BULLDOG HEALTH CARE
THE MOTTO
Patience, Care, Compassion and Education
Patience-God give us the patience so that we may apply what we have learned.
Care-To care enough about our neighbours, companions, family and friends to share the knowledge gathered about our passion(English Bulldogs)
Compassion-To understand and assist in alleviating the misunderstandings regarding English Bulldogs
Education-To Educate and inform oneself as much as possible about the things we enjoy in life(English Bulldogs)
KEEPING THOSE WRINKLES CLEAN
One of the things we love most about our Bulldogs is those squishy wrinkly faces. Sometimes the overdone Bulldog will require a lot more time daily cleaning those folds. What we do to keep our Bulldogs looking their best and keeping those tear stains away.
1. Clean your bullys face daily with unscented baby wipes.
2. Forget those Diamond eye and tears staining removal products they rarely work. SUDORUB is a UK made diaper rash cream that will prevent as well as clear up tear stains and keep the large nose rolls free of bacteria and the red tear staining. This WORKS EVER-TIME and we have great success with it. This remedy was accidentally discovered by mum and she swears by it and used it for years, She always seems to find these great tips and tricks. Our own vet even recommends it now over Penaten.
THE MOTTO
Patience, Care, Compassion and Education
Patience-God give us the patience so that we may apply what we have learned.
Care-To care enough about our neighbours, companions, family and friends to share the knowledge gathered about our passion(English Bulldogs)
Compassion-To understand and assist in alleviating the misunderstandings regarding English Bulldogs
Education-To Educate and inform oneself as much as possible about the things we enjoy in life(English Bulldogs)
KEEPING THOSE WRINKLES CLEAN
One of the things we love most about our Bulldogs is those squishy wrinkly faces. Sometimes the overdone Bulldog will require a lot more time daily cleaning those folds. What we do to keep our Bulldogs looking their best and keeping those tear stains away.
1. Clean your bullys face daily with unscented baby wipes.
2. Forget those Diamond eye and tears staining removal products they rarely work. SUDORUB is a UK made diaper rash cream that will prevent as well as clear up tear stains and keep the large nose rolls free of bacteria and the red tear staining. This WORKS EVER-TIME and we have great success with it. This remedy was accidentally discovered by mum and she swears by it and used it for years, She always seems to find these great tips and tricks. Our own vet even recommends it now over Penaten.
BULLDOGS COAT AND SKIN
Bulldogs have very sensitive coats, the wrong diet can make your bullys coat dull and even crate skin complaints. If you are feeding a TOP quality diet (please visit our What we feed page) but still having problems with your bullys coat it maybe allergies, hot spots, Dermatitis,yeast infections,dandruff the list can go on. We do several things to keep our Bulldogs coats shiny and healthy.
1. Giving Salmon oil once a day (providing your bulldog is not allergic to fish)
2. Cooked Eggs are a wonderful source of protein for your Bulldog.
3.Supplementation with certain Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids can help support a sleek, healthy coat and supple skin. Flaxseed oil in small doses is the best way to achieve the Omega 3s and 6 not only improves a dog's skin and coat but also bolsters the immune system, lowers cholesterol levels and acts as a natural anti-inflammatory agent.
If you are having problems with Hot Spots,warts or even cuts, scrapes and bug bites we use a show product called CHRIS CHRISTENSEN PEACE AND KINDNESS Colloidal Silver Spray. It quickly stops the itching and bald patches grow back very quickly. You can even purchase BITTER APPLE Spay for hot spots.
Bulldogs have very sensitive coats, the wrong diet can make your bullys coat dull and even crate skin complaints. If you are feeding a TOP quality diet (please visit our What we feed page) but still having problems with your bullys coat it maybe allergies, hot spots, Dermatitis,yeast infections,dandruff the list can go on. We do several things to keep our Bulldogs coats shiny and healthy.
1. Giving Salmon oil once a day (providing your bulldog is not allergic to fish)
2. Cooked Eggs are a wonderful source of protein for your Bulldog.
3.Supplementation with certain Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids can help support a sleek, healthy coat and supple skin. Flaxseed oil in small doses is the best way to achieve the Omega 3s and 6 not only improves a dog's skin and coat but also bolsters the immune system, lowers cholesterol levels and acts as a natural anti-inflammatory agent.
If you are having problems with Hot Spots,warts or even cuts, scrapes and bug bites we use a show product called CHRIS CHRISTENSEN PEACE AND KINDNESS Colloidal Silver Spray. It quickly stops the itching and bald patches grow back very quickly. You can even purchase BITTER APPLE Spay for hot spots.
PNEUMONIA AND BULLDOGS
Nearly all Bulldogs have a smaller diameter trachea (windpipe) than other dogs.
The hypoplastic trachea is excessively narrowed and grows as your Bulldog grows, it can take a year to finish developing. Elongated Soft Palate is also another common concern with a Bulldog that they are born with and they usually outgrow when they are adults and we would not recommend a soft palate surgery before a Bulldog is fully matured and only when absolutely necessary.
This creates the problem of creating additional negative pressure from the trachea making Bulldogs more prone to aspiration, Aspiration then causes pneumonia which the smaller trachea then makes more difficult to clear. Pneumonia can also be a direct cause of Kennel Cough "Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis" which is a airborne virus, If treated quickly it can easily be cured. It can also be contracted by an allergic reaction to vaccines.
Pneumonia can also be contracted at the following
Dog Shows, Dog Groomers, Training Classes,Veterinary Clinics,Contact of any kind with other dogs,Out on walks Passing Dogs in the street. we do NOT recommend DOG PARKS at any age for walking your Bulldog, You have no idea the health history of the dogs your puppy/adult is being introduced to.
There are several ways to prevent Pneumonia, never let your bulldog inhale their food, you can purchase a ball which can be placed into their food bowl which is what we do with our puppies or you can even purchase a slow feeding food bowl designed to slow down your bulldog eating. Never Let you Bulldog out in the cold for too long as they can also develop wet lungs very fast.
Symptoms of Pneumonia
Frequent coughing with mucus,secretions Nasal discharge, Difficulty in breathing, Fever Wheezing or panting, Dehydration, Loss of appetite,Lethargic behaviour. If you have discovered your Bulldog has Pneumonia along with your vet recommendations we have cured this virus using Neutralizers, which contain antibiotic medicines, We also provide supplemental Oxygen if needed. Steam showers also help clear the lungs. Apo-Furosemide (which can be prescribed by the Vet) removes excessive water from the lungs. Lasix/Salix in moderation can also be used to clear fluid from the lungs in conjunction with a strong antibiotic such as Orbax or Zeniquin (These medications are not recommended in puppies under 1 year old due to growing bones and a lot of vets will not prescribe it to young dogs however in a life and death situation we have used these before with no development problems in the future on a 2-3 week dose max. Home remedies (homeopathy) such as Lemon juice, dandelions can also be used with great success. If you do have a Bulldog and are struggling to cure Pneumonia you may contact us for more information.
Nearly all Bulldogs have a smaller diameter trachea (windpipe) than other dogs.
The hypoplastic trachea is excessively narrowed and grows as your Bulldog grows, it can take a year to finish developing. Elongated Soft Palate is also another common concern with a Bulldog that they are born with and they usually outgrow when they are adults and we would not recommend a soft palate surgery before a Bulldog is fully matured and only when absolutely necessary.
This creates the problem of creating additional negative pressure from the trachea making Bulldogs more prone to aspiration, Aspiration then causes pneumonia which the smaller trachea then makes more difficult to clear. Pneumonia can also be a direct cause of Kennel Cough "Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis" which is a airborne virus, If treated quickly it can easily be cured. It can also be contracted by an allergic reaction to vaccines.
Pneumonia can also be contracted at the following
Dog Shows, Dog Groomers, Training Classes,Veterinary Clinics,Contact of any kind with other dogs,Out on walks Passing Dogs in the street. we do NOT recommend DOG PARKS at any age for walking your Bulldog, You have no idea the health history of the dogs your puppy/adult is being introduced to.
There are several ways to prevent Pneumonia, never let your bulldog inhale their food, you can purchase a ball which can be placed into their food bowl which is what we do with our puppies or you can even purchase a slow feeding food bowl designed to slow down your bulldog eating. Never Let you Bulldog out in the cold for too long as they can also develop wet lungs very fast.
Symptoms of Pneumonia
Frequent coughing with mucus,secretions Nasal discharge, Difficulty in breathing, Fever Wheezing or panting, Dehydration, Loss of appetite,Lethargic behaviour. If you have discovered your Bulldog has Pneumonia along with your vet recommendations we have cured this virus using Neutralizers, which contain antibiotic medicines, We also provide supplemental Oxygen if needed. Steam showers also help clear the lungs. Apo-Furosemide (which can be prescribed by the Vet) removes excessive water from the lungs. Lasix/Salix in moderation can also be used to clear fluid from the lungs in conjunction with a strong antibiotic such as Orbax or Zeniquin (These medications are not recommended in puppies under 1 year old due to growing bones and a lot of vets will not prescribe it to young dogs however in a life and death situation we have used these before with no development problems in the future on a 2-3 week dose max. Home remedies (homeopathy) such as Lemon juice, dandelions can also be used with great success. If you do have a Bulldog and are struggling to cure Pneumonia you may contact us for more information.
DIARRHEA AND VOMITING
The most common causes of Diarrhea and Vomiting in puppies is Change in diet,Stress,Overfeeding even chill. To help fix this problem we cut back in food and feed only boiled ground beef and rice, it usually cures the problem within 24 hours. Make sure your Bulldog has access to plenty of fresh water as side affects of diarrhea can cause dehydration.
Diarrhea can also be a symptom of other problems such as parasites like Giardia and Coccidia this will require medical treatment the best cue for such parasites is Sulfadimethoxine which is commonly known as Albon or Panacur. There is also a herbal treatment for Coccidia and Giardia called Kocci Free by (amber Technology) We have found their herbal treatments to work very well and very quickly with our Bulldogs.
Symptoms of Coccidia and Giardia
Loose mucous stools, Diarrhea (often green/red in color), Malodorous stool Soft, light coloured, greasy stools Abdominal tenderness, Gas Bloating, Listlessness, Weight loss, Dehydration, Fever, Vomiting.
The most common causes of Diarrhea and Vomiting in puppies is Change in diet,Stress,Overfeeding even chill. To help fix this problem we cut back in food and feed only boiled ground beef and rice, it usually cures the problem within 24 hours. Make sure your Bulldog has access to plenty of fresh water as side affects of diarrhea can cause dehydration.
Diarrhea can also be a symptom of other problems such as parasites like Giardia and Coccidia this will require medical treatment the best cue for such parasites is Sulfadimethoxine which is commonly known as Albon or Panacur. There is also a herbal treatment for Coccidia and Giardia called Kocci Free by (amber Technology) We have found their herbal treatments to work very well and very quickly with our Bulldogs.
Symptoms of Coccidia and Giardia
Loose mucous stools, Diarrhea (often green/red in color), Malodorous stool Soft, light coloured, greasy stools Abdominal tenderness, Gas Bloating, Listlessness, Weight loss, Dehydration, Fever, Vomiting.
HOW CAN A BULLDOG PUPPY GET CODDIDIA OR GIARDIA
Stress plays a role in the development of coccidiosis and giardia. It is not uncommon for a seemingly healthy puppy or other animal to arrive at its new home and develop diarrhea several days later leading to a diagnosis of coccidia. If the puppy has been at the new home for less than a week then it had coccidia before it arrived. Remember the incubation period (from exposure to illness) is about a week. If the puppy has been with its new owner a couple of weeks, then the exposure to coccidia most likely occurred after the animal arrived at the new home. Often, coccidia was present only to surface during the stressful period of the puppy adjusting to a new home. It can also be contracted by the puppies mother once born, the puppy is frequently exposed to its mother's feces and if the mother is shedding the infective cysts in her feces then the young animals will likely ingest them and coccidia will develop in their intestines. Since young puppies, usually those less than six months of age, have no immunity to coccidia, the organisms reproduce in large numbers and parasitic the young animal's intestines.
GASTRIC TORSION AND BLOAT
Bloat is a very serious health risk for many dogs, yet many dog owners know very little about it. It is the second leading killer of dogs, after cancer. It is frequently reported that deep-chested dogs are particularly at risk. Please consult with your veterinarian for medical information. The technical name for bloat is "Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus" ("GDV"). Bloating of the stomach is often related to swallowed air (although food and fluid can also be present). It usually happens when there's an abnormal accumulation of air, fluid, and/or foam in the stomach ("gastric dilatation"). Stress can be a contributing factor also.
Bloat can occur with or without "volvulus" (twisting). As the stomach swells, it may rotate 90° to 360°, twisting between its fixed attachments at the esophagus's (food tube) and at the duodenum (the upper intestine). The twisting stomach traps air, food, and water in the stomach. The bloated stomach obstructs veins in the abdomen, leading to low blood pressure, shock, and damage to internal organs. The combined effect can quickly kill a dog.
The exact cause for bloating isn't really known but the most accepted theory is that the dog has eaten an exceptionally large meal, drank lots of water and then proceeded to exercise strenuously within the next two to three hours.
It is believed that by exercising immediately after eating causes the stomach to expand with gas, fluid or expanding food causes extreme distention. If this occurs and is caught by a veterinarian in time, a large tube can be feed down the dog's oesophagus and on into the stomach. The audible hiss of escaping gas can be not only heard but also smelled.
If the distension isn't caused by gas but by liquid and/or food, the same tube will be used to "pump" the stomach and carry the excess away while providing immediate relief to the dog. The owners will usually be told to leave the animal for observation to make sure the distension doesn't reoccur. There are times when the tube will not pass and another aspect of bloat occurs.
When this happens, it is usually because the excess of food and liquid in the stomach combined with an animal who runs, jumps or exercises in some other manner causes the stomach itself to become flipped or twisted in a condition known medically as "gastric torsion." When true gastric torsion cases occur, is mere minutes count toward the survival of the dog.
During gastric torsion, the stomach does a complete rotation or "flips" which then causes a constriction of the blood supply at each of the ends. Stomach tissue like any other tissue will become necrotic and die without the necessary blood supply.
The most noticeable symptoms are the grossly distended abdomen; extreme restlessness often with pacing, excessive salivation and drooling, attempts to vomit without results, whining and cries of pain. Unfortunately owners often don't recognize the problem until it is too late. For the dog to be saved, the owner must notice the symptoms of gastric torsion or bloat early in the onset to have any chance of saving their pet. If the condition is not caught early enough, the dog will usually goes into shock, become comatose and then die.
If you have been able to get the dog to the veterinarian early enough, and relief isn't seen by passing the naso-gastric tube, surgery becomes the only option.
Again, this is a condition where minutes make the difference between life and what is an agonizing death. It must be remembered that even with surgery, the chances of survival are not that great.
During years of research, Very few ( 2%) survive the surgery and return home. The condition of dogs who did live were noticed immediately and recognized as gastric torsion because owners had had dogs die of the condition at some other time.
Without surgery, the mortality rate is 100% and the once the problem is diagnosed, the dog needs to go immediately into surgery or be put down to avoid needless suffering.
If surgery is the course of action decided on, the dog will be placed under a general anaesthesia. The veterinarian will shave and prep the abdominal area from sternum to groin and make a large incision down the midline of the dog.
He will then proceed to pull the intestines and stomach out and lay it on the surgery table.
These organs and tissues will need to be kept wet so a technician will usually be standing by with large syringes filled with some type of sterile water that may even be mixed with antibiotics.
Once the abdomen is opened up and the necessary area is exposed, the doctor will then untwist the stomach. Once this is done, he will begin checking the stomach and intestine for necrotic areas. If any are found, he will usually recommend the dog be put down. If no dead tissue is found though, he will suture or "tack" the stomach to the abdominal wall with the material of his choice.
This tacking is done in the hopes of preventing the dog's stomach from once again twisting. Once the stomach is tacked, the doctor will replace the intestines and proceed in closing the abdomen. From this point, it will be a matter of wait and see as to whether the dog survives.
If he or she does, instruction will be given as to the special dietary and feeding needs of the dog. Usually, the doctor will recommend several small meals as opposed to one large meal during the day. He or she will also suggest placing the food at an elevated level,moistening any dry food so the dog will feel full quicker and limiting the availability of water after eating. Using a Portion pacer Ball in their bowl to slow down food intake will help also.
For those dogs lucky enough to survive their ordeal, they will normally go on to live long, healthy lives giving years of companionship to their owners as long as proper obedience is given to the doctor's orders.
Stress plays a role in the development of coccidiosis and giardia. It is not uncommon for a seemingly healthy puppy or other animal to arrive at its new home and develop diarrhea several days later leading to a diagnosis of coccidia. If the puppy has been at the new home for less than a week then it had coccidia before it arrived. Remember the incubation period (from exposure to illness) is about a week. If the puppy has been with its new owner a couple of weeks, then the exposure to coccidia most likely occurred after the animal arrived at the new home. Often, coccidia was present only to surface during the stressful period of the puppy adjusting to a new home. It can also be contracted by the puppies mother once born, the puppy is frequently exposed to its mother's feces and if the mother is shedding the infective cysts in her feces then the young animals will likely ingest them and coccidia will develop in their intestines. Since young puppies, usually those less than six months of age, have no immunity to coccidia, the organisms reproduce in large numbers and parasitic the young animal's intestines.
GASTRIC TORSION AND BLOAT
Bloat is a very serious health risk for many dogs, yet many dog owners know very little about it. It is the second leading killer of dogs, after cancer. It is frequently reported that deep-chested dogs are particularly at risk. Please consult with your veterinarian for medical information. The technical name for bloat is "Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus" ("GDV"). Bloating of the stomach is often related to swallowed air (although food and fluid can also be present). It usually happens when there's an abnormal accumulation of air, fluid, and/or foam in the stomach ("gastric dilatation"). Stress can be a contributing factor also.
Bloat can occur with or without "volvulus" (twisting). As the stomach swells, it may rotate 90° to 360°, twisting between its fixed attachments at the esophagus's (food tube) and at the duodenum (the upper intestine). The twisting stomach traps air, food, and water in the stomach. The bloated stomach obstructs veins in the abdomen, leading to low blood pressure, shock, and damage to internal organs. The combined effect can quickly kill a dog.
The exact cause for bloating isn't really known but the most accepted theory is that the dog has eaten an exceptionally large meal, drank lots of water and then proceeded to exercise strenuously within the next two to three hours.
It is believed that by exercising immediately after eating causes the stomach to expand with gas, fluid or expanding food causes extreme distention. If this occurs and is caught by a veterinarian in time, a large tube can be feed down the dog's oesophagus and on into the stomach. The audible hiss of escaping gas can be not only heard but also smelled.
If the distension isn't caused by gas but by liquid and/or food, the same tube will be used to "pump" the stomach and carry the excess away while providing immediate relief to the dog. The owners will usually be told to leave the animal for observation to make sure the distension doesn't reoccur. There are times when the tube will not pass and another aspect of bloat occurs.
When this happens, it is usually because the excess of food and liquid in the stomach combined with an animal who runs, jumps or exercises in some other manner causes the stomach itself to become flipped or twisted in a condition known medically as "gastric torsion." When true gastric torsion cases occur, is mere minutes count toward the survival of the dog.
During gastric torsion, the stomach does a complete rotation or "flips" which then causes a constriction of the blood supply at each of the ends. Stomach tissue like any other tissue will become necrotic and die without the necessary blood supply.
The most noticeable symptoms are the grossly distended abdomen; extreme restlessness often with pacing, excessive salivation and drooling, attempts to vomit without results, whining and cries of pain. Unfortunately owners often don't recognize the problem until it is too late. For the dog to be saved, the owner must notice the symptoms of gastric torsion or bloat early in the onset to have any chance of saving their pet. If the condition is not caught early enough, the dog will usually goes into shock, become comatose and then die.
If you have been able to get the dog to the veterinarian early enough, and relief isn't seen by passing the naso-gastric tube, surgery becomes the only option.
Again, this is a condition where minutes make the difference between life and what is an agonizing death. It must be remembered that even with surgery, the chances of survival are not that great.
During years of research, Very few ( 2%) survive the surgery and return home. The condition of dogs who did live were noticed immediately and recognized as gastric torsion because owners had had dogs die of the condition at some other time.
Without surgery, the mortality rate is 100% and the once the problem is diagnosed, the dog needs to go immediately into surgery or be put down to avoid needless suffering.
If surgery is the course of action decided on, the dog will be placed under a general anaesthesia. The veterinarian will shave and prep the abdominal area from sternum to groin and make a large incision down the midline of the dog.
He will then proceed to pull the intestines and stomach out and lay it on the surgery table.
These organs and tissues will need to be kept wet so a technician will usually be standing by with large syringes filled with some type of sterile water that may even be mixed with antibiotics.
Once the abdomen is opened up and the necessary area is exposed, the doctor will then untwist the stomach. Once this is done, he will begin checking the stomach and intestine for necrotic areas. If any are found, he will usually recommend the dog be put down. If no dead tissue is found though, he will suture or "tack" the stomach to the abdominal wall with the material of his choice.
This tacking is done in the hopes of preventing the dog's stomach from once again twisting. Once the stomach is tacked, the doctor will replace the intestines and proceed in closing the abdomen. From this point, it will be a matter of wait and see as to whether the dog survives.
If he or she does, instruction will be given as to the special dietary and feeding needs of the dog. Usually, the doctor will recommend several small meals as opposed to one large meal during the day. He or she will also suggest placing the food at an elevated level,moistening any dry food so the dog will feel full quicker and limiting the availability of water after eating. Using a Portion pacer Ball in their bowl to slow down food intake will help also.
For those dogs lucky enough to survive their ordeal, they will normally go on to live long, healthy lives giving years of companionship to their owners as long as proper obedience is given to the doctor's orders.
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Place Portion Pacer into food bowl. Pour the recommended amount of dog food into the bowl. Watch and be amazed at how the Portion Pacer slows down how fast your dog eats and drinks from their bowls.Features & Benefits:Helps prevent vomiting, choking & bloating. Slow Feeder Bowls work just as well or even using a home baking sheet to spread the food on will slow feeding down to help prevent pneumonia.
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BULLDOGS CAN ALSO SUFFER FROM URETHERAL PROLAPSE
Key Points: is that Urethral prolapse is an uncommon condition found in younger dogs. A fleshy knob of tissue is found projecting from the end of the penis. This condition is corrected with surgery. Introduction: * the urethra is the tube that passes urine from the bladder to the outside of *the body the tube runs through the penis *weakening of the tissue that normally holds the urethra in place results in prolapse of the urethra Signalment: *most dogs are younger when this condition occurs *it only affects male dogs *The most common breed affected is the Bulldogs Clinical signs *straining to urinate *licking the penis *irritation of the penis *red mass protruding from the penis *note the mild prolapse in the photo below on the left and severe prolapse on the right. |
BULLDOGS WITH DRY NOSE
Have you ever seen a dog that has rough, thickened skin on its nose? Chances are, the condition is nasal hyperkeratosis (NHK), commonly known as dry nose. A nose that is simply dry is not a cause for concern, and can be treated with a slight film of petroleum jelly. Since your dog will try to lick this off, it's important you do not use any cosmetic products, and that you don't put too much petroleum jelly on or apply it too often - since excessive amounts may cause diarrhea. However, if your dog's nose is becoming excessively dry and cracked, the condition may lead to wounds forming that will easily attract infection. It is therefore important to cleanse and moisturize the nose once or twice daily. You should wipe it with mild warm soapy water, thoroughly dry it and apply a thin film of petroleum jelly just before bed time or any |
Treatment
*surgical removal of the prolapsed urethra *the edges of the urethral are sutured carefully in order to prevent narrowing of the opening Prognosis *typically the response to surgery is very very good |
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HYPOPLASTIC TRACHEA
Hypoplastic (narrow) Trachea:
Bulldogs tend to have small tracheas considering their size. The average trachea measures between 6-9, which is based on the size of the trachea tube used during surgery. The higher the number, the wider the trachea.
The most common signs of a narrow trachea are shortness of breath, gurgling sounds, wheezing,Foaming at the mouth, The only way to know if your dog has this is with an x-ray.
Unfortunately, nothing can be surgically done to correct this problem. The best way to treat this is to limit strenuous exercise and keep the dog’s weight down. The less weight, the less strain on the body. Most often they outgrow this condition and no treatment is ever needed.
Many bulldogs live long and happy lives with this as long as they are monitored carefully, like any Bulldog.
PINCHED NARES
The nares (nostrils) are pinched tight so the dog doesn't get a good amount of air through the nose. Nares can be widened with surgery. The inside of the nares are scraped, allowing a larger opening to let more air pass. NEVER DO A PINCHED NARES SURGERY on a Bulldog less than 1 year as most often they will grow back as your bully matures meaning a second surgery.. Unless life threatening this surgery is never needed.
Note: Whenever considering any type of surgery on your bulldog be sure you go to a vet that specializes in this breed.
REVERSE SNEEZING
The real name for reverse sneezing is paroxysmal respiration. Paroxysmal respiration is commonly described as a "reverse sneeze" because for all purposes it does look as if a dog is trying to inhale a sneeze. When this occurs, your Bullie will appear to be snorting or choking with the neck extended and the chest expanded, as the she struggles to take in air.
Physiologically, the trachea has narrowed and the normal amount of air is not able to enter the lungs. In most cases, this not a serious problem and it looks much more horrifying than it is. If this is happening to your Bulldog, do not panic. You can help your her by soothingly stroking the upper throat area to encourage relaxation and dilation of the trachea. Other have had success gently pinching the nostrils together until the Bulldog swallows. This is usually all that is necessary. It is important to remember that most attacks will stop without doing anything at all.
BULLDOGS AND CORN CAN BE FATAL
Corn on the cob is a dangerous food for Bulldogs and can potentially be fatal.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Corn cobs can cause intestinal obstruction. Symptoms include: vomiting or dry heaving, straining during defecation, loss of appetite, stomach pain, whimpering, trembling, restlessness, and increased or decreased drinking.
Keep an eye on your Bulldog, and contact your vet immediately if you notice any of the above symptoms.
HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?
Large dogs may possibly pass the cobs without incident, whereas small to medium dogs will be more susceptible to problems.
WHY IS CORN ON THE COB A DANGEROUS FOOD FOR DOGS?
Corn cobs are not very digestible and can become stuck in the dog's intestinal tract.
Intestinal blockage can cause your Bully great abdominal pain!
Always dispose of Corn Cobs in the Garbage far away from your loved bully!
Hypoplastic (narrow) Trachea:
Bulldogs tend to have small tracheas considering their size. The average trachea measures between 6-9, which is based on the size of the trachea tube used during surgery. The higher the number, the wider the trachea.
The most common signs of a narrow trachea are shortness of breath, gurgling sounds, wheezing,Foaming at the mouth, The only way to know if your dog has this is with an x-ray.
Unfortunately, nothing can be surgically done to correct this problem. The best way to treat this is to limit strenuous exercise and keep the dog’s weight down. The less weight, the less strain on the body. Most often they outgrow this condition and no treatment is ever needed.
Many bulldogs live long and happy lives with this as long as they are monitored carefully, like any Bulldog.
PINCHED NARES
The nares (nostrils) are pinched tight so the dog doesn't get a good amount of air through the nose. Nares can be widened with surgery. The inside of the nares are scraped, allowing a larger opening to let more air pass. NEVER DO A PINCHED NARES SURGERY on a Bulldog less than 1 year as most often they will grow back as your bully matures meaning a second surgery.. Unless life threatening this surgery is never needed.
Note: Whenever considering any type of surgery on your bulldog be sure you go to a vet that specializes in this breed.
REVERSE SNEEZING
The real name for reverse sneezing is paroxysmal respiration. Paroxysmal respiration is commonly described as a "reverse sneeze" because for all purposes it does look as if a dog is trying to inhale a sneeze. When this occurs, your Bullie will appear to be snorting or choking with the neck extended and the chest expanded, as the she struggles to take in air.
Physiologically, the trachea has narrowed and the normal amount of air is not able to enter the lungs. In most cases, this not a serious problem and it looks much more horrifying than it is. If this is happening to your Bulldog, do not panic. You can help your her by soothingly stroking the upper throat area to encourage relaxation and dilation of the trachea. Other have had success gently pinching the nostrils together until the Bulldog swallows. This is usually all that is necessary. It is important to remember that most attacks will stop without doing anything at all.
BULLDOGS AND CORN CAN BE FATAL
Corn on the cob is a dangerous food for Bulldogs and can potentially be fatal.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Corn cobs can cause intestinal obstruction. Symptoms include: vomiting or dry heaving, straining during defecation, loss of appetite, stomach pain, whimpering, trembling, restlessness, and increased or decreased drinking.
Keep an eye on your Bulldog, and contact your vet immediately if you notice any of the above symptoms.
HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?
Large dogs may possibly pass the cobs without incident, whereas small to medium dogs will be more susceptible to problems.
WHY IS CORN ON THE COB A DANGEROUS FOOD FOR DOGS?
Corn cobs are not very digestible and can become stuck in the dog's intestinal tract.
Intestinal blockage can cause your Bully great abdominal pain!
Always dispose of Corn Cobs in the Garbage far away from your loved bully!
BULLDOGS AND CHERRY EYE
We have had a couple of families the last couple weeks now sending us pics of their Bulldren babies for what they believe is Cherry Eye when it was an eye infection/allergy. Nash one of our current 9 week old babies popped 2 large cherry's yesterday so I thought it was a perfect opportunity to take a couple of good close up pics to show what classic Cherry eye does look like in a bulldog. They do look more painful than they are but they can bleed and it is important to never leave them they must be surgically corrected in a timely manner. Cherry eye is easily fixed and we are fortunate to have a lot of experience in fixing Cherry eye's and have even stopped tacking now we only remove a partial part of the glad and we pop it back into place we have been having great luck with this method for the last couple of years without using sutures anymore and once Cherry eye is fixed we have never had them reoccur. It is important when choosing a Vet to perform this surgery, so if you do have one of our babies and suspect cherry eye please contact us first as some Vets will want to remove the whole gland which is a huge issue and will cause your bulldog to develop dry eye which will require eye drops daily for the rest of their life.
If your bully has swollen third eyelids and they are oozing this is more than likely an allergy to another pet in the household or sometimes even a new washing liquid can do this, Bulldogs are very sensitive. You can pick up Polysporin Antibiotic Pink Eye drops made by Johnson and Johnson at your local pharmacy.. These drops work miracles for any swollen or inflammation on their eyes apply 2-3 per eye 2-3 times a day. If this does not clear it up a trip to the Vet for some Toborex will defiantly take care of it.
Nash with Cherry Eyes, He will be having his surgery in a few days and we will post pictures after it's all done
We have had a couple of families the last couple weeks now sending us pics of their Bulldren babies for what they believe is Cherry Eye when it was an eye infection/allergy. Nash one of our current 9 week old babies popped 2 large cherry's yesterday so I thought it was a perfect opportunity to take a couple of good close up pics to show what classic Cherry eye does look like in a bulldog. They do look more painful than they are but they can bleed and it is important to never leave them they must be surgically corrected in a timely manner. Cherry eye is easily fixed and we are fortunate to have a lot of experience in fixing Cherry eye's and have even stopped tacking now we only remove a partial part of the glad and we pop it back into place we have been having great luck with this method for the last couple of years without using sutures anymore and once Cherry eye is fixed we have never had them reoccur. It is important when choosing a Vet to perform this surgery, so if you do have one of our babies and suspect cherry eye please contact us first as some Vets will want to remove the whole gland which is a huge issue and will cause your bulldog to develop dry eye which will require eye drops daily for the rest of their life.
If your bully has swollen third eyelids and they are oozing this is more than likely an allergy to another pet in the household or sometimes even a new washing liquid can do this, Bulldogs are very sensitive. You can pick up Polysporin Antibiotic Pink Eye drops made by Johnson and Johnson at your local pharmacy.. These drops work miracles for any swollen or inflammation on their eyes apply 2-3 per eye 2-3 times a day. If this does not clear it up a trip to the Vet for some Toborex will defiantly take care of it.
Nash with Cherry Eyes, He will be having his surgery in a few days and we will post pictures after it's all done
I fixed Nash's eyes up Yesterday this is the result in just one day of healing. He will continue to get Bnp ointment 3 times a day and be separated from his littermates for another 2 days. But after then he is all fixed up and beautiful again and we can with confidence say he will never get Cherry eye again!
This is one of our past puppies Emma with cherry eyes, They were fixed and never returned and No Dry eye.. We Never will remove the Gland they are large cut in half and popped back into place with BNP ointment for a week after the surgery. Bulldog pups will pop Cherry eyes if they are going to get them usually within the first 6 months of life. They are easily fixed and non-life threatening..
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Removal of the Gland
In the past cherry eye was treated with surgical excision of the lachrymal gland. Since this gland is responsible for the tear production in the eyeball, removal often results in diminished tear production. This can lead to dry eye. Most feel this procedure should no longer be considered an option.
Allowing the gland to remain popped out, with or without the need for medication for most would be preferred over complete removal of this tear gland. If the gland is removed and the Bulldog develops dry eye, long term medication is then required to keep the eyeball moist
Background
The condition known as "cherry eye" is evidenced by the protrusion of the lachrymal gland. This gland is associated with the third eyelid membrane in the corner of the eye. The gland, which normally resides under the lower eyelid at the inside corner of the eye will sometimes "pop" out. This looks worse than it is and does not require emergency treatment. Cherry eye looks much more horrifying and painful than it really is.
Aside from its somewhat ghastly appearance, the prolapsed tear gland can actually rub against the surface of the eye (cornea), and cause irritation, and sometimes ulceration of the cornea. Excessive drainage from the affected eye is sometimes seen. Affected eyes in which the gland is not rubbing the cornea do not require medical or surgical attention. The owner in such cases may request correction of the condition solely based upon appearance.
Treatment Options
There are several methods of dealing with cherry eye problems. Treatment is considered when irritation of the cornea is experienced.
Eye Drops
Topically applied ointments and eye drops may sufficiently control the irritation. If irritation occurs, and topical medication is required on a continual basis, surgery may be considered.
Tacking the Gland (We do not suture glands down anymore)
The current recommended treatment involves surgically returning the gland to its proper position. The gland is sutured, stitched or "tacked" back into place. The stitch then acts as the ligament to reattach the gland into position. This surgery is usually considered the only acceptable treatment of cherry eye, because the gland remains intact where it can resume tear production.
Typically dogs do well after this surgery, and if tacked in most times will never pop again.
* IMPORTANT *
Cherry eyes should be fixed in a timely manner! Failing to fix Cherry eye can eventually lead to blindness. If you have one of our Bulldogs and it has developed Cherry eye and you are finding it a financial burden to fix the Cherry eyes please do contact us.
In the past cherry eye was treated with surgical excision of the lachrymal gland. Since this gland is responsible for the tear production in the eyeball, removal often results in diminished tear production. This can lead to dry eye. Most feel this procedure should no longer be considered an option.
Allowing the gland to remain popped out, with or without the need for medication for most would be preferred over complete removal of this tear gland. If the gland is removed and the Bulldog develops dry eye, long term medication is then required to keep the eyeball moist
Background
The condition known as "cherry eye" is evidenced by the protrusion of the lachrymal gland. This gland is associated with the third eyelid membrane in the corner of the eye. The gland, which normally resides under the lower eyelid at the inside corner of the eye will sometimes "pop" out. This looks worse than it is and does not require emergency treatment. Cherry eye looks much more horrifying and painful than it really is.
Aside from its somewhat ghastly appearance, the prolapsed tear gland can actually rub against the surface of the eye (cornea), and cause irritation, and sometimes ulceration of the cornea. Excessive drainage from the affected eye is sometimes seen. Affected eyes in which the gland is not rubbing the cornea do not require medical or surgical attention. The owner in such cases may request correction of the condition solely based upon appearance.
Treatment Options
There are several methods of dealing with cherry eye problems. Treatment is considered when irritation of the cornea is experienced.
Eye Drops
Topically applied ointments and eye drops may sufficiently control the irritation. If irritation occurs, and topical medication is required on a continual basis, surgery may be considered.
Tacking the Gland (We do not suture glands down anymore)
The current recommended treatment involves surgically returning the gland to its proper position. The gland is sutured, stitched or "tacked" back into place. The stitch then acts as the ligament to reattach the gland into position. This surgery is usually considered the only acceptable treatment of cherry eye, because the gland remains intact where it can resume tear production.
Typically dogs do well after this surgery, and if tacked in most times will never pop again.
* IMPORTANT *
Cherry eyes should be fixed in a timely manner! Failing to fix Cherry eye can eventually lead to blindness. If you have one of our Bulldogs and it has developed Cherry eye and you are finding it a financial burden to fix the Cherry eyes please do contact us.
INTERDIGITAL CYSTS
A Bulldogs paw with a Interdigital Cyst
We had a few Clients contact us recently regarding growths between their Bullies toes and raw itchy feet. This is quite common in Bulldogs our Otis sometimes suffers with them! The cause of these Digital Cysts is unknown some believe it is a fungus or ingrown hair it could even be from penetration of the skin by a foreign body. Most often than not these clear up on their own and can come and go try to avoid antibiotics unless there is an infection, most defiantly do not puncture them unless they swelled up and causing pain for your Bulldog and only then sanitize with peroxide or TCP when doing to prevent infection.
Here is the remedy we use to clear up these Cycts and it also seems to keep them at bay for long periods of time sometimes once you have cleared them up using this remedy they may never return.
What you will need:
Epsom Salts
Hydrogen peroxide
Preparation H
1st fill the bath tub with 3 or 4 inches of water and add 1 full cup of Epsom Salts put your Bulldog in the water soaking all 4 feet, Please be careful to not let him/her drink the water we all know they love to do this when getting a bath :) You are going to want to soak their paws for 10 mins.
2nd Remove your Bulldog from the bath and with a nice thick towel dry their paws thoroughly! Take a small bowl or cup something their paw will fit into and fill half with the Hydrogen peroxide you are then going to dip for 1-2 seconds each paw individually. You will notice it bubble and this is where damaged cells are present.
3rd After soaking in the Hydrogen peroxide pat their paws with a towel and apply the Preparation H, this is to take down the swelling.
You will want to repeat this process at least 2 times a day you should notice a significant improvement within a few days. I hope this is helpful for those bulldren who are suffering with these frustrating cysts. please contact us if you have any questions regarding this process.
A Bulldogs paw with a Interdigital Cyst
We had a few Clients contact us recently regarding growths between their Bullies toes and raw itchy feet. This is quite common in Bulldogs our Otis sometimes suffers with them! The cause of these Digital Cysts is unknown some believe it is a fungus or ingrown hair it could even be from penetration of the skin by a foreign body. Most often than not these clear up on their own and can come and go try to avoid antibiotics unless there is an infection, most defiantly do not puncture them unless they swelled up and causing pain for your Bulldog and only then sanitize with peroxide or TCP when doing to prevent infection.
Here is the remedy we use to clear up these Cycts and it also seems to keep them at bay for long periods of time sometimes once you have cleared them up using this remedy they may never return.
What you will need:
Epsom Salts
Hydrogen peroxide
Preparation H
1st fill the bath tub with 3 or 4 inches of water and add 1 full cup of Epsom Salts put your Bulldog in the water soaking all 4 feet, Please be careful to not let him/her drink the water we all know they love to do this when getting a bath :) You are going to want to soak their paws for 10 mins.
2nd Remove your Bulldog from the bath and with a nice thick towel dry their paws thoroughly! Take a small bowl or cup something their paw will fit into and fill half with the Hydrogen peroxide you are then going to dip for 1-2 seconds each paw individually. You will notice it bubble and this is where damaged cells are present.
3rd After soaking in the Hydrogen peroxide pat their paws with a towel and apply the Preparation H, this is to take down the swelling.
You will want to repeat this process at least 2 times a day you should notice a significant improvement within a few days. I hope this is helpful for those bulldren who are suffering with these frustrating cysts. please contact us if you have any questions regarding this process.
DEMODETIC MANGE DEMODECOSIS
This is a very mild case of Demodex or the start of something worse if left untreated! At the first sight of a Bulldog with any Skin redness or irritation it should be addressed immediately.
Demodetic Mange is a very controversial topic among Vets and Breeders! There are two types of Demodex Localized and Generalized and there is also a juvenile form of Demodex in dogs under a year of age.
It is caused by an external parasite that is also present in low numbers on what are healthy Bulldogs. Whether or not a Bulldog shows symptoms of this disease depends primarily on their immune status. Demodectic mange is caused by a mite, a microscopic ectoparasite that infects the hair follicles and causes the Bulldog to lose hair and develop raw red itchy patches. I personally believe Stress plays a huge roll on a Bulldog showing symptoms of Demodex and there are numerous underlying causes that can weaken the immune system and make a Bulldog more susceptible to this disease ie: Puppies who are not fully vaccinated and exposed, Bulldogs who we know are very susceptible to prolapsing their third eyelid and left untreated the stress of this alone will weaken the immune esp in Bulldogs under a year old, hypothyroidism can also weaken the immune system, heartworm even parasites such a coccidia will weaken the immune.
It is essential to nip any problems with a Bulldog in the bud as they can lead to greater problems such as Demodetic Mange! and this left untreated can spread rapidly and be very harmful to your Bulldog. Demodetic Mange is diagnosed using skin scrapings under the microscope it is only a 10-15 min process and diagnosed on the spot most Veterinarians will allow you to view the cigar shaped mite under the microscope.
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF DEMODEX
There are Treatments for both Localized and generalized demodex out there that are very successful. Here is what we suggest and know what works!
For Localized and or Juvenile we find Vets like to prescribe Lime-Surfer dips such as a popular one called Mitaban! I personally think this treatment is a load of rubbish and does not work plus it is extremely painful to dip your Bulldog into these baths as once they dry their skin goes very hard and it is painful for them. We have our own homemade herbal spray formula made with Neem that has worked miracles for our Bullies we use it in conjunction with Advantage Multi with Huge Success every time! We would be happy to make this formula for anyone who is having problems with Demodex.
For Generalized we would suggest our homemade herbal spray formula in conjunction with something stronger your Vet will probably prescribe to you and that would be Oral Ivermectin it can also be called Ivomec or Milbemycin Interceptor.
No matter which form of demodex is treated,Your Bulldog needs to be on optimum nutrition, stay current on vaccines, and be free of internal parasites (worms). We suggest De worming of adults 1-2 times a year with Safe-Guard or Panacur and also a Vitamin C Supplement added to the diet once a day will help keep a good immune system. And because you are treating Demodex now does not mean your Bulldog with suffer with it in the future.
If you are having problems with Demodex and would like additional information or are interested in our homemade herbal spray please contact us.
This is a very mild case of Demodex or the start of something worse if left untreated! At the first sight of a Bulldog with any Skin redness or irritation it should be addressed immediately.
Demodetic Mange is a very controversial topic among Vets and Breeders! There are two types of Demodex Localized and Generalized and there is also a juvenile form of Demodex in dogs under a year of age.
It is caused by an external parasite that is also present in low numbers on what are healthy Bulldogs. Whether or not a Bulldog shows symptoms of this disease depends primarily on their immune status. Demodectic mange is caused by a mite, a microscopic ectoparasite that infects the hair follicles and causes the Bulldog to lose hair and develop raw red itchy patches. I personally believe Stress plays a huge roll on a Bulldog showing symptoms of Demodex and there are numerous underlying causes that can weaken the immune system and make a Bulldog more susceptible to this disease ie: Puppies who are not fully vaccinated and exposed, Bulldogs who we know are very susceptible to prolapsing their third eyelid and left untreated the stress of this alone will weaken the immune esp in Bulldogs under a year old, hypothyroidism can also weaken the immune system, heartworm even parasites such a coccidia will weaken the immune.
It is essential to nip any problems with a Bulldog in the bud as they can lead to greater problems such as Demodetic Mange! and this left untreated can spread rapidly and be very harmful to your Bulldog. Demodetic Mange is diagnosed using skin scrapings under the microscope it is only a 10-15 min process and diagnosed on the spot most Veterinarians will allow you to view the cigar shaped mite under the microscope.
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF DEMODEX
There are Treatments for both Localized and generalized demodex out there that are very successful. Here is what we suggest and know what works!
For Localized and or Juvenile we find Vets like to prescribe Lime-Surfer dips such as a popular one called Mitaban! I personally think this treatment is a load of rubbish and does not work plus it is extremely painful to dip your Bulldog into these baths as once they dry their skin goes very hard and it is painful for them. We have our own homemade herbal spray formula made with Neem that has worked miracles for our Bullies we use it in conjunction with Advantage Multi with Huge Success every time! We would be happy to make this formula for anyone who is having problems with Demodex.
For Generalized we would suggest our homemade herbal spray formula in conjunction with something stronger your Vet will probably prescribe to you and that would be Oral Ivermectin it can also be called Ivomec or Milbemycin Interceptor.
No matter which form of demodex is treated,Your Bulldog needs to be on optimum nutrition, stay current on vaccines, and be free of internal parasites (worms). We suggest De worming of adults 1-2 times a year with Safe-Guard or Panacur and also a Vitamin C Supplement added to the diet once a day will help keep a good immune system. And because you are treating Demodex now does not mean your Bulldog with suffer with it in the future.
If you are having problems with Demodex and would like additional information or are interested in our homemade herbal spray please contact us.
GOOD READING MATERIAL ON EARLY SPAY/NEUTER
FACTS# Early Neutered Animals Are Taller have Abnormal Bone Growth and Development! Have Increased Risk of Hip Dyspepsia, Hyperthyroid and infectious diseases..
http://dogsfirst.ie/neutering-dogs
Victory Bulldogs does sell most all of our puppies on non-breeding pet home contracts Only! Just Because we do sell our Bulldogs for pet homes only does not mean we will make you Spay/Neuter your Bulldog right away like most breeders do! Please be very careful of breeders who make you fix your bulldog before they are 1 year old! It 100% will stunt their growth and you will not have the proper Bulldog look you are wanting if you fix your Bulldog before 1 year of age! Below we have some helpful information on early Spay/Neuter which will 100% affect the size and bone structure of your Bulldog!
Spaying or Neutering Your Bulldog Puppy Most veterinarians recommend spaying or neutering a puppy at or before six months of age. With animal shelters full of accidentally bred puppies, their belief in early altering is understandable. Vets also recommend to spay early to prevent mamary (breast) cancer in females and neuter to avoid temperament or marking issues or testicular cancer in an intact male. Most veterinarians, however, have little first-hand knowledge about Bulldogs and the special quirks associated with these guys. Early spaying/neutering is NOT recommended for the Bulldog breed before 12 months. Bulldogs need the hormones present when they reach sexual maturity to reach their full potential physically. Spaying and neutering early (before at least a year old) often has adverse effects on both the look and health of a Bulldog. A Bulldog's growth plates need the hormones to close, as well as to develop bone density. Females and Males:
If you spay or neuter after a year and before two years of age, you still get many of the same health benefits for your dog that comes with an early spay or neuter, without the negatives. Remember, Bulldogs are not just big Labs. They are a special breed with needs all their own. Small breeds often do well when spayed or neutered at an early age, but with larger breeds it is better to wait. **NOTE If your dog will be sedated for any surgery or procedure, be sure to tell your veterinarian "NO ACE." Acepromazine is a commonly used tranquilizer for dogs and cats, and has been known to slow the heart down so much in our guys that they never wake up, dying on the table or shortly after. Always remind your vet's office. The chance of a male Bully developing cancer later in life from being neutered closer to 2 years of age instead of early is very slight. However, when males are neutered too young, before their hormones are at full tilt, they do not gain the muscle or mass that an adult male should have and tend to look like a gangly puppy their whole life. Neutering males early usually effects overall bone and head size, and you end up with a tall, lanky dog with no bone and a small head--they end up looking like badly bred Olde English not a Pure Bred English Bulldog! Bulldogs need their sexual hormones for proper growth. Why pay $2500-$5000 for a dog that ends up looking like a rescue? If you buy a well-bred Bulldog, you want one that looks like a Bulldog, not a Olde English Bulldogee!
Mamary cancer is a rarity, and chances of contracting it or other reproductive system cancers goes up only slightly when spaying at over a year of age versus spaying at under a year old, but spaying early greatly increases the chance of her later contracting bone or lung cancer. Mastiffs need the hormones of at least the first heat cycle to help their organs mature and develop. Also, when you spay a female before her first heat cycle, she may develop permanent problems with incontinence and bladder leakage that are often tough to deal with. Anyone who owns a female Bulldog can tell you how much their girl "bloomed" after her first heat cycle. Also, puppies that are prone to frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs) often outgrow them after their first heat cycle. Mastiffs usually come into their first heat at about 9-12 months of age. An average heats last 3 weeks, which is a minor inconvenience that makes a world of difference in your girl's overall health. Just be sure to take precautions so she is not accidentally bred, either by your own male or a neighbourhood dog.
FACTS# Early Neutered Animals Are Taller have Abnormal Bone Growth and Development! Have Increased Risk of Hip Dyspepsia, Hyperthyroid and infectious diseases..
http://dogsfirst.ie/neutering-dogs
Victory Bulldogs does sell most all of our puppies on non-breeding pet home contracts Only! Just Because we do sell our Bulldogs for pet homes only does not mean we will make you Spay/Neuter your Bulldog right away like most breeders do! Please be very careful of breeders who make you fix your bulldog before they are 1 year old! It 100% will stunt their growth and you will not have the proper Bulldog look you are wanting if you fix your Bulldog before 1 year of age! Below we have some helpful information on early Spay/Neuter which will 100% affect the size and bone structure of your Bulldog!
Spaying or Neutering Your Bulldog Puppy Most veterinarians recommend spaying or neutering a puppy at or before six months of age. With animal shelters full of accidentally bred puppies, their belief in early altering is understandable. Vets also recommend to spay early to prevent mamary (breast) cancer in females and neuter to avoid temperament or marking issues or testicular cancer in an intact male. Most veterinarians, however, have little first-hand knowledge about Bulldogs and the special quirks associated with these guys. Early spaying/neutering is NOT recommended for the Bulldog breed before 12 months. Bulldogs need the hormones present when they reach sexual maturity to reach their full potential physically. Spaying and neutering early (before at least a year old) often has adverse effects on both the look and health of a Bulldog. A Bulldog's growth plates need the hormones to close, as well as to develop bone density. Females and Males:
If you spay or neuter after a year and before two years of age, you still get many of the same health benefits for your dog that comes with an early spay or neuter, without the negatives. Remember, Bulldogs are not just big Labs. They are a special breed with needs all their own. Small breeds often do well when spayed or neutered at an early age, but with larger breeds it is better to wait. **NOTE If your dog will be sedated for any surgery or procedure, be sure to tell your veterinarian "NO ACE." Acepromazine is a commonly used tranquilizer for dogs and cats, and has been known to slow the heart down so much in our guys that they never wake up, dying on the table or shortly after. Always remind your vet's office. The chance of a male Bully developing cancer later in life from being neutered closer to 2 years of age instead of early is very slight. However, when males are neutered too young, before their hormones are at full tilt, they do not gain the muscle or mass that an adult male should have and tend to look like a gangly puppy their whole life. Neutering males early usually effects overall bone and head size, and you end up with a tall, lanky dog with no bone and a small head--they end up looking like badly bred Olde English not a Pure Bred English Bulldog! Bulldogs need their sexual hormones for proper growth. Why pay $2500-$5000 for a dog that ends up looking like a rescue? If you buy a well-bred Bulldog, you want one that looks like a Bulldog, not a Olde English Bulldogee!
Mamary cancer is a rarity, and chances of contracting it or other reproductive system cancers goes up only slightly when spaying at over a year of age versus spaying at under a year old, but spaying early greatly increases the chance of her later contracting bone or lung cancer. Mastiffs need the hormones of at least the first heat cycle to help their organs mature and develop. Also, when you spay a female before her first heat cycle, she may develop permanent problems with incontinence and bladder leakage that are often tough to deal with. Anyone who owns a female Bulldog can tell you how much their girl "bloomed" after her first heat cycle. Also, puppies that are prone to frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs) often outgrow them after their first heat cycle. Mastiffs usually come into their first heat at about 9-12 months of age. An average heats last 3 weeks, which is a minor inconvenience that makes a world of difference in your girl's overall health. Just be sure to take precautions so she is not accidentally bred, either by your own male or a neighbourhood dog.
VACCINATING YOUR BULLDOG PUPPY
The vaccination of puppies (puppy shots) is one of the crucial steps in assuring your Bulldog puppy will have a healthy and happy puppyhood. A newborn bulldog puppy is not naturally immune to diseases. However, it does have some antibody protection. The length and timing of the window of susceptibility is different in every Bulldog litter, and even between individual puppies in the litter. At six weeks of age, 25% of puppies could be immunized. At 9-10 weeks of age, 40% of puppies are able to respond to the vaccine. The number increased to 60% by 16 weeks of age, and by 18 weeks, 95% of the puppies were protected by the vaccine.This is why we complete puppy vaccinations in 3 stages 1st set and 2nd and 3rd boosters with Rabies given with the 3rd set of boosters.
Bulldog Puppy Vaccination Schedule
(All our Bulldog puppies go to their new homes fully up to date on ALL Vaccinations, weather it be 1st set or all 3 sets and Rabies depending on their age)
6-8 weeks Vaccination DHPP (1st) distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus
8-10 weeks Combination vaccine - DHPP (2nd) without leptospirosis.(We DO NOT RECOMMEND EVER GIVING BULLDOGS THE LEPTO VACCINATION)
12-16 Vaccination - DHPP (3rd) plus Rabies
We HIGHLY recommend De-Worming your puppy with SafeGuard (Panacur) every 2-3 weeks until all puppy vaccinations are completed and then once or twice yearly, every year!
Young puppies are also susceptible to developing Diarrhea from stress of moving as well as bacterial infections such as Giardia, Trichomonas and Balantidium coli. Such infections can be treated quickly and effectively with anti-diarrheal and bacterial medication called Metronidazole liquid or tabs ir can be cleared up in 7-10 days and should be treated quickly. If you notice Diarrhea and or blood in your puppies stools they should be treated right away with Metronidazole which you can have a prescribed from your Veterinarian.
YEARLY VACCINATIONS
Once All your Puppy Vaccinations are completed many vets will want you to give yearly vaccinations, it's in our Bulldogs interest to let our clients know the facts about over vaccinating their Bulldogs.
SO JUST HOW LONG DO YOUR BULLDOGS SHOTS LAST?
Definitely longer than a year!
According to the top pet immunologist (aka vaccine expert) in the world, Dr. Ronald Schultz, Ph.D. – “ Annual re vaccination provides no benefit and may increase the risk for adverse reactions.”
What are adverse reactions (or side effects)?
Well according to the other rock star pet immunologist Dr. Jean Dodds:
“Side effects from dog vaccinations can occur anywhere from instantly up to several weeks or months later. Vaccines can even cause susceptibility to chronic diseases that appear much later in a dog’s life.
Severe and fatal adverse reactions include:
•Susceptibility to infections.
•Neurological disorders and encephalitis.
•Aberrant behaviour, including unprovoked aggression.
•Vaccines are linked to seizures. Distemper, parvovirus, rabies and, presumably, other vaccines have been linked with poly neuropathy, a nerve disease that involves inflammation of several nerves.
We know for FACT Bulldogs of ours who have received the Leptospirosis have developed Septic Arthritis of the joints in the past and this is why WE DO NOT recommend this vaccine ever to our Bulldren.
According to the recommendations of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), (basically the dudes who set the standards for the vets): “Among healthy dogs, all commercially available [core] vaccines are expected to induce a sustained protective immune response lasting at least 5 yr. thereafter”
Here’s the breakdown of the core vaccines from Dr. Ronald Schultz:
Minimum Duration of Immunity for Canine Vaccines:
Distemper- 7 years by challenge
Parvovirus – 7 years by challenge
Adenovirus – 7 years by challenge
Canine rabies – 3 years by challenge
The moral of the story here, if you have no idea when your bulldog is due or has been vaccinated, then just run a titer test and this will confirm if you are due, rather than over-vaccinate your bully which can set the stage for future problems!
What’s a titer test?
A titer test (pronounced tight-errr) is a laboratory or in-house veterinary test measuring the existence and level of antibodies (necessary to fight off disease) in your bullies blood. Basically, it’s a test that will tell you whether or not you actually need to vaccinate your Bulldog.
It’s also super useful when making a decision about vaccinating with an unknown vaccination history, or for determining if your Bulldog has received immunity from vaccination.
Vaccinating your BULLDOG is very important so don’t lose the overall message here: VACCINATE, JUST DON’T OVER-VACCINATE!
The vaccination of puppies (puppy shots) is one of the crucial steps in assuring your Bulldog puppy will have a healthy and happy puppyhood. A newborn bulldog puppy is not naturally immune to diseases. However, it does have some antibody protection. The length and timing of the window of susceptibility is different in every Bulldog litter, and even between individual puppies in the litter. At six weeks of age, 25% of puppies could be immunized. At 9-10 weeks of age, 40% of puppies are able to respond to the vaccine. The number increased to 60% by 16 weeks of age, and by 18 weeks, 95% of the puppies were protected by the vaccine.This is why we complete puppy vaccinations in 3 stages 1st set and 2nd and 3rd boosters with Rabies given with the 3rd set of boosters.
Bulldog Puppy Vaccination Schedule
(All our Bulldog puppies go to their new homes fully up to date on ALL Vaccinations, weather it be 1st set or all 3 sets and Rabies depending on their age)
6-8 weeks Vaccination DHPP (1st) distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus
8-10 weeks Combination vaccine - DHPP (2nd) without leptospirosis.(We DO NOT RECOMMEND EVER GIVING BULLDOGS THE LEPTO VACCINATION)
12-16 Vaccination - DHPP (3rd) plus Rabies
We HIGHLY recommend De-Worming your puppy with SafeGuard (Panacur) every 2-3 weeks until all puppy vaccinations are completed and then once or twice yearly, every year!
Young puppies are also susceptible to developing Diarrhea from stress of moving as well as bacterial infections such as Giardia, Trichomonas and Balantidium coli. Such infections can be treated quickly and effectively with anti-diarrheal and bacterial medication called Metronidazole liquid or tabs ir can be cleared up in 7-10 days and should be treated quickly. If you notice Diarrhea and or blood in your puppies stools they should be treated right away with Metronidazole which you can have a prescribed from your Veterinarian.
YEARLY VACCINATIONS
Once All your Puppy Vaccinations are completed many vets will want you to give yearly vaccinations, it's in our Bulldogs interest to let our clients know the facts about over vaccinating their Bulldogs.
SO JUST HOW LONG DO YOUR BULLDOGS SHOTS LAST?
Definitely longer than a year!
According to the top pet immunologist (aka vaccine expert) in the world, Dr. Ronald Schultz, Ph.D. – “ Annual re vaccination provides no benefit and may increase the risk for adverse reactions.”
What are adverse reactions (or side effects)?
Well according to the other rock star pet immunologist Dr. Jean Dodds:
“Side effects from dog vaccinations can occur anywhere from instantly up to several weeks or months later. Vaccines can even cause susceptibility to chronic diseases that appear much later in a dog’s life.
Severe and fatal adverse reactions include:
•Susceptibility to infections.
•Neurological disorders and encephalitis.
•Aberrant behaviour, including unprovoked aggression.
•Vaccines are linked to seizures. Distemper, parvovirus, rabies and, presumably, other vaccines have been linked with poly neuropathy, a nerve disease that involves inflammation of several nerves.
We know for FACT Bulldogs of ours who have received the Leptospirosis have developed Septic Arthritis of the joints in the past and this is why WE DO NOT recommend this vaccine ever to our Bulldren.
According to the recommendations of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), (basically the dudes who set the standards for the vets): “Among healthy dogs, all commercially available [core] vaccines are expected to induce a sustained protective immune response lasting at least 5 yr. thereafter”
Here’s the breakdown of the core vaccines from Dr. Ronald Schultz:
Minimum Duration of Immunity for Canine Vaccines:
Distemper- 7 years by challenge
Parvovirus – 7 years by challenge
Adenovirus – 7 years by challenge
Canine rabies – 3 years by challenge
The moral of the story here, if you have no idea when your bulldog is due or has been vaccinated, then just run a titer test and this will confirm if you are due, rather than over-vaccinate your bully which can set the stage for future problems!
What’s a titer test?
A titer test (pronounced tight-errr) is a laboratory or in-house veterinary test measuring the existence and level of antibodies (necessary to fight off disease) in your bullies blood. Basically, it’s a test that will tell you whether or not you actually need to vaccinate your Bulldog.
It’s also super useful when making a decision about vaccinating with an unknown vaccination history, or for determining if your Bulldog has received immunity from vaccination.
Vaccinating your BULLDOG is very important so don’t lose the overall message here: VACCINATE, JUST DON’T OVER-VACCINATE!
BULLDOGS AND HEAT
All bulldog owners MUST know and understand the following Severely hot weather can be fatal to a bulldog, they don’t even need to be moving about in it to succumb to the heat. Please make sure that any exercise is given early in the morning or late in the evening, don’t be tempted to go for a nice Sunday afternoon stroll when it is very sunny or hot. Also please don’t allow your bulldogto lay out in the sun for long periods, they do not know when they have had enough and it doesn’t take long for their panting to become out of control.
How to recognize when your bulldog is too hot Any exercise will make him pant but watch for when the panting becomes"heaving" this is the earliest sign that he is getting too hot. When the panting has become loud and is becoming a "roar" he has already become too hot and the outcome can be fatal:
Stages of overheating: Your bulldog will begin to "heave" as he pants Your bulldog will begin to "roar" - best described as sounding like severe asthma He will begin to look tired and distressed His tongue will be very floppy and very red in colour His body temperature will rise (normal temp approx 38.6) His airway will swell and his throat become full of white foam (caused through the excessive panting) He will quickly become exhausted and will fighting for breath He could die
How to prevent overheating: Do not allow your bulldog to lay out in the day time sunshine Do not walk your bulldog in hot weather During hot weather keep your bulldog inside during the hottest part of the day
How to deal with overheating: Lower his body temperature: Always ensure that you have ice to hand during the summer months. Pour cold water over your dog, especially around his head, rub ice around his head and under his tail (around his rectum). If possible stand him in a cold bath and keep going with the ice until the breathing is less laboured.
Clear the airway: Squirt some lemon juice (from one of those plastic lemon shaped bottles that you squirt on your pancakes) into the back of his throat, he will hate you for it, but the lemon juice will quickly break up the excess foam and clear the throat. Do not allow him to drink a lot of water as this can cause him to vomit.
Keep him calm: Once you have reduced his panic keep him in a quiet place and keep a close eye on him.
If this doesn’t work then you need to get to a vet as quickly as possible - put a cold damp towel under him for the journey Bulldogs overheat quickly because of the shape of their throats, their soft palates are almost always too long and when they get very hot they cannot pant sufficiently to keep their body temperature down, their attempts to pant quickly cause the production of foam which in turn blocks the throat and causes laboured breathing and eventually they will begin to roar as they try to breath through the blockage.
Summer Check list: Plenty of ice Jiff Lemon Juice If you need to go out freeze some damp towels the day before and take with you together with both of the above items and plenty of cold water.In an emergency you can substitute 7-UP for the lemon and packets of frozen veggies for the ice. Find a horse trough, stream, river or pond to stand your dog in or knock on the nearest house and ask to borrow a hose pipe. Remember this can happen at any time, even if up until now he has coped perfectly OK with the heat. Prevention is much better than cure.Note: Stress can often bring on the same symptoms and should be treated in the same ways described above.
All bulldog owners MUST know and understand the following Severely hot weather can be fatal to a bulldog, they don’t even need to be moving about in it to succumb to the heat. Please make sure that any exercise is given early in the morning or late in the evening, don’t be tempted to go for a nice Sunday afternoon stroll when it is very sunny or hot. Also please don’t allow your bulldogto lay out in the sun for long periods, they do not know when they have had enough and it doesn’t take long for their panting to become out of control.
How to recognize when your bulldog is too hot Any exercise will make him pant but watch for when the panting becomes"heaving" this is the earliest sign that he is getting too hot. When the panting has become loud and is becoming a "roar" he has already become too hot and the outcome can be fatal:
Stages of overheating: Your bulldog will begin to "heave" as he pants Your bulldog will begin to "roar" - best described as sounding like severe asthma He will begin to look tired and distressed His tongue will be very floppy and very red in colour His body temperature will rise (normal temp approx 38.6) His airway will swell and his throat become full of white foam (caused through the excessive panting) He will quickly become exhausted and will fighting for breath He could die
How to prevent overheating: Do not allow your bulldog to lay out in the day time sunshine Do not walk your bulldog in hot weather During hot weather keep your bulldog inside during the hottest part of the day
How to deal with overheating: Lower his body temperature: Always ensure that you have ice to hand during the summer months. Pour cold water over your dog, especially around his head, rub ice around his head and under his tail (around his rectum). If possible stand him in a cold bath and keep going with the ice until the breathing is less laboured.
Clear the airway: Squirt some lemon juice (from one of those plastic lemon shaped bottles that you squirt on your pancakes) into the back of his throat, he will hate you for it, but the lemon juice will quickly break up the excess foam and clear the throat. Do not allow him to drink a lot of water as this can cause him to vomit.
Keep him calm: Once you have reduced his panic keep him in a quiet place and keep a close eye on him.
If this doesn’t work then you need to get to a vet as quickly as possible - put a cold damp towel under him for the journey Bulldogs overheat quickly because of the shape of their throats, their soft palates are almost always too long and when they get very hot they cannot pant sufficiently to keep their body temperature down, their attempts to pant quickly cause the production of foam which in turn blocks the throat and causes laboured breathing and eventually they will begin to roar as they try to breath through the blockage.
Summer Check list: Plenty of ice Jiff Lemon Juice If you need to go out freeze some damp towels the day before and take with you together with both of the above items and plenty of cold water.In an emergency you can substitute 7-UP for the lemon and packets of frozen veggies for the ice. Find a horse trough, stream, river or pond to stand your dog in or knock on the nearest house and ask to borrow a hose pipe. Remember this can happen at any time, even if up until now he has coped perfectly OK with the heat. Prevention is much better than cure.Note: Stress can often bring on the same symptoms and should be treated in the same ways described above.
SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION IN YOUR BULLDOG
To test for dehydration, put your finger under your dog’s upper lip and feel for wetness. It should be moist and slippery. If his gums feel tacky, he’s lacking in saliva, and could be dehydrated.
Skin turgidity can also be assessed to estimate dehydration. The skin over the shoulder blades is pulled away from the body and released. The time taken to fall back into a normal position increases with escalating dehydration.
In a well-hydrated dog, the skin will snap quickly back into place. Don’t use the skin over the neck for testing because this skin is less pliable than that over the shoulder, so it naturally goes down more slowly.
The last test for dehydration is looking at your dog’s eyes. If his eyes are sunken, he is extremely dehydrated.
What you can do if you Bully becomes Dehydrated
If your dog is seriously dehydrated it's a good idea to get more electrolytes into his system FAST. Our favourite way to do this is by using Pedialyte, a liquid supplement used for small children..
We use a small syringe that we get at no cost from our local pharmacist and squirt some into the dogs mouth for quick dehydration. Use apex. 2 tablespoons per 10 lbs of weight every hour. Additionally, we add some to our dogs drinking water for maximum results.
Note: Generic Pedialyte may be available in your store, is less costly ass works just as well.
Another option :
Offer your dog a few ice cubes to lick and add a few to their drinking water. It's not as fast as Pedialyte but can be helpful if your bully is responsive to licking the ice cubes. Some will readily lick ice cubes when they are dehydrated, even if they are reluctant to drink water. Float the ice in their water bowl.
How to Prevent Dehydration in Dogs
You Bully gets hydrating moisture from his drinking water AND his food. Make sure he has ample FRESH water and a balanced diet to prevent dehydration.
Always carry water with you and offer some to Fido regularly when the weather is hot outdoors or you are exercising. Stop and rest frequently in the shade.
While dehydration can generally be reversed quickly, if unchecked, untreated and severe, it can lead to your dog's death.
So get outside today and take your best friend for a walk. Just remember to carry a bottle of water and a small cup .
CAN ENGLISH AND FRENCH BULLDOGS SWIM?
We get asked this constantly! And the answer is NO! Please DO NOT leave your Bulldog near any body of water. Swimming and Bulldogs do not go hand in hand ALL Bulldogs will eventually go under. Some seem more Buoyant than others especially when they are younger because they don't weigh as much, but please trust us they will all go down eventually if not wearing a life vest. Even with wearing a life vest be very careful, they do not have a snout to hold above water if at the beach with waves ect.
Can Bulldogs Swim at all? Well Sure... They can swim..., but they are top heavy and those can swim cannot swim longer than a few feet without eventually going under. Sure you can let him go and he may go 10 feet but even the most water loving Bulldog will eventually GO UNDER!
HEARTWORM PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
The heart worm test: You probably think of it as a formality, a necessary procedure before your veterinarian dispenses the preventive medication. Unfortunately, this year you get a surprise – your dog has tested positive.
Before you hit the panic button and have nightmares of your dog dying with worms writhing in his heart, have the diagnosis verified. Test results can be in error. Your veterinarian may want to do a different type of test to confirm that your dog is truly infested.
If the second test also comes back positive, your dog has heartworm and needs to be treated.
At this point, you may be wondering why your dog seems to be healthy
SYMPTOMS OF HEARTWORM
The symptoms associated with heartworm infestations depend on how many worms are present and how long they have been there. Dogs with just a few worms can carry them for years without showing any symptoms. On the other hand, dogs with many worms often develop serious heart, lung, liver and kidney problems, with symptoms such as weight loss, coughing, fever, poor hair coat and inability to tolerate exercise. Dogs like this die unless the worms are eradicated.
If you have been testing your dog every spring, you know he was ‘clean’ last year. This means the infestation is quite new. It also means treatment will be easier on him than for a dog with severe symptoms.
TREATMENT OF HEARTWORM
The most common medication used for treating heartworm is melarsomine (brand name Immiticide®). When it became available about 15 years ago, melarsomine replaced the more toxic thiacetarsamide. Both medications contain arsenic to kill the heartworms.
A single injection of melarsomine kills 90 per cent of male heartworms and 20 per cent of females. Followed by another injection 24 hours later, this double whammy kills 100 per cent of the males and 98 per cent of the female worms. It is used in Class I and II dogs. (See sidebar for grading system.)
For Class III dogs, an alternate protocol is often employed. One injection is given, then one-to-two months later, the two-injection protocol is followed. The reason for the early single dose is that the treatment can be very hard on the dog.
Though the medication itself can be toxic, the main issue is the possibility of thromboembolism – worms die and end up blocking the narrow arteries. This effect is minimized by keeping the dog quiet and using anti-inflammatory medications such as prednisone. Using the early single dose technique stages the worm kill and lessens the chance of death.
Treatment of severe heartworm disease is time-consuming, hazardous, costly and not always successful. It is much better to prevent infestation from happening.
Dogs become infested with heartworm if they are bitten by parasite-carrying mosquitoes. The mosquito injects tiny heartworm larvae into the dog’s body as it feeds. These microscopic larvae burrow into the dog’s tissues, emerge into blood vessels, and eventually travel to the dog’s heart and pulmonary arteries.
Once there, the worms mature and grow up to 30 cm (12 inches) long. Adult heartworms then mate, producing new larvae called microfilariae. These circulate in the dog’s blood, waiting to be picked up by biting mosquitoes. They mature in the mosquito, ready to infest the next victim, and the cycle begins again.
RISK OF EXPOSURE
The areas of Canada that are endemic (a risk) for heartworm are southern Ontario, southern Quebec, southern Manitoba, and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. It is transmissible only in warmer seasons, when it can mature in the mosquito.
Find out if there is a heartworm threat in your area. Your veterinarian is the best source of information about this. If you travel to the U.S., research your destination to see if there is a heartworm issue there.
Protecting dogs from heartworm is easy with either a monthly medication or an injection that lasts for six months. These are prescribed by your veterinarian.
The adage “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” certainly applies to this parasite. You don’t want your dog to have to go through heartworm treatment
BULLDOGS AND HOT SPOTS
Almost every Bulldog owner has heard of, if not seen, a “hot spot.” This slang term describes a host of skin disorders (summer sores, moist eczema, acute moist dermatitis and pyotraumatic dermatitis) that have one common feature – dogs can’t leave them alone.
No matter what the trigger for skin irritation, the dog’s response is the same – to lick, bite or scratch the site while trying to soothe it. Unfortunately, this aggravates the skin further and the site becomes more irritated (pruritic), which makes the dog lick, bite and scratch with more intensity.
Developing of Hot Spots in Bulldogs:
As inflammation builds, the skin’s superficial layer (the dermis) loses its impermeability. Fluid rich in nutrients oozes through the surface, providing the perfect environment for bacteria to multiply. Ultimately, this leads to the formation of a hot spot – a reddened, raw-looking area of thickened, infected skin.
Triggers:
Though the end point of this self-perpetuating cycle is always the same, several factors contribute to its onset. The main players in this drama are bacteria, inflammation and moisture.
Bacteria flourish in every hot spot. As soon as the skin’s natural defences drop, bacteria that are normal residents of the skin, typically staphylococcus (staph), grow. Infection causes more pruritis, which stimulates more licking.
In some dogs, a focal skin infection can be a trigger for a hot spot. In such a case, the infection causes itchiness that initiates self-trauma and inflammation.
Causes:
The main suppressor of skin immunity is inflammation. A minor trauma such as a scratch or abrasion can initiate inflammation that leads to a hot spot. More commonly, inflammation is generated by reactions to food, fleas or inhaled (atopic) allergens (such as pollen and house dust) that cause histamine release in the skin surface. Inflammation not only sets the stage for infection, it initiates pruritis that stimulates dogs to lick and bite.
Moisture is another factor that compromises the natural defences of the skin, allowing bacteria to multiply. For this reason, veterinarians see more hot spots during rainy, humid weather than during dry weather. Bathing or swimming can also predispose a dog to hot spots.
BULLDOGS ARE MORE PRONE TO HOT SPOTS
Certain breeds are more prone than others to developing hot spots. Bulldogs tend to develop superficial, easily treated hot spots that are triggered by allergy-induced inflammation. In contrast,Bulldogs tend to get primary skin infections that initiate the inflammatory processes leading to hot-spot formation. In this breed, bacteria are quicker to penetrate deep into the skin layers, so hot spot treatment is more complicated.
TREATMENT FOR HOT SPOTS
How will your veterinarian manage a hot spot? First, he will shave the fur over the entire affected area. This is a necessary step in assessing the size and severity of a hot spot (which can be masked by hair). Because clipping and treating a hot spot can be very painful, some dogs need to be tranquilized (or even anesthetized) before the task can be performed.
Once the site is shaved, your veterinarian will clean it by scrubbing the area with an antibacterial soap to remove the liquid and crusted exudes and expose the skin surface. Alternatively, he may employ hydrotherapy, especially if the site is particularly painful to touch. Hydrotherapy involves spraying the site with body-temperature water for about 10 minutes, with a hose or water sprayer. This procedure not only cleans the skin, but also stimulates blood flow to the site.
Frequent cleansing of a hot spot, even every few hours on the first day, significantly speeds healing.
Once the site is clean, your veterinarian will pat the skin dry and apply a topical antibacterial ointment, or one that has an antibiotic as well as a steroid to decrease the inflammation. To be beneficial, the ointment must contact the skin surface, so preliminary cleaning is vital.
Other Options for Hot Spots:
In some cases, a hot spot is deeply infected or so inflamed that a dog continues to be irritated despite treatment. In the former case, the patient needs oral antibiotics, and in the latter, oral steroid therapy is required to get the inflammation in check.
Topical management, cleaning and ointment application, as well as oral medications (if indicated) must be continued at home. After two days of treatment, most hot spots look markedly better, but a few may take a week to finally look like they’re going to heal. Once the oozing has ceased, the cleaning frequency can be decreased, but ointment should still be applied on a regular basis.
A hot spot recognized very early in its development when it’s superficial may be possible to successfully treat without shaving the dog’s fur. The trick is to clean the skin well to remove secretions, then thoroughly dry it. A steroid-containing antibacterial ointment is then applied at least twice a day.
PREVENTION FOR HOT SPOTS
Hot spots can be prevented by addressing the factors that trigger their formation. To improve skin health and its ability to keep bacteria in check, most veterinarians recommend a high-quality diet for their patients.
When fleas are an inciting cause of inflammation, regular flea control is needed. Dogs should be treated with a topical product that will kill fleas before they have a chance to bite and set off an allergic reaction.
A dog with a food allergy that predisposes him to hot spots should be fed a hypoallergenic diet. Veterinarians prescribe special diets with novel protein sources such as fish, venison or pinto beans, to name a few.
When a dog suffers from recurrent hot spots due to atopic allergies, antihistamines can sometimes control skin inflammation. Adding supplemental omega fatty acids can also help reduce skin inflammation from allergic reactions. Salmon oil is rich in these particular fatty acids. According to Dr. John Angus, a dermatologist in Arizona, the daily dose is one 1,000-milligram capsule for each 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds) body weight.
Several prescription foods made for dogs with skin allergies contain extra omega fatty acids. During their allergy seasons, some dogs are managed with steroids to reduce skin inflammation, while others are given injections to hyposensitize them to specific allergens
WHAT TO DO:
If hot spots are occurring after a dog gets wet, the solution is simple – dry him well after bathing or swimming. A vigorous toweling may be adequate, but for long-haired dogs, a hairdryer is often needed. Some owners trim the long hair on their dog’s belly (where it can’t be seen) to make drying easier. During the summer, it may be beneficial to clip a dog’s hair very short over his entire body.
The best defense against hot spots is to be on the lookout for them. If your dog is paying too much attention to a specific site on his body, or if you find some fur that’s wet with saliva, investigate it. You may be able to clean and dry the area before it becomes inflamed and infected
BEE STINGS AND BULLDOGS
Benedryl…..for allergic reactions to bee stings, spider bites, and such. Every Bulldog we have ever known is allergic to bee stings and can quickly die from them. Read the directions on the bottle or box to determine dosage for the weight of your dog. We prefer using liquid rather than pills because we believe the liquid acts a bit faster. We actually have gone further in this case. Our veterinarian has provided us with the Benedryl injection for immediate action, but you do have to get it from a veterinarian. Whenever you have to administer Benedryl for something such as a bee sting, keep track of how much you gave the dog, and when you gave it. Then get the dog to the vet as soon as possible so follow-up care of further Benedryl dosage and a steroid booster shot can be administered. Do not mess around and decide to wait to see what will happen. Usually what will happen is the dog will die
To test for dehydration, put your finger under your dog’s upper lip and feel for wetness. It should be moist and slippery. If his gums feel tacky, he’s lacking in saliva, and could be dehydrated.
Skin turgidity can also be assessed to estimate dehydration. The skin over the shoulder blades is pulled away from the body and released. The time taken to fall back into a normal position increases with escalating dehydration.
In a well-hydrated dog, the skin will snap quickly back into place. Don’t use the skin over the neck for testing because this skin is less pliable than that over the shoulder, so it naturally goes down more slowly.
The last test for dehydration is looking at your dog’s eyes. If his eyes are sunken, he is extremely dehydrated.
What you can do if you Bully becomes Dehydrated
If your dog is seriously dehydrated it's a good idea to get more electrolytes into his system FAST. Our favourite way to do this is by using Pedialyte, a liquid supplement used for small children..
We use a small syringe that we get at no cost from our local pharmacist and squirt some into the dogs mouth for quick dehydration. Use apex. 2 tablespoons per 10 lbs of weight every hour. Additionally, we add some to our dogs drinking water for maximum results.
Note: Generic Pedialyte may be available in your store, is less costly ass works just as well.
Another option :
Offer your dog a few ice cubes to lick and add a few to their drinking water. It's not as fast as Pedialyte but can be helpful if your bully is responsive to licking the ice cubes. Some will readily lick ice cubes when they are dehydrated, even if they are reluctant to drink water. Float the ice in their water bowl.
How to Prevent Dehydration in Dogs
You Bully gets hydrating moisture from his drinking water AND his food. Make sure he has ample FRESH water and a balanced diet to prevent dehydration.
Always carry water with you and offer some to Fido regularly when the weather is hot outdoors or you are exercising. Stop and rest frequently in the shade.
While dehydration can generally be reversed quickly, if unchecked, untreated and severe, it can lead to your dog's death.
So get outside today and take your best friend for a walk. Just remember to carry a bottle of water and a small cup .
CAN ENGLISH AND FRENCH BULLDOGS SWIM?
We get asked this constantly! And the answer is NO! Please DO NOT leave your Bulldog near any body of water. Swimming and Bulldogs do not go hand in hand ALL Bulldogs will eventually go under. Some seem more Buoyant than others especially when they are younger because they don't weigh as much, but please trust us they will all go down eventually if not wearing a life vest. Even with wearing a life vest be very careful, they do not have a snout to hold above water if at the beach with waves ect.
Can Bulldogs Swim at all? Well Sure... They can swim..., but they are top heavy and those can swim cannot swim longer than a few feet without eventually going under. Sure you can let him go and he may go 10 feet but even the most water loving Bulldog will eventually GO UNDER!
HEARTWORM PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
The heart worm test: You probably think of it as a formality, a necessary procedure before your veterinarian dispenses the preventive medication. Unfortunately, this year you get a surprise – your dog has tested positive.
Before you hit the panic button and have nightmares of your dog dying with worms writhing in his heart, have the diagnosis verified. Test results can be in error. Your veterinarian may want to do a different type of test to confirm that your dog is truly infested.
If the second test also comes back positive, your dog has heartworm and needs to be treated.
At this point, you may be wondering why your dog seems to be healthy
SYMPTOMS OF HEARTWORM
The symptoms associated with heartworm infestations depend on how many worms are present and how long they have been there. Dogs with just a few worms can carry them for years without showing any symptoms. On the other hand, dogs with many worms often develop serious heart, lung, liver and kidney problems, with symptoms such as weight loss, coughing, fever, poor hair coat and inability to tolerate exercise. Dogs like this die unless the worms are eradicated.
If you have been testing your dog every spring, you know he was ‘clean’ last year. This means the infestation is quite new. It also means treatment will be easier on him than for a dog with severe symptoms.
TREATMENT OF HEARTWORM
The most common medication used for treating heartworm is melarsomine (brand name Immiticide®). When it became available about 15 years ago, melarsomine replaced the more toxic thiacetarsamide. Both medications contain arsenic to kill the heartworms.
A single injection of melarsomine kills 90 per cent of male heartworms and 20 per cent of females. Followed by another injection 24 hours later, this double whammy kills 100 per cent of the males and 98 per cent of the female worms. It is used in Class I and II dogs. (See sidebar for grading system.)
For Class III dogs, an alternate protocol is often employed. One injection is given, then one-to-two months later, the two-injection protocol is followed. The reason for the early single dose is that the treatment can be very hard on the dog.
Though the medication itself can be toxic, the main issue is the possibility of thromboembolism – worms die and end up blocking the narrow arteries. This effect is minimized by keeping the dog quiet and using anti-inflammatory medications such as prednisone. Using the early single dose technique stages the worm kill and lessens the chance of death.
Treatment of severe heartworm disease is time-consuming, hazardous, costly and not always successful. It is much better to prevent infestation from happening.
Dogs become infested with heartworm if they are bitten by parasite-carrying mosquitoes. The mosquito injects tiny heartworm larvae into the dog’s body as it feeds. These microscopic larvae burrow into the dog’s tissues, emerge into blood vessels, and eventually travel to the dog’s heart and pulmonary arteries.
Once there, the worms mature and grow up to 30 cm (12 inches) long. Adult heartworms then mate, producing new larvae called microfilariae. These circulate in the dog’s blood, waiting to be picked up by biting mosquitoes. They mature in the mosquito, ready to infest the next victim, and the cycle begins again.
RISK OF EXPOSURE
The areas of Canada that are endemic (a risk) for heartworm are southern Ontario, southern Quebec, southern Manitoba, and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. It is transmissible only in warmer seasons, when it can mature in the mosquito.
Find out if there is a heartworm threat in your area. Your veterinarian is the best source of information about this. If you travel to the U.S., research your destination to see if there is a heartworm issue there.
Protecting dogs from heartworm is easy with either a monthly medication or an injection that lasts for six months. These are prescribed by your veterinarian.
The adage “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” certainly applies to this parasite. You don’t want your dog to have to go through heartworm treatment
BULLDOGS AND HOT SPOTS
Almost every Bulldog owner has heard of, if not seen, a “hot spot.” This slang term describes a host of skin disorders (summer sores, moist eczema, acute moist dermatitis and pyotraumatic dermatitis) that have one common feature – dogs can’t leave them alone.
No matter what the trigger for skin irritation, the dog’s response is the same – to lick, bite or scratch the site while trying to soothe it. Unfortunately, this aggravates the skin further and the site becomes more irritated (pruritic), which makes the dog lick, bite and scratch with more intensity.
Developing of Hot Spots in Bulldogs:
As inflammation builds, the skin’s superficial layer (the dermis) loses its impermeability. Fluid rich in nutrients oozes through the surface, providing the perfect environment for bacteria to multiply. Ultimately, this leads to the formation of a hot spot – a reddened, raw-looking area of thickened, infected skin.
Triggers:
Though the end point of this self-perpetuating cycle is always the same, several factors contribute to its onset. The main players in this drama are bacteria, inflammation and moisture.
Bacteria flourish in every hot spot. As soon as the skin’s natural defences drop, bacteria that are normal residents of the skin, typically staphylococcus (staph), grow. Infection causes more pruritis, which stimulates more licking.
In some dogs, a focal skin infection can be a trigger for a hot spot. In such a case, the infection causes itchiness that initiates self-trauma and inflammation.
Causes:
The main suppressor of skin immunity is inflammation. A minor trauma such as a scratch or abrasion can initiate inflammation that leads to a hot spot. More commonly, inflammation is generated by reactions to food, fleas or inhaled (atopic) allergens (such as pollen and house dust) that cause histamine release in the skin surface. Inflammation not only sets the stage for infection, it initiates pruritis that stimulates dogs to lick and bite.
Moisture is another factor that compromises the natural defences of the skin, allowing bacteria to multiply. For this reason, veterinarians see more hot spots during rainy, humid weather than during dry weather. Bathing or swimming can also predispose a dog to hot spots.
BULLDOGS ARE MORE PRONE TO HOT SPOTS
Certain breeds are more prone than others to developing hot spots. Bulldogs tend to develop superficial, easily treated hot spots that are triggered by allergy-induced inflammation. In contrast,Bulldogs tend to get primary skin infections that initiate the inflammatory processes leading to hot-spot formation. In this breed, bacteria are quicker to penetrate deep into the skin layers, so hot spot treatment is more complicated.
TREATMENT FOR HOT SPOTS
How will your veterinarian manage a hot spot? First, he will shave the fur over the entire affected area. This is a necessary step in assessing the size and severity of a hot spot (which can be masked by hair). Because clipping and treating a hot spot can be very painful, some dogs need to be tranquilized (or even anesthetized) before the task can be performed.
Once the site is shaved, your veterinarian will clean it by scrubbing the area with an antibacterial soap to remove the liquid and crusted exudes and expose the skin surface. Alternatively, he may employ hydrotherapy, especially if the site is particularly painful to touch. Hydrotherapy involves spraying the site with body-temperature water for about 10 minutes, with a hose or water sprayer. This procedure not only cleans the skin, but also stimulates blood flow to the site.
Frequent cleansing of a hot spot, even every few hours on the first day, significantly speeds healing.
Once the site is clean, your veterinarian will pat the skin dry and apply a topical antibacterial ointment, or one that has an antibiotic as well as a steroid to decrease the inflammation. To be beneficial, the ointment must contact the skin surface, so preliminary cleaning is vital.
Other Options for Hot Spots:
In some cases, a hot spot is deeply infected or so inflamed that a dog continues to be irritated despite treatment. In the former case, the patient needs oral antibiotics, and in the latter, oral steroid therapy is required to get the inflammation in check.
Topical management, cleaning and ointment application, as well as oral medications (if indicated) must be continued at home. After two days of treatment, most hot spots look markedly better, but a few may take a week to finally look like they’re going to heal. Once the oozing has ceased, the cleaning frequency can be decreased, but ointment should still be applied on a regular basis.
A hot spot recognized very early in its development when it’s superficial may be possible to successfully treat without shaving the dog’s fur. The trick is to clean the skin well to remove secretions, then thoroughly dry it. A steroid-containing antibacterial ointment is then applied at least twice a day.
PREVENTION FOR HOT SPOTS
Hot spots can be prevented by addressing the factors that trigger their formation. To improve skin health and its ability to keep bacteria in check, most veterinarians recommend a high-quality diet for their patients.
When fleas are an inciting cause of inflammation, regular flea control is needed. Dogs should be treated with a topical product that will kill fleas before they have a chance to bite and set off an allergic reaction.
A dog with a food allergy that predisposes him to hot spots should be fed a hypoallergenic diet. Veterinarians prescribe special diets with novel protein sources such as fish, venison or pinto beans, to name a few.
When a dog suffers from recurrent hot spots due to atopic allergies, antihistamines can sometimes control skin inflammation. Adding supplemental omega fatty acids can also help reduce skin inflammation from allergic reactions. Salmon oil is rich in these particular fatty acids. According to Dr. John Angus, a dermatologist in Arizona, the daily dose is one 1,000-milligram capsule for each 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds) body weight.
Several prescription foods made for dogs with skin allergies contain extra omega fatty acids. During their allergy seasons, some dogs are managed with steroids to reduce skin inflammation, while others are given injections to hyposensitize them to specific allergens
WHAT TO DO:
If hot spots are occurring after a dog gets wet, the solution is simple – dry him well after bathing or swimming. A vigorous toweling may be adequate, but for long-haired dogs, a hairdryer is often needed. Some owners trim the long hair on their dog’s belly (where it can’t be seen) to make drying easier. During the summer, it may be beneficial to clip a dog’s hair very short over his entire body.
The best defense against hot spots is to be on the lookout for them. If your dog is paying too much attention to a specific site on his body, or if you find some fur that’s wet with saliva, investigate it. You may be able to clean and dry the area before it becomes inflamed and infected
BEE STINGS AND BULLDOGS
Benedryl…..for allergic reactions to bee stings, spider bites, and such. Every Bulldog we have ever known is allergic to bee stings and can quickly die from them. Read the directions on the bottle or box to determine dosage for the weight of your dog. We prefer using liquid rather than pills because we believe the liquid acts a bit faster. We actually have gone further in this case. Our veterinarian has provided us with the Benedryl injection for immediate action, but you do have to get it from a veterinarian. Whenever you have to administer Benedryl for something such as a bee sting, keep track of how much you gave the dog, and when you gave it. Then get the dog to the vet as soon as possible so follow-up care of further Benedryl dosage and a steroid booster shot can be administered. Do not mess around and decide to wait to see what will happen. Usually what will happen is the dog will die
JOINTS AND SWELLING IN COLD WEATHER
When it is Cold outside you may notice your Bulldog is more "Stiff" especially from waking up, the same as with us During the Colder months people tend to be more guarded. We clench up our fists and arms, we burrow into our coats and generally, tighten up our bodies to shield ourselves from the elements. Dogs do the same and these defensive postures can cause more joint pain and stiffness. You will also notice more "stiffness" in your Bulldogs joints in the Damp weather.
While their is no scientific data that weather exacerbates symptoms of joint swelling although there could be a link between low barometric pressure, high humidity and joint swelling. This swelling causes stiffness of the joints, as well as pain. Cold weather stiffens muscles, which can be a contributing factor.
Bulldogs especially are more prone to developing Arthritis in life and this is mainly because Bulldogs ALL have some form of Hip dysplasia and are more prone to patella luxation also trauma as a puppy to growing limbs can also play a roll in Arthritis later in life so this is why we advice never to let growing Bulldog puppies jump from heights and be picked up and have their legs pulled on by small children as Bulldogs legs can be injured very easily. These are just some factors that can play a roll in where joint swelling and pain can come during Cold and Damp weather.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP RELIEVE JOINT PAIN AND SWELLING
There are some things we can do to help relieve the symptoms of joint stiffness and pain. Firstly You can use a dehumidifier to maintain moisture level this will help relieve some of those symptoms.
Orthopedic dog beds for large dogs will help your Bully rest and reduce potential stiffness and achiness.
Moist heat does wonders for relieving pain. Fill heat packs with warm water and apply to painful joints. This is useful at the end of an active day, on cold winter evenings, and any other time you see your bulldog suffering from a flare-up
Eating off the floor adds strain to dogs necks and backs, especially if they’re already dealing with joint pain. To relieve strain, make the switch to raised dishes. Which you can adjust for perfect height. Ren's pet's who is one of our sponsor's sell some great ones, if you are located in Ontario.
Eliminating Grains from your Bulldogs Diet will also help tremendously Grains increase inflammation, which makes arthritis and joint swelling worse. Check your dog’s food for ingredients such as wheat, corn, and rice. Dog foods often use these ingredients as cheap filler. We feed our Bulldogs a High End Grain free diet only! You will get what you pay for when you purchase dog food and don't you want only the Best for your Bully Best Friend?
Lastly you can also Massage their legs, Massage helps stimulate blood flow, reduce inflammation, and ease pain it's also a great time for bonding.
Hopefully you will find some of these simple but effective tips helpful for your Bulldog. Any questions we are always here to help!
VITAMINS WE RECOMMEND IN THE WINTER
Gloucosamine with Sulfatate (NO MSM) is something we give ALL our Bulldogs during the winter months! It is actually a natural constituent of cartilage, which is a tissue that supports joints so they move smoothly. Glucosamine supplements put the substance back into the body and alleviate painful symptoms of common illnesses and joint pains. Since our babies cannot express pain as well as humans can, pain relief must be taken very seriously!
For every 25 pounds, your Bulldog should receive about 375 mg glucosamine sulfate (No MSM) once daily! You can place the pill in a small piece of cheese or peanut butter I personally find sticking pills in pieces of Hotdogs works the best :) Taking this supplement should most defiantly improve the health of your Bulldogs joints!
WINTER CHEMICALS
ANTIFREEZE* The worst of all the wintertime chemical spills is antifreeze, which often leaks from a car's radiator. It may taste delicious to your Bulldogs, but it is Extremely Deadly! even the smallest sip can be fatal to your Bully! Better yet, keep your bulldren away from the garage and clean up any accidental spillage. You should also not let your bully wander too far during walks. You never know what dangers lie in your neighbours driveways?
ICE MELTERS* Some people use a variety of Salt and ice-melters they can act as a skin irritant. Make sure to wash your Bulldogs feet off after coming indoors. Bulldogs having very short legs should also have their bellies cleaned with a warm towel after walks.
When it is Cold outside you may notice your Bulldog is more "Stiff" especially from waking up, the same as with us During the Colder months people tend to be more guarded. We clench up our fists and arms, we burrow into our coats and generally, tighten up our bodies to shield ourselves from the elements. Dogs do the same and these defensive postures can cause more joint pain and stiffness. You will also notice more "stiffness" in your Bulldogs joints in the Damp weather.
While their is no scientific data that weather exacerbates symptoms of joint swelling although there could be a link between low barometric pressure, high humidity and joint swelling. This swelling causes stiffness of the joints, as well as pain. Cold weather stiffens muscles, which can be a contributing factor.
Bulldogs especially are more prone to developing Arthritis in life and this is mainly because Bulldogs ALL have some form of Hip dysplasia and are more prone to patella luxation also trauma as a puppy to growing limbs can also play a roll in Arthritis later in life so this is why we advice never to let growing Bulldog puppies jump from heights and be picked up and have their legs pulled on by small children as Bulldogs legs can be injured very easily. These are just some factors that can play a roll in where joint swelling and pain can come during Cold and Damp weather.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP RELIEVE JOINT PAIN AND SWELLING
There are some things we can do to help relieve the symptoms of joint stiffness and pain. Firstly You can use a dehumidifier to maintain moisture level this will help relieve some of those symptoms.
Orthopedic dog beds for large dogs will help your Bully rest and reduce potential stiffness and achiness.
Moist heat does wonders for relieving pain. Fill heat packs with warm water and apply to painful joints. This is useful at the end of an active day, on cold winter evenings, and any other time you see your bulldog suffering from a flare-up
Eating off the floor adds strain to dogs necks and backs, especially if they’re already dealing with joint pain. To relieve strain, make the switch to raised dishes. Which you can adjust for perfect height. Ren's pet's who is one of our sponsor's sell some great ones, if you are located in Ontario.
Eliminating Grains from your Bulldogs Diet will also help tremendously Grains increase inflammation, which makes arthritis and joint swelling worse. Check your dog’s food for ingredients such as wheat, corn, and rice. Dog foods often use these ingredients as cheap filler. We feed our Bulldogs a High End Grain free diet only! You will get what you pay for when you purchase dog food and don't you want only the Best for your Bully Best Friend?
Lastly you can also Massage their legs, Massage helps stimulate blood flow, reduce inflammation, and ease pain it's also a great time for bonding.
Hopefully you will find some of these simple but effective tips helpful for your Bulldog. Any questions we are always here to help!
VITAMINS WE RECOMMEND IN THE WINTER
Gloucosamine with Sulfatate (NO MSM) is something we give ALL our Bulldogs during the winter months! It is actually a natural constituent of cartilage, which is a tissue that supports joints so they move smoothly. Glucosamine supplements put the substance back into the body and alleviate painful symptoms of common illnesses and joint pains. Since our babies cannot express pain as well as humans can, pain relief must be taken very seriously!
For every 25 pounds, your Bulldog should receive about 375 mg glucosamine sulfate (No MSM) once daily! You can place the pill in a small piece of cheese or peanut butter I personally find sticking pills in pieces of Hotdogs works the best :) Taking this supplement should most defiantly improve the health of your Bulldogs joints!
WINTER CHEMICALS
ANTIFREEZE* The worst of all the wintertime chemical spills is antifreeze, which often leaks from a car's radiator. It may taste delicious to your Bulldogs, but it is Extremely Deadly! even the smallest sip can be fatal to your Bully! Better yet, keep your bulldren away from the garage and clean up any accidental spillage. You should also not let your bully wander too far during walks. You never know what dangers lie in your neighbours driveways?
ICE MELTERS* Some people use a variety of Salt and ice-melters they can act as a skin irritant. Make sure to wash your Bulldogs feet off after coming indoors. Bulldogs having very short legs should also have their bellies cleaned with a warm towel after walks.
