The English Bulldog Puppy Blog

The rate of dog obesity has steadily increased based on the Veterinary Economics report that 40% of US dogs are overweight and National Academies’ Research Council showing 25% of pets in Western societies are obese. Don’t let your pet dog balloon to a weight that falls under the obesity category. Know tips on how to make your pet as healthy as it should in the New Year.

Let your dog make your resolutions for you in the year 2010. Your dog is bound to be your lifelong loyal and loving companion, the least you can do is to promote its wellness. We recommend resolutions that will leave you AND your dog feeling vibrant and great – without any need to wear spandex, spinning classes, or low fat dressing.

Resolution 1: Quality walks

Puppies never refuse the chance to go out for a walk. Resolve to take your pet to walk the same old stroll up the block and back. Your dog will appreciate new scents and sounds in as much as you enjoy new scenery. Mix up weekday walks with new routes, unfamiliar trails, unchartered side streets. On weekends, explore new neighborhoods. You can also research dog-friendly hiking spots in your area.

Resolution 2: Less hugs, play more tugs

Hugs can do wonders but is not exactly the same case for dogs. A nice and long hug can make your dog squirm and wriggle out of your arms. It’s a canine thing to feel trapped. Why don’t you play tug with your dog? A hearty round of tug played appropriately can be a huge stress reliever as an exercise. This is an activity when DROP IT and OFF are important commands to teach your pup.

Premier Busy Buddy Bouncy Bone Dog Toy

Resolution 3: Introduce new toys

Toys need not to be store-bought new toys just as long as they’re new to your dog. It hasn’t seen the toys before or at least in a very long time. Swap toys with your dog-lover friends and neighbors. You can trade toys every few weeks so your dog can have something new to charge, change, or chew on.

Resolution 4: Party, party, party

Parties do not mean fancy birthday fete or a bark mitzvah. A rendezvous with two of your dog’s fave people who adore your dog will do. Play a few of his well-loved game or simply ask invitees to practice a couple basic commands with your dog. It is an opportunity for your dog to be praised, treated and rewarded by someone else. It is great for socialization and to boost its confidence.

Resolution 5: Outdoor bonding with your dog

Agility classes are a perfect combination of mental stimulation, physical activity, and most of all teambuilding between you and your best friend. Man and dogs both have a ball to practice agility skills. If pole and tire hoops seem like an intimidating play for your dog, consider a Canine Good Citizen class. It is a program designed by the AKC and offered in cities across the country designed to promote responsible ownership and well-mannered dogs. Not only are you brushing up your training techniques, your dog also gets refresher course in good behavior.

Resolution 6: keep my dog physically fit

The last resolution requires willpower to follow through daily walks with your dog, healthy food, and more games of fetch. It is true that the pleading puppy eyes are enough to make you melt at your defenses and give your dog his stash of treats. Remember how important your dog’s health just as you would take care of your own health. A man’s best friend needs his daily dose of health booster in any way your dog can.

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Food poisoning for dogs can come in tempting packages be it during Christmas time, Valentines’ day or any special occasions where chocolates abound. You may want to keep your stash of good ol chocolates away from your pet dog. Read on to know how Marji almost lost her life over eaten dark chocolates under their Christmas tree.

Marji, a four-year-old apricot Miniature Poodle, was a healthy and happy dog ever since its owners first met her as a puppy. Poodles are considered some of the most intelligent canines, and little Marji was no exception. When the holidays came around, her owner thought nothing of stashing presents under the Christmas tree, including a small gift from her neighbor. Debbie went to work one morning and left Marji loose in the house as usual. But when she got home, Debbie sensed something strange: no greeting at the door.

Worried, she went looking for her dog and discovered chewed-up wrapping paper on the floor and an open gold box. It was the gift their neighbor left – a 1-lb. box of fancy chocolates, and one-half of them were missing. Debbie found Marji standing up in her crate, looking shaky and restless. The ten-pound poodle had consumed nearly half a pound of rich, mixed chocolates, and the amount she consumed was dangerous. Chocolate contains a lethal ingredient called theobromine, and the darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains.

Marji’s doctor got the panicked call that night and advised Debbie to bring Marji in immediately. Debbie wasn’t sure when the chocolates were eaten, but since Marji was already exhibiting nervous symptoms, we could deduce that the theobromines had already entered the dog’s system. Her vet also knew that they would have to get her to vomit any residual chocolate and give her activated charcoal to help neutralize what was in her intestines. The vet also had to control any seizures, monitor her heart, start IV fluid therapy and observe the poodle for at least 24 hours until the symptoms subsided.

Luckily, Marji was treated in time. She went back to her owners the next evening, and they now keep unknown gifts in a place inaccessible to Marji. Chocolate toxicity is one of the most common poisonings during the holiday season. All dog owners should be careful what you put under the tree this year.

Thanks to Dr. Foster Smith for the news.

Read the article “Foods that poison your English bulldog”.

Things to do when your dog eats chocolate:
Call your veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately. Make sure you know the approximate amount of chocolate, the type, and how long ago your pet consumed it. If the chocolate has been ingested within a short period of time, your veterinarian may have you induce your pet to vomit. The effects of chocolate toxicity may not be apparent right away, but it is best to call your veterinarian right away.

Theobromine in chocolate affects four areas of the pet’s body:
• Increases the rate and force of contractions of the heart
• Acts as a diuretic, causing the pet to lose body fluids
• Causes vomiting and diarrhea
• Causes convulsions, seizures, and even death

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Large breeds of dogs, including English bulldog, is commonly known to be affect with Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD). Research has proven that CHD can affect dogs of any size, breed or age. It can sometimes be a contributing factor to conditions namely canine osteoarthritis. This condition makes CHD a very important subject to all dog owners. The important step is to understand how to be cautious and treat dogs, especially English bulldogs, suffering CHD.

What is Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)?
The basic understanding of hip dysplasia lies on getting to know the part of the body affected. The hip joint forms the attachment of the hind leg to the body and is a ball and socket joint. The ball part is the head of the femur while the socket (acetabulum) is located on the pelvis. A healthy joint has the ball rotating freely within the socket. The shape of the bones is shaped to perfectly match each other with the socket surrounding the ball. The joint is further strengthened when two bones are held together by strong ligament. The ligament serves as an attachment of the femoral head directly to the acetabulum. The joint capsule, additionally, forms a very strong band of connective tissue, encircle the two bones adding more stability. The articular surface is the part where the bones actually touch each other. It is perfectly smooth and cushioned with a layer of spongy cartilage. The joint contains a highly viscous fluid to lubricate the articular surface.

What causes CHD?
Hip dysplasia is caused by a laxity of the muscles, connective tissue, and ligaments that would normally support the joint. As this happens, the articular surfaces of the two bones lose contact with each other. This separation of the two bones within the joint is called a subluxation. Subluxation causes a drastic change in the size and shape of the articular surfaces. Most dysplastic dogs are born with normal hips but due to their genetic make-up, and other factors, the soft tissues that surround the joint develop abnormally causing the subluxation. It is this subluxation and the restructured hip that leads to the symptoms we associate with this disease. Hip dysplasia may or may not be bilateral. It could affect both the right and/or left hip.

What are the symptoms of CHD?
All dogs, even English bulldogs, of all ages are subject to hip dysplasia, leading to osteoarthritis. In severe cases, puppies as young as five months will begin to show pain and discomfort prior and after exercise. The condition will worsen until even normal daily activities are painful. Without medical intervention, these dogs may eventually cease to walk. In most cases, however, the symptoms do not begin to appear until the middle or later years in the dog’s life.

The symptoms are similar to those seen with other causes of arthritis in the hip. Dogs often walk or run with an altered gait. They may resist movements that require full extension or flexion of the rear legs. They often run with a “bunny hopping” gait. They will show stiffness and pain in the rear legs after exercise or first thing in the morning.

In milder cases, movement and exercise will warm up the stiffness of the joints. Some dogs will limp and many will become less willing to perform in normal daily activities. Many owners attribute the changes to normal aging but are surprised to a see a normal and pain free movement of their dogs after treatment. As the condition progresses, most dogs will lose muscle tone and may even need assistance in getting up.

Genetics is the primary causative factor of Canine Hip Dysplasia. There is no disease without the genes needed to transmit this generative disease. Dog just don’t get hip dysplasia by chance rather it is either genetically dysplastic or not.

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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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The best way to know if your bulldog is suffering from any ailment is to know your bulldog. An effective intervention is to detect the disease with prompt treatment at an early stage before it gets any worse. You should know when your dog isn’t eating or it is not showing its usual behavior. You can easily treat a minor treatment at home. Be on the lookout if a home remedy doesn’t cure the problem in two days then take the dog to your trusted veterinarian. It is most recommended however to take your dog on any signs of health problems as there are other medical conditions which cannot wait for two days.

You may not be aware of the possible diseases your English bulldog may develop later in its life. Generation to the next generation of English bulldogs pass on genes but there is more to it. A number of inherited and congenital diseases are often inherited and can be quite complicated. An English bulldog can carry a defect without ever becoming physically evident and undoubtedly pass on the defects to its offspring in which may become apparent itself.

Here is your guide to inherited diseases in bulldogs including genetic predisposition to diseases.

Skin Conditions

Acne
A common skin problem of bulldogs is acne. Determine first if the acne is caused by ingrown hairs around the mouth. You may want to switch to a stainless steel bowl when your dog is currently feeding from a plastic bowl. Allow enough time to see if the change of feeding bowls would help clear the acne. IF it fails to do so, it could be a skin disease which requires a quick trip to the vet and a doses of antibiotics. After all, skin diseases are well known in English bulldogs.

Fold Dermatitis
Bulldogs look so irresistible with those folds forming on their faces. The facial skin folds, however, are prone to infection. It can occur due to rubbing of the skin and trapping of moisture in the folds. Fold dermatitis commonly forms on the tail, facial folds and associated pyoderma develops in breed where skin folds in these areas.

Folliculitis
Superficial folliculitis is characterized by reddened pustules in less wide area such as outside thighs and along the back and top of the neck. An obvious thinning of the hair coat is noted on the affected area. A genetic predisposition often plays a primary cause of folliculitis which calls for a possibility of lifelong intermittent antibiotic therapy.

Muzzle pyoderma
It is an infectious disease that occurs on the muzzle of English bulldogs.

Demodicosis or Demodectic mange
A microscopic Demodex canis mites is the culprit of English bulldogs afflicted with Demodectic mange. These mites lives within skin layers and produces an immunodeficiency syndrome. Some dogs are genetically predisposed to it while others do not contract the disease even though exposed to infected animals.

Tail Fold Dermatitis
It is a skin infection causing mild to significant discomfort and itching of your dog. The abnormal tissue folds around your dog’s tail results to a skin infection.

Eye Conditions

A common hereditary problem is the abnormalities of the eyelash. When rubbing against the eyeballs will lead to corneal ulcers. Two types of eyelash abnormalities happens as a predisposition in bulldogs:

Distichiasis
This condition exist when extra eyelashes grow form abnormal follicles located on the inside edge o the eyelid.

Trichiasis
When eyelashes grow from normal sites turned inward. The length of the eyelashes is often abnormally long.

Cataract
Cataract is a change in the structure of the lens of the eye leading to cloudiness and usually to blindness. It is more common in old dogs.

Cherry Eye
Cherry eye is also referred to as prolapse of nictitating membrane. The third eyelid is protruding.

Ectropion
Ectropion is a state in which the eyelids rolls out or drops away from the eye. You should always steer away from adopting English bulldogs displaying excessively prominent eyes and heavy facial folds due to the problems associated with them.

Entropion
Entropion, on the contrary, is the reverse condition of ectropion. The lid is abnormally rolled in resulting a constant irritation to the eye.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS)
Dryeye is another term for Keratoconjunctivitis sicca where one or both eyes do not produce normal amount or type of tears. In cases of deficient tear production causes chronic irritation of the cornea and conjunctiva. Corneal ulcers leading to corneal scarring happens as an effect leading to eventual blindness.

Persistent papillary membrane
This abnormality refers to the membrane forming the iris does not form properly.

Mouth and Teeth

Abnormal dentition
It refers to a misaligned or abnormal placement, number and development of teeth.

Cleft Lip
It is also called as “Harelip” as a condition where two halves of the upper lip don’t join together. Cleft palate and cleft lip often are related and seen together.

Cleft Palate
Cleft palate is a state where the roof of the mouth is not closed and the inside of the nose opens into the mouth.

Elongated soft palate
An elongated soft palate is an abnormality that causes breathing disorders.

Bone Structure

Hemivertebra
In this condition, only half of the vertebra structure is formed.

Hip Dysplasia
It is a developmental abnormality or subluxation of the hip joints.

Spina bifida
This condition causes an exposed spinal cord due to developmental abnormality.

Respiratory System

Bradycephalic Upper-Airway Syndrome
A grouping of conditions leads to a decrease tolerance to excitement, exercise , high temperature are caused by compressed and narrowed air passages.  This condition is typical of the bradycephalic breeds of dogs. The signs indicating bradycephalic airway syndrome includes noisy or open-mouth breathing, snoring, panting, exercise intolerance, vomiting and eating difficulty. An exaggerated movement of the abdominal of your bulldog during respiration is evident in more severely affected animals.

Hypoplasia of trachea
It is a condition of trachea that fails to develop fully.

Cardiovascular system and blood conditions

Mitral valve defects
It is signified by a group of abnormalities of the mitral valve of the heart.

Arteriovenous fistula
It is an abnormal connection that links arteries and veins.

Pulmonic stenosis
Pulmonic stenosis is a condition where one of the valves of the heart do not open and function properly.

Von Willebrand’s disease
Von Willebrand’s disease is a type of bleeding disorder due to a defective blood platelet function.

Reproduction

Dystocia
Dystocia is one of the complications of the birth process.

Vaginal hyperplasia
It is an overgrowth of tissues of the vagina.

Technorati Tags: acne, cataract, diseases, English Bulldog Puppy, fold dermatitis, health problem, pets

I thought of sharing this funny video when a tough looking English bulldog dad meets his daughter for the very first time.  They look so cute together. I like the part when the daughter growled at her dad. Enjoy!

English Bulldog Father Meets Daughter First Time – For more of the funniest videos, click here

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The staff of the English Bulldog Puppy blog wishes all readers this new year adorn your life with many beautiful things and sweet memories to cherish forever. May you and your English bulldog or dogs may continue to have more abundant joys and happiness.   Watch this video showing so cute photos of  English bulldogs.

Wishing you life’s best this New Year!

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The season of Christmas is when people show appreciation by getting into the spirit of giving. ‘Tis the season of confusion as well since getting the right gifts can leave you puzzled with so many choices out there. Make this yuletide season special with our Christmas holiday gift guide you can choose from.  All it takes is one click on the name of the products below to order meaning Christmas gifts for your pet bulldog.  We feature rewards you can give to your pet bulldog and bulldog-lovers including yourself. After all, English bulldogs deserve Christmas gifts too.

Plush Puppies Holiday Fleecy Clean Ball – Medium (click here to order)
Fleecy Cleans are made with safe and nontoxic materials. The soft fabric is gentle on dog’s mouth while effectively wiping teeth and gums clean during play, reducing plaque buildup.

Grriggles Winter Waddler Penguin Christmas Dog Toy

This Christmas gift as a soft squeaking toy is fun to toss, carry and squeak! It is ideal for all dogs with its 8 1/4 inches length.

Blue Dog Bakery Premium Natural Low Fat Dog Treats, Assorted Flavors, 20-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6

Fill your bulldog’s treat ball with an all-natural low-fat dog biscuits flavored by real blackstrap molasses and peanut-butter flavor. Treat your bulldog while maintaining strong teeth, fresh breath; baked in large and small animal shapes for all size dogs.

Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball

Have you run out of rewards to give to your bulldog after a hard day’s work of training? Get this large, interactive treat-dispensing dog toy made of neon-orange vinyl for your bulldog. It is tough, yet soft and pliable textured surface for easy gripping.

BROWN – LARGE – The Yukon Dog Jacket

A great outdoorsy look for dogs of all sizes, our Zack & Zoey Yukon Jackets come with a hood for extra warmth. It gives your bulldog a warm and cozy feeling with its rugged plaid fleece clothe.Faux toggle closure on back adds a touch of fashion.

Designer Dog Collar ~ Velvet Christmas ~ by Dixie Digs

Dress your dog for the holidays in luxurious, wine-red velvet. It is made of plush velvet, sewn onto durable acrylic webbing. It includes dangling Dixie charm. This collar and leash, backed in Christmas tree green, is perfect for friendly face licks under the mistletoe!.

FURminator small deshedding tool + BONUS waterless shampoo/conditioner
Why don’t you give him this innovative grooming tool for long- and short-haired dogs and cats 4-inch stainless-steel edge quickly and easily removes loose undercoat hair. It also decreases shedding up to 90 percent for about 4 to 6 weeks while leaving a shiny and healthy topcoat.

English Bulldog / Pug Dog Tiffany Style Accent Lamp
This incredibly cute English Bulldog lamp is made of bronze looking metal, with dozens of pieces of Tiffany style red stained glass to give off soft light. It’s a perfect gift for any bulldog or pug lover.

SIlver Tone Beaded Stretch Bracelet with Colorful Puppy Dog Charms
This Unique Dangling Charm Bracelet is great for all dog lovers. It has fun enameled charms of a Poodle, Husky, Beagle, and Golden Retriever. It fits a 7.25″ Wrist Unstretched Up To a 7.75″ Wrist. It is made of silver with translucent butterscotch beads that stretches for easy wear.

Yoga Dogs 2009 Square Wall Calendar
Yoga Dogs Wall Calendar: This wall calendar gives new meaning to Downward Facing Dog. The Yoga Dogs 2009 calendar hosts a year full of images showing popular dog breeds positioned in classic yoga postures with the help of digital technology.

All of these Christmas gift ideas will surely make your English bulldog feel appreciated and loved as well show how much you cherish them. The good thing about it is that you can secure Christmas gifts online without dealing with the hassle and bustle of going to malls for your Christmas shopping. Be sure to finalize your online orders ahead of time for shipping which may take more than 2 days. Happy shopping!

Technorati Tags: bulldog lovers, pet bulldog Christmas gift ideas

When your female English bulldog called dam has successfully mated, it means she has entered a phase called pregnancy. English bulldog breeding is one complicated, expensive and labor intensive process. Always give extra care and plan to render the most effective and safe way of assisting your pregnant bulldog without risking her life. Read on to know what you ought to do in this crucial and memorable phase of your English bulldog’s life – her pregnancy.

Pregnancy Term

We determine the birthing date from the date of first mating. Pregnancy of a pregnant dog lasts nine weeks. Some pregnant English bulldog will deliver puppies termed as whelp, anytime from day 59 to 63. If you’re confused whether your English bulldog is expecting is to get an ultrasound scanning to confirm pregnancy around four weeks. An English bulldog with hook worms or round worms may infect her puppies. Administer a wormer to your English bulldog before mating or ask your veterinarian to choose a safe wormer once your pregnant dog is in whelp. From the time she is bred, do not use any flea treatment on her as this could produce a disastrous effect on the unborn puppies. Instead, use a flea comb and rub your pregnant English bulldog.

First Five Weeks

As the owner, you should not at all costs change her diet for the first five weeks. There is a little or no need to alter any of your pregnant bulldog’s routine for the first four or five weeks of pregnancy. A pregnant bulldog unlike human gets stressed when her routine has been changed. Feeding during the first month of pregnancy should be of the same quality and kind that the pregnant dog is accustomed to. The usual mistake most pet owners make is increasing the food intake too early in the pregnancy. Avoid making your pet gain excessive weight since it could lead to possible whelping pregnancy. If your pregnant dog has a good quality and well-balanced diet, there is no need to neither change her diet nor administer dietary supplements. You can have your pregnant dog have a simple blood test to determine the risk of anemia and her level of blood protein. When needed, the English bulldog’s diet should be gradually shifted two weeks prior to breeding to a diet composed of 30% high-quality and highly digestible meat and 20% fats or lipids mixed with usual complement. This change should contain high amounts of soluble carbohydrates and a low fiber content to avoid hypoglycemia. You will notice some physical changes of your English bulldog such as an enlarged vulva that doesn’t return to the normal size it was before mating. Note that there should not be any discharge during a pregnancy. Take your pregnant English bulldog to a veterinarian when you observe a suspicious discharge. This discharge may indicate an infection, risk of losing her litter or have developed a case of Pyometra. These are urgent conditions that require prompt treatment or else will risk the life of your English bulldog. Do not introduce any vitamin supplements in the first month of pregnancy. A case of too much vitamins A and D will cause birth defects. Always ask medical advice from your veterinary especially with giving medicines to your pet.

Week 5 – Week 7

During week five, you will observe some physical changes in your pregnant dog. Her nipples will become deep pink on color. The mammary glands start to be filled with milk about 1 to 2 weeks prior to whelping. You may also see that she is starting to get thicker around the waist and broader around the rib cage. Ask your Veterinarian the recommended daily Vitamin supplement. In this development phase, it is not the time to scrimp on her feeding formula. It is important to provide proper nourishment to a pregnant English bulldog since developing puppies (whelps) will take the needed and lacking nourishment from the mother’s body, making her body depleted. Aim to set aside a time for a daily to make sure all her muscles are in top condition, especially uterine muscles. At week 6, increase her feeding by 25% at this time because a pregnant dog requires additional food to support the growth of the fetuses and milk production to feed the pups after birth. You can start feeding a little extra by increasing the amount of food gradually to reach whelping time when she is eating about 1.5 times her maintenance diet. For instance, she is normally fed 400 grams then increased by 100 to 200 grams and divided over two meals. Calcium supplementation is not necessary when your English bulldog is on a quality diet. Overdosing on vitamins and minerals may do more harm than good. At week seven, increase her feeding again by 25%. You will also notice that your pregnant English bulldog is sleeping a little longer than usual.

Week 8 onwards

At eight weeks, her meal should be divided into three meals daily in order to avoid pressure and bloating. You may also give Omega-3 supplements in codliver oil form about three times a week. When your dam develops constipation, small amounts of mineral oil added to her food may help relieve her. During this last week of your dam’s pregnancy, the English bulldog puppies take up so much room that your pregnant dog prefer to eat small meals every 3 to 4 hours.

About a week before the estimate time of delivery, begin making preparation for the arrival of the litter of puppies. Your dam should be carefully observed for signs of whelping. The gestation period may last until sixty-one to sixty-five days. Among the signs that your pregnant English bulldog is ready to deliver her puppies are: she urinates much more often than normal, she looks uncomfortable or nervous while looking for a right spot to whelp, she may start to vomit, shiver or pant, or scratch paper or blankets, trying to nest. Your pregnant English bulldog should be introduced to her whelping area and the whelping box. The whelping area should be secluded, quiet, warm and dry. If you plan to put the whelping box in a basement, buy a heavy weight plastic drop cloth from the ceiling or beams to stand as “walls” to keep the heat inside the whelping box area. Decide how you will heat her whelping area where her new puppies will be. It should be about 85 degrees until they grow at 3 weeks old. A baseboard heater is a good choice as an artificial heater for the newborn puppies as long as it is out of reach. Prepare reams and reams of newspaper for the puppy box to serve as lining of the whelping box and whelping area.

Chart your English bulldog’s temperature by taking her rectal temperature two or three days before the expected day of parturition. Approximately 12 to 24 hours before labor begins, her rectal temperature drops from a normal 101.5 degree Fahrenheit (38. degrees Celsius) to 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). Don’t be too worried with this drop in temperature as this indicates your English bulldog begin whelping. Most English bulldogs do need C-sections as the birth canal is often not wide enough for the heads to pass. It is best to decide with your veterinarian whether your pregnant dog should undergo C-section or free-whelping is the better option. This decision should be made beforehand. Whatever decision you take, it is always a wise move to have your pregnant dog examined by your veterinarian and have the English bulldog puppies checked at the same time. If you chose a natural delivery provided your pregnant dog can handle it, get an ultrasound scan of her and count the number of English bulldog puppies. In this way, you will how many puppies to expect in turn tell you when your pregnant English bulldog has finished delivering. Never expect your pregnant bulldog can deliver her litter of English bulldog puppies all by herself. Pregnant dogs and puppies frequently die when left unattended by the pet owner during this crucial period. Bring your English bulldog to the veterinarian when she isn’t passing a pup within an hour.

As a word of advice, careful not to breed your English bulldog dam each season. Even though an English bulldog comes into season every six to eight months, doesn’t follow that you should breed her as often as you want her to. Give her ample time to recover from the health effects of the previous pregnancy and whelping. After all, all female English bulldogs ovulate only once a year. Much more caution should be acknowledged when your English bulldog has undergo C-section more than three times in a lifetime.

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As a responsible owner of a female English bulldog, you might have asked yourself when the right time to breed your pet is. Breeding isn’t just about two cute dogs put together and having a litter of English bulldog puppies after sixty three days. It takes more than that to breed your pet. Before you do decide when to start English bulldog female breeding, read this page and find out when you should start breeding your English bulldog.

The Right Age

A female English bulldog should never be breed on her first heat and not on her second heat either since she has immature eggs. The rule of the thumb is to begin breeding on the third season or around 1.5 to 2 years old with all health tests satisfactorily passed. Your English bulldog female should be examined by a veterinarian to be assured she is free and clear of hip displays, cataracts, cherry eye, palate problems, heart conditions and other congenital diseases.

Heat Cycle

Take note that the average heat cycle for a dog is approximately 3 weeks meaning it could be as shorter as 7 to 10 days or as longer as 4 weeks or more. The first sign of a female English bulldog coming into mating season is often swelling of the Vulva. Check for Vulva swelling a week before bleeding or the day. The most noticeable sign of heating is when male dogs hanging around the house. Your pet may also exhibit behavioral changes such as licking herself often, may start to hump other dogs or even your leg.

Now that you know when your English bulldog female is ready to be breed, ask yourself if you are ready to dedicate yourself to proper long term commitment to the breed. Don’t be one of those breeders with almost no experience or understanding of this breed tries to get in breeding when they see the prices that English bulldogs and their puppies fetch. Instead, be a responsible pet owner who only wants the best for your own English bulldog breeding in safe conditions.

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