The English Bulldog Puppy Blog

Fourth of July ushers in with lively and fun activities for you and your beloved English bulldog. There are events all across the U.S. that pet owners can bring their pets to.

Here are tips to remember to avoid scaring your English bull dogs and other pets. These events take place during daytime so pet owners can take their bulldogs home before the start of fireworks. July 4th is one of the highest round up nights for local human societies and animal control officers. Keep your pet close to you when you decide to treat it to the festivities of Independence Day. Follow extreme caution when out and about with your pet for the fireworks display.

• Savannah, GA area - TailsSpin and many pet owners are coming together to help give support to local pet rescue agencies. These include Bryan Animal Caregivers, Coastal Pet Rescue, Humane Society of Savannah / Chatham, PAWS, Save-A-Life, and Grateful Golden Retriever Rescue. They are holding a Pet Adoption Fair on Saturday, July 4th, 2009. It will be from 10:00am to 1:00pm. It is located at the parking lot of the Habersham Village Shopping Center on Habersham Street. They will be offering micro-chipping, a dog wash for your pups, a BBQ and a car wash. There will also be a raffle with prizes from the Habersham Village Shopping Center. All the money raised will go to the Animal Rescue Agencies that are there that day. With each new pet adoption, the pet owner will receive free goodie bags, engraved pet ID tags, pet food, and 10% discount on their purchases at TailsSpin.
• Wesley Chapel, FL area - The Florida English Bulldog Rescue will be at The Sam’s Club on State Rd. from 9am - 2pm. They will have hot dogs, snow cones, baked goods and balloon characters for the kids. There will also be raffles throughout the day. Raffles include: Shirts, Red Sox/Rays ticket & shirt package, cool Budweiser pool floats, gift certificates to restaurants, fireworks and gift baskets for pets and some for their owners. This is a fundraiser for the FEB Rescue to help out with the medical care and food needs for the rescued bulldogs.
• Panama City, FL area - Witness the Pier Park Star Spangled Spectacular 4th of July held at the Pier on Pier Park Drive. Events start at 12:00pm until 9:00pm after the fireworks display. Mayor Oberst will start the day with an F-15 flyover. There will be all sorts of festivities including a patriotic pet parade. There are nine bands spread throughout the property and these events are free. Check out Panama City Beach Events website for more details. http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com/events/detail.cfm?eventid=62d Friends,
• Town of Duck, NC area - They are having their festivities on Friday July 3rd starting at 9:00am. The parade will have a section for dogs and their owners. Last year they had over 100 dogs walking in the parade. There will be an after-event following the parade at the Duck Town Park on Duck Road.
• Bandera, TX area - The 4th of July Pet Parade will be at the Bandera City Park at 10:00am. The parade is sponsored by the Cowboy Capital Pet Assistance League. All pets including dogs, cats, turtles, horses, birds and even lizards are welcome for the parade. All free and registration starts at 9:00am. There will be pet judging at 9:30am and pet treats given out. They will have regular refreshments available for sale for the pets’ parents.
• Bend, OR area - They have their historical Pet Parade. This is where children bring their special pets from llamas, horses, goats, dogs and even stuffed animals. The parade goes through downtown. It starts at 10:00am and no registration needed. They do request that no cats or rabbits are brought as they may get scared and get lost. Kids will get a keepsake and a popsicle. After the parade there will be the 4th of July event in Drake Park. That starts at 11:00am until 4pm. Crafts, food, games contests and entertainment will keep people entertained throughout the day.
• Mason, MI area - The Ingham County Animal Shelter is having a pet adoption event after the Annual Lasing parade. The adoption event will be on North Capital Avenue from 11:00am to 4:00pm.
• Peidmont, CA area - They are having a parade that includes dogs (mostly Westies and Scottes) and their owners marching from Highland Ave and Park Way to Piedmont Park. It starts at 11:00am and goes throughout the afternoon. After the parade there will be a giant picnic to celebrate the 4th of July. The theme this year is “America’s Optimism”.
• Foster City, CA area - They will have a full celebration with food, music, entertainment, crafts, parade, dog show, fireworks and so much more. The events begin at 8:30am with a pancake breakfast at Island United Church and end at after the fireworks at 9:30pm. The Family Parade starts at 11:05am. The Stars and Stripes Dog Show is from 2:00pm-2:30pm.

Always remember that pets get hot quickly than humans who do not have fur. Practice extreme caution during 4th of July especially when the weather is hot. Concrete or asphalt can become really hot that may burn your dog’s foot pads. Have a safe and fun Independence day to you all!

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Almost everyone can’t resist the sweet taste of chocolate. What man find tasty is not necessarily good enough for man’s best friend to eat. Chocolate is just one of the many foods that are toxic to English bulldogs. Think twice before you feed your beloved companions with scraps of chocolate, macadamia nuts and onions. You think you are doing your dog a favor but you are actually putting its life in danger.

Just why are foods perfectly safe for human consumption but are toxic to our pets. I never thought that I fed potentially fatal food to my dog. Let’s find out how macademia nuts, onions, and chocolate can kill your English bulldog.

Chocolate

The dark baker’s chocolate looks inviting but is especially toxic for dogs. A mere 2.5 ounces of Coco or 5.5 ounces of Dark Bakers Chocolate can be fatal to a 20 to 25 pound dog. A compound called theobromine found in chocolates acts as a cardiac stimulant and as a diuretic. It also elevates blood pressure and causes nausea and vomiting. Another compound in chocolate called caffeine is a member of the same drug family, Methylanines, which is also toxic to our pets. Theobromine isn’t harmful to man because it is metabolize at a much faster rate in human than dogs. The half life of theobromine in dogs is about 17.5 hours. The fact that your dog has overdosed on chocolate is not immediately evident and may the symptoms of theobromine poisoning may not appear until hours later.

Your bulldog may not appear to be poisoned soon after eating chocolates. It takes a maximum of twelve hours for signs of theobromine poisoning to appear after ingestion.

Some of the signs of having ingested a possibly fatal amount theobromine are:
• Hyperactivity and/or nervousness
• Excessive thirst accompanied with possible excessive urination
• Muscular spasms
• Seizures
• Coma can occur but they are rare
• Death is rare and when it does occur it’s because of an already existing heart condition

It is unfortunate that no effective home remedy available for theobromine poisoning. If you suspect that your dear pet has ingested chocolate and is positively showing any of the above symptoms rush it to the vet emergency room right away.

Onions and garlic

Onions and garlic has a toxic substance called thiosulphate. The effects of thiosulphate are much more catastrophic than those of theobromine. Thiosulphate cause hemolytic anemia, a condition where the red blood cells burst while circulating through your pet’s body. Onions are much more dangerous than garlic because they contain a larger amount of thiosulphate. Onions in any form are highly dangerous and the effects of thiosulphate poisoning usually begin to appear a few days after the poisoning took place.

Some of the symptoms are:
• Gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhea
• Loss of appetite and all interest in food
• Dull, glazed eyes
• Physical weakness
• Breathlessness
• Appearance of burst red blood cells in urine and fecal matter
20 ounces of raw onion is enough to cause irreversible damage to your dog. If you suspect thiosulphate poisoning, bring your dog to the vet emergency room right away.

Macadamia nuts

It is difficult to know exactly why macadamia nuts are very toxic to dogs but they are. These nuts cause weakness, joint pain and shortness of breath. The good side of it is that dogs quickly recover from this toxin. It is best not to feed this kind of nut to your dog, who would want to subject their loved pet to such discomfort and pain even for a short time.

Other household foods and substances that is toxic to dogs.
• Avocado (all parts) - the toxic ingredient in avocado is called persin (toxic amount unknown). Symptoms include difficulty breathing, abdominal enlargement, and abnormal fluid accumulations in the chest, abdomen and sac around the heart.
• Pear pips, the kernels of plums, peaches and apricots, apple core pips (contain cyanogenic glycosides resulting in cyanide poisoning)
• Potato peelings and green looking potatoes
• Rhubarb leaves
• Moldy/spoiled foods
• Alcohol
• Yeast dough
• Coffee grounds, beans & tea (caffeine)
• Hops (used in home brewing)
• Tomato leaves & stems (green parts)
• Broccoli (in large amounts)
• Raisins and grapes
• Cigarettes, tobacco, cigars

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Our pet’s overall behavior and good health is greatly affected by what we feed them. There is a bounty of dog foods commercially sold that you can choose from but are you making the right decision? The choices of food diet for your bulldog may sometimes be confusing if not impossible. Let us look beyond the advertisements and the food labels to see exactly what your dog is eating.

Watch out for these signs.

Something could be wrong with the food you are feeding your English bulldog when it suffers from constant shedding or is hyperactive or even inactive. If your pet has problems with gas such as burping or large smelly stool or perhaps signs of ear or skin infections then these signs are tell tale of a weak immune system. These signs or a combination of them may occasionally show up but a constant occurrence is often a cause of concern. The first issues you should look into are to review the diet of your pet dog.

Animals require forty five nutrients to function properly. There are several major groups of nutrients consisting of water, protein, minerals as well as carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins. All these nutrients are properly digested as well absorbed by the body in correct amounts.

Protein

Canines including your dog are carnivore which means their body primarily uses meat as its fuel source. It measures in that vegetables and grains do not have major contribution to a dog’s diet.

Protein is likely indicated on the packaging of dog food where amount of protein is shown. The importance of knowing the source of protein is as important on determining the amount of protein the dog food contains.

Dog food labels

Meat products intended for canine consumption are made from chicken, lamb, and beef as well as several other sources of grains namely soy, corn or wheat and other plant life.

The can label of manufactured dog food includes the ingredients list which ascertain the sources most used in the package of dog food you bought. The ingredient listed first is by law the largest amount in the product. The items listed after the first one are in decreasing in amount. It is understood that there should always be at least three source of meat in the first five items listed. Anything less than three means the product fails to meet the proper amount of protein needed to raise a healthy bulldog.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates as we all know are a source of energy. While the masters of dogs (yes we are talking about you) need a great deal of carbohydrates to be healthy. It is not the same case of dogs whose food sources should be high in protein as well as low in carbohydrates.

Diets high in carbohydrates take longer to digest. It results in large unpleasant gas and stool for most dogs since dogs are canines which are meat eaters. You may start to notice that your English bulldog has overly sore and achy gums from excessive chewing while their breaths develop with an unpleasant odor. It is then your pet’s best interest as well as your own to feed them a diet consisting of carbohydrate sources such as grains in smaller quantity.

Fats

Two types of fat are known such as animal fat and vegetable fat. An optimum health your pet needs a supply of both fats as a whole of the essential fatty acids.

Always strike a healthy balance of fats in the food of your bulldog. A diet low in fat will cause low levels of energy, skin problems, and heart problems. On the other hand, your dog can develop obesity, tumors, and even cancer when too much fat is fed. Always check the food label and search for a product that serves an equal measure of balance between animal and vegetable fat.

The Natural Pet Food Cookbook: Healthful Recipes for Dogs and Cats

Vitamins

Vitamins are categorized into fat-soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins. Vitamins are a necessary part of a diet as they are required for the release nutrients for the use of food in the body.

Fat soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E, and K which are stored in the body’s fatty tissues and in the liver. Vitamins B and C are water soluble vitamins that are expelled from the body by urine every four to eight hours. When excessive amount of water soluble vitamins are in the body then no harm is done since they are excreted as urine.

You should bear in mind that vitamins are lost easily in the manufacturing of dog food. As soon as the package is open then vitamins are exposed to the air and light that breaks them down. The most sensitive vitamins are B and C which are broken down easily.

A strong immune system of your dog calls for Vitamin C to wad off diseases as well as for healthy gums and teeth. Dogs are very much capable of producing their own vitamin C however is not enough for their best health therefore are required as a part of their daily diet. Vitamin B must also be a part of your bulldog’s diet to help break down carbohydrates and protein as well as source of energy.

Minerals

Minerals are also essential element in a dog’s diet but are found to be less than two percent in most formulated dog food products. It is advised to dog owners to enrich your dog’s food with mineral supplements given more than half of the minerals are lost in the process of production.

Water

Strive to keep your dog hydrated during hot weather. It does not only provide refreshment to your dog but also is necessary to maintain the proper body functioning for your pet as well as supports the body in break down of food.

Little things make a huge difference on the well being of your dog. You may choose to make your own dog food or purchase commercially prepared food products but one thing is certain. That is to include all the proper nutrients and in right amounts to feed your pet. Strive to make it your conscious effort to lead a happy and healthy both for you and your English bulldog.

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Numerous types of pet medications are considered as oral medications prescribed to your pet may not be easily liked by your bulldog. Before you see giving of medications as a daunting task to do, read on to learn tips on how to properly administer oral pills to your English bulldog.

Dogs can be similar to children that apparently hate taking medications. Children may fall for the trick of the old Mary Poppins song - Just a Spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Pet medications take more than a song to make them swallow the medications.

Administering pills in the form of tablets or capsules

Step 1: Restrain the dog. Look for extra hands to help you when your dog is being difficult to handle.
Step 1a: Relieve the dog’s apprehension by talking quietly and reassuringly.
Step 2: Grasp the dog’s upper jaw with one hand over its muzzle.
Step 3: Press the dog’s lips over the upper teeth by pressing your thumb on one side and your fingers on the other so the dog’s lips are between its teeth and your fingers. Apply firm pressure to force its mouth open.
Step 4: Hold the pill between the thumb and index finger of your other hand, and place the pill as far back in the dog’s mouth as possible.
Step 5: Gently rub the dog’s throat to stimulate swallowing.

It can be tiresome to make your English bulldog take oral pills. Your pet may need these pills as pain medication after a serious injury or whether it is just time for your pet’s monthly heart worm pill.

The best way to administer a pill to your pet is to open its mouth by pressing his upper lips behind his canine teeth as if you were making him smile. Next, open the lower part lower part of the jaw with your free hand and place the pill on the very back center of his tongue. Close your bulldog’s mouth and hold it shut completely until you can see him swallow the pill.

There are also instances when your pet needs some tender loving help with swallowing the pill. Assist your pet by massaging your pet’s neck and throat part until it has swallowed the medication. An alternate method is to hide the pill in cheese, peanut butter, or other yummy treat. You can apply a little amount of these sandwich spreads on the pill before putting it in your dog’s mouth and offering your help with the medication.

As a last resort when your dog is stubborn enough, conceal the pill inside a ball of dog treats or food. You can place the treat inside the mouth of your English bulldog and hold his mouth shut when he starts to chew or swallow to prevent any pill spitted out.

Administering liquids

Step 1: Restrain the dog. If the dog is hard to handle, you may need a companion to help you restraining it.
Step 1a: Relieve the dog’s uneasiness by talking quietly and reassuring it.
Step 1b: Slip one arm under the dog’s neck, holding its throat gently in the crook of your arm. Be sure not to obstruct the airway of your dog.
Step 1c: Pass the other arm over or under the middle of the dog, using gentle but firm pressure to hold its body against yours.
Step 1d: If necessary, apply a mouth-tie loosely so there is only slight jaw movement.
Step 2: Gently tip the dog’s head slightly backward.
Step 3: Pull the dog’s lower lip out at the corner to make a pouch.
Step 4: Using a plastic eyedropper or dose syringe, place the fluid a little at a time into the pouch. Let your pet swallow each small amount before giving any more of the dose.
Step 5: Gently rub the dog’s throat to stimulate swallowing.

Liquids medication needs to be given by placing your dog in a correct position to prevent any spillage. Firmly hold the animal’s head with your steady hands and place a dropper of the medication in the side of the jaw not in the center of the mouth. Slowly and steadily release the liquid medication toward the back of the throat and permit adequate time for your dog to swallow. You should administer liquids in a slow and steady motion so that to avoid choking your pet that in turn could spit the medication.

Consult your vet if the medications prescribed for your dog can be mixed with your pet’s food or water. If there are no known adverse effects of mixed medications in your pet’s food or drink, be mindful that your pet consumes the entire serving of water or food to get the recommended dose. This strategy can also be difficult if not easier. Dogs, in general, stop eating or drinking the food at the moment they taste the medication in it.

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Your English bulldog loves to explore its way by sniffing and at times eating food off the floor. They find garbage cans quite appealing when searching for meals. It is never a bad idea to keep an eye on our pets. Dogs can be similar to toddlers who do not know what is good or bad. Dogs are clueless if foods eaten from trash are poisonous or not.

Food poisoning can happen to any other bulldog as it happens to every dog at least once in their lifetime. Once dog smells something they like then it will eat it even if rotten or not. Spoiled foods are rotten and rich in bacteria and other harmful microorganisms capable of making your pet sick. When these harmful microorganisms reach the digestive tract, its body will employ every means to eliminate these substances as manifested by vomiting and diarrhea. The extent on how far the microorganisms are located can be known by the symptoms shown by your pet. Vomiting usually means that the germs are spread through the upper intestines. Diarrhea means that it has now spread to the lower intestines.

Symptoms of dog food poisoning

The symptoms of food poisoning in bulldogs can be a combination of vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, and generally feeling unwell. When your dog is suffering from food poisoning then it will not defecate more than usual and feces will be in large amounts unlike other lower digestive system illnesses.

Causes of dog food poisoning

Don’t take the case of food poisoning of your bulldog lightly. You should investigate and check possible areas in your house that may have contributed to your pet’s sickness. Food poisoning can be found in its sources such as garden, on a walk, around the house, or in the garbage bin where the illness derived its nickname of “garbage disease.”

When the gastro intestinal tract including the stomach is irritated from unwanted substance, it causes the body to flush it out of the system either through vomiting and diarrhea. It is the same mechanisms as with human and other animals on coping with damaging substances in the digestive system.

Your English bulldog may respond to a sudden change of diet by showing signs and symptoms of food poisoning. Its body may not be accustomed with the new food variety given so you may want to introduce foods more slowly next time around.

What your vet may say or do

The most effective, if not the only, way to cure dog food poisoning is to enable the dog to get rid of any offending foods or substances in the digestive system. You will need to stop feeding your dog for 24 hours and give them only water. If you continue feeding your dog then its body will not have any means to get rid of all the food in its system. It will only make vomiting and diarrhea worse since it makes the digestive system think there is more bad foods to get rid of.

The initial step to take on the detoxification and clearing of your dog’s digestive system is to start feeding it with strictly water only for 24 hours. When 24 hours have passed you should begin feeding it with bland foods such as boiled rice, pasta, boiled chicken, turkey or white fish. These bland foods will ensure that the stomach is eased in gently and minimize the risk of food rejection due to strong taste.

Continuously monitor your bulldog to note if it has produced at least two normal stools then you can gradually begin introducing them back to their regular foods. You can do this by mixing the bland food with some stronger tasting food then slowly increasing the amount of normal food you add until your dog is eating full portions of their daily diet.

This process should not take longer than 48 hours after the initial 24 hours of “water diet”. If the vomiting and/or diarrhea become worse over this period then it is strongly recommended to seek further advice from your vet. The vet will then assess for other symptoms such as obstructions, infections, or inflammation caused again by dog food poisoning.

Pet owners should be responsible enough to practice proper dog food preparations, maintain a clean home environment, and ensure your pooch does not eat whatever it sniffs. Treating a simple sickness won’t be too costly but not as less costly when prevention of likely sources of food poisoning.

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Urinary tract infection (UTI) is found to be common women without excluding your female English bulldog. Male bulldogs can also suffer from UTI yet with lesser chances. Early detection of a urinary tract infection is most beneficial for you and your dog. It is helpful to understand the signs and symptoms of UTIs so early treatments can be done before it develops into a problem that only a vet can solve.

One of the first signs of UTI in dogs is dehydration. When you observe that your dog is dehydrated such as drinking an unusually large amount of water then you may want to have it checked for UTI. Your dog may be gulping more water than usual even without having exercises. As a preventive measure, supply an accessible supply of fresh and clean water so your bulldog can always drink when it needs to.

Observe the normal urinating patterns of your dog. When it does urinate more or less than usual then it could be a sign of UTI. Dogs with UTI can cause frequent urination or scanty amount of urine. Your dog may appear bothered by the pain from the infection. A dog that is straining to urinate means there is an inflammation that prevents your dog form being able to urinate easily. When blood is seen in its urine, then your dog is in a lot of pain as the infection has reached its kidneys. In such case, a vet should be consulted for further discussion of treatments.

Most of all, any severe form of infection is accompanied with fever. Thus, UTI in its worse state causes fever and lethargy. Such discomfort can place your dog into silence or lost vitality. Take your English bulldog to your trusted vet immediately for any signs and symptoms noticed.

Causes of Female bulldog urinary tract infection

The problem of UTI is a product of many issues involved. The most common reason, however, comes with age. When a dog matures into a specific age, it will have more chances of UTI to set in. An aging English bulldog would develop few age-related changes such as weakening of the urinary muscles, bladder damage, and the formation of stones.

Female English bulldogs often develop bladder stones due to the anatomy of its tract. Both sexes of dogs do not develop bladder stones overnight. These stones form over time starting as crystals in the bladder. By the time these crystals become bigger then they clump tighter forming a solid mass known as a bladder stone. Bladder stones can be treated in a many ways depending on the size of the stone. The most severe cases of UTI can be surgically removed. Mild cases can be treated with medications and diet changes.

Dehydration can also lead to problems. Again, this can occur in both sexes of dogs. Supply your dog with clean, fresh water to let it quench its thirst. You should make sure that the drinking water of your pet is free of harmful bacteria, excessive mineral content or other organisms.

Poor hygiene is another cause for a female dog urinary tract infection to build up. Your female bulldog should have its genital area cleaned routinely. Bacteria can accumulate and move along in the urinary tract going up to your dog’s urethra and into the bladder. It is a good habit to bathe your dog often to maintain a clean genital area as a part of a good hygiene.

Female dog urinary tract infection: Treatment Options

A simple test like a urinalysis will determine if your English bulldog is suffering from UTI. You may also need to bring your pet to a vet to help assess the underlying cause and treatment of the infection. Your dog may only need to modify its diet in some cases. In moderate cases, medications may need to be prescribed such as antibiotics to treat the infection. Your dog may need to go under surgery such in a case with larger bladder stones that is impossible to melt through oral treatments.

You may also explore home treatment options that will help your bulldog with mild infection or acts as a preventive measure for UTI to occur again. Cranberry juice, for example, helps people from having UTI recurring again. This is the same case for dogs but the only hindrance is if your pet is not keen on drinking juice products. For example, you may have heard that cranberry juice can help humans with the problem. This is true for dogs as well. The only problem would be if your dog refuses to drink juice products.

Homeopathic remedies for female dog urinary tract infection may also be helpful. This therapy involves the use of certain natural ingredients namely Cantharis (for urine flow) and Berberis vulgaris (helps the bladder). These are safe to use and may be worth a try to help bring back the urine’s proper PH. Fluid excreted as urine is a natural way to clean the urinary tract.

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Your English bulldog can develop anxiety due to many complex reasons. Dog owners should avoid yelling at their dogs too much as it can turn a normally timid dog into a nervous one. New changes introduced into your home can also make your dog insecure. There are many cases when a baby welcomed as a new member of the family can dramatically alter your dog’s behavior. You may also notice that when a member of the family is sick or when new faces greet your dog during special occasions like holidays, birthdays, celebration, and home visits, all makes your bulldog oddly. Ensure to help your dog feel secure and calm in all of the situations when your dog meets strangers in your home.

Seriously watch out for signs of anxiety of your English bulldog and never take them for granted. Anxiety can manifest itself in several ways including destroying things with their teeth, excessive barking, growling, grunting, attacking because of fear, or becoming hyperactive. You can offer your loving concern by following these steps on managing canine anxiety:

1. Consult your veterinarian to get a correct diagnosis of separation anxiety. Your veterinarian will offer treatment for your dog or refer you to an animal behaviorist who can prescribe effective drug therapies to alleviate your dog’s anxieties.
2. Practice leaving your dog alone for short periods of time. Pick up your keys and leave for 1 minute.
3. Gradually increase the amount of time you stay away. This will enable your dog to become used of your absence.
4. Avoid overly emotional good-byes or greetings. You can simply pat your dog on the head and offer a quick good-bye or hello.
5. Exercise your dog for an hour each day in other places besides your yard or home. Dogs are territorial so a change of environment can help your dog feel comfortable and let it blow off steam.
6. Keep your dog confined in a safe area while you are away from home. Be sure to leave a bowl of water and plenty of chew toys.
7. Praise your dog often to build self-confidence in times of anxiety rather than punishing her for exhibiting frightened behaviors. Punishment only increases anxiety and makes the situation worse.
8. During family get together or party, ask family members to keep an eye on your pet at all times.
9. You can also exclude your English bulldog when your home holds celebrations. An anxious dog can be a bothersome pet during celebrations.
10. Watch out for bulldogs that are not raised by their mother but raised in pet shops. “Pet shop raised” dogs lived a highly isolated life. They are susceptible to suffer from anxiety problems. This case is the same with dogs living in dog pounds.
11. Aim to keep a regular schedule of activities of your bulldog. You should feed your dog at same times, take him out at same times, and let your pet play at the same time in the afternoon or early evening among other things. This kind of arrangement will especially benefit older bulldogs.

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The act of rewarding of giving your English bulldog a special doggy delicacy as a treat after a hard (playful) training session gives you a feeling of warmness. Anyone who owns or had owned a dog has a fairly good idea what their favorite pet likes to much on. There are boundless choices available in the market as dog treats. They come in assorted flavors, shapes, sizes, colors, and variety. Yet, dog owners should check the ingredients of the dog treat and they’re safe for your beloved pet. For every dog treat currently sold in the market, there are also those that are not so good. If you’re one of those pet owners who keep on feeding your English bulldog those colorful or tasty treats, learn how some treats can be potentially toxic to your dog.

Rawhide Chews
It is true that rawhide chews do a wonderful job on keeping your pet busy and keeping their teeth maintains its sparkling white and tidy appearance. However, rawhide chews can get potentially dangerous treat. Imported rawhides that come from outside America are possibly coated and preserved with arsenic-based chemicals that get ingested by your dog. Exercise caution when purchasing rawhide chews. Always make sure any of these rawhide you bought has been processed in the United States given arsenic are strictly prohibited in USA. When you can’t determine or see any proof that the rawhide was produced in the states then don’t buy it. It’s always the right thing to buy rawhides of the right size. Thus, if your bulldog is still small then it requires a smaller sized treat and if it grows bigger then should start with a chew suitable for its size. Supervise your dog while consuming rawhides to help avoid accidental choking.

Bones
When bones are chewed, they become fragments and fragile. They splinter easily and do not disintegrate well in a dog’s digestive track. Bones are hard to digest so your pet may have to pass them through his stool. Undigested bones can lead to a serious impaction and/or constipation necessitating a drastic trip to the veterinarian. Other than that, bones can serve as a choking hazard and causes likely intestinal bleeding. Shard bone can pierce the intestinal wall and pass through the abdominal cavity causing hemorrhaging of the intestinal wall and peritonitis (an infection of the lining of the abdominal cavity). Watch out for major symptoms of possible damage to the intestinal tract include vomiting, rectal bleeding, discharge from the rectum, diarrhea, straining to defecate, and extreme sensitivity to palpation of the abdomen. If your dog has ingested bones recently and shows any of the above symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Xylitol sweetened treats
Xylitol is found in sugar-free gum and mints, nicotine gum, chewable vitamins, oral-care products, and baked goods. It is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener in many products. It can be purchased in a granulated form for baking or as a sweetener for cereals and beverages. The ASPCA APCC has had reports that some dogs developed elevated liver enzyme activity within 12 to 24 hours after ingestion of Xylitol. Several of these dogs developed acute liver failure following to Xylitol ingestion. A couple breath mints containing Xylitol is enough to cause the death of a small dog. You may want to keep your breath mints in a safe container far from your dog’s sniffing prowess. Your pet could end up struggling for dear life out of acute liver distress from Xylitol. Be very cautious about keeping any products that may can this sweetener out of the range of your curious pet.

Greenies
Greenies are advertised as a tasty treat to support the cleanliness of your dog’s teeth. Consumers, however, should be aware that “greenies” can induce serious health issues in your pet. At the 2005 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACIVM) meeting, there was discussion among internal medicine specialists about Greenies causing esophageal obstructions that were difficult to relieve. Among the health complications reported are small intestinal obstructions; stricture, ulceration and perforation. Greenies are also linked with tooth fractures in dogs. Young puppies or dogs who “scarf” their food should not be given this treat since consuming the item quickly may cause large chunks to lodge in the throat. Potential vomiting can be a consequence once your dog eats these treats, along with lethargy, trouble swallowing, and difficulty breathing. Seek medical attention right away at any signs and symptoms shown by your dog.

Chocolate
It is a known fact that most people love to succumb to the sweet temptation of chocolates. It is an entirely different case for dogs. It is not a good idea to let your bulldog have its share of this dark chocolaty goodness. Chocolate contains a substance known as theobromine. This substance is toxic to dogs. Theobrimine is part of the xanthnine compound, basically the same family that contains caffeine. The actual toxic dose varies from a dog to another, depending on a number of factors such as the weight of the dog and his or her metabolism level. The good news is that it generally takes quite a large amount of chocolate to harm a dog. In general, the toxic level of theobromine is between 100 and 150 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. It is important, of course, to keep in mind that dogs will vary in their sensitivity to the compound, so it is still important to keep any and all chocolate in the house out of Fido’s reach. The symptoms that pet owners should watch out include excitability, irritability, increased heart rate, diarrhea, increased urination, muscle tremors and vomiting. These symptoms clearly indicate that your bulldog ingested a toxic amount of chocolates.

Pet owners need not to be worried of all treats in the market are harmful for their dogs. In fact, healthier alternatives can be tapped to continue rewarding your English bulldog pets. Some safe and handy alternatives to pet store treats include fresh carrots, apples, canned pumpkin or plain popcorn.

These items can be conveniently picked up on your next trip to the market. Your puppy can be given a synthetic bone like Nylabone to satisfy its need to chew. Nylabones are a good option compared to meat bones or rawhides since they are easily digestible and are available in many fantastic flavors. As a precaution, remember to read the ingredient and warning labels on any treat you feed your dog. You should also watch them closely while they are eating. These tips on maintaining your English bulldog free form toxic treats will, lead to a life made exciting with tasty yet safe treats.

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As costs of veterinary care for sick and injured pet rise, a financial help is certainly welcome. If you are in debt or just need a little back up to nurse your English bulldog or dog back to health, here is a list of organization that provide financial assistance for pet owners. Be reminded that some groups only offer assistance to sick or injured pets in need of emergency veterinary care. These organizations have strict requirements for approval.

AAHA Helping Pets Fund

This is the benevolent arm of the American Animal Hospital Association, an association of veterinary care providers. Only AAHA accredited veterinary practices can apply for a grant on behalf of a pet in need. To be eligible, the pet owners must be low-income individuals who receive certain forms of government assistance or pet owners experiencing temporary financial hardship.

Angels4Animals

When a pet faces being euthanized or surrendered because of financial limitations, Program Guardian Angel verifies that the pet’s owner is unable to provide the funds needed to save their sick or injured animal, then works out the financial arrangements with the veterinary clinic and authorizes the treatment needed to save the pet.

Brown Dog Foundation

Their mission is to offer pet owners in a temporary financial crisis an alternative to euthanasia when their pet faces a treatable, life-threatening condition.

Cody’s Club

This group provides financial support for those who face radiation treatments for their pet on a limited income. They also offer emotional support services in the form of a hotline and in-person group that meets monthly.

Help-A-Pet

This organization provides financial assistance to pet owners who are unable to afford the cost of veterinary services, medicine, or medical supplies for a sick or injured pet. To qualify, your annual income must be below $20,000 for an individual household or $40,000 for a family household (amount varies upon the number of dependents). Due to limited funding, financial assistance can only be provided once per pet.

IMOM.org

IMOM (in Memory of Magic) presently accepts applications for help with treating life threatening emergencies. It must be confirmed in writing by a veterinarian that your pet will die or have to be humanely euthanized if care is not provided within five days from the date of diagnosis.

Magic Bullet Fund

The MBF provides financial assistance for canine cancer treatment for families who are financially unable to provide treatment.

Mosby Foundation

When a rescue group, foster person, shelter or vet has a dog that requires medical care and there aren’t sufficient funds for that treatment, the Mosby Foundation is contacted by a licensed veterinarian with case details.

Tails of Hope Sponsor-A-Pet Program

Under the Sponsor-A-Pet Program, Tails of Hope underwrites the cost of veterinary care for companion animals suffering from cancer or other life-threatening diseases, when the owners cannot afford to pay for such care.

The Pet Fund

The goal of the Pet Fund is to provide financial assistance for those who have pets who need critical veterinary care but can’t afford it. Although this organization is not able to fund emergencies, it provides financial help where serious veterinary treatment is needed beyond routine care.

United Animal Nations LifeLine Grant Program

The LifeLine Grant Program provides funding to good samaritans, animal rescuers, non-profit organizations and pet owners to help them care for animals suffering from life-threatening conditions that require specific and immediate emergency veterinary care. The animal must have a favorable prognosis + there are a number of other very specific requirements.

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Pet owners have become increasingly worried of the health risks linked with repeatedly vaccinating dogs following the initial “puppy shots”. Is there a solution to determine if your English bulldog is over-vaccinated? Fortunately there is a way to determine any solid evidence that your pet has been over vaccinated through titer test. Know the basic information of this simple blood test to help you decide whether or not to have your dog’s antibody checked.

Titer Testing

Titer, pronounced as “tight-er”, test is a laboratory test necessary to measure the presence and level of antibodies in blood. The time when antibodies are produced is when a foreign substance such as bacteria and virus provokes an immune response. The responses can be result from natural exposure or vaccination.

Should you test your dog for all diseases?

The most recommended test should be for antibodies for parvovirus and distemper. These two most important viruses can offer the dog owner a very reliable result of the dog’s immunological status. Both of these tests indicate proper markers for the competence of the dog’s immune system. IF you think your dog needs to be tested other than parvovirus an distemper, chances are you’re wasting your money. Coronavirus is another test but depends on the current state of health of the dog’s gastrointestinal tract and not based on the dog’s blood. Lyme test is regionally based and not a significant threat to the general dog population. Not unless your dog lives in a high risk environment, there is no need to have your dog tested for Lyme.

Importance of Titer testing

Titer testing is not a simple guess test at the immunological response in a dog. There is a great correlation between certain high titer values which is referred to as “protection” from the diseases involved. When the tests show that your dog has a borderline or low titer values, the owner and veterinarian should consider revaccinating and then testing the antibody levels again. It could mean the dog only needs a booster to stimulate a stronger immune response. It is also possible that the animal is incapable of responding normally to vaccines. Vaccination is not a mere case of guessing if your dog developed antibodies against a certain type of disease, rather the use of titer tests is to know about the competence and status of the dog’s immune system.

Nowadays, the benefits of titer testing is widely recognized which caused an increase in the number of titer tests performed at veterinary laboratories and lower costs for such tests available from a wide range of providers.

There are two ways in conducting vaccine titer testing namely traditional testing and traditional testing coupled with accepted immunological techniques. Veterinary laboratories offer traditional vaccine titer testing by inspecting a blood sample from a dog to identify a specific level of actual immunity in the dog. Reputable laboratories use commonly accepted immunological techniques validated against original test techniques which are proven to be more accurate. You should make sure that your veterinarian sends blood samples to a major professional veterinary laboratory such as Antech Diagnostics (www.antechdiagnostics.com), Idexx Laboratories (www.idexx.com), Vita-Tech Laboratories (www.vita-tech.com). The blood specimen can also be checked by one of the major university veterinary laboratories, including Cornell, Colorado State, Michigan State, Tufts, and Texas A&M.

An innovative titer testing is more readily available and affordable produced by Synbiotics Corporation, a San Diego-based manufacturer of diagnostic materials and instrumentation for the veterinary market.

TiterCHEKTM is the first in-office titer test licensed by the USDA for use in veterinary clinics. TiterCHEKTM tests titers for canine parvovirus and canine distemper virus. It registers the degree of strength of the immune response in varying color shades. When the test results denote a weak immune response level, blood samples can be sent to a veterinary laboratory for more comprehensive testing. Dr. Dodds estimates that more than 95 percent of in-office tests will indicate a satisfactory immune response present in a dog that has received its puppy vaccinations and one-year boosters thereby follow-up is rarely required. This service and titer tests costs from $40 to $100 for CDV and CPV titer testing from a laboratory, and slightly less for an in-office test, for which your veterinarian must purchase the TiterCHEKTM test kit.

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