Skin Care
Heat Stroke
Wrinkle Care
Skin Care
Hot Spots
These are red, weepy, itchy spots. No one seems to really know what causes them. It could be fleas, food, allergies, etc. Clean the area thoroughly. You can wash with shampoo, rinse and dry. Or clean with Baby Wipes with lanolin and aloe. Or wash with Bigeloil. Then apply a medications such as Panalog, Bag Balm, Sulfadene, Schreiner’s Healing Liniment (from a feed store) or 1% cortisone cream (you may need to get this from your own doctor). Clean and apply medication daily. You should see improvement by the second day, if not, take the dog to the veterinarian.
Interdigital Cysts
This is another problem that no one seems to be sure what the cause is But you’ll know one when you see an angry red swelling pop up between the dog’s toes. First examine the paw carefully, especially the underside between the pads to be sure there is no foreign matter (a thorn or such). If there is, take it out. Clean the area. Remedies include: (I) Soaking the paw in warm water and Epsom Salts or Massengale Douche solution, dry and rub in Panalog. (2) Desenex foot powder. (3) ,Preparation H. (4) Division 5 Bulletin formula. Have your veterinarian make this up for you One part 60% DMSO, one part Gentavet solution 50 mg. per ml. Apply one drop per day; rub in with a Q Tip. Do NOT use more than one drop, do NOT apply more frequently than once a day. If you start application at the first sign, this solution will prevent the cyst from developing. With all these treatments, it’s best to continue the treatment for two to three days after the cyst is gone.
Fungus Spots
These are somewhat like hot spots, but they are not weepy. Be sure you clean away all the “scabby” material. Wash the area and treat with Panalog, Keflex, or any good anti-fungal ointment. You can use Demorex shampoo or a sulfur based soap for the washing. Facial Acne or Eczema Bulldogs are forever putting their faces into all kinds of strange places. Some are susceptible to topical bacterial infections. The dog gets pimples on his face and chin. Usually you can clear these up just by washing and rubbing in an anti-biotic ointment. Or you can try OXYIO (benzoil peroxide) which you can purchase at a drug store. If they persist, you will need to get an oral antibiotic medication from your veterinarian.
Wrinkle Care
Bulldogs tend to have messy face wrinkles. The older they get, the messier the wrinkles. How often you clean these wrinkles depends on the dog. Some do very well if you clean the wrinkles a couple of times a week. Some need it on a daily basis. When you clean the wrinkles, wash his nose and apply a good rub of Vaseline to keep it soft. It’s better to clean more often than you think you need to than not often enough. You can clean the wrinkles with a soft, damp cloth and then dry. Or you can wash them using the shampoo you use to bathe the dog. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and dry thoroughly.
One of the best ways is to wipe the wrinkles clean with Baby Wipes with lanolin and aloe. Whatever method you use, be sure to get the deep nose wrinkle clean. You may need to put a soothing ointment in the deep nose wrinkle. If it is irritated Panalog will help to heal. Diaparene Ointment will soothe and dry the wrinkle. This contains zinc oxide, so before you apply it, rub Vaseline into the dog’s nose. You will almost notice a sizable number of Bulldogs have “tear stains” of varying degrees of color. If the stain is bad, in addition to cleaning you may want to try to remove the stain.
There are many treatments, you may have to try several before you find one that works for you. Some of the commercial products used are Showes “Pretty Eyes” Stain remover, BioGroom cream (to prevent re staining) and Diamond Eye. You can make a paste of I Tbs. Hydrogen Peroxide and enough corn starch to make a thin paste (some Bulldoggers add I Tbs. Milk of Magnesia to the hydrogen peroxide and mix the cornstarch into that mixture). Apply to the stain, let dry, brush off excess. Apply on a daily basis until the stain in gone, then weekly to keep stain from returning. Another method is to rub the stain with a cotton ball soaked in Boric Acid. Daily until the stain is gone, then weekly. Or use NM Boric Acid ointment (10%) which can be purchased at Payless or most any drug store. Another remedy is rubbing a dab of Desitin into the stain to help dry it.
I hope this helps and remember I am always here to answer any questions
you may have.
Heat Stroke
Heat is probably the number one danger to the Bulldog and all of the other flat-faced breeds. A dog’s primary cooling mechanism is the ability to pant and dissipate body heat. Short nosed dogs have a reduced ability to cool by panting, coupled with the fact that many of them have a reduced breathing capacity caused by any one or all of the following:
– pinched nostrils, elongated soft palette, small trachea or extraneous tissue in the throat.
Additionally the Bulldog is a very heavy boned, dense bodied dog. When this mass becomes overheated it is very difficult to reduce that temperature. Dogs, in general, are far more susceptible to heat stroke than people. In view of these facts the best way to treat overheating is to never let it happen! Prevention is by far a safer and more effective way to combat enemy #1, heat.
Heat stroke is not just the enemy of short nosed breeds. Every summer dogs of all breeds are overcome in cars, herding dogs collapse, dogs playing in the sun can get heat stroke and hunting or field dogs suffer from too much heat, humidity and/or excitement.
Heat Plus Excitement
Heat combined with excitement or stress is the biggest danger to our dogs. When our dogs become excited they begin to pant. When they become warm they begin to pant. Since the Bulldog cooling system is inefficient you can quickly exceed its’ capacity and then the dog is in trouble.
How hot does it have to be for the dog to be in danger? The temperature can be down in the 70’s and our dogs can be in danger. Temperature, humidity and the dog’s total breathing capacity are all factored in the dangerous heat equation. The amount of air circulation, whether the dog is in the shade or the sun, how stressed he is all make a difference in the effect of heat plus excitement.
Danger Signs!!!
How will I know when my Bulldog is danger?
Some danger signs are:
• Unusually sluggish or unresponsive
• Pale or dark red gums, may be very dry
• In the final stages the dog will suffer convulsions and unconsciousness
• If you observe any of these symptoms it is imperative that you take action
immediately!
• Get your dog into the shade and apply cold water or hose gently with a continuous
stream of cool water.
• Submerge in a tub of cool water if possible. If possible apply ice packs or cold towels.
• Erratic breathing
• Glazed eyes
• Vomiting
If your dog is conscious allow him to drink small amounts of water or lick ice cubes. Do not force him to drink. Get veterinary attention immediately. You may save his life!
CONTACT DALLAS BULLDOGS
Use this form to contact us to get more information about our dogs and available puppies or call/txt me directly 972-322-4849.
You can also email Info@DallasBulldogs.com.
Royse City, TX