Mountainside
Incomparabulls
I would like to discuss some dangers to your english bulldog. This is very important information and could save your dog's life. It is all from personal experience either with my own dogs or customers or people we know.
I do not just take information verbatum off the internet. I hope my experience with the english bulldog breed can keep your bulldog happy and healthy.
If you have any questions about any of this information, please contact me. I am always here to answer questions.
Water....Swimming....
Bulldogs CANNOT swim. Their bodies are simply too heavy and they cannot stay above water. They absolutely love to go to water though. It is as if they are drawn to water. Years ago we would take our labs to the lake. We took our male english bulldog, Remo with is. He thought he was a lab! We would throw rocks out into the lake for the labs to go after and he went running just as fast as his short, fat legs would carry him! I cannot tell you how many times my husband or myself went in clothes and all after him. It scared me to death! He literally 'bobbed' off the bottom of the lake!
Life vests are a MUST if you live around water. You can buy them at most pet stores but the ones I like the best are made by 'Outward Hounds" and they can be bought at PetSmart.
If you start your puppy out with one early, they will become accustomed to it and will not give you any grief when you try to put it on him/her.
If you have a pool, please keep the gate locked just as you would for children. Make sure your fencing is in good repair. Take my word for this. YOUR BULLDOG WILL DROWN IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. Please take great caution when you have your english bulldog around water.
Heat & Cold
English bulldogs absolutely CANNOT tolerate heat. It can take as little as 30 minutes in the heat to kill your bulldog. And this is just being at rest in the heat. With exercise, it takes less time for heat exhaustion to set in or worst, heat stroke.
They cannot tolerate extreme cold either. This is due to their flat faces. Hot air is breathed in and there is no room for the air to cool prior to it entering the lungs. Basically they are breathing in constant hot air. The same is with cold. The air cannot warm before entering the lungs leading to constant cold air entering the lungs. Either hot or cold, both can be deadly.
In 2000 I believe it was, I was on my way to work. My male bulldog, (Remo AGAIN!!) had been outside and when he came in I noticed him scratching. Although we used Frontline (which I do not use anymore b/c I think our mountain fleas are immune to it...:) I now use Advantix), upon examining him, he had fleas!! Yuck!!! I was already running late for work so I left Remo on my
covered, out of the elements front porch with a big bowl of water and ice...There was no way I was going to have fleas in my house......It was summer time. STUPID MISTAKE!!!!
Anyway, I was only working half a day that day so I was home around noon. I immediately went to get Remo for his flea bath but found him laid out under a porch chair panting so heavily that his saliva was thick and frothy. I panicked! I phoned my vet and he said I needed to get Remo to him as quickly as possible. I carried him to my car and headed out for the 15 min drive with my flashers on. I dared a policeman to stop me! They would have had to follow me to the vet's office b/c I would not have stopped!!
My vet's staff met me as I came in the parking lot, grabbed Remo and headed in with him. I got parked and ran straight to the back. They had him a tub pouring ice on him. His temp was 106! I had almost killed my bulldog!
Remo survived and I learned a very hard lesson. Please take warning. BULLDOGS ARE INSIDE DOGS! They must be monitored closely when outside in extreme heat. Even if outside for pottying purposes or light exercise, please keep ice cubes and or very cold water available at all times. Watch your bulldog carefully. Do not make the stupid mistake I made. Fortunately my dog lived but I know several people who have not been as blessed as I and Remo were.
Bulldogs and Bordetella Vaccine (Kennel Cough)
I strongly advise you to NOT let your vet give your bulldog the bordetella vaccine. If it is absolutely necessary due to you having to publicly board your bulldog and it being your states law, MAKE SURE your vet gives the bordetella injection, not the intra-nasal bordetella. This is where it is sprayed up the nose. Intra-nasal bordetella can and HAS caused many, many, many cases of pneumonia in english bulldogs. Remember that english bulldogs are different than most breeds and have to be cared for differently. English bulldogs are more suceptible to pneumonia than most breeds due to them being of the bracycephalic breed (short faced).
Below are two videos of the same puppy only 5 days apart. He was a happy, healthy, bouncy puppy and then a veterinarian gave the puppy intra-nasal bordetella.
Before
intra-nasal bordetella
Five days after
intra-nasal bordetella
Thank God the outcome is ok. He is home and on the amends. At last report, he is gaining weight back and is ready to play!! Thank you Jesus!!!! He is a very blessed and lucky little boy.
Remember that finding a bulldog specialist is of key importance for your bulldog & for you.. I say this numerous times throughout my web site but ask questions!!.....Many vet's will say they are 'bulldog knowldegable'. Ask how many bulldogs they see a week. Less than 10, run!! Preferably they will see a few hundred a week...of course depending on how big your town is.
A VET CAN BE YOU & YOUR BULLDOG'S BEST FRIEND OR WORST NIGHTMARE! Check them out thoroughly and get references.
Still under construction.....not sure it will ever be complete. I want to add as much info as possible to help you with the life, health & happiness of your english bulldog... :)
