Dealing With Some Of The Common Bulldog Issues

By Ferris Chaplin


Contrary to their appearance as being tough, the Bulldog is among one of the most affectionate dogs one could have. For those who are not familiar with how to care for a dog, the bulldog would not be the best breed to have for an amateur as they are highly prone to a number of conditions that require extra attention.

Bulldogs have a low tolerance for cold and hot temperatures as they tend to use up all their energy at once before resting. This implies that they are not very athletic and would not qualify to be an exercise companion. For this reason, they are preferably to be left indoors for majority of the time.

Hip and elbow dysplasia is also a common problem with this breed. The condition is characterized by abnormal development of the joints as a result of the abnormal development of soft tissue that surrounds the joints. The progressive loss of the muscle tone may force the dog to alter its walking or running and may even start to limp.

The folded nature of the bulldog's skin makes it highly prone to dermatitis. The underlying cause of this problem is rubbing of the skin and moisture that is trapped in the wrinkles and folds thus resulting in inflammation in the affected areas. If not taken care of the inflammation may turn into a bacterial infection. Owners of this breed are normally recommended to clean the dog daily so as to prevent any bacterial infection.

There are also a number of breathing complications associated with the breed. Due to their flat face structure, they have restricted air intake while others may suffer from breathing problems caused by elongated soft tissue palate. The latter may need surgical correction as it may lead to suffocation.

It would not take long for one who is keen on their dog to realize that they suffer from other breathing problems such as snoring. A bulldog will excessively pant even after just a short stint of exercise. Entropion is another condition that is associated with the bulldog. In this case, the lower eyelid folds towards the eye therefore causing the eyelashes to rub the eyeball causing irritation and discomfort. Surgical correction would be the best way to deal with this condition so as to prevent eye infections.

Unlike most other dogs, the bulldog is unable to swim. The huge condensed body of this dog cannot be supported by the short legs in water. This calls for extra caution in pool settings as the dog may easily dive in and drown. All in alone has to be very careful if they own a bulldog.




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