Your decision of adding a pet to your family is a very important one. After all, this decision leads to taking care of your English bulldog puppy for 8 to 15 years. Give your love and sensible care to your puppy that he deserves most especially his health. The health of your English bulldog puppy should be on top of your list. After all, your puppy is a baby that needs tender and loving care. We give you the top 10 tips on taking care of your English bulldog puppy’s health.
Skin Care
A bulldog isn’t a bulldog without his wrinkles. In terms of being healthy, these wrinkles require cleaning using a mild soap and water solution to rinse off dirt. Don’t be hesitant to groom your English bulldog. They love to be groomed and adore having baths. Many people think grooming his smooth and short coat isn’t important. If you are then you’re taking your English bulldog’s health for granted. Grooming by brushing your puppy’s coat should be a routine and as common for your bulldog as it is for you. Start when your puppy is young and brush his coat about 4 times a week. This gives you ample time to check for skin lesions, scabs, infection, rough skin, flaky skin and other skin problems. As a rule, English bulldogs don’t shed that much. If your puppy shows excessive shedding, have your vet examine her if you think this is a non-seasonal excessive change.
Eyes
It is best to monitor your bulldog puppy’s eyes closely and to clean their eyes at least weekly using a sterile eyewash or handy eye wipes to keep his eyes clean. Observe for any noticeable changes whether his eyes are clear, moist, has mucus discharge, redness or swelling which are all indications of an eye infection. “Tear staining” is a common ailment in English bulldogs especially when their eyes show white or light-colored coats or heavy wrinkles. Watch out for any changes in the normal appearance of the eye as it indicates an internal disorder. A yellowing discoloring in the white part of the eye may be caused by a liver or red blood cell dysfunction. “Cherry eye” or prolapse of the gland behind the third eyelid is another common eye disorder among English bulldogs. For any suspected eye problem, take your English bulldog puppy to your veterinarian for prompt treatment.
Exercise
Bulldogs just like other dogs need to go out for a walk as a form of exercise. Proper exercise of your English bulldog puppy is necessary to his general health and well-being. Avoid straining your puppy by over-exercising him. Start with short walks and gradually lengthen the distance that suits your English bulldog puppy. Don’t take your puppy out for exercise immediately after his meal or during a hot day. Exercising is known to be a good and natural cue against excessive chewing which indicates your puppy is getting bored staying indoors.
Worming
All English bulldog puppies must be wormed regularly. Puppies aged 4 to 12 weeks should be wormed every two weeks and wormed monthly from age 12 weeks to 6 months. Both dogs and puppies are wormed regularly every three months. Worming preparations kill most internal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms and the dangerous heartworm.
Tail
English bulldog puppies are prone to having moist tail area that leads to irritation during hot weather. Bath the affected areas with clean water plus a mild disinfectant then dry thoroughly. Apply a little amount of talcum powder. For severe infection, your veterinarian may decide to remove the tail to diminish recurrent infections.
Heatstroke
When an English bulldog puppy suffers heatstroke, it may be fatal for this young one. Take extra care when the weather is hot. Exercise your puppy either early in the morning or late at night. Refrain from leaving your puppy alone in the car during summertime not even for a couple of minutes. When your puppy suffers from heatstroke, bring him to a vet who will check him for signs of shock and stop his condition on getting worse and develop severe heatstroke.
Feeding
Puppyhood is a period of rapid growth development which requires nearly double the amount of nutrients in his diet. An English bulldog puppy needs to be switched to a new food gradually to prevent intestinal upset. Opt for dry foods rather than feeding your puppy with canned foods high in preservatives, salt or sugar. Your puppy may develop plaque build up, abscesses, and tooth loss and gum disease when he is constantly fed with softened foods.
Feet
Most feet problems of bulldogs are of anatomical causes. Lesions may appear between the toes of your bulldog. Interdigital cysts also develop resulting form flattened feet or excessive hair growth between the feet pads that collects foreign bodies like dirt and others. To help alleviate any signs of swelling, let your puppy stand the affected foot in a bucket of water with spoonful sea water dissolved in warm water. Dry the affected foot with a towel and apply a tincture of iodine on the skin.
Ears
Always clean the visible part of your English bulldog puppy with a cotton ball without poking into the ear. Your bulldog may have ear mites when he frequently scratches his ears. Ear mites leave his ears with dark, brown, flaky and smelly wax. Excessive ear scratching and head shaking may also be caused by allergies, physical trauma or yeast infection.
External Parasites
Fleas are well-known parasites to afflict bulldog puppies. Ticks and ear mites are other external parasites equally damaging to your puppy’s wellness. There are numerous products formulated to kill external parasites on your puppy. When using flea shampoos, always start the application on the puppy’s head, face and eras so the fleas won’t look for shelter in the hard to reach areas. To eradicate ear mites, clean his ears with a topical preparation such as Canaural to kill the mites for 2 weeks.
Be a beaming and responsible pet owner of a healthier and happier English bulldog puppy by following these health care tips. An ounce of prevention is better than cure will go a long way especially when it comes to your puppy’s health.
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