The English Bulldog Puppy Blog

It is most unfortunate to know that dental hygiene for dogs is often neglected. Most people expect dogs to have bad breath. While a fewer number of dog owners rush their dogs’ teeth frequently as they should do. Dental hygiene is just as important to other health components such as nutrition, proper exercise and routine grooming. Help keep your bulldog healthy. Pay attention to those pearly whites.

“An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.”

Early treatment when it comes to teeth problems will help avoid severe dental diseases. You can simply monitor your English bulldog’s teeth by taking a look at them on a regular basis and be aware of signs that may indicate a problem. You can inspect your dog’s teeth by lifting the lips around the mouth, look at the front and back teeth as closely as possible. Be gentle and use caution so you won’t end up bitten by your own dog. If you would rather choose to leave it to the hands of professionals, you can have your vet take a look at your dog’s teeth during routine examinations. It is recommended to visit your pet’s vet every 6 to 12 months for a total check up.

Contact your vet if any problems appear:

• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Reluctance to chew / crying out when chewing
• Increased salivation
• Red and/or puffy gums
• Bleeding gums
• Tartar / Calculus (hard coating on teeth that is usually brown or yellow; results from plaque build-up)
• Missing and/or loose teeth
• Anything else about the mouth that appears unusual

The risks of dental disease

When plaques build up on the teeth over time then it will turn into tartar or calculus. These areas grow bacteria and then slowly destroy teeth and gums. Halitosis, periodontal disease, oral pain and tooth loss can occur. The bacteria Streptococcus mutans is a significant contributor to tooth decay. It does not only cause oral diseases but also affects other parts of the body including the heart and kidneys. The most important thing to do is address dental disease as soon as it is detected regardless if it is a minor or major problem. Better yet, aim to minimize tooth damage of your dog with routine check ups rather than treat a seemingly severe tooth decay that places your dog to other threats to its health.

How to prevent dental disease in bulldogs (and dogs in general)

There are several things you can do to help keep your dog’s teeth in good shape. Initiate a dental care routine as early as possible in your dog’s life. The younger your dog is, the easier to make your dog get used to the feeling of having his teeth brushed and inspected. Puppies have 28 deciduous teeth that typically fall out by about six months of age. By this time, your dog should be getting his teeth brushed regularly. Here are some important tips to remember when you decide to brush your dog’s teeth:

1. Before you begin, ask your veterinarian to show you some techniques to make tooth brushing easier on you and your dog.
2. Plaque begins to turn into tartar / calculus within 24-48 hours, so daily brushing is recommended. Work your dog’s tooth brushing into your own routine – consider brushing his teeth around the same time you do yours so it will be easier to remember.
3. NEVER brush your dog’s teeth with human toothpaste – it can make your dog sick! Use special enzymatic toothpaste made especially for dogs. The same goes for oral rinses.
4. Use a “finger brush” or special long toothbrush designed for use on dogs. When starting out with brushings, the finger brush can help ease your dog into it, as these do not feel as awkward as hard brushes.

If you find it difficult to brush your dog’s teeth, try these other options. Consider using oral rinses made especially for dogs. You can also purchase special dental treats. Avoid real bones since they result to gastrointestinal upset and can cause tooth fractures.

The most important tip is to make sure you keep up with vet exams. A professional dental cleaning may be recommended from time to time that involves the use of general anesthesia. During this procedure, your dog’s teeth and gums will be examined closely for problems. The teeth will then be scaled and polished. If dental problems are noted, tooth extractions will be necessary. Alternatively, you may be referred to a veterinary dentist for specialty procedures. Some dogs need dental cleanings one or more times per year in general. Be certain to follow your vet’s recommendations. Don’t forget that dental care begins at home that makes all the difference.

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English bulldogs are not gifted with the ability to communicate with us through words. It only follows that dog owners should rely on their pets‘ actions and attitudes to guide us. Nobody else knows their own dog but themselves so you may be the first one to notice sudden changes that need to be addressed. It is always a good thing when you have a good relationship with your veterinarian so you are more comfortable calling when an emergency arises.

Contact your veterinarian right away or bring your bulldog to an emergency clinic upon observation of the following signs:

• Blue, white or very pale gums
• Labored breathing
• Collapse or loss of consciousness
• Dizziness, imbalance, or circling
• Inability to walk
• Extremely bloated abdomen
• Seizures
• Signs of acute severe pain (such as crying out very loudly and excessively)
• Body temperature over 104 or under 99 (normal is typically 100.5-102.5)

Watch out for the following signs persisting for more than 2 to 3 days. Contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

• Poor Appetite
• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lameness
• Weakness
• Excessive salivation
• Frequent and/or inappropriate urination
• Constipation
• Excessive scratching or dull, dry, or flaky hair coat
• Wheezing or frequent panting
• Nasal discharge or congestion
• Displays of mild to moderate pain (such as crying when a specific area is touched or action is taken)

It is better to be cautious rather than ignore and wait for symptoms to become worse. You should contact your vet for any peculiar or sudden changes which your bulldog does not normally show. There are some cases when your vet readily tells you that something does not need to be addressed right away. Other situations would have it when your vet advise you to make an appointment or go to an emergency clinic based on the urgency of the signs and symptoms that your bulldog exhibit.

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Your beloved English bulldog is considered to be a major part of your family. As dog-owners, we all want to keep them as healthy as possible. Have you checked your dog’s weight lately to know if it’s overweight?

Obesity affects both man and animals including your bulldog. It is often obvious when your bulldog is extremely obese. Your dog is overweight by just five or ten pounds but is enough to cause health problems. How do you tell if your dog is about to be obese? When you look at your dog form the side, his tummy should taper up towards its back. If it is the same level as the ribcage or lower then your bulldog is overweight. You can also feel your dog’s ribcage by touching it. Its ribs should be palpable to touch without so much pressure applied. It takes a little practice to feel a bulldog’s ribs but you can get a sense for it by moving the skin around its ribs. You should feel them but not exactly see them because it has so much skin.

There are a variety of reasons that explain why your pet is overweight. The most common cause is overfeeding. There is a need to feed your dog the right nutrients for its specific needs but you may be feeding bigger servings than what it really needs. You can fed your dog with foods having lesser calories but nonetheless supply the needed nutrients. Your vet will more than likely put your dog on a diet with a recommended food brand.

Tips to help your English bulldog trim down

Some dogs eat out of boredom thus it is advised to avoid leaving bowls of food during the day. Your dog might eat it just because it is idle and bored. It is recommended to devise a feeding schedule so your bulldog will get used to a fixed time of feeding.

Make sure your bulldog gets its daily dose of exercise. A dog that lacks exercise poses numerous risks to its health and can also shorten its life. People as well as canine can suffer form heart and respiratory problems associated with being overweight and obesity. English bulldogs can develop skin irritations form fat rolls due to the bacteria growth in the rolls.

A daily walk goes a long way. Take your bulldog out for one or two walks a day. You can train it with your sit, stay, heel and other commands. It could be the life saver that your bulldog needs regardless if it has a normal w

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A majority of English bulldogs live healthy and happy lives. They’re fun companions that love to run and play outdoors, but often they’re slowed down by knee problems. A dog’s knee is quite similar to a man’s knee known as the stifle. Slipping knee caps or patellar luxation is a fairly common issue for bulldogs. It is caused by the knee cap popping in and out of place. It results to lameness, pain, joint instability and is common to older dogs. Don’t take your observation lightly when you see your dog limping or hopping when moving around. It is urgent to take it to the veterinarian to assess the nature of the injury and to determine the extent of the injury.

What is luxating patella?

Luxating patella is a condition that happens when your bulldog’s knee cap slips out of place. The patella is intended to rest in the center of the dog’s knee joint within the patella ridges.

The most common form of luxating patella found in English bulldogs is called medial luxation. The severity of the floating knee caps or luxating patella is determined by four different grades.

Check out these steps on how to determine of your bulldog has slipping knee caps:

Step1. Monitor your bulldog’s activity levels. If you observed that your pet has suddenly avoid going for walks or has lost interest in playing then it might be experiencing some mild pain in its hind legs since its knee caps are most prone to slipping.

Step 2. when your dog makes a skipping motion when he walks, it could be a sign of patellar luxation. Dogs having a chronically slipping knee caps will walk on its unaffected extremity causing a skipping motion when walking. They may occasionally walk on three legs then return to their normal gait when the pain has subsided.

Step 3. This is a good time to see if your dog is overweight. A little extra weight can put serious pressure and strain on your pet’s joints leading to patellar luxation. Your English bulldog may need to lose excess weight to help alleviate the pain of its joints. Work with your vet to help your dog and its weight loss plans.

Step 4. Keep a record of temporary lameness when your pet occasionally goes lame at play then appears to be fine again after 10 to 20 minutes as a sign of patellar luxation. Your pet will no longer feel any pain once the knee cap slips back and may appear to be not limping.

Step 5. Look at the posture of your dog’s back legs. English bulldogs that have this joint problem in both hind legs may walk with their legs splayed out or tuck their hindquarters under them even when no problems exist. When your dog changed his posture dramatically

Patella luxation is considered to be an inherited condition. English bulldogs with luxating patella can also live an active life although it is recommended that they should not be bred.

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English bulldog is easily prone to develop arthritis. One of the obvious signs to know if your pet has arthritis is when it walks around like it was wounded. The bigger the pet, the more susceptible it is to getting arthritis. The best idea on treating arthritis is to take your bulldog to your trusted vet. Your veterinarian will prescribe anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin to help your dog manage its arthritis. On the other hand, would you rather wait and see if your English bulldog develops arthritis?  Why wait when you can take preventive measures to minimize the development of arthritis of your pet.

Lose weight

The initial treatment to ease your pet’s arthritis is to slim down your pet. Heavier pets carry excess weight that can severely put pressure on their joints. You can place them on a diet to help ease their arthritis. It will provide the much needed ease and relief from the pains of arthritis. You have the choice to either cut down on the human food or feed your pet with dog foods containing lesser fat and more fiber.

A walk in the park

The next treatment is to take your English bulldog out for a walk. Exercise helps control the progression of arthritis and alleviates stiff, itchy joints. Aim to incorporate walking in your dog’s daily activities. Start out slowly with 20-minute walks, if it’s too much at one time then break up the time into intervals. Another exercise for your dog is swimming. It is a fun and great exercise for many dogs with arthritis. You can take your dog to a pool, lake, or bath tub if they are small enough.

No to cold weather

Arthritis can be more painful when the weather is colder than usual. It is best to shield your dog from rain or cold by bringing them indoors. Always check if your pet’s bed is cozy and warm enough. Hard and flat surfaces can be cold and tough on joints that worsens arthritis. Do not use a heating pad or apply hot water to the joints. A better option is to use a warm water bottle or towel soaked in warm water. Apply it to the achy joints twice a day for fifteen minutes give enormous relief to ease those aches.

Tender loving care (TLC)

Pets crave for your tender and loving care. They love attention as much as they love massages. Humans after all crave for a nice massage when stressed which is the same for your pet. Another TLC is to raise their food to a head level not requiring your pets to bend over to eat. This treatment is applicable for pets which have arthritis in their neck. You can also aid your bulldog which has trouble walking by putting a towel under their belly and using it to assist them to stand upright.

When your English bulldog’s pain reaches to an intolerable level where they no longer wish to move around or go outside, you can consult your vet for medications and specially formulated pain killers for dogs to help them get around a bit easier.

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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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