Breed Health & Education
This information is to help educate you, so please take the time to read this entire page.
Most people are not familiar with the term "Brachycephalic," but if you own a pug,
French Bulldog, Boston Terrier, Pekingese, Boxer, English Bulldog, Shih Tizu or
any one of the other breeds with "pushed in" faces, you should become familiar with this
word. The word comes from Greek roots "Brachy," meaning short and "cephalic,"
meaning head. Brachycephalic dogs are the most likely candidates for heat stroke.
These breed are meant to be indoor pets.
Warning
  • Do not ever leave this breed type outside in extreme temperatures hot or cold for more than
    5 - 10 minutes at a time or they could experience heat stroke.
  • In the event of heat stroke you can try the following: squeeze a small amount
    of lemon juice in your dogs mouth, put your dog in the bathtub and run cool
    (not cold) water over him, pour rubbing alcohol over your dogs back (this will
    open his pores) and put a fan on him IMMEDIATELY!
  • Do not offer rawhide treats/bones to these breed types as they can easily choke on torn
    off pieces.
  • If you offer pig ears as a treat, do not offer them after 6 months of age.
  • Do not ever put a Bulldog (or any hybrid type) in a pool or body of water without a life
    jacket as they will sink!
  • When bathing your Bulldog make sure to not get water in his ears or nose.
  • When cleaning his ears, always use ear cleaner that has a drying agent in it so that the ears
    do not stay moist.
Common Health Concerns
  • Cherry Eye - The medical term for 'cherry eye' is nictitans gland prolapse, or prolapse of
    the gland of the third eyelid. Unlike people, dogs have a 'third eyelid' that contains a tear
    gland and is located in the corner of each eye. Under normal circumstances, this gland is not
    visible and aids in the production of tears. For some reason, which is not completely
    understood, the gland of the third eyelid prolapses or comes out of its normal position and
    swells creating the condition known as cherry eye.
  • Demodectic Mange - is a skin disease, generally of young dogs, caused by the mite,
    Demodex canis. It may surprise you to know that demodectic mites of various species live on
    the bodies of virtually every adult dog without causing any harm or irritation. These small
    (0.25 mm) 'alligator-like' mites live inside of the hair follicles (i.e., the pore within the skin
    through which the hair shaft comes through), hence the name follicular mange. Whether or
    not Demodex causes harm to a dog depends on the animal's ability to keep the mite under
    control. Demodectic mange is not a disease of poorly kept or dirty kennels. It is generally a
    disease of young dogs that have inadequate or poorly developed immune systems or older
    dogs that are suffering from a depressed immune system. Virtually every mother carries and
    transfers mites to her puppies. Most puppies are immune to the mite's effects and display
    no clinical signs or lesions. Some are not immune and it is these that develop into full-blown
    cases of mange. It is critical to keep your puppy/dogs immune system high to fight these
    types of conditions. Read more on how to keep the immune system higher here.
  • Entropion - Entropion is a rolling-in of the eyelid. This causes the hair on the surface of
    the eyelid to rub on the eyeball, which is both painful and often causes corneal ulcers or
    erosions. The corneal damage can also result in corneal scarring, which can interfere with
    vision. Usually the dog will squint and tear excessively. However, many flat-faced dogs with
    medial entropion (involving the inside corner of the eyes) show no obvious signs of
    discomfort. Entropion is treated by surgical correction ("blepharoplasty"). If you suspect
    your pet has Entropion it is important to get to the vet as soon as possible. Scaring can
    cause the loss of sight and even the loss of an eye if not treated immediately.
  • Anal Glands - On either side of the anus of the dog is situated an anal gland, which
    secretes a lubricant that better enables the dog to expel the contents of the rectum.  These
    glands are subject to being clogged, and in them accumulates a fetid mass.  This
    accumulation is not, strictly speaking, a disease-unless it becomes infected and purulent.
    The most frequent sign of anal sacs or glands being full and needing to be manually
    expressed is the Bulldog scooting, which can be accompanied by a strong, foul pungent
    odor.  Because Bulldogs can also have problems with tight irritated and sometimes infection
    under the tail, one must discern if the scooting is from a tail problem, or anal sac problem.
    When you have confirmed that full anal glands (or sacs) is your Bulldog's problem,  making
    sure that the tail is not in the way;  the openings of the anal sacs are found by drawing down
    on the skin of the lower part of the anus.  By applying a small amount of pressure directly
    below these openings, fluid can be expressed.
  • Hot Spots - inflammation of the skin, dermatitis. Frequently caused by flea bites, or a
    hypersensitivity to an allergen. Can also be caused by bacteria building up in an area that
    the dog bites or scratches. Some have linked it to the dog having wet fur for prolonged
    periods of time.
  • Wrinkles - 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 baby wipes with
    aloe. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and dry thoroughly.
Now that you have read this information and you better understand these
breed types you are one step closer to choosing the right pet for your family.
This information is not meant to scare you, it is meant to educate you before
you choose an English Bulldog or Valley Bulldog. It is important to us that
you understand their needs so they can grow up happy, healthy and live long
lives with your family.
Thank you for taking the time to read this important information.