Posted on June 05, 2009 by: WayCoolDogs

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The health problems of the English Bulldog have done nothing to erase the popularity and recent  comeback of this breed in the United States and  in AKC society after 70 years, according to Lisa Peterson, AKC spokesperson.  Placing 8th in the American Kennel Club list of most famous canines, she states that the  “docile and adaptive nature of the bulldog is gaining ground as a family favorite.”

The English bulldog is excellent as a family pet because of its ability to bond  exceptionally well with children due to their gentleness and protectiveness which has a lot to do with its popularity growth. But the English Bulldog has many health problems that they are born with, which prospective owners should be aware of before making the decision this breed is the future pet for them.

But before making a decision about the English bulldog as a pet, serious research should be done before purchasing one as a family pet regarding their health issues and many good points. Like all other breeds of dogs, there are good advantages and breed-specific health issues, with the English Bulldog’s major drawbacks being its body shape and muzzle shape, in addition to its unpopular extremely loud snoring! Being aware of the health problems of the  English Bulldog is important, to be aware of what to expect and how to prepare.

HEALTH PROBLEMS OF THE ENGLISH BULLDOG

• Breathing difficulty and loud snoring due to their short muzzle.
• Common skin problems due to their many folds and crevices include eczema, acne, seborrhea or parasitic skin conditions.

• Dehydration is common in this breed due to not having enough water or developing diarrhea due to over-feeding as a puppy.

• Hip dysplasia is not a problem with the  English Bulldogs unless they are seriously obese or much older in age due to their rear bull-legged stance.

• The English Bulldog is completely intolerant to excessive exercise, even though they do need exercise regularly. Not enough exercise leads to obesity which in turn leads to all kinds of health issues.

• Eye disorders such as cherry eye, entropion, or ectropion are known to develop in this breed.

• Breeds such as the English Bulldog with very deep chests and narrow waists have a tendency to develop bloat or gastric torsion which can cause a very painful death in a few hours. Research in this area should be done before deciding on this breed to eliminate the problem with smaller meals or eating in a higher position.

• To put it quite bluntly, a major health issue is that the English Bulldog ages faster and matures slower than most breeds. Aging issues are a situation in itself, so it is known by bulldog breeders that childhood and senior aging are separated by only a few months.

Breathing is always a prevalent issue for the English Bulldog because of their muzzle shortness, and for many other short-nosed breeds. But the bulldog also has other health problems that are totally unique to their breed which makes them maybe not the best pet for the average family who are unaware of these issues. Otherwise, they are considered lovable clowns to have around — preferring to sleep on the family sofa or their favorite blanket, begging for lots of loving and a belly rub every chance they can get!

To name just a few problems, the English Bulldogs have a tendency to develop skin conditions within their folds, develop cherry eyes, and due to their weight and build cannot be taken swimming in deep water or they have a tendency to drown. Kid pools are as deep as it gets with them, sorry to say. Also, interdigital cysts form between their toes which can be removed by the vets in many dogs. Hip dysplasica is typically not usually an issue, as they are bred to be bowlegged in their hind legs even though as they age, they may have a tendency to develop hip issues especially if obese.

BULLDOGS ARE 100% INTOLERANT TO HEAT

Too hot of weather causes the heavy bulldog difficulty in breathing and to develop bacterial and fungal infections  in the skin wrinkles around its head and tail–which is wound tightly to their body requiring continuous attention. Exercise is mandatory for these dogs, as they have a tendency to love to eat and thereby gaining excess weight. But in the hot weather, heat stroke is easy for this breed to get due to their short muzzle, heavy weight and build.  Exercising in cooler periods of the day or for shorter times is advised. Areas where the climate is warm or during summer months this dog requires lots of water and shade, kept out of heat at all times.

Once an English Bulldog goes into heat stroke, problems will quickly develop. Even if it is only 60 degrees outside, if they are in the sun and doing more exercise than used to — things will happen quickly with this breed. Following protocol for heat stroke is mandatory, mandatory, mandatory for the animal! If you see his lips or gums turning blue and it is in distress, place it in cool water as soon as possible. If needed, put ice on his tongue–ten minutes on, ten minutes off–while monitoring the body temperature. Call the vet and get the animal to them as soon as possible once you begin to lower the body temperature to 101 or 102 degrees. If you cannot get it down, find out what the vet suggests while placing ice packs sporadically under the arm pits and in the groin area.

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