Bulldog Health Awareness

Bulldogs are prone to a number of health problems. It would be next to impossible to list every possible problem; this is NOT to say that YOUR bulldog will have all these problems, just that these are fairly common problems!

• Heat Stroke: Bulldogs are prone to heat stroke because they cannot pant well enough to disperse heat. Provide your dog with plenty of water and shade. Most dogs enjoy a child's wading pool during the summer months.

• Facial Fold Dermatitis: Some bulldogs have heavy wrinkling above the nose; these need to be kept clean and checked often.

• Cherry Eye: The tear gland of the third eyelid becomes enlarged, often to the size of a marble. It would be on the inside corner of the eye.

• Distichiasis: Small hairs abnormally grow on the inner surface or the edge of the eyelids.

• Entropian: The lower lid margins of the eye roll inward, causing hair to rub the eye.

• Ectropian: The lower lid margins of the eye roll outward, rather than inward like the entropian.

• Hypo Thyroidism: An "underactive" thyroid gland; not enough thyroxin is being produced by the thyroid gland.

• Pyometra: All unspayed female dogs are prone to pyometra, but the bulldog is particularly prone. Pyometra follows a heat cycle, typically within 2-4 months.

• Gastric Torsion or Bloat: The stomach becomes excessively dilated with gas. As the stomach swells, it can rotate or twist on its axis.

• Hip Dysplasia: The ball and socket of the hips do not fit each other well. More than 80% of bulldogs have poorly fitting hips.

• Hemivertebrae: Defect in the bottom half of the vertebral body of the spinal cord.

• Stenotic Nares: Pinched nostrils.

• Demodex Mange: There are 2 forms of this skin disease: localized and generalized. Dogs with generalized demodex should not be bred.

• Tracheal Hypoplasia: Underdeveloped trachea or windpipe.

• Elongated Soft Palate: Excessive tissue in the rear of the mouth.

• Autoimmune Hemolatic Anemia: Immune disease where the dog's own immune system destroys its own red blood cells.

This Health Information page is Copyright © 2001Lotta Bull Kennels and is used by permission.

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