an allergy, possibly the food you are feeding - If this
cannot be controlled by diet then you may need to see your vet.
Cherry Eye
Where the gland under the third eyelid protrudes and looks
rather like a cherry in the corner of the eye. Your vet will need to
remove the gland (some prefer to tuck). Occasionally removal of
the gland causes dry eye.
Entropian
Where the eyelashes have turned inwards and are rubbing
against the eye, again surgery may be required. Don't confuse
this with stray eyelashes that are just growing astray, these can
be plucked with tweezers (you may prefer your vet to do this).
Entropian needs surgery - if left the in-turned lashes will scratch
the cornea and the result will be a severely damaged eye, at
worst blindness or loss of eye.
Conjuntivitis
You will need to obtain a cream from your vet to apply to the
affected eye, repeated bouts of conjunctivitis can cause the dog
to retract the eyeball which in severe cases can lead to
entropian.
Head Shakes
Something like a fit, but effecting just the head, which will
involuntary shake from side to side, sometimes violently enough
to cause their lips to flap. This can be linked to stress which may
cause the blood sugar level to drop enough to trigger the head
shake. Giving some glucose or honey to bring the blood sugar
level back up should help although distraction often stops the
shaking. If you are unable to link the attack to a specific stressful
incident then your bulldog may be suffering and is advisable that
you get your vet to check him over. Note, many vets are
unfamiliar with this breeds specific condition and some
breeders attribute them to a lack of calcium as they are common
in the pregnant or nursing bitch. However please do not give
calcium under normal circumstances as this could effect the
bone formation of your puppy.
Development Problems
Because of the bulldog's rapid growth it is very important that
you keep play and exercise properly managed in the first 9
months, early joint damage could be permanent and may lead
to osteoarthritis, irregular growth in the bones could lead to joint
deformities. Hip/elbow dysphasia is genetic but can be
encouraged via environmental factors (ie: slidey floors, jumping
etc). Fairly often puppy limping will disappear at maturity and is
usually due to the rapid growth spurts or an incorrect diet.
Diet plays a large role in bone development, because of the
rapid growth it is wise to take puppy off of puppy food at 5
months to lower the protein intake. Many dog food
manufactures recommend that puppy stays on the puppy mix for
the first year, but the bulldogs bones don't need such a high
protein intake as it speeds up an already rapid growth and can
lead to development deformities in some cases. The same
applies to calcium, don't give puppy any extra calcium - find a
good well balanced dog food and stick to it.
You can help your dog through his puppy limping or Arthritis
with a natural product called "SeaTone" (Extract of Green Lipped
Mussel). These can be bought at any Pharmacy. Buy the super
strength and give 1 or 2 capsules per day depending on the
severity of the limping, you can either hide the capsule in a treat
or sprinkle over their food (it smells fishy, so they love it).
SeaTone is a natural anti-inflammatory and will help rebuild any
defects in the bone. We give this product to our adult arthritic
dogs and have never had the need to use a prescribed arthritis
drug yet. We have also given it to young pups going through
their "stiff" stages and always give it to any dog that is recovering
from joint surgery (ie: *Ruptured Cruciate Ligament). Remember
though, that any form of limping should be checked out by your
vet, there are many many things that can cause limping (see
above) although in most cases "SeaTone" will help.
Elongated Soft Palate & Other Airway Disorders
Every bulldog has an elongated soft palate, this is because of
the shape of their heads (ie: brachycephalic - short nosed). In
most cases this causes nothing more than snoring, but in
severe cases will cause your bulldog difficulty in breathing. Heat
and exercise will cause loud, gurgly breathing, (commonly
known as "roaring") and your bulldog may appear to be "lazy".
The severity can range from loud breathing when excited,
during/after exercise to total exercise intolerance, regurgitation of
food to permanent breathing difficulties. The condition can be
corrected with surgery and you need to be sure that the vet you
chose to carry out this surgery totally understand brachycephalic
breeds.
Gas
You can sometimes avoid this with diet. Nutro food has almost
totally eliminated the gas problem, but each dog is different.
Charcoal Bonio biscuits are great for a windy dog as the
charcoal will help soak up the internal gasses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Veterinarians
Please try to find a vet that understands the bulldog, this breed
is a hard breed to anaesthetize, so be sure that the vet you have
chosen is aware of this fact and try to only have your bulldog put
under when absolutely necessary. Bulldogs also have very
shallow joint sockets and a vet that is unfamiliar with the breed
may misdiagnose these as joint problems. Almost every
Bulldog will have a slightly elongated soft palate which is why
they snore, this is because of the shape of their heads and
because the entire throat is being stuffed into a space that is too
small in comparison to other breeds - in severe cases it will
restrict your bulldogs ability to breathe and will need surgery
(see above ailments) , but if your dog is comfortable then it's
best to leave it be, so be aware - if your vet informs you that he
needs to resection the soft palate this may not be the case at all.
Bulldogs with severe soft palate problems will overheat easily,
find it very difficult to cope with any form of exercise and may
regurgitate their food. If there are other bulldog owners in your
area ask them who they go to and at least ask your vet what
his/her bulldog experience is.
Because English Bulldogs are a Man-Made Breed their physical
structure has forced them into requiring special care. This page
contains the most common and should be attended to ensure a
happy healthy Bulldog.
Exercise
English Bulldogs are considered the Lazy Man's Breed. Minimal
exercise is all that is needed for them to remain healthy.
Although it is important to give them a walk every day, try not to
travel long distances (around the block is good) and try not to
walk the Bulldog in extreme heat and/or humidity. English
Bulldogs are very susceptible to overheating. Be sure to always
have fresh water available to them. English Bulldogs have a very
small trachea (throat opening) and because of this it is not
uncommon for them to hack and cough after they run - this is
due to a build up of saliva/mucous that accumulates in their
throat. Most times they cough it out and they are okay, but if they
continue to choke, you may want to squirt a little concentrated
lemon juice into their throat. The lemon juice breaks up the
mucous allowing them to breathe better.
Socializing
Please don't kennel an English bulldog. English Bulldogs are
people dogs - they love the company of humans and are
happiest when sleeping near and hanging around their master.
Kenneling or caging for short periods of time (housebreaking,
running to the store, etc.) is okay - just not all the time. Treat and
care for them as if they were your own child. The more your
English Bulldog is exposed to humans the better his/her
confidence and disposition will develop.
You should never leave your bulldog unattended for long periods
in a backyard etc. This can be dangerous for your dog. They
could get into dangerous situations that you may not realize until
it's too late. Also English Bulldogs are expensive making them
prime candidates for thieves.
Grooming your Bulldog
Brushing
Brushing is very important in the care of your English Bulldog.
This removes dust, traces of dirt or soil, and dead hair. It is
recommended that they be brushed once a day. Since Bulldog's
have sensitive skin and short fur, brushing the bulldog should
be done with a soft bristled brush or comb. It is preferred that
using a brush with round plastic balls at the end of each bristle
be used. Run the brush against your own skin - if it hurts or
stings, chances are it will feel the same to your bulldog.
Bathing
Puppies can be bathed when quite young (three months old).
For dogs this age, the room temperature must be 68 degrees
Fahrenheit. Since English Bulldogs are usually indoor dogs, a
bath once every month or two is recommended. You should
bathe your English bulldog in an indoor bathtub. Avoid bathing
your dog too much as this takes away the natural oils in the skin
that the dog needs to regulate its body temperature. Taking
away these oils makes the dog susceptible to the cold as well
as parasites. It takes approximately 6 weeks for this natural oil
to fully return to the skin and coat, therefore, it is wise to use
special dog shampoo that contains parasite repellents. Avoid
shampoo's and toilet soaps made for humans. A PH balanced
baby shampoo that does not sting the eyes is okay if used only
occasionally. When bathing your bulldog avoid getting the
shampoo in his/her eyes and ears. Cotton swabs in the ears
can be used as a precaution. Use warm water (95 degrees F)
and wet the dog from head to tail. Apply shampoo and begin
washing in the neck area first and work your way to the tail (this
technique prevents fleas, if any, from traveling to the head
region).
Washing under the Bulldog's tail is also important, especially if
the tail is a corkscrew shape. If the dog's tail is very tight, use a
Q Tip to get under it. Washing between the dog's toes is also
very important. Dirt and/or bacteria caught between the toes can
cause an infection. Rinse off the dog making sure to remove all
shampoo. If necessary repeat the entire process. Once you have
finished rinsing the dog, without delay take the dog out of the
bathtub and dry the dog off vigorously with a warm towel. You
can use a hair dryer (set to medium) to finish the drying process
if you prefer. If the weather is cold, please allow the dog to
remain in the house for several hours before allowing him/her to
go outside. In hot weather, dry the dog as best you can and
allow the dog to shake themselves off outside.
Face
Because of the structure of the bulldog's face, special attention
must be taken. Between the folds of skin should be cleaned at
least once a week. It is possible that an infection could occur
between these folds if dirt filled with bacteria linger. Washing
with dog soap and water on a Q Tip or cotton ball will do. Be
sure to dry this area when done so that moisture is not allowed
to be trapped - this can also cause an infection or irritation. If an
infection becomes apparent, treat with Sudocreme or
Neosporin. If it is just irritated, apply some Vaseline or better yet,
Desitin.
If your Bulldog has a white or light colored face, tear stains may
become a problem. This may be attributed to the red coloring
in the food he's eating but this is not always the case, some
bulldogs produce red tears and some don't, those with white
faces will have these stains more than dark colored faces.
Several manufacturers make solutions (for example; Crystal
Clear and Diamond Eye) which can be applied using a Q tip or
cotton swab to remove this staining. In my experience these
products only lighten the stains and don't ever rid the stains
unless you find the main cause of the tear stains and solve that
problem first, the stains only return and sometimes return worse
than before. You can do one of two possibilities to completely
remove the tear stains;
1) A daily wipe with "Optrex" eye lotion wash will help. Optrex
may be found at your local Pharmacy or purchased through
internet pharmaceutical stores. Optrex contains boric acid and
witch-hazel which will break up the stain and will not harm the
dogs eyes as this solution is made specifically for use in the
eyes.
2) Or -- If the Optrex dosen't work, make and use this recipe;
* 2 tsp Milk Of Magnesia (white)
* 3 tsp Peroxide (Human Hair Type - 20 volume)
* 1 tsp Corn Starch
Add all the ingredients above and mix well. If you want to make
the paste thicker, just add a little more corn starch but be careful
not to use too much that you turn the remedy into a powder. Only
make enough for one application. Clean and dry the stained
area and apply this paste to the tear stains using a clean cotton
swab or Q tip and avoid getting it into the dog's eyes - let dry
overnight. Wash off the paste and condition the area - dry with
cloth. Lastly, apply a thin coat of one of the following: Desitin,
Boric Acid Ointment or Bag Balm to prevent a possible rash.
Repeat this process every day until the stains are gone. It is
recommended that if the stains don't disappear by the second
application; take a 1 day break before starting treatment again.
This is just to give your dog a break. Once the tear stains are
removed you can limit the number of treatments down to once a
week depending on how fast the tear stains may return.
3) And -- Add 1 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar per quart of
water to dogs water bowl. This is supposed to adjust the PH of
the dog's body and prevent staining from tears or saliva. This is
also said to discourage fleas. At first you may want to start with
smaller doses of vinegar and work your way up to the 1
teaspoon per quart - this adjusts the dog into accepting the
water for drinking.
4) And/or-- Add Tylan (an amount equivalent to a match head) to
dog's food a few times a week. This will keep the area dry and
stain free.
Ears
Use a Q Tip with antiseptic to clean the inside of the bulldog's
ears. Never use soap and water. 60% Alcohol or ether can
alsobe used. This is important as the dog's ears get very dirty.
Onlyuse the Q Tip in areas that you can visually see, in other
words,don't shove the Q Tip way inside the dog's ear. This
cleaning should be done at least once a week. Look for ear
mites andticks when cleaning the ears.
If ear mites are present, you will
need to treat the dog with Miticide. Ticks can be removed by
dripping drops of alcohol on them. Visit a Veterinarian if you
don't want to remove these parasites yourself.
Nose
Occasionally the Bulldog's nose may dry out. To prevent this,
ruba little Vaseline on his/her nose. I do this once a week
whetherthey need it or not.
Paws
Clean and check your dog's paws often. Make sure there is
nogravel lodged in the pad, no thorns between the toes, and no
chewing gum stuck on the sole of the paw. If you see that your
dog spends hours licking his/her paw, check the paw to see the
problem. Remove the cause of the discomfort, or if you see a
cyst and/or infection between toes, take the dog to a veterinarian.
Teeth
Check the condition of your dog's teeth once a week. If you like,
you can clean the dog's teeth with a damp cloth soaked in
baking soda solution or lemon juice. There are actual
toothpastes on the market made especially for dogs. I found that
you really don't need to brush your dog's teeth as long as you
supply them with things to chew on; chew toys, steak bones,
rawhide bones, etc. Their teeth will naturally cut and clean if you
do this. Feeding your dog dry food also helps. If you feed your
dog wet food ONLY you may want to consider brushing the dog's
teeth.
Nails
As needed, clip the dog's toe nails. If they are left unclipped,
accidental injury to others and to the bulldog may occur when
the dog plays etc. If your bulldog walks on hard surfaces, such
as sidewalks every day, its nails will be worn down naturally. If
your dog does not walk on hard surfaces (carpets etc.) or
seldom goes for walks outside, make sure the dog's nails do
not grow to long. Clipping nails is not as simple as it sounds.
There is a risk of bleeding if not done right. Be sure not to cut the
quick (this is the vein that runs up inside the nail from the toe). If
your dog has white nails, the quick is easy to see and you can
trim the nails with clippers. Cut the nail approximately 2
millimeters above the quick.
If your dog's nails are dark, seeing the quick will be difficult,
therefore, make several small cuts until you see a small black
spot appear in the center of the nail and then stop cutting. If by
chance you accidentally cut the quick you can use silver nitrate to
stop the bleeding. Take your bulldog to a Dog Groomer or
Veterinarian if you are uncomfortable doing this task yourself. If
the dog's nails are grown curling past the pads of the toes, then
they need to be clipped. Be sure to always check the Dew Claw
as this nail never actually touches the ground; therefore, this nail
always needs to be cut at some point. If you are using a
guillotine type clipper always clip the nail with the cutting blade
facing away from the paw and the nameplate and screw toward
the paw. Place your bulldog on a table to clip his/her nails. Dogs
tend not to struggle in this situation, making the clipping
process much easier.
Many medications can be administered by you at home. Just be
sure that all medications are cleared by your vet and that you
provide the correct doses. To administer pills to your Bulldog,
put your hand under the Bulldog's chin and place your index
finger and your thumb on opposite sides of his/her mouth.
Firmly press the dog's lips against the teeth. This technique will
force the dog to open its mouth. Once the mouth is open, place
the pill on the back of the tongue and then quickly close the
dog's mouth. Hold the mouth shut and massage the bulldog's
neck. This helps to ensure the pill gets swallowed. I find it
easier to just wrap a morsel of meat or processed cheese
around the pill and let the bulldog eat it on his/her own. To
administer liquid medications, the same technique above is
used with the exception that the liquid should be squirted on the
tongue by use of a syringe (without needle of course).
Dewoming
Your dog can be infected with worms. Some worms you may
visually see in your dog's feces. The most common are
Hookworms and Roundworms. Others you may not see such as
Heartworms and Tapeworms. It is important to rid and/or protect
your dog from these worms. There are several worming
medications on the market that will take care of all these worms.
Of all the worms, Heartworms are the most dangerous to your
dog. Heartworms wrap themselves around the dog's heart and
can eventually cause death. Heartworm medication must be
prescribed by a veterinarian. The easiest thing to do is to get the
medication that will not only destroy and prevent Heartworms but
all the worms. Be sure to give your bulldog this worming
medication as prescribed all year round for the life of your dog.
Fleas & Ticks
Fleas and ticks are one of the most common of parasites that
can hurt your dog. Both fleas and ticks are blood suckers and
depending on the size of your dog a large infestation of one or
both of these parasites can make your dog ill and even cause
death. Your veterinarian can provide you with medication that
can rid and/or prevent your dog of fleas and ticks. Pet shops and
stores selling pet supplies also sell over the counter flea and
tick products - collars, liquids and sprays. Although some of
these work well, they tend not to last very long so you may want
to consider what type of product or medication you may want to
use.
Brewers Yeast with garlic is also a deterrent. These tablets tend
to ward off fleas and ticks because of the garlic in the blood
stream. The Brewers yeast is good for the dog's coat. Most dogs
love the taste of them and will eat the tablets without a problem.
Give 1 tablet per 10 pounds of body weight per day. Brewers
Yeast tablets are safe and can be used in conjunction with any
other flea medication or repellent you are using.
Vitamins
Giving your bulldog vitamins is important. There are several
manufacturers that provide a variety of vitamins for your dog.
There are skin and coat supplements as well as weight loss
tablets. Find the type you need or like best and use them daily. I
like to use the product called "Vita Dog". This vitamin is in paste
form and all my bulldogs love the taste so squirting a little on the
tongue is easily done.
Diarrhea
Your bulldog may experience diarrhea. Diarrhea is not a
disease but possibly a symptom of many other diseases. Most
of the time diarrhea is not serious. Usually diarrhea is brought
on by eating garbage or some other nasty morsel. Other minor
causes are stomach or intestinal viruses. You can usually treat
your pet at home for this type of diarrhea. Time is usually the
best cure, but you can give your dog a medicine such as
Kaopectate. Give your dog 0.5 to 1.0 ml per pound of body
weight every 2 to 6 hours. You will need to make sure that your
bulldog does not get dehydrated. You can give him/her a sports
drink in his water dish to guard against loss of nutrients. Do not
feed your dog any table scraps or treats while he/she is
suffering from diarrhea.
Your dog's diarrhea may be serious if any of the following
additional symptoms are present.
* Vomiting * Dehydration
* Loss of appetite * Abdominal pain
* Bloody diarrhea * Watery diarrhea
If the diarrhea is occurring in conjunction with one or more of the
symptoms above, you should bring your bulldog to your
veterinarian for a diagnosis.
At first, your dog will not like being washed, Q tipped, nail
clipped, and medicated, but if you stick to a schedule and do
these things often, your dog will grow to accept these as his
daily life and you will not have a problem with him/her.
Ailments You May Experience With A Bulldog
Itchy Skin
Probably an allergy, possibly the food you are feeding - If this
cannot be controlled by diet then you may need to see your vet.
Cherry Eye
Where the gland under the third eyelid protrudes and looks
rather like a cherry in the corner of the eye. Your vet will need to
remove the gland (some prefer to tuck). Occasionally removal of
the gland causes dry eye.
Entropian
Where the eyelashes have turned inwards and are rubbing
against the eye, again surgery may be required. Don't confuse
this with stray eyelashes that are just growing astray, these can
be plucked with tweezers (you may prefer your vet to do this).
Entropian needs surgery - if left the in-turned lashes will scratch
the cornea and the result will be a severely damaged eye, at
worst blindness or loss of eye.
Conjuntivitis
You will need to obtain a cream from your vet to apply to the
affected eye, repeated bouts of conjunctivitis can cause the dog
to retract the eyeball which in severe cases can lead to
entropian.
Head Shakes
Something like a fit, but effecting just the head, which will
involuntary shake from side to side, sometimes violently enough
to cause their lips to flap. This can be linked to stress which may
cause the blood sugar level to drop enough to trigger the head
shake. Giving some glucose or honey to bring the blood sugar
level back up should help although distraction often stops the
shaking. If you are unable to link the attack to a specific stressful
incident then your bulldog may be suffering and is advisable that
you get your vet to check him over. Note, many vets are
unfamiliar with this breeds specific condition and some
breeders attribute them to a lack of calcium as they are common
in the pregnant or nursing bitch. However please do not give
calcium under normal circumstances as this could effect the
bone formation of your puppy.
Development Problems
Because of the bulldog's rapid growth it is very important that
you keep play and exercise properly managed in the first 9
months, early joint damage could be permanent and may lead
to osteoarthritis, irregular growth in the bones could lead to joint
deformities. Hip/elbow dysphasia is genetic but can be
encouraged via environmental factors (ie: slidey floors, jumping
etc). Fairly often puppy limping will disappear at maturity and is
usually due to the rapid growth spurts or an incorrect diet.
Diet plays a large role in bone development, because of the
rapid growth it is wise to take puppy off of puppy food at 5
months to lower the protein intake. Many dog food
manufactures recommend that puppy stays on the puppy mix for
the first year, but the bulldogs bones don't need such a high
protein intake as it speeds up an already rapid growth and can
lead to development deformities in some cases. The same
applies to calcium, don't give puppy any extra calcium - find a
good well balanced dog food and stick to it.
You can help your dog through his puppy limping or Arthritis
with a natural product called "SeaTone" (Extract of Green Lipped
Mussel). These can be bought at any Pharmacy. Buy the super
strength and give 1 or 2 capsules per day depending on the
severity of the limping, you can either hide the capsule in a treat
or sprinkle over their food (it smells fishy, so they love it).
SeaTone is a natural anti-inflammatory and will help rebuild any
defects in the bone. We give this product to our adult arthritic
dogs and have never had the need to use a prescribed arthritis
drug yet. We have also given it to young pups going through
their "stiff" stages and always give it to any dog that is recovering
from joint surgery (ie: *Ruptured Cruciate Ligament). Remember
though, that any form of limping should be checked out by your
vet, there are many many things that can cause limping (see
above) although in most cases "SeaTone" will help.
Elongated Soft Palate & Other Airway Disorders
Every bulldog has an elongated soft palate, this is because of
the shape of their heads (ie: brachycephalic - short nosed). In
most cases this causes nothing more than snoring, but in
severe cases will cause your bulldog difficulty in breathing. Heat
and exercise will cause loud, gurgly breathing, (commonly
known as "roaring") and your bulldog may appear to be "lazy".
The severity can range from loud breathing when excited,
during/after exercise to total exercise intolerance, regurgitation of
food to permanent breathing difficulties. The condition can be
corrected with surgery and you need to be sure that the vet you
chose to carry out this surgery totally understand brachycephalic
breeds.
Gas
You can sometimes avoid this with diet. Nutro food has almost
totally eliminated the gas problem, but each dog is different.
Charcoal Bonio biscuits are great for a windy dog as the
charcoal will help soak up the internal gasses.
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Veterinarians
Please try to find a vet that understands the bulldog, this breed
is a hard breed to anaesthetize, so be sure that the vet you have
chosen is aware of this fact and try to only have your bulldog put
under when absolutely necessary. Bulldogs also have very
shallow joint sockets and a vet that is unfamiliar with the breed
may misdiagnose these as joint problems. Almost every
Bulldog will have a slightly elongated soft palate which is why
they snore, this is because of the shape of their heads and
because the entire throat is being stuffed into a space that is too
small in comparison to other breeds - in severe cases it will
restrict your bulldogs ability to breathe and will need surgery
(see above ailments) , but if your dog is comfortable then it's
best to leave it be, so be aware - if your vet informs you that he
needs to resection the soft palate this may not be the case at all.
Bulldogs with severe soft palate problems will overheat easily,
find it very difficult to cope with any form of exercise and may
regurgitate their food. If there are other bulldog owners in your
area ask them who they go to and at least ask your vet what
his/her bulldog experience is.
Care Of Your Bulldog