Weekly Upkeep and Comfort
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Over 100 years ago the bulldog was created to participate in the sport of bull baiting. Everything about the bulldog was bred purely so he could carry out that function, the entire head and body shape allowed him to do the job he was intended for. His undershot jaw allowed him to grip the bull tightly, his flat nose allowed him to breath whilst doing so and the folds in the face took the blood away from his eyes. The massive chest and short front legs gave the strength required to keep the bull pinned; the shallow joints allowed him to spring the bull from a standing position. He still possesses these qualities today. The bulldog is one of the gentlest breeds known to man and is an ideal companion. However, the bulldog is a man-made breed and requires more attention than most other breeds.
Bulldogs are famous for their wrinkles and folds of skin. It is important to keep these areas clean and dry at all times to prevent your bulldog from becoming sore and irritated. It only takes a few moments to wipe the face and head and under the nose roll. I use unscented baby wipes for this. Or you can use moistened cotton wool. Make sure the creases are dry afterwards, sprinkle some Curash Anti Rash baby powder into the palm of your hand, pick it up on a cottonwool ball and wipe under the noseroll. This powder is readily available at the local chemist in the baby section. Do NOT use vaseline or Zinc cream for any of these cleanings, this will only trap the dirt.
Bulldogs are normally a clean breed and do not need to be bathed often, in fact if you can get away with it - don't! Too much bathing can strip all the natural oils out of their coats. When washing the bulldog, the most important area to wash thoroughly is their face because of the abundance of wrinkles. I use a normal dog shampoo on the body but only use a soap free baby wash on the face as a normal dog shampoo can irritate their eyes. The face, wrinkles and feet should be thoroughly dried after the bath.
Eyes, any green or yellow coloured discharge should be investigated further it could be a sign of infection or more serious eg Distachia, Entropian, Ectropian or Ulcers
Tearstains are a problem in all brachycephalic (flat faced) breeds, just wipe with a soft cloth to remove any dirt, I soak a cottonwool ball in Optrex and wipe it down the crease, do not get it in the eye, and then just leave it to dry. This is done a couple of times a week.
Cherry eye is a condition in the bulldog that we do have to be aware of, it is the tear gland popping up from under the third eyelid and sits in the corner of the eye beside the nose like a red cherry. This will need veterinary advice, sooner rather than later. They can be rolled back in to place, but more often than not keep reappearing, in which case veterinary actions will be required in the form of either stitching it down or removing it.
Ears should be checked regularly and if dirty, cleaned with an appropriate ear cleaner.
If the nose leather is becoming dry and crusty a bit of vaseline or oil massaged in will soften that up.
Keep toenails trim, especially the dew claw, if this gets too long they can catch and tear, very painful.
Skin problems can be an ongoing issue on some dogs, allergies to the environment, food, flea bite allergies. Poor dogs can become extremely itchy and if it gets out of control, they can feel quite miserable. I have one that has had allergy testing done and has come back with positive allergens to so many things, he has been on an allergy programme for three years now which keeps him comfortable and has been neutered.
Hotspots are a weepy raw sore that can come up anywhere on your bulldogs body, there are a few home remedies, but often best to get to the vet and get a good cleanser to dry it out and heal it up. Sometimes antibiotics are required to really get to the bottom of it.
A good firm brush every few days tends to keep the coat in order, a softer bristle brush or a rubber hound glove is enough for a baby, round about 7 - 9 months you may notice a coat change from the puppy 'fluff' to a coarser adult coat. The things I use on an adults coat are all purchased from an Equine Supply Shop, a Zoom Groom rubber bristled brush, a charcoal block and a circular Curry Comb, looks like a hacksaw blade curled in a circle with a handle.
At grooming time I stand all my dogs on a table at my height. Start early and encourage your pup to stand still and let you handle its ears, look in its mouth, lift each foot, talking quietly and telling it how good it is being. Learning all this also makes for a much more pleasant veterinary experience when it has to go for check ups.
This is a good chance for you to go over your bulldog and just make sure everything is okay.
Another area to pay particular attention to is the tail. Many bulldogs have tight screw tails. High up, beneath the tail it can become very itchy, as there is no air circulating there and the area becomes sweaty and uncomfortable. You may see your bulldog shuffling along on his bottom, trying to relieve his discomfort. Regular cleaning and drying of the area is important. Use baby wipes or a soft cloth and remove all the debris and dead hair. Ensure it is dry afterwards and again powder with Curash Anti Rash baby powder.
Interdigital Cysts can become an issue to heavy breeds, they are literally a cyst that comes up between their toes. Not all bulldogs get them but some can. They can be sore and your bulldog may limp. With some of them you can have a look under the foot between the pads and see like a blackhead, I squeeze and get the rubbish out of them then wash with some weak disinfectant, saline or apple cider vinegar. If they don't clear up then antibiotics may be needed.
PLEASE BE PEDANTIC about your bulldogs weight!!!!! Fat is not nice, if your bulldog is on the smaller side in stature that cannot be altered by feeding, fat is just that - FAT! By keeping a bulldog fat you are perpetuating all the problems we try to avoid, the poor dogs health is now compromised and the life span has just been shortened. Bulldogs are not the longest living breed of dog but in saying that I know plenty that have made it to 10 and then some, a healthy lifestyle certainly helps to reach this milestone. A stuffy, wheezing, shuffling bulldog that can not move with ease breaks my heart!
As your bulldog gets older or you are not interested in showing I would seriously encourage spaying/neutering for the welfare of your pet. The bitches in particular as breeding puppies is a task that should not be taken on lightly. Talk to your breeder. With the boys, it DOES NOT alter their personality!! Again speak to your breeder. If you do consider breeding either with your bitch or someone approaches you to use your male, please talk to your breeder about it, a lot of time and thought has planned the breeding of YOUR puppy. My thoughts to this are, if you are going to do it then do it right! We are not a breed that has a lot of unregistered Bulldogs out there and we certainly don't want to start now.
I highly recommend the purchase of a crate and your puppy learning to spend time in it. They are not cruel if used in the correct manner. There are a couple of great options out there, metal or soft, search the internet for them, make sure you purchase one that is going to give pup a lot of space to grow into. They are the safest place in the world for your bulldog whether it be a puppy or adult. If you leave home and can't take your bulldog with you, then you know they are perfectly safe and not chewing something or getting into trouble. They can travel in the car in safety, or you can get him/her used to a harness as they get a bit bigger. if you get in to an accident, emergency services can assist you without your dog being in the way or indeed trying to protect you, it can't get out on the road if the doors all pop open. It helps with toilet training, they become your bulldogs bed, hide away spot, time out spot, even their convalescing area if they are unwell. If they are used to a crate then they don't panic spending time in one at the vet clinic.