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Health Care
The material on this page is authored by
Dorothy and Julian Prager
As mentioned elsewhere, you will want to have a good Vet who knows Bulldogs and have a good relationship with him. All animals have problems associated with the breed; Bulldogs are no different. If you are not sure about something, it's safer to visit your Vet than to let a potential health problem develop. Regular check-ups by your Vet should be part of your annual routine. As you get to know your dog and the breed better, you will begin to feel more comfortable about what you can and can't treat yourself.
The more common problems you may come across and some of the remedies which have been proven over time are discussed below. This is not inclusive of all problems nor is it a complete description of the actions you should take. It is not intended to replace sound medical advice from your Vet, but to provide you with information to make it easier to be an informed dog owner.
If you are showing your dog in conformation, remember that the AKC regulations for dog shows disqualify any dog that has had its appearance surgically altered. Although any surgical procedure mentioned will disqualify your dog from the conformation show ring, it may make him a healthier and happier pet.
You should know elementary first aid for your dog. Knowing the proper procedures for moving an injured dog, treating poisoning (some common household plants are potentially dangerous), stopping bleeding, and administering artificial respiration and CPR can save your dog's life. For detailed information on first aid and/or care for an ailing or injured pet, you may want to look at Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook by Delbert Carlson, D.V.M. and James Giffin, M.D. (Howell Book House, 1980), The Complete Home Medical Guide for Dogs by Stephen Schneck & Dr. Nigel Norris (Stein & Day, 1976), or The Complete Book of Dog Care by Dr. Leon Whitney (Doubleday & Co., 1953).
Since an emergency is bound to occur, you should be prepared for it. With the caveats that all prescription medications should be checked with your vet before use and that some of these require more than a simple knowledge of animal health and the effects of medication, we have found the following effective to have on hand for emergencies or when we can't get to the vet quickly:
o a pair of tweezers to remove splinters,
o a small scissors,
o a rectal thermometer (preferably digital) and petroleum jelly to lubricate it,
o an eyedropper or syringe to give liquid medicine,
o gauze pads to cover wounds and to control bleeding,
o self-stick gauze bandages and adhesive tape to wrap wounds and to use as temporary muzzles,
o Cotton balls and baby wipes for general cleaning and cleaning ears and wrinkles,
o Sterile, isotonic eyewash,
o an electrolyte solution, like pedialyte, to prevent dehydration,
o an anti-diarrheal, e.g., Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismo, or Metronidazole (Flagyl) pills to reduce fluid loss,
o hydrogen peroxide (3%) solution to clean wounds and delay poison absorption,
o Milk of Magnesia to calm stomach and slow poison absorption,
o a prescription diuretic, e.g., furosemide (lasix), to reduce fluid accumulation and an antihistamine, e.g., benedryl, (available both in pill and injectable forms) to reduce swelling in severe allergic reactions,
o epinephrine or solu-medrol (injectable) for severe allergic reactions,
o an instant ice pack (the kind you squeeze to chemically make the solution cold) to handle heat problems,
o rubbing alcohol to apply to feet and/or ears to reduce temperature in emergencies,
o aspirin suppositories, for use in rapidly decreasing body temperature when baths are not available,
o an antibiotic ointment, e.g., Panalog, to reduce the chance of infection,
o Neo-predef powder to reduce infection from superficial wounds and to handle itching and hot spots,
o Ascriptin pills for pain - never give aspirin products when bleeding is present (since they inhibit clotting), and
o oral antibiotics for emergency use, e.g., Cephalexin (Keflex) , Baytril, etc. Of course, you need to learn from your vet when each is appropriate,
o the phone number of your Vet and an emergency 24-hour Vet if one is available in your area.
Stopping Bleeding
Bandaging
Poisoning
Bulldogs are inquisitive and love to mouthe things. When this happens out of your presence, you may have to guess at the cause of the symptoms. Accidental poison caused by common household plants, chemicals, etc. is comparatively easy to prevent if thought and planning are give to arranging your house. If the poison is identifiable, a specific treatment may be recommended on the label or may be obtained by calling the local Poison Control Center or your Vet. They can advise you on the best treatment. If you are unsure, get to your Vet as soon as possible.
Inducing vomiting to rid the body of the poison is the usual action if the poison was recently ingested. Vomiting can be induced by giving your dog one teaspoon of Syrup of Ipecac for each 10 pounds of body weight or by giving between one and three teaspoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide every 10 minutes until three doses have been given.
An associated treatment is to then give the dog activated charcoal mixed in a solution of water (25 grams to 100 cc). Give five teaspoonfuls (25 cc) per 10 pounds. This is followed 1/2 hour later by two teaspoonfuls of Milk of Magnesia per 10 pounds.
Some house plants are toxic, causing severe reactions which should be addressed by a Vet quickly. Among this group are Amaryllis, Asparagus fern, Azalea, Bird of Paradise, Crown of Thorns, Elephant Ears, Ivy, Jerusalem Cherry, and Sprangeri Fern. Other plants can cause swelling of the mouth or tongue, both potentially life threatening conditions. Among these are Arrowhead Vine, Boston Ivy, Colodium, Drunk Cane, and Philodendrum.
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is common, since dogs love to acquire tasty morsels left unguarded, even if they are in the garbage. Garbage should be kept securely covered. A painful abdomen and vomiting are initial symptoms, frequently followed by bloody, loose stool.
Medication Poisoning
Accidentally eating medicine prescribed for either you or your dog can cause poisoning from an overdose. Keep all medicines in cabinets since your dogs can destroy the plastic containers most come in. All medicines have side effects, Be sure you know the potential side effects of any medication bought over the counter or by prescription. Recognizing an adverse reaction to medicine may help save your dog's life.
Medicating
If you need to give him pills at any point, rolling them in cream cheese, liverwurst or peanut butter usually works and he'll take it eagerly. If he's not interested, put the cream cheese with the pill in his mouth, tilt his head up and hold his mouth closed while you stroke his throat. The cream cheese will coat his tongue and he'll swallow the pill painlessly. Disregard the instruction in the books about how to give pills without cream cheese. Bulldogs love to trap pills in their cheeks and spit them out when you're not looking. Make sure you inspect his mouth afterwards to ensure he swallowed the pill.
A plastic eye-dropper works well for liquid medication. Open the mouth, tilt the head back slightly and squeeze it into the back of his mouth. If you can't get the mouth open fully, you can squirt it into the back of his cheek pouch. In either case, he won't be able to do much else but swallow it. It's fast and painless.
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