HEALTH CARE AND AWARENESS Cherry Eye: This common problem in Bulldogs is due to the extrusion of a gland that normally stays under the lower eyelid at the inside corner of the eye. It appears as a round, red mass. It looks terrible and should be surgically restored to its normal position. (The gland should not be removed, however, as doing so can result in “dry eye”, a painful and serious condition.) Tear Stains: If your dog has white on his face around his eyes over time you may find his face stained to red caused by the tears from the dog. This may be from the coloring in the dog’s food he is eating or in some cases the dog itself will produce red tears. It will happen on dark faced dogs also, but will be less noticeable. You can use baby powder or whitening (tear removing) shampoos made for dogs to help remove the stains. I suggest to use Angel Eyes which stops the dog from producing red tears. You put in their food and it really works! Entropion: In this condition, which is common in Bulldogs, the lower (usually) eyelid rolls inward and brings the lashes into direct contact with the cornea. It is very irritating to the eye. Many dogs are born with entropion, but it can also be acquired later in life as a result in corneal eye disease or other causes. One or both eyes can be affected. Surgical treatment is the only cure, but it needs to be done by a veterinarian experienced in the procedure. Distichiasis: Stray eyelashes that are growing the wrong way inward. These may be removed with tweezers or surgically and permanently frozen or removed. Allergies: Like people, dogs suffer from various allergies. In most cases, allergic reactions are annoying but not life-threatening. Several treatment options are available, ranging from avoiding the allergen, to administering special shampoos and oils, to dispensing medications. Check with your vet to determine the best option for you and your Bulldog. Elongated Soft Palate: All Bulldogs have an elongated soft palate, this is because of the shape of their heads (i.e.: brachycephaic-short-nosed). In most cases this causes nothing more than snoring, but in severe cases can possibly cause severe difficulty breathing. Heat and exercise will cause loud gurgle breathing, (know as roaring). The severity can range from loud breathing when excited, to regurgitation of food to permanent breathing difficulties. The problem can be corrected with surgery. Sore Wrinkles: Bulldogs need care of the face area and the deep folds. Wipe their faces with an unscented cloth or baby wipes. If needed apply diaper rash medicine in between the wrinkles to help prevent and treat a rash called “facial fold dermatitis.” Bone and Joint Disorders: Most Bulldogs, and indeed most dogs, will develop some kind of joint disease during their lives that will usually appear as they grow older. The Bulldog grows very fast and it is very important that you keep play properly managed in the first 9 months. Hip displaysia can be encouraged by outside factors such as slippery floors, jumping, and rough play. The majority of bulldogs do not have hips and legs that fit together properly or what is called “loose joints.” Just use common sense with your puppy on what he should or shouldn’t do. SEE SECTION ON SUPPLEMENTS FOR GOOD PREVENTATIVE IDEAS!! Demodectic Mange: There are two forms of demodectic mange localized and generalized. This is a fairly common skin disease that most generally affects puppies. Bulldogs can have an outbreak due to puberty, stress or possibly something they are allergic to in the environment where they live or the food in which they eat. A skin scraping can be made to confirm the diagnosis. It can be treated relatively easily. Giardia: It is a microscopic organism that lives in water therefore also food. It is the most common internal parasite of dogs. It attacks the intestinal tract, causing diarrhea, pain, and vomiting. Sometimes the symptoms are so subtle the owner may not be aware their dog is infected. This can be diagnosed with a special fecal test and can be treated with a three day dose of panacur or in some cases the antibiotic metramidazole may have to be used. Coccidiosis: This is a protozoan commonly found in the feces of puppies and, occasionally, adult dogs. Most adult dogs develop an immunity to it and are able to fight off this protozoa naturally not allowing it to become an issue that causes any symptoms (diarrhea). However, It is an opportunist and can take hold and over populate in a puppy or dog with an immature or weaker immune system during times of stress such as shipping/travel, going to a new home or change of environment. It can be treated with antibiotics such as Albon or tonazuril. Diet: We feed Purina Pro Plan Focus Salmon Sensitive Stomach & Skin to our Adult Bulldogs and Purina Pro Plan Sport Salmon 30/20 All Life Stages to our Bulldog Puppies. I have done a lot of research on the best food for Bulldogs and have found this to be at the top of the list. You can purchase these dog food at PetSmart, Tractor Supply or anywhere online, but we have found the best and cheapest place to purchase it is probably at chewy.com on auto ship (they give you an auto ship discount) as long as your order is over $49 your shipping is free, and they will deliver your food straight to your front door within a day usually. ***We no longer advocate or promote Grain Free Foods in general for many health reasons that have now surfaced and through diligent research and reflecting back over the past few years now know we have experienced with our own dogs! Unfortunately, most of the Grain Free Foods are loaded with phytoestrogens & legumes which can cause a multitude of health issues in dogs from reproductive & hormone imbalances and fertility issues to other major health and heart issues. WE have seen these issues first hand with our own dogs and with our customer’s dogs and know that the negative effects are REAL for these dogs! I know we have all bought into the grain free food fad and believed the hype for a long time of how it is so much better for our dogs than grain inclusive foods but with what I now know I would question “at what cost to our dogs!?” In my research I have found that the grains (I once was so horrified to see in dog foods due to false information I had been led to believe) aren’t so bad for our dogs after all with nutritional value. They are also a much lesser evil than what has been loaded into our dog foods now in excessive amounts. Unless your dog has a specific allergy to grain (which is rare as most food allergies are due to a meat source) there is no reason to feed Grain Free dog food! Most of these dog foods are loaded with Peas, oh and More Peas & Legumes, Potatoes and other phytoestrogens and even vegetables & herbs and oils that are toxic to dogs. There are quite a few dog food companies (especially Pet Boutique Brands) that haven’t done their due diligence to determine whether the new formulas of dog foods that they keep loading with these ingredients are nutritionally balanced and safe to feed dogs and, in my research, along with my personal experience with quite a few dogs I would say they are not!! If you are curious to what negative effect on your dog things like legumes (such as peas), lots of potatoes and other phytoestrogens (soy, flaxseed), vegetables (such as tomatoes) herbs such as rosemary extract you can easily find information on it with a little research. Dog food research can be very confusing, and we are happy to discuss this with you if you have questions or would like more information. Not every dog is going to do well on the same dog food so if you have questions on a list of dog foods to choose from that we feel like are good to feed let us know and we can get that information to you. Supplements: I feed NuVet Plus supplements to my dogs and puppies. Giving your puppy this supplement is a good insurance policy for their future health. This supplement will decrease or eliminate the devastating effects of free radicals. Free radicals have been implicated in over 50 diseases including allergies, skin disease, arthritis, bursitis, cancer, heart problems, arteriosclerosis and cataracts in animals. Their NuVet Plus Joint supplements are also a miracle supplement for any and all joint, ligament and tendon maintenace. I have even seen dogs with the help of non traditional treatments (such as chiropractor, accupunture, massage), crate rest/hand walking and these supplements be able to recover from acute or chronic injuries or joint/ligament issues without any surgery (when told surgery was the only option for improvement). For more information go to www.nuvet.com/98896 We also suggest dog food high in omega fatty acids or fish oil or to supplement this at higher levels when felt needed. Water and Bulldogs: Most Bulldogs love water and will appreciate a small kiddie’s pool for them to lay and cool off. However, most of them can’t swim at least 75% of their total weight is concentrated in their heads, shoulders, and torso. So be cautious around ponds or swimming pools with them. Have them wear life jackets, teach them how to swim and where they are to get in and out of the pool if you have one. Loud Noises: Most Bulldogs don’t like loud noises such as lawnmowers, four-wheelers, vacuum cleaners, etc. and will want to run away or even go after them like they want to attack them. Be careful around them until they become accustomed to them and realize you might have to put them in their crate at times when you are using them. Overheating: One of the most important pieces of information to learn about Bulldogs is that they can become overheated easily. The breed is very intolerant of the heat. Keep them in a cool environment with plenty of water during the warm months of the year. Don’t ever let them exert themselves when it is warm or humid. Them getting excited and running a fence when someone is mowing or chasing a dog on a fence line even in mild weather can cause over exertion and then to get to a point where they can't breathe well. Many Bulldogs are lost each year to heat exhaustion. If you find that your Bulldog is overheating or struggling to breathe well due to over exertion you can use cool water on rags starting at their head, neck and legs and eventually using on the rest of their body, put a fan on them, use alcohol on the pads of their feet and ears and give them some lemon juice to get rid of the flehm build in their throat. Thieves: Bulldogs are very lucrative prey for thieves; never allow your dog outside unless he is on a leash or under your watchful eye. When outside make sure they have a collar with identification on it. Having them micro chipped is another good idea. Also beware of un-reputable people calling themselves Bulldog breeders that will try and scam you on the internet with fake pictures and a low selling price on a puppy. They will try and have you send a money order and will not even have a puppy to sale you. I RECOMMEND GOING TO WWW.BULLDOGWORLD.COM FOR MORE GREAT INFORMATION ON BULLDOGS!! IF YOU USE SOME COMMON SENSE AND BECOME EDUCATED ON BULLIES YOU AND YOUR BULLDOG WILL HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP FOR YEARS TO COME. THE SAYING IS TRUE “ONCE YOU HAVE OWNED A BULLDOG NO OTHER DOG WILL DO!!” |
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| J BAR T RANCH P O Box 280 Blue Ridge, TX 75424 Tracy Mahan-Paskero-Owner/Operator 972-816-1067 Lorrie Parrish- Ranch Manager 972-213-7799 J BAR T RANCH MAIN PHONE: 972-366-7973 RANCH OFFICE PHONE: 972-984-7949 RANCH FAX: 972-637-7127 email: [email protected] www.facebook.com/jbartsranch www.instagram.com/jbartranch |
| BULLDOG HEALTH AND AWARENESS |