Bulldog health issues thru age 2 – alarmed that they may be high maintenance? Don’t be. Here we break down the most common ailments. We’ve raised German shepherds (one was my law enforcement partner when I was a wildlife officer), livestock protection dogs, cocker spaniels, terriers, rescue dogs, and bulldogs and I have not found bulldogs to be higher maintenance. In fact, two of our previous German shepherds each had their own set of high maintenance issues that I found harder than any of our bulldogs to date.
If you have never owned a bulldog or bulldog puppy before, here is what you should know about bulldog health. You should also check out our article on finding the best bulldog breeders as it will alleviate many of these concerns. Not all bulldog breeders breed for health. At Mountain View Breeders, we do.
Flat faced breed prone to breathing problems
- Small nostrils
- Elongated soft palate
- Hypoplastic trachea (smaller than normal diameter)
To avoid breathing issues purchase your bulldog puppy from a bulldog breeder that certifies the adults’ tracheas prior to breeding. Ask if the bulldog puppies come with a health certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian that specializes in bulldogs. If they do, the veterinarian will check their nostrils and palate to ensure they do not have these issues.
Skin and ear problems
- Extra folds of skin can trap moisture and lead to skin irritation and infections, at the same time bulldogs are known for their extra skinfolds – it is part of what makes them so stinking cute!
To avoid these skin and ear problems use a clean dry Kleenex once a day to wipe out their deepest folds. This would be the folds around their noses, under their eyes, and if they have a short tail versus a straight longer tail, around their tail. Bathe and dry your puppy as needed. We recommend an all-natural organic type of dog shampoo and conditioner.
Eye disorders
- Cherry eye (prolapsed nictating membrane – the third eyelid becomes mispositioned and results in a small pink swollen mass seemingly sticking out of their eye – it looks like it is sticking out of their eyelid)
- Dry eye
- In-turned eyelids
To avoid these eye issues, a genetic test can be done to ensure the sire and dam are not carriers of eye conditions. However, cherry eye is common in bulldogs due to their flat faces and this cannot be resolved through breeding. If your dog appears to have an eye issue, don’t wait on it. There is a very simple surgical solution to cherry eye. The cost is reasonable, and it will alleviate the issue permanently. Don’t delay if this becomes an issue. Sometimes, this occurs because the puppy is growing so fast, but it is uncomfortable and easy for a veterinarian to resolve.
Bladder stones
- Bulldogs are prone to this genetic issue. Therefore, make sure your bulldog breeder specifically tests for HUU and their sires and dams are negative and do not carry that gene.
Abscess between toes
– Furuncles due to a bacteria infection – bulldogs are predisposed because of the short hair on
the webbing of toes which can result in swollen paws
To avoid these issues, watch for licking of the paws. That is one sign. This can be treated via antibiotics, steroids, anti-fungal creams, Epsom salts, iodine. Give your vet a call and they should be able to tell you what to try over the phone. An appointment may not be necessary.
Head shaking, head tremors
- Idiopathic head tremor syndrome – a benign condition with no known cause that can occur in any dog, but is most common in French and English bulldogs
- The tremors last seconds to a few minutes and run from several times daily to just a few a year. Often with stress as a trigger.
- These are not painful and your vet can test for neurological issues, though usually and according to our vet, almost always is only the syndrome listed above that no one has to date figured out. Luckily, it usually resolves as your puppy grows older and is common to occur between the ages of 1 ½ – 3 years of age.
The solution – distract them out of it. It truly works.
- Peanut butter, karo syrup, honey, vanilla ice cream
- Throwing their favorite toy.
- Usually, they stop immediately when distracted.
Bottom line, your bulldog breeder should be aware of all these issues with bulldogs and bulldog puppies and should be able to answer any questions you have. They should be honest with you as we all want our new bulldog puppy owners to be successful and love the breed. For mor information on bulldog health, click here.
