The English Bulldog Puppy Blog

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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