Did you know that Bulldog puppies are susceptible to a variety of potential health problems? If you are not proactive about preventing these conditions they may strike without warning, causing distress for you and your puppy, to say nothing of the expensive costs involved in treating them. While some conditions are genetic and cannot be avoided, others can be headed off with proper care, keeping your dog healthy and both of you happy.
Providing your Bulldog puppy with good nutrition, the proper shots, exercise, regular teeth brushing and a clean living environment are the keys to preventing illness and disease. Beyond that, you must learn to look for symptoms of problems. Since your dog can’t tell you what is wrong, knowing what to look for is vital to early diagnosis. Keeping a close watch on these 4 areas will help ensure good health for your growing dog.
Infections: A young dog’s ears, eyes, teeth and skin are places where infections can take hold. Check each of these areas frequently for signs of redness, swelling, bumps or dots. Clean out their ears with approved methods as often as recommended by your veterinarian. Gently wipe their eyes clean of dirt and foreign substances when they come in from being out of doors. Brush their teeth weekly. Infections are quite easy to avoid with proper care and diligence.
Diabetes: Canine diabetes is a growing concern because many dogs are eating very poor diets, mirroring the poor health habits of the humans they live with. Avoiding this problem is as easy as keeping your Bulldog on a diet designed for them. Reduce or eliminate table scraps and over-feeding. Stick to a recommended diet and this problem will not crop up in one Bulldog in a thousand.
Obesity: This ailment is the result of poor nutrition combined with a lack of exercise. Obesity will cause deadly associated problems such as heart disease, liver disease, cancer and skin problems. These and other ailments are hard to overcome, if they can be treated at all. And attempting to save your beloved Bulldog from them can be very expensive, leading to very difficult decisions. Avoid obesity and all of its troubles by feeding your dog properly and taking it out for exercise daily.
Allergies: Bulldogs can be plagued by allergies, just like people. Flea bites can cause an allergic reaction and hot spots which might even become infected. Keep fleas off your pet with flea collars and medication. Other times, skin allergies might be a response to dietary elements. If your Bulldog shows signs of allergies including running nose, red eyes, or hot spots on their skin, first make sure their diet is correct. If the symptoms do not clear up then promptly schedule an appointment with a veterinarian.
Arthritis and Dysplasia: Unfortunately, Bulldogs like all purebreds are susceptible to joint issues, due to the longer, narrower joints they often possess. The best things you can do to ward off these problems are to make sure your pet receives good nutrition including supplementary vitamins and minerals. Also provide lots of exercise in order to build up the muscles that support weaker joints. Most vets will also check your dog for degenerative joint disease at its yearly check-up – be sure to schedule one if that is not a regular habit.
While some health issues cannot be avoided, the majority can be eliminated or forestalled. The keys for Bulldogs are not much different than the keys for their masters. They include good diet, plenty of exercise, good hygiene, and the right supplements and vitamins to counteract the effects of environment and aging. Continue to keep a keen eye out for any symptoms of the mentioned ailments and have issues treated immediately. With this approach your Bulldog’s life may well be long and happy.
Jill B