He also has a small skin irritation on his hind leg that he tries to
bite on. I would like to try and take care of it before it gets any
bigger.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!
Lila

—–

First of all, if you are using plastic feeding or water bowls, stop immediately!  They
have been shown to actually cause chin acne and other problems.  Instead use
ceramic or stainless steel bowls.

Pimples on the chin could be from several other things.  I’ll list them in order of severity.

When your bulldog eats, he probably sticks his chin in his food, getting it moist and this can lead to irritation.  Keeping it dry and clean could be the answer for this.  Wash with an anti-bacterial soap or Chlorhexiderm Shampoo.  Keep his chin as dry as you can daily.

The next factor could be he is getting too much oil or is allergic to the fish oils in Omega 3 oil.  I’m not sure what you’re feeding him, but sometimes a bulldog gets a reaction to too much oil or too many fats.

If the pimples are oozing, he could have a surface pyoderma.  A surface pyoderma is a localized infection caused by staphylococcus bacteria.  It can be treated with anti-bacterial ointment such as polysporin.

Staph is a very common bacteria found on the skin of dogs and humans and in the environment.  Usually it is harmless, as the dog’s immune system fights it off.  Unfortunately in bulldogs, this is not always the case.

Because the Bulldog is a man-made breed and been subject to such intense inbreeding, the breed is often left with genetic weaknesses.  And a compromised immune system is one of them.  That is why I put so much importance on a healthy diet.

Once the dog suffers an assault to the immune system, as in fighting off a cold or an infection, his immune system can become taxed and unable to fight off this type of skin infection.

The next level of concern is if the infection becomes a Deep Pyoderma.  In this case, the infection has gone beneath the surface and can become systemic.  This is a serious condition that needs to be treated with anti-biotics.

The fact that he has one on his leg as well is troublesome.  He bites at it because it itches. It could mean he has a systemic staph infection that is spreading in his body. The signs of this are usually oozing lesions that crust over and then flake off, leaving bald spots.  In this case it may need to be treated with anti-biotics.

Try using the anti-bacterial soap on those two spots and see if they get better.  If they are oozing or if they get bigger rapidly, or if more of them appear, you better take him to the vet, preferably a dermatologist.

There are other conditions that can cause this sort of chronic outbreak of skin rashes.  The most common is a hormonal imbalance.  Usually the symptoms include hair loss and increased thirst.  A vet can test for thyroid imbalance by doing a tyroid panel test (be sure it’s the panel test).

your bulldog pal,

Jan

Original source: Ask bulldog

I need some advice and I’m hoping you can help me please.

We have an almost 3 month old puppy. About 8 days ago we noticed a runny nose. The discharge is very snotty (greenish). She doesn’t have as much discharge during the day. We mostly notice it when we get up in the morning. She can hardly breathe and her nose is blocked up with snot. Poor baby. We do run our a/c at about 75 degrees most of the day. I try to turn it off at night but sometimes we do run it when it’s too warm. She plays outside in the evenings when it’s cooler. Her demeanor is still the same. Except for the early mornings when she can hardly breathe. She’s eating & pooping well.  Is there anything that I can do to get her better or should I just take her to the vet?

Thanks for your time and consideration.

Dayna

—-

Hi Dayna,

You need to take her to a vet today.  A greenish discharge usually indicates
infection in the lungs.  It is worse in the morning because she has been laying
down at night and the lungs fill up with fluid.  Because of their anatomy and
breathing problems, Bulldogs are prone to aspiration pneumonia and it sounds
to me like that’s what she may have.   It can be very serious and life threatening.

Original source: Ask Bulldog

Do you have any experience with persistent paw yeast infections? My son’s bulldog has one in between his toes that won’t go away. It only flared up again when the pills prescribed by the vet were used up. The MalAcetic Otic they gave us isn’t working. I hestitate to go back to the vet again and waste more money.
Any suggestions? I don’t like to bother you, but I’m at my wit’s end.

Attached is a photo of his paw.

There seems to be a couple of bumps and it’s yeasty. On November 4, the vet injected him with Dexamethasone and gave him Enrofloxacin pills. It seemed to calm down. Now that the pills are all gone, it has flared up again. I was soaking it in warm water and salt, plus pouring peroxide on the wound today which I think made it worse. The vet put him on a special diet because he has a stomach infection – Medi-cal Gastro formulated for gastrointestinal conditions. He was throwing up everyday and had loose stools. He’s no longer throwing up since on this kibble. The stools are better.
Have you seen this condition before in between the toes?

Thanks, Debbie

Hi Debbie,

The photo is not very clear but that looks like an interdigital cyst to me. If so, they are notyeast, they are either ingrown hairs that get infected or a fungal infection – there is some debate.

The medical term for them is interdigital furuncle. I think they are an ingrown hair that gets a mild infection. They usually clear up on their own and I am of the opinion they should not be punctured because that can lead to infection. And I wouldn’t go the antibiotic route because I think it not necessary unless there is a bad infection. And I’ve found that the least amount of fussing with the sore is best.

Your vet prescribed a broad spectrum antibiotic for the perceived infection.

Here is some advice from various bulldog owners and breeders on how they treat them:

As for the cysts, I have used part of the process you’ve included: we usually soak the affected paw in Epsom salts water. I don’t worry about applying Panalog or other creamsunless the vet has recommended it.

Generally with a cyst or any lesion on the paw that I am just starting to treat, I just start with soaks. That way I clean the foot and can get a really good look, and Epsom salts helps to soften and start the lesion draining if it needs to. If it’s a cyst, is there a need for Panalog or other anti-bacterial (antibiotic) ointments or creams? Not necessarily, only if it’s infected. So, if draining it and/or keeping it clean is enough, then why bring in antibiotics and tinker with resistance and such? If pus drains, then I do use ointment, usually triple antibiotic or Bacitracin. Like you, if soaks (with or without ointment) don’t work in 2-4 days, or if it worsens, it’s off to the vet we go!

–Margaret

—-

What I have found is that many cysts are caused by ingrown hair. I soak the affected food in Epson salts for about 5 minutes. When drying the paw if you look on the underneath side of the foot between the pads on the toe that is effected you will probably see an area that appears to have a black head. You can usually use a tweezers and pull the hairs out without causing your pet much discomfort. This has always worked on my dogs.

——

a long coarse of antibiotics usually cephalexin. and give it some time. i have two that got cysts between the toes and used antibiotics 1 dogs went away and hasnt come back… the other girls cyst has been back several times now i dont even put her on antibiotics anymore, i keep it clean use panalog oint and basically just keep popping the cyst to drain it and within a week it starts to go away her last cyst i did this and it hasnt been back in over a year. i am a technician at a vet clinic and ive seen surgeries removing these cysts and 90% of them ive seen return anyway after several surgeries and alot of money it is very hard to get all of the stalk inbetween the toes so you often get regrowth any way…

well thats my 2 cents

chrissy

—-

There are as many interdigital cyst remedies as there are Bulldoggers. I think the cysts have multiple causes including fungus advancing to infection as the cyst develops.

Along that reasoning, I use a Nolvasan Surgical Scrub solution; 5% Surgical Scrub, 95% water, applied with a spray bottle and massaged onto the affected area. I apply twice daily and I’ve never had it last more than three days.

Nolvasan Surgical Scrub is a bit pricey,perhaps $55.00/Gallon, but a gallon will last a lifetime (Or more) It’s very effective for hot spots and simple skin problems. Most importantly, It’s an anti-bacterial agent and an effective fungicide, not an anti-biotic. A simple solution for a complex problem.

Walt

—-

I agree with Walt’s solution -

That’s a great idea

I also use a home made concoction we fondly call “Oden’s Foot” It is 50% rubbing alcohol, 50% water – you boil the water and ad 2 heaping tablespoons of salt till it dissolves. Let is cool a bit then mix with the alcohol put in a sprayer bottle and spray several times a day -

this dries up themoisture and the cyst – this is a people remedy given my son when he had severe fungal infections of the toe nails – it works great you just need to be consistent and spray frequently

Kathy J

—–

The most common home remedy I read about was to soak or compress the affected foot several times per day, then apply antibiotic ointment. A few people recommended applying Preparation H or other hemmorhoid creams. We decided to do a bit of each.

Three to four times per day we’ve been soaking Elliott’s foot in Epsom salts. The easiest way we’ve found to do this is to fill the laundry tub up with 2 to 3 inches of fairly warm water, to which we’ve added a cup of Epsom Salts. We then stand Elliott in the tub, and sit beside him for ten minutes or so. Luckily for us, he’s a good boy, and just stands there patiently so long as we give him the occasional head scratch.

After ten minutes or so have elapsed, we put Elliott on a thick towel and gently pat his affected foot dry. I then fill a large, wide coffee cup with about an inch of hydrogen peroxide, and hold his foot in the cup for a few moments. The affected areas on Elliott’s foot, in particular the cyst itself and the surrounding hair follicles, respond to the hydrogen peroxide with bubbling, whereas the rest of his foot does not. This shows that there is catalase enzyme present in these areas, which is one of the components released when blood or damaged cells are present.

After soaking in hydrogen peroxide, we again pat Elliott’s foot dry. I then apply either Panalog ointment, or Anusol hemorrhoid ointment.

We’ve been treating him using the above method since Saturday morning, and in that time period his swelling has reduced by approximately 40%, and the redness is almost completely gone. With any luck, it will be completely gone within another day or so, and with no antibiotics. Of course, if it doesn’t clear up, or returns, then we’ll try traditional Veterinary treatment and oral antibiotics.

Frogdog blog

And here are some links to more information and photos on the topic:

http://www.bulldogsworld.com/DigitCyst.html

http://www.provet.co.uk/Petfacts/healthtips/interdigitalcysts.htm

Good luck, let me know how he’s doing.

Your Bulldog Pal,

Jan

Hello I have a few quesitons for you about your book. I have 2 bullies a
male 2yrs. old and a female 1yr. old. My male has had problem after
problem. Now we have skin problems. He his going bald on both sides like
where he scratches. he has had this 3 times before each time my vet was
able to somewhat say what it was (each time a different problem or was it)
we would treat it and his hair would come back. this time has been
different. He was daigonased with ring worm @2 mths ago. we went through
the treatments and they also treated my female since it can be spread and
she also started to loose hair they have been retested and the tests came
back negative, but their hair has not grown back and the area where they
have lost the hair is really sensitive to touch. Now my vet has nothing
left up his sleve he wants to send us to a dermotoligist. Will you book go
over issues and give maybe some at home suggestions to try before you head
to the vet. It seems like i live there sometimes and just sounds strange to
me that she also just started having problems at the same time as my male (
I just dont see allergy). also do you know how many pages it is if you
download the pdf file. I am trying to decide weather or not to buy the book
or download it.

Thanks,
Sue

—-answer—-

Hi Sue,

Allergies take up the largest portion of my Bulldog Health System book and cd. I also have a lot of additional information in the bonus materials. The book is 84 pages.
The printed version comes with a cd that includes all the bonus materials.

As for your dog’s condition, I think I may be able to help you with it.
I’m not sure where you live, but the first thing that comes to mind is that
your male has seasonal flank alopecia, a condition where in the winter
the hair falls out symmetrically on both flanks. Here’s an article on it:

http://www.vivyland.com/articles/sfa.html

Because of the ringworm (a fungus) both your dogs have lost some
hair and it may not return until the spring when the days get longer.
The sensitivity could be from the treatments – what were they?

There are other conditions that bulldogs get that can lead to hair loss,
and a dermatologist can do skin scrapings to determine what it is.

I hope this helps. Let me know.

Your Bulldog Pal,

Jan

———-

Hello,
I ordered your book and I just love it. Wondered if you have any
sugesstions on a problem i am having with my 1 1/2 year old female bully. I
just weened her over to a new food and i noticed saturday morning that her
belly was bright red. I applied some hydrocortizone cream on it the redness
has toned down but has not gone away it is also under her front legs. she
also has been rubbing both eyes. thinking it was an allergy to the food i
stopped feeding her that food. Her skin is still the same and she has no
energy and sometimes shivers when she is sleeping. I do have an appointment
with the vet but was just wondering if you had any idea what i may be
dealing with.

thanks
sue

—-answer—

Hi Sue,

It sounds like it could be some sort of allergic reaction. The red on her belly
could be hives. I have a few questions.

What was she eating and what did you switch her to?

That’s a pretty dramatic reaction to be just food. Providing good food
helps with immune function that in tern helps keep many problems at
bay. Year 1 1/2 is when there’s a large growth spurt – the shoulders
bulk out very rapidly. And that can tax the system a bit.

It could also be a hormonal thing. Has she been neutered?

It’s worrysome that she’s not eating and that she’s shivering. Those are
both signs of illness. And there are many possibilities. So taking her to
the vet is a good idea. He will ask more questions and probably do some
blood tests and a skin scraping if it looks like she has a yeast infection.

Please let me know what he says.

Your Bulldog Pal,

Jan

—–

Hi Jan,
Just wanted to let you know the update on Roxy. My vet said he thought
it was an allergic reaction most likley from the food (royal canin bulldog
food) funny! Her symptoms were pretty bad on that Saturday her eyes were
real swolen, belly bright red, shivers and not eating the new food. Of
cource my vet was not in so i stopped feeding her that food. By Monday when
i could get her into the vet the swelling of the eyes had gone down and she
was eating IAMS dog food. She did have a slight feaver and the bright red
belly when I took her in but she gets so excited at the vet that he said
that her temp could be a little high due to her being so excited. To play
it on the safe side he did some blood work and put her on an antiobiotic.
The blood work came back with no problems. And within a couple of days her
belly was back to normal. Thanks for your sugesstions.

All better,
sue

Hi Sue,

Great news! Such a simple fix – it’s a great testimony to how important diet
is for a bulldog. It’s weird that some react differently to foods that others
have no problems with.

Thanks for keeping me informed! And hugs to Roxy.

Your Bulldog Pal,
Jan

——-answer——–

Hi John,

Some people bathe puppies as much as once a week.
I’m not a strong believer in frequent bathing. I only
recommend once a month unless they get really dirty.

Bathing often can lead to dry skin and can promote
allergic reactions. The natural oils in a dog’s coat
provide protection from parasites and bacteria.

When you bathe, be sure that you do not get any water
in the ears or nose fold as this can lead to yeast infections.
Moisture is a perfect breeding ground for yeast so you
want to be sure to keep the ears, nose folds, and tail
pockets dry.

I recommend brushing your bulldogs at least every few
days. This will help keep the coat healty and clean.
And the bulldogs love it.

If you do bathe them regularly, you could consider adding
an Omega 3 supplement to their diet. Omega 3s (from
flax or salmon oil) provide essential fatty acids and also
help boost your bulldog’s immune system.

Your Bulldog Pal,

The British Bulldog has for many years had the reputation for being an aggressive dog, often making people fear the dog. This goes back to their days of being used for chasing and attacking cows and bulls for their owners. They had the task of grabbing them by the legs and making sure they were brought home. In addition, they were trained to pen them in the corner so they couldn’t move. Their job was also to bait the bulls, grab them by the nose and pin them to the ground. Although this was later considered cruel and inhumane, this is how the dog got their name. This led to people believing the dog was not only aggressive but mean as well.

The Bulldog’s face makes one remember what they were used for, with their short muzzle and undershot jaw making it possible to put the bull in a tight grip like a vice. The nose is set back on the face so the dog could still breathe while holding the bull. When people look at their face today, they can still remember what the dog was used for years ago. This facial characteristic is yet another aspect that gives the dog the appearance of being mean. Through the years, breeders have been trying to breed the aggression out of the dog to show that the British Bulldog could be made into a good family dog.

The bulldog is very stubborn in nature, and so it doesn’t tend to do well in obedience training. They are a very mellow, easy-going dog, however, choosing to stay quite happily with family members. If strangers come to their home, they may bark and growl, but seldom do they do much more. They have had the reputation for so long of being aggressive, though, that many still fear the dog and don’t want much to do with them as family pets. Their personality is such that they are a dog that “thinks things through”, which often makes people think they are just being ‘bullheaded’ and aggressive.

Because the bulldog is such a couch potato on the lazy side, many feel that they are being stubborn and unruly, when all they want is just to lay around and be comfortable. Although they are not the greatest dog to take for a walk, they do love the human companionship. They may not be the best dog to get for first-time pet owners, but they are lovable and protective animals. The history of the dog as well as their facial appearance still has some people thinking the dog is mean. Much has been done to transform this dog into the wonderful family pet they’ve become. Many breeders have been part of irresponsible breeding programs that have hurt the British Bulldog’s reputation, which has led to some people still believing they are aggressive and mean.
Original source http://www.terrificpets.com/articles/Bulldog.asp

As much as we love our dogs, they all have little quirks and habits that seem to annoy or bother us. With the British Bulldog, it’s their never ending drooling. It’s true that many dogs drool, but the bulldog seems to have it a little worse than most dogs. Many owners of bulldogs would like to know first of all why they have this problem and secondly, if there is anything they can do to help the problem.

The reason why British Bulldogs drool is because of the size of their face and all the loose skin that hangs on their face. The more loose hanging flesh they have, the more they drool. There really isn’t enough ’sturdy’ flesh to hold the drool inside their mouth. Anytime the bulldog has anything to drink, they are going to drool and there really isn’t any way to prevent that. Many owners will dry the dog’s mouth after they drool to lessen the chance of them getting a pimply rash, which is common with Bulldogs.

With all the excess drooling the bulldog does, many of them end up with the dog developing lip-fold dermatitis, a disorder consistent with dogs with a hanging upper lip and lower lift folds. It is cause by dermatitis brought on by an accumulation of saliva and food. The symptoms are the lips and skin around the mouth becoming smelly and having a greasy brown look to them. Again, if you dry the loose skin often, you may be able to eliminate this problem.

Some bulldog owners believe that not all bulldogs drool, but most of them do. Some of the ones that do drool can actually get their owner wet; some have described it as being like someone had spilled a glass of water on them. Another ‘wet’ habit the British bulldog has is coming up to his owner and shaking his head back and forth. The owner will often feel like someone threw some water on him! Others claim that when their bulldog walks through the kitchen, he leaves a trail of water behind him from all his drool. This is how bad the drooling is with some of the dogs.

In short, the more loose skin a bulldog has on his face, the more they are going to drool. Short of wiping the dog’s face off all the time, there is very little you can do about the drool. One possibility is to try to train your bulldog to not shake his head while next to you. Some individuals, on the other hand, find this behavior of their bulldog quite endearing. Another thing you may try is never to feed the dog by your table or while you are eating. Each time he opens his mouth to get a treat or food, he is going to drool. Another method one family uses is to tie a bandana around the dog’s neck with the triangle part on their chest. This is pretty efficient for catching the drool.

Original source: http://www.terrificpets.com/articles/Bulldog.asp

The bulldog has been around for many years and has always been a popular, if misunderstood dog. While many still associate the bulldog with the dog that was involved in bull baiting many years ago, others have discovered what a versatile and wonderful family pet the bulldog can be. In addition to being a great pet, the bulldog has served many other purposes through the years. Research has shown that music is very relaxing for dogs, specifically the bulldog. Classical music was the music chosen to make the dog more mellow and relaxed.

The Bulldog has been the symbol or mascot for many different events as well as for specific countries. Anyone that watches WWF wrestling knows of the wrestling hero Davey Boy Smith, who was called the “British Bulldog”. During his tenure, he had a mascot, a British Bulldog named Matilda, who came out at each match to support him.

The Bulldog, highly revered in Great Britain, is used as their symbol. Chesty, a bulldog is also used as a symbol of the United State Marine Corps. Numerous American universities have the bulldog as their mascot such as the University of Georgia, Georgetown University, University of Minnesota Duluth, Mississippi State University, Yale University, Louisiana Tech University, South Carolina State University and many more in addition to many high schools in the United States.

Yale University has the bulldog Handsome Dan as the mascot for all their athletic teams. In addition to being very popular in his role, Handsome Dan is also the first living mascot in America. There has been a group of ‘Handsome Dan’s’ through the years.

Another famous mascot was Uga V, a bulldog for the University of Georgia, who also happened to be the first live college mascot that was on the Sports Illustrated magazine cover in 1997. Sports Illustrated also named Uga V the College Mascot of the Year. Uga V’s other accomplishments were a role in ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’, a movie that was directed by Clint Eastwood. Uga V once again made the news at a football game in 1996 when he took off on the field after an Auburn University receiver to try to bite the player and take him down. Uga V made quite a name for himself as well as his breed until death took him away in 1999.

Original article: http://www.terrificpets.com/articles/Bulldog.asp

As easy as the bulldog is to keep healthy, the one problem that the bulldog can easily suffer from is overheating. Although heat is hard on all dogs, the bulldog in particular cannot stand the heat. The main cooling method of dogs is panting to get rid of body heat. Dogs with a short nose such as bulldogs have a more difficult time panting to keep cool. Many of them have a difficult time even breathing due to a small trachea, pinched nostril or an elongated soft palette. The shape of their throat makes it difficult for them to pant enough to keep them cool in warm weather. The fact that the bulldog is a heavily massed dog contributes even more to their difficulty in dealing with the heat.

There are certain symptoms you can look for if you suspect your bulldog may be suffering from heat. These include being unresponsive, having dry gums that may be dark red or pale, erratic breathing, vomiting or glazed eyes. If the dog is in the final stages of heat stroke, he may have convulsions or lapse into unconsciousness. If any of these symptoms appear and you have reason to suspect heat stroke, put the dog in the shade and put cool water on his nose. Get him in a tub of cool water or apply ice packs, if possible. Allow the dog to drink some cool water, but don’t force the issue. Getting a little lemon juice down his throat has also proven helpful in this situation. Get him to the vet immediately if there is no instant improvement.

An important thing for any dog owner is for them to know what their dog looks like and acts when he’s healthy. Some things to be aware of are their normal body temperature, the color of their gums and normal behavior when healthy and happy. This makes it much easier to quickly spot when he becomes sick as well as arming your with information to give the vet to help him with a quicker and more accurate diagnosis.

Besides knowing what to do in the case of overheating or heatstroke, it is also important to know what to do to prevent it in the first place. Always keep your bulldog is the shade to make sure he stays cool. Do not take your dog with you in the dog in warm weather unless absolutely necessary. Remember, what feels like a warm day to us is an extremely hot day to dogs, specifically the bulldog. If you do need to take him with you, bring along a jug or bottle of water in case of emergency. Make sure your bulldog always has fresh cool water to drink. The bulldog loves to play with children and won’t know when he’s had enough until he’s overheated. It’s up to you to monitor his activity level.

Original source: http://www.terrificpets.com/articles/Bulldog.asp

The bulldog is probably the one dog that people are mistaken about more than any other. From their history of being bred and used for bull baiting – where they would attack and drag a bull – they’ve had the reputation for being mean and aggressive, but in fact nothing could be further from the truth. The British bulldog is a wonderful and gentle dog that makes a great family pet.

Not only do they get along great with children, but they love children and make great companions. As with any dog, when they are first introduced to children it should be done on a gradual basis. It makes sense that no child should be left alone with any dog for any reason. The bulldog, however, will instantly become one of the family. Many believe that they don’t consider themselves as ‘dogs’ but more like the rest of the family members.

One of the characteristics that make the bulldog stand out above other dogs is their great tolerance and patience with children. There are also very calm and docile animals, seldom barking unless they really have something to say. They love playing with children, sometimes to the point of not knowing when they’ve had enough. Because of their intolerance to heat, their playtime often needs to be interrupted so the don’t overheat.

They are not very high on the scale of top watchdogs, but their appearance alone is usually a deterrent for any strangers thinking of breaking into your home. They have a face that looks mean and aggressive along with their reputation of terrorizing bulls many years ago. In reality they are far too laid back and gentle to be aggressive watch dogs, but their love and devotion to their family would make them protect them if the situation warranted it.

They are not active dogs at all, but are more content just lying on the floor looking at their master or family members. They are chronic chewers all their lives so it is important they always have an abundance of chew toys available to save your furniture from being destroyed. Bulldogs are not the easiest dogs to train. They are slow moving and somewhat stubborn, but are trainable to a certain point and would certainly benefit from the most basic obedience training. One must keep in mind, however, that the bulldog does not respond well to excess exercise, often being described as a couch potato.

If there is one reason why families may hesitate in getting a bulldog as a family pet, it’s their short life span. The idea of owning and loving a bulldog only to lose him in a few years is often something many dog owners don’t want to have to deal with. They can live 8 to 10 years with good care, however. As much as some families love taking their dog with them in the car, owners need to be very cautious when traveling with the bulldog, as he cannot stand the heat anywhere near as well as most dogs.

For a family dog with children of any age, the bulldog makes the perfect pet, being loving and loyal to all family members.

Original source: http://www.terrificpets.com/articles/Bulldog.asp