Before
you bring a
English
Bulldog
Puppy into
your home
and family,
there are
several
things you
should
consider:
·
Bulldogs are
eternal
puppies –
they really
never grow
up. They’re
playful and
they’re
clowns. Are
you ready
and willing
to make the
commitment
of time,
attention,
caring and
love that a
bullie
needs?
Bulldogs
are not
vicious or
even
necessarily
aggressive,
although
they can be
very
protective
of their
humans.
They are
intelligent,
good-natured,
courageous,
fiercely
loyal, and
can be
trained, as
long as they
think it’s
their idea.
Stubborn,
you say?? Oh
yes, these
little
angels can
be very
stubborn.
Bulldogs
are loving
and gentle,
especially
with
children and
usually very
accepting of
other pets
in the
family, more
so if
brought into
your family
as a pup.
However,
they may
drive your
older dogs
or cats
crazy with
their
curiosity!
Do you
have
sensitive
hearing?
Bulldogs are
a veritable
symphony of
sound
effects:
snoring,
snorting,
grunting,
and other …
um, gastric
emanations.
Oh, speaking
of gastric
emanations:
Do you have
a highly
developed
sense of
smell?
Are you
looking for
a dog to
chase a
ball, join
you in your
morning jog
or catch a
Frisbee?
Then more
than likely
a bullie
isn’t the
dog for
you.
However, if
you’re
looking for
a dog to
love you
unconditionally,
curl up
beside you
(or park
their behind
on your
feet)
waiting for
you to pat
them on the
head, only
to have them
flop on
their back
for a
tummy-rub,
then a
bullie is
probably
right up
your alley.
Bulldogs
are prone to
a number of
health
problems.
That is not
to say that
these health
problems are
imminent or
that your
bullie will
experience
any of the
following:
Heat
Stroke –
Bullies are
very
heat-sensitive.
Heatstroke
occurs
because of
the shape of
their
throats,
their soft
palates are
almost
always too
long and
their only
method of
reducing
their body
temperature
(panting)
cannot
compensate
for the rise
in their
body
temperature.
Signs of
heat stroke
are:
excessive
panting and
salivating,
vomiting,
respiratory
distress.
Always make
sure that
your bullie
has shade
and lots of
fresh
water. You
can also get
a kiddie
pool. For
an adult
dog, fill it
halfway and
change the
water every
other day.
Most bullies
love to get
in and play,
cooling off
and getting
a drink as
they do. Do
not overfill
the pool &;
Bullies are
generally
not good
swimmers and
could easily
drown
Facial
Fold
Dermatitis –
This is an
inflammation
in the folds
(wrinkles)
around the
bullie’s
face and/or
tail. You
need to keep
your
bullie’s
folds clean
and dry (I
use wet
wipes and
hydrogen
peroxide).
Cherry
Eye -
Protrusion
of the tear
gland
associated
with the
third eyelid
membrane in
the corner
of the eye.
This can be
treated with
antibiotic
and
steroidal
ointments in
the eye or
removed
surgically,
which is the
most
recommended.
Entropion
– This
occurs when
the eyelids
roll
inwards,
causing the
eyelashes to
rub against
the eye.
Surgical
correction
is needed
when this
occurs –
left
untreated,
Entropion
will cause
permanent
damage to
the eye.
Ectropion
– This
occurs when
the eyelids
roll
outwards, so
that even
when the dog
blinks, it
leaves the
eye exposed
to
irritants.
Surgical
correction
is needed.
Hip
Dysplasia –
This is an
abnormality
of the hip
joint, which
can cause
arthritis in
later
years.
Besides
genetics,
the cause is
suspected to
be rapid
growth and
weight
gain. This
is another
reason to
keep your
bullie at a
healthy
weight, as
bullies can
easily
become
obese.
Treatment
for hip
Dysplasia
can range
from
steroids and
anti-inflammatory
medications,
to aspirin,
to surgery.
Always work
with your
vet on a
treatment
plan.
Elongated
Soft Palate
& Small
Trachea –
This is
common in
short-muzzled
dog breeds.
If the
bullie
becomes
excited,
over-exerted
or
over-heated,
it can cause
the palate
to swell and
block the
air
passages.
The harder
the dog
pants, the
more it
swells. The
bullie gag
in an
attempt to
clear the
airway (you
may use a
squirt of
lemon juice
down your
bullie’s
throat to
help clear
the airway.
No, he won’t
like it, but
it will
help).
Allergies –
There are
four major
categories
of allergy:
flea
allergy,
food
allergy,
airborne
allergy, and
contact
allergy, all
of which can
cause
horrendous
scratching
and
itching.
Depending on
the cause,
treatment
may be
anything
from
medication,
allergy
shots,
ensuring
that your
bullie
protected
from
parasites
(fleas,
ticks,
chiggers,
etc.), or a
change in
diet
(consult
your vet).
Heart
Problems –
Yet another
reason for a
healthy
diet. Extra
weight can
put added
stress on
their heart.
Reproductive
Problems –
Bullies
are
rarely
able to
breed
independently
due to
their
body
shape,
so if
you’re
planning
on
breeding
in the
future
you’re
looking
at
several
vet
appointments
and
artificial
insemination.
Bullies
are
rarely
able to
whelp
freely
due to
the
puppies’
large
heads
and
shoulders,
coupled
with the
mother’s
narrow
hips.
This
means
that
you’ll
almost
always
be
looking
at
c-sections
on your
female
bullies.
There
are some
who
attempt
to let
their
bullies
free-whelp,
but I
personally
won’t
chance
the
health
and
welfare
of not
only my
mothers,
but of
the
puppies
to let
them
try.
Since
c-sections
are
physically
hard on
your
bullie’s
health,
muscle
tone,
joints,
etc.,
this
also
significantly
lowers
the
number
of
litters
you
should
allow
them to
have.
My vet
recommends
no more
than 3
litters
in a
female’s
lifetime.
Southern Bred
Bullies
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