Health
I would like to be very clear that the content below is our opinion based on personal experiences. Other websites have copied this information without having a clear knowledge of the health issues/opinions stated below and have done so without our permission. Please make sure that when buying a puppy / dog from ANY breeder that you ask as many questions as you can, do as much research as possible and ask for proof of care!!! We encourage you to get to know us because we will be in contact with you throughout the life of your puppy. We have worked very very hard to educate ourselves about Bulldogs and are more than eager to share with you what we have learned so please never hesitate to ask.
Every breed of dog has health issues common to that breed. With Bulldogs most of the issues are directly related to the very same things we love about them. Such as the flat face, rolling gait and short tail. We encourage you to do all the research you can but remember that everyone has their own opinion. The following documentation is my opinion. Understand and accept that if you chose to bring a Bulldog into your life, you may have to deal with some issues. We do all we can to insure that when a puppy leaves us it is healthy and happy. If we do not believe it is, we will not let it go. For every puppy we bring into this world, we are preparred to keep for whatever reason necessary, for it's entire life if we see fit. Our dogs are healthy, happy and we intend to breed for the same reasons. However there are things that we cannot control. Some are genetic and some are common traits. I hope that the following literature will clear up a few of the more common issues.
Cherry Eye
The most normal and expected thing in Bulldogs are cherry eyes. This is when the tear gland in the corner of the eye pops out. It resembles a small cherry, hence the name. In some cases they do go away and in more cases, you may need surgery to correct it. It is relatively inexpensive in mose cases and is a quick outpatient procedure, depending on your veterinarian. It can happen very quickly and can happen to one or both eyes. The flat skull makes the English Bulldog prone to this.
There are two treatment options. One is to tack the gland back with stitches. The other is to remove most of the gland. Again, your veterinarian will recommend one or the other depending on their preference. Medically speaking they both have pros and cons. We have never had a cherry eye so I can not tell you of my personal experience. If I ever come across this I will not tack it - it will be removed. It is important to understand that this is not the only area of the eye that produces tears. Part of the gland is left behind and may very well make tears. Some dogs, even with both tear glands will get dry eyes, so partially removing one or both may not have that effect. If your puppy gets a cherry eye here I will have it removed at my expense. Once the puppy leaves here it will become your financial responsibility. It is possible that the puppy can leave here without one and on the plane or car ride home one pop out.
Entropion-Ectropion
This is when the eyelids roll in or out. Ectropion is when the eyelids roll out. Entropion is where they roll in and they rub against the eyeball causing irritation. A simple surgery can correct it. The more wrinkled your Bulldog is the higher the chance that they will be affected.
Breathing
Dogs pant to cool themselves. Bulldogs have a decreased capability of doing this. Palate issues are common to the breed. A normal palate size can have trouble fitting into the tiny space available for Bulldogs. In addition many of them have very small trachea's. This all contributes to overheating in a very short time. The nostrils are sometimes pinched. Be prepared to protect your Bulldog from the heat at all times. Hope you like snoring because we are home to some Bully's that will rattle the rafters! They also snort which sometimes sounds like choking, again it's all due to the shape of the head. In addition, clear nasal discharge is okay - green is not! Because of the very short nasal passages these puppies are prone to respiratory infections. Kennel Cough being one of them, which has nothing to do with a Kennel but is very contagious. Your puppy will not leave here with a respiratory infection or kennel cough. If your puppy develops any of the aforementioned symptoms get to your vet ASAP!!
Skin
There are many folds and pockets on English Bulldogs. They MUST be kept clean to prevent infections. One suggestion is baby wipes, NOT disinfecting wipes. It is very important to completely dry the area after cleaned. I have bathed my dogs and not gotten their tightly curled tails quite dry and it turns into a skin infection very quickly - if it becomes red and foul smelling we suggest seeing a veterinarian.
Allergies
There are many causes for allergies in all breeds including English Bulldogs. They can be from food, pollen, grass, dust mites and even your home just to name a few. I am very big on feeding quality food. A lot of times allergy problems are caused by too much corn, wheat or grain. It is best to try and feed your dog a food that has meat listed as the first ingredient, not just a meat by-product. I have had very good luck with some foods over others and would be happy to recommend what I have experience with.
Hernias
There are two types that are common in puppies. An umbilical (an outy belly button) and inguinal or groin. They can be due to many things. Even a bitch tugging on the umbilical cord shortly after birth can pop them out. The small inguinals usually go away and cause no issues to the dog. If we find a hernia at the vet check and my vet thinks it requires repair it will be fixed at my expense. If my vet thniks that it is fine but you decide to have it repaired it is your business. As long as the intestines are not present in the hernia (which would mean it was a very big one) it is not worrisome.
Mange
Two types, Sarcoptic (when people get this we call it scabies) and Demodectic. Sarcoptic is pretty rare in well cared for animals. Demo is also called red or puppy mange. There are two kinds of Demo, localized (several spots), and generalized (affecting most of the dog). There are two schools of thought. Some people think that if a puppy comes up with this, they should be spayed or neutered along with every dog related, I strongly disagree. ALL DOGS, EVERY ONE OF THEM HAS MITES ON IT"S SKIN. Yes even your dog. Your dog's immune system lives with it in harmony and keeps the number down. Localized can be brought on by several things such as stress, puberty, enviromental issues and so on. A puppy has an incomplete immune system. When your puppy is stressed the immune system faulters and those mites breed and then it becomes obvious to you that something is wrong. Localized demo will often cure itself although I do recommend an oral medication to help it along. Generalized is another issue. It is not the mange that is truly the issue, it is the dog's immune system. It is my opinion that a dog with Generalized Demo not be bred.
Loose Hips/Knees
Many breeds have a degree of looseness in both the hips and knees. Bulldogs are more prone to it because of the way they are put together. I do believe that keeping your puppy at the appropriate weight during it's growing periods helps. Also it is not good to let your puppy jump from high places as this can cause problems later in life that could have easily been avoided. You can get dysplastic pups out of parents who rated Excellent on their OFA because the test only means that the parents are not affected. Most Bulldogs would not pass anyway.
Stress
Many people underestimate the damage stress causes. When your puppy comes home it will be very stressed. No matter what we do as breeders and no matter how loving and caring the new home is they will be stressed. They are going through a very scary time in their life and need your help getting through it. I do not recommend taking your puppy visiting until they are at least 6 months old. I know it is hard not to show off the cutest puppy in the world but try, it is better in the long run. There are millions of germs and bacteria everywhere and again, when your puppy is stressed it's immune system faulters causing it to be more susceptible to "catching" something.
You have just read information provided all or in part by Prairie Lane Bulldogs. Thank you Traci for saying it so well!
