Bulldog Health Issues

Some of the more common health issues that can affect bulldogs are:

Heat Intolerance
Bulldogs are very susceptible to heat exhaustion & stress induced asphyxia. They have a shorter airway which means that on hot days the air that they breathe has less time to cool. Their only means of reducing built-up body heat is by panting. Heavy panting can leave your dog gasping for air. Not to mention, if it is hot outside the air they are breathing in is also hot, which can lead to a vicious cycle. Bulldogs can succumb to heat stroke very quickly and if you are not careful you can find yourself in an emergency situation with little time to react.

Signs of heat exhaustion include excessive panting, red or flushed ears, weakness, and unsteadiness. If your dog shows any signs of heat stroke, cool them off by spraying or gentle pouring cool (not cold) water on him/her. It can also help to apply a cool cloth on your dogs back and stomach.

To help prevent heat exhaustion limit your dogs activity in hot weather (walk them in the morning or late evening when it's cooler), and be sure to provide access to shade and fresh water. There are several "wet coats" (coats that can be dipped in cool water) or "cooling coats" (coats made of reflective fabric) on the market that can help your dog maintain a lower body temperature.

Joint Problems
Hip dysplaysia- Structurally, bulldogs have shallow elbow and hip joints and rely heavily on their muscles and ligaments to hold their joints in place. Their hips are typically a little looser, allowing for proper movement and the “rolling gait” that is considered standard in the breed. Due to the changes of bone structure and the physiology of the breed, it is nearly impossible to accurately diagnose any type of dysplaysia until after a pup is 18 months of age.

Luxating patella (loose knees) - This is when the small, movable bone at the front of the knee is loose and has a tendency to pop out. Typically, it’s inherited, but excess weight can aggravate it.

Note: Diet plays a large role in bone development. Due to their build, bulldogs have more strain on their joints and food intake should be monitored to ensure that they do not become overweight. Many puppy foods on the market are high in protein and calories to help young puppies manage the rapid growth that they go through. Bulldogs however, should not be encouraged to increase their weight gain throughout puppy hood.  It is advised that you stop feeding your bulldog puppy food at the age of six to eight months. After that, a high quality dog food should be appropriate.

You should prevent your bulldog from placing any undue stress on his or her joints. Keep them from becoming overweight and never let them jump off of the furniture.

Entropion/Ectropion
This is when the eyelids either roll in or out (entropion - in, ectropion - out).  In the condition of entropion, the eyelid rolls inward and rubs against the eye causing irritation. The condition can be resolved by means of a simple surgery. It is much more common in English bulldogs than French.

Elongated Soft Palate
The soft palate is the flap of skin at the back of the throat. If the palate is too long, it blocks the airway making it difficult for the dog to breathe. Symptoms include excessive panting, unable to get a good breath of air after moderately exercising, regurgitation of food, and loud, raspy breathing when overheated. The condition can be corrected with surgery, but it should only be performed by a vet who has experience with brachycephalic breeds.

Cherry Eye
Cherry eye is caused by a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid which results in a pink to red coloured tissue mass in the inner corner of the eye. The prolapse can occur in one or both eyes. It is often seen as a direct result of puppies playing and/or rubbing their faces. Likewise, playing may jolt the prolapsed gland back into its normal position.  If the condition does not resolve itself within a day or two the vet can either tack the gland back with stitches or remove the gland. Tacking the gland back does not guarantee that it will not pop out again.

Skin Problems
Eczema - Canine eczema is a common skin condition that affects Bulldogs. Outbreaks are typically caused (or exasperated) by stress, allergies, insect bites or hormonal problems, and are usually worse in the summer months due to the heat. Symptoms include dry, scaly, itchy inflamed areas of skin. The condition is not contagious.

Allergies - Allergic reactions occur when a dog’s immune system overreacts to something in its diet or environment. Skin problems are the most common reaction to allergens but it can also affect their respiratory and digestive systems. It can be very hard to determine the cause of an allergy, and it is usually only through the process of elimination that you can discover the culprit. Symptoms of allergies include intense itchiness, bad smell to the skin, hair loss, scaling, hives and hot spots.  If you suspect your dog has allergies, seek advice from your veterinarian. They can offer advice on how to handle food allergies. For environmental and seasonal allergies that can’t be avoided a small dose of antihistamine/steroid can be useful.

Demodecosis - This condition is caused by little mites that infect the hair follicles. ALL dogs carry the parasite in low numbers, however, localized infections can occur if the dog’s immune system is unable to maintain a harmonious balance with the demodex parasite. Small patches are common in adolescent bulldogs (six to eight months old) and typically disappear on their own without treatment. ALL cases should be evaluated and monitored by a vet to ensure that it does not spread into a “generalized” infection. Vets can easily test for demodecosis by taking a skin scraping and looking at it under the microscope. If you do have a puppy that requires treatment for Demodex mites, we recommend talking to your vet about treating the condition using Cephalexin antibiotics and/or Ivermectin.

Any Dog experiencing a severe outbreak or chronic case of Demodecosis should NOT be bred.

Hernias
The most common type of hernia found in puppies is umbilical. It is often the result of the umbilical cord being detached too close to the abdominal wall. If the pup has a large hernia, or one that can be pushed into the abdomen with a finger, consult a veterinarian regarding possible surgical repair. Small hernias can often be left alone without any problems.

Bulldog Tails
Bulldog tails are NOT docked. Ideally, bulldogs should have a nice tapered tail that is short in length. It is not uncommon to have bulldogs with screw tails. If your bulldogs tail is tight to their body it is extremely important to keep the area clean and dry in order to prevent infection.