This entry was posted on 2014-03-04 by admin.

The WOOF profiles- English Bulldogs

English Bulldogs, or Bulldog’s, as they are commonly known are fondly looked at as one of the most popular dog breeds of all time. Not requiring too much exercise and being well suited to the ever growing apartment lifestyle of today, you can understand why.

Unfortunately though, due to these pups slightly odd proportions in lots of areas, they are prone to illness and health predispositions. Some of the most common issues seen in Bulldogs are:

Hip and knee problems such as Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a hereditary condition which is the direct result of a poorly formed hip joint. As the joint is ill-fitting, the leg bone shifts too much, causing painful deterioration.

Weight is important in the care of your dog’s hips. Being overweight adds stress to your dog’s joints, specifically to their hip joints. A low-calorie pet food is helpful here especially considering that the bulldog is generally a relatively inactive dog breed.

Poor eyesight and/or cherry eye:

Cherry eye is when a dog’s “third eyelid” slips out of place. It may not happen to both eyes at the same time however if it happens to one eye it is likely to happen to the other at some point. Should you see any watery or thick, abnormal discharge accompanied by a red or pink inflamed area in the corner of their eye, your pup pawing at their eye or excessive redness of the lining of their eyelid, it iss likely to be Cherry eye or its onset. Cherry eye is usually seen in younger dogs between 6 weeks to 2 years

Although it is not clear why, the connective tissue around the tear gland starts to weaken and shift. The movement results in irritation of the gland and swelling which can result in mucous or clear discharge.  It’s possible that the condition can correct itself, but it’s best not to wait. If it doesn’t correct itself, the longer the gland is out of place, the greater the swelling will be. This makes it harder to re-position it and there is also a greater chance it will happen again.

Heatstroke and Cold Sensitivity

(which is linked to)

Breathing problems (sometimes as the result of small windpipes)

Dogs are not able to sweat to cool themselves, therefore their only means of cooling down is to pant. The shorter-nosed breeds cooling mechanism is much less effective making them predisposed to over-heating, and heat stroke.

Excessive panting or barking can cause edema (swelling) in a Bulldogs’ throat and larynx, causing severe respiratory struggles. Your bulldog needs to be accustomed to excitement, crowds and other similar situations from a young age to prevent overreactions later in life. A good trick is to use lemon juice when you bulldog is struggling. Lemon juice is a mucolytic and therefore does a great job of clearing mucus.

Mast cell tumors (cancerous skin tumours) are common and often go undetected in the folds of a bulldogs skin.

Skin infections, Fungal Infections:

Yeast infections grow in warm, moist places such as the groin, armpits, underbelly and skin folds. Some of the signs your bulldog may show include persistent rubbing of the head and ears, a flaky almost waxy black accumulation and an acerbic smell originating from the skin.

You can superficially treat the infection by wiping the affected areas every day with a apple cider vinegar and water mixture; and thereafter take him to the vet who will likely prescribe probiotics. Putting a little apple cider vinegar in their drinking water may help prevent future infections.

Predisposed to to flatulence:

Do not feed your bulldog soy products!! This (and corn products) exacerbate an already prominent issue for bulldogs. Very important in preventing this uncomfortable, unpleasant and unnecessary issue for your dog is choosing the right pet food:

The protein in your dog food should come from a meat by-product, meat by-products are friendlier to your bulldogs digestive system and better provide the basic essentials needed for a fit and healthy dog.

Fibre is essential in ensuring digestion happens at a proper pace, which can lessen loose stool and constipation in bulldogs.

As you can imagine, a large portion of the care of a bulldog relies is in its skin. A bulldogs diet directly affects their coat and skin and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids support both healthy coats and skin. Therefore it is essential to find a pet food rich in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.