Content
- eye problems
- Breathing problems
- Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
- skin problems
- Advice to maintain the health of the English Bulldog
Did you know that the English bulldog Was it initially used as a fighting dog? We are talking about the 17th century and between this stage and the contemporary, countless crossings were carried out until obtaining the English Bulldog that we know today.
From its appearance, its flat snout and round, expressive eyes stand out, its ears are short and its head has several folds that give it an adorable appearance. It is a very safe, courageous, sociable, peaceful and ideal dog for family life, especially when there are children at home.
Welcoming an English Bulldog is an excellent decision, but it also comes with a great responsibility, the care of our pet's health. Want to know what the most common diseases in the English Bulldog? In this article by PeritoAnimal we explain everything to you.
eye problems
The eyes of the English Bulldog are especially delicate and as a consequence this canine breed is at special risk of suffering from the following eye diseases:
- ectropion: Ectropion in dogs is a disease in which the eyelid moves outward, compromising the health of the inner eyelid that has now come into contact with the outside. It is a disease with a good prognosis but for which veterinary treatment is essential.
- entropion: Entropion in dogs is the opposite situation. In this case, the edge of the eyelid is folded inwards. This situation is characterized by the contact of the eyelashes with the eyeball, which mainly causes irritation, pain and difficulty in keeping the eyes open. Entropion is treated with a surgical intervention.
- Keratoconjunctivitis: This disease can cause serious damage to the eyeball if not treated in time. Keratoconjunctivitis causes inflammation of the lacrimal glands, conjunctiva, and cornea. This disease causes mucous discharge, redness and even corneal ulcers. Treatment consists of applying moisturizing drops and antibiotics, although in some cases surgery can also be used.
Breathing problems
The English Bulldog's flat snout along with its large head causes a phenomenon known as brachycephalic syndrome, this syndrome causes noisy breathing, which is normal due to the distribution and size of the respiratory structures, however it also causes problems that must be treated and manifested through the following symptoms:
- Strong breathing, increased snoring or vomiting.
- Difficulty breathing, blue mucous membranes.
- Continuous nasal breathing, which is also performed with the mouth open.
In view of these symptoms, you should immediately consult the veterinarian, as the oxygen irrigation to tissues can be compromised. Pharmacological treatment is usually performed using anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator active ingredients, however, in some cases surgery may be necessary.
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Although the English Bulldog is not an especially large breed, it unfortunately suffers from a greater predisposition to suffering from hip dysplasia.
Hip dysplasia is a bone and degenerative disease affecting the hip joint, which is the one that joins the hip with the femur. This joint deforms, which makes the dog limp and have pain, and these symptoms are observed especially during exercise. Treatment is usually pharmacological and is intended to alleviate symptoms, however, in some cases the veterinarian may recommend surgery.
Elbow dysplasia is a disease that occurs during the growth stage and that affects this joint causing inflammation and progressive degeneration of bone and joint tissue. The main symptoms are limping, pain and exercise intolerance. The first treatment option is orthopedics, however, in severe cases surgical intervention may be necessary.
skin problems
The English Bulldog's immune system is especially sensitive, for this reason this breed is especially prone to allergies, which are those overreactions of defense cells against a particular allergen. The allergies that most affect the English Bulldog are skin allergies.
The skin allergies that we can see in the English Bulldog are mainly caused by allergen inhalation, such as pollen or mold. An allergic English Bulldog will manifest constant itching, with inflammation and redness of the skin, rashes, lesions and even sores caused by excessive scratching.
In this case, consult the veterinarian for the patient to discover the causing allergen and define a treatment to be followed, which can be carried out based on antihistamines, anti-inflammatory drugs and topical analgesics or, in more severe cases, with corticoid drugs to suppress the immune system's response.
Advice to maintain the health of the English Bulldog
The fact that the English Bulldog is a breed with a predisposition to suffer from several diseases does not mean that we cannot do anything to prevent the appearance of these conditions, pay attention to the following very important tips to keep your puppy in good condition:
- The English Bulldog doesn't like exercise, this doesn't mean it doesn't need it, but it should be a gentle exercise and adapted to the needs that this dog has.
- It is essential to properly follow the vaccination schedule defined by the veterinarian.
- For prevent overweight in this puppy it is important to give him good food, adapted to the nutritional needs of each stage of his life.
- To reduce English Bulldog allergies, your environment must be kept clean and disinfected, but for this, aggressive chemicals should not be used.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.