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HEAT STRESS
- Bulldogs can be very prone to heat stress. Always make sure they have free access to water
and shade.
- Severely hot weather can be fatal to a bulldog. They don’t even need to be moving about
in it to succumb to the heat. Please make sure that any exercise is given early in the morning or late in the evening during
hot weather. Also, don’t allow your bulldog to lay out in the sun for long periods, as they do not know when they have
had enough. Be aware it is not just the sun but the humidity factor.
- Any exercise will make him pant but watch for when the panting becomes ‘heaving’.
This is the earliest sign he is getting too hot. When the panting has become loud and is becoming a roar, he has already become
too hot and the outcome can be fatal.
Stages of overheating:
Your bulldog will ‘heave’ as he pants
Your bulldog will begin to ‘roar’ (sounds like severe asthma)
His tongue will become floppy and red in colour
His body temperature will rise (normal is 38.5)
His airway will swell and his throat become full of white foam
He will quickly become exhausted and fighting for breath
He could die
How to prevent overheating:
Do not allow your bulldog to lie out in the summer sun for long periods
Do not walk your bulldog in the heat of the day
Keep your bulldog inside or in shade if it is very hot or humid
How to deal with overheating:
Lower his body temperature. Always ensure you have ice at hand.
Pour cold water over your dog, especially around the head. Not freezing water or you could induce
shock.
If possible, stand him in a cold bath and rub ice over him until the breathing is less laboured.
If you have a crate use it, put it in the shade, put a wet towel on the bottom, spray your bulldog down put him/her in the
crate and turn a fan on full.
Clear the airway.
Do not allow him to drink a lot of water – this will cause vomiting.
Keep him calm and quiet.
Once you have reduced his panic, keep him in a quiet place and keep a close eye on him.
If this doesn’t work – get to a vet ASAP. Put a cold towel under him for the journey.
Bulldogs overheat quickly because of the shape of their throats. Their soft palates are almost
always too long and when they get hot they cannot pant sufficiently to keep their body temperature down. Their attempts to
pant quickly cause the production of foam which blocks the throat and causes laboured breathing and eventually they will begin
to roar as they attempt to break through the blockage.
Stress can also bring on the same symptoms and should be treated the same.
BEE STINGS
If your Bulldog is stung around the face, mouth or throat area
do NOT wait and see!!!! They WILL swell up and a bulldog can not afford to compromise its
airways, this could very well be death. You must get antihistamines from your Veterinarian.
GENERAL CARE
- Over 100 years ago the bulldog was created to participate
in the sport of bull baiting. Everything about the bulldog was bred purely so he could carry out that function, the entire
head and body shape allowed him to do the job he was intended for. His undershot jaw allowed him to grip the bull tightly,
his flat nose allowed him to breath whilst doing so and the folds in the face took the blood away from his eyes. The massive
chest and short front legs gave the strength required to keep the bull pinned; the shallow joints allowed him to spring the
bull from a standing position. He still possesses these qualities today. The bulldog is one of the gentlest breeds known to
man and is an ideal companion. However, the bulldog is a man-made breed and requires more attention than most other breeds.
- Bulldogs are famous for their wrinkles and folds of
skin. It is important to keep these areas clean and dry at all times to prevent your bulldog from becoming sore and irritated.
It only takes a few moments to wipe the face and head and under the nose roll. I use baby wipes for this. Or you can use moistened
cotton wool. Make sure the creases are dry afterwards, sprinkle some Curash Anti Rash baby powder into the palm of your hand,
pick it up on a cottonwool ball and wipe under the noseroll. This powder is readily available at the local chemist in the
baby section. Do NOT use vaseline or Zinc cream for any of these cleanings, this will only trap the dirt. If the nose leather
is becoming dry and crusty I will rub a bit of vaseline in then.
- Another area to pay particular attention to is the
tail. Many bulldogs have tight screw tails. High up, beneath the tail it can become very itchy, as there is no air circulating
there and the area becomes sweaty and uncomfortable. You may see your bulldog shuffling along on his bottom, trying to relieve
his discomfort. Regular cleaning and drying of the area is important. Use baby wipes or a soft cloth and remove all the debris
and dead hair. Ensure it is dry afterwards and again powder with Curash Anti Rash baby powder.
- Tearstains are a problem in all brachycephalic (flat
faced) breeds, just wipe with a soft cloth to remove any dirt, I soak a cottonwool ball in Optrex and wipe it down the crease,
do not get it in the eye, and then just leave it to dry. This is done a couple of times a week.
- Interdigital Cysts can become an issue to heavy breeds,
they are literally a cyst that comes up between their toes. Not all bulldogs get them but some can. They can be sore and your
bulldog may limp. With some of them you can have a look under the foot between the pads and see like a blackhead, I squeeze
and get the rubbish out of them then wash with some weak disinfectant, saline or apple cider vinegar. If they don't clear
up then antibiotics may be needed.
- PLEASE BE PEDANTIC about
your bulldogs weight!!!!! Fat is not nice, if your bulldog is on the smaller side in stature that cannot be altered by feeding,
fat is just that - FAT! By keeping a bulldog fat you are perpetuating all the problems we try to avoid, the poor dogs health
is now compromised and the life span has just been shortened. Bulldogs are not the longest living breed of dog but in saying
that I know plenty that have made it to 10 and then some, a healthy lifestyle certainly helps to reach this milestone. A stuffy,
wheezing, shuffling bulldog that can not move with ease breaks my heart!
- As your bulldog gets older or you are not interested
in showing I would seriously encourage spaying/neutering for the welfare of your pet. The bitches in particular as breeding
puppies is a task that should not be taken on lightly. Talk to your breeder. With the boys, it DOES NOT alter their personality!!
Again speak to your breeder. If you do consider breeding either with your bitch or someone approaches you to use your male,
please talk to your breeder about it, a lot of time and thought has planned the breeding of YOUR puppy. My thoughts to this
are, if you are going to do it then do it right! We are not a breed that has a lot of unregistered Bulldogs out there and
we certainly don't want to start now.
- I highly recommend the purchase of a crate and your
puppy learning to spend time in it. They are not cruel if used in the correct manner. They are the safest place in the world
for your bulldog whether it be a puppy or adult. If you leave home and can't take your bulldog with you, then you know they
are perfectly safe and not chewing something or getting into trouble. They can travel in the car in safety, if you get in
to an accident, emergency services can assist you without your dog being in the way or indeed trying to protect you, it can't
get out on the road if the doors all pop open. It helps with toilet training, they become your bulldogs bed, hide away spot,
time out spot, even their convalescing area if they are unwell. If they are used to a crate then they don't panic spending
time in one at the vet clinic.
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Up to this stage any puppy coming from me has
been looked after by the fabulous team at Total Veterinary Services Ltd. If you are in the Christchurch area then I would
strongly recommend, no, DEMAND that you continue this relationship until your pup is at least 12 months of age. I make no
apologies for this statement, I have found them to be fantastic, level headed people handling my bulldogs and in my personal
opinion, well worth the effort to drive that little bit further.
If you are not in the Christchurch area then make every
effort to find a Veterinarian that knows the breed and is confident in handling them. They simply are NOT comparable to any
other breed out there and if a vet does not handle a number of them through their practice then they can really terrify new
owners with comments. Because of the uniqueness of this breed they do have some things that happen in the first twelve month
growth stages that other breeds don't and if it is picked up on and handled properly then there is no need for panic and dire
warnings. In saying this, you will tune into your Bulldog and if you feel it is "not quite right" then go with that instinct.
A Bulldog's pain threshold is pretty high, sometimes they may be feeling quite uncomfortable for a while before letting it
show.
You have chosen this breed because of its uniqueness
and all that makes it a Bulldog, they are a specialty breed and I can not emphasise enough that you heed and take on the advice
of your breeder!!!!!!
I purchased my first Bulldog in 1985 and have owned,
loved many over the years, my Kennel name has been registered since 1989, I am a Foundation and Life Member of the Southern
Bulldog Club, and a registered NZ Kennel Club member. I have shown my dogs round the South Island since 1986, just the local
shows since 1996. I didn't breed my first litter until 2004, when I felt I had educated myself on lines, pedigrees and health
issues in regard to this breed. This is not something I have taken on as a whim, I have a lot of contacts both round NZ and
world wide in regard to this breed and I ask questions. Never be embarrassed to ask, you make more of a mess of things if
you blunder through and pretend you know!!
Love your baby, cuddle your baby and remember in those
first few months, they may grow bigger but they are still babies.
Bulldogs are worriers, they often need guidance and
reassurance ie they need you to explain/show them what you want, and then encourage them quietly and tell them how good they
are when they get it right. Bulldogs need a firm hand, not a harsh hand. If you smack them for anything they will never forget
it nor will they forgive you. Voice control generally works, a good loud firm NO and take them away from what they are doing.
They ARE stubborn and they ARE persistent, you HAVE to be as well, be consistent and start off the way you want to carry on.
If they are really having you on, roll them on their back and hold them for a few seconds repeating NO. If they keep going,
put them in their crate for time out.
Don't encourage tug of war games, think
about what would happen when you try to remove something they shouldn't have, don't encourage biting games, getting them grabbing
your hands and feet, these are dominance games and they will be determined to win it, if you loose just once they won't forget.
RECOMMENDED READING
- ‘So Your Dog’s Not Lassie – Tips for Training Difficult Dogs and Independent
Breeds’ – Betty Fisher and Suzanne Delzio
ISBN 0-06-273457-1
- 'The Bulldog' - Diane Morgan
ISBN 0-7938-3631-X
- ‘The Bulldog – Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow’ – John F. McGibbon
ISBN 0-87605-070-4
- ‘The New Bulldog’ – Col. Bailey C Hanes
ISBN 0-87605-069-0
- ‘Bulldogs – An Owner’s Companion’ – Christian Bruton
ISBN 1-86126-134-9
- ‘Bulldogs Today’ – Chris Thomas
ISBN 1-86054-005-8
- ‘Grow your Pups With Bones’ – Dr Ian Billinghurst
ISBN
0-9585925-0-0
- ‘Give your Dog a Bone’ – Dr Ian Billinghurst
ISBN 0-646-16028-1
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