The 8 Most Common Health Problems in English Bulldogs

English bulldogs are a great companion to add to your home. This breed originated from the British Isles and was used in bull baiting. These sweet, goofy dogs have a unique personality and are great with kids; however, like most breeds, English bulldogs are predisposed to certain health problems. Before adopting this breed, it is imperative to do proper research to give your fur baby a long life. This article will discuss what common health problems this breed has.

1. Respiratory

English bulldogs are flat-faced beed that are brachycephalic. Brachycephalic is a term referring to having a broad, short skull. The normal anatomy of the mouth is bunched up into a small skull. Unfortunately, this results in this breed having a shortened airway, a large tongue, and an underbite. If you have ever met this breed, they constantly drool and sound like they are snoring. This condition is a brachycephalic syndrome which, can be corrected with a surgical procedure known as Stenotic Nares. This procedure involves removing the folds of the nostrils to open the airways. Conditions such as elongated soft palate, everted laryngeal saccule, and tonsils cause brachycephalic syndrome as well.

2. Skin

English Bulldogs have many skin folds on their body trunk and face. This may be a desired feature of this breed; however, these folds can harbor bacteria causing skin infections. Their skin folds should be cleaned regularly to avoid the build-up of yeast or bacteria. Think about when you work out, you begin to sweat, especially in crevices of your body that are not open to air. Gross right? If you do not bathe or clean those crevices like your belly button, you begin to itch and the skin becomes irritated. This is exactly what can happen with this breed. Consult with a veterinarian on what shampoos, ear cleaners, and flea products are best for English Bulldogs.

3. Eyes

This breed is prone to developing numerous eye problems. One condition known as cherry eye is when the third eyelid “rolls out” and appears as a red bump under the eye. The opposite eye condition is Entropion. This is when the eyelid rolls inward causing the eye to become irritated because of the eyelashes rubbing against the eye. Both eye problems can be corrected with surgery; however, the chances of recurrence is a 50/50 chance. Another eye condition is Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca or KCS. KCS is known as chronic dry eye and can be tedious to treat. To diagnose this condition a Schirmer Tear test is performed to determine how much tear production there is. Your veterinarian may recommend over-the-counter eye drops to prevent this condition from occurring.

4. Heat Regulation

English Bulldogs do not sweat like humans do to help regulate their temperatures. Instead, they will pant, drink water, and lie down on cool services to cool off. As mentioned before, English bulldogs can not breathe easily because of their shortened airway, so imagine trying to cool off when you already can’t breathe. On extremely hot days, keep this breed inside and allow them to have excess water to avoid heat exhaustion.

5. Obesity

This breed is stocky with broad shoulders and short legs. Once English bulldogs are either spayed or neutered, they do not have the extra hormones to help keep them at a healthy weight. Obesity can cause extra stress on bones and joints. Due to respiratory issues, English bulldogs do not tolerate exercise very well, thus causing them to gain weight easier than other breeds. Light exercise and a well-balanced diet can help keep this breed at an ideal, healthy weight.

6. Joint and Bones

Obesity is the main cause of joint issues for the English bulldog. Excessive weight on the knees, elbows, and legs can cause an early onset of arthritis. Arthritis is painful and can limit this breed’s ability to walk or run. Ideal-weight English bulldogs can experience joint issues as well, especially as they age. Another condition is hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is the abnormality of the hip joint and socket not aligning correctly. This can be surgically corrected if severe enough. To prevent these conditions, regular visits to the veterinarian and maintaining your English bulldog’s weight can help.

7. Allergies

Allergies for English bulldogs can either be food or environment-related. Allergy symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, excessive scratching, or licking. Determining the cause of allergies can be difficult to determine because this breed is susceptible to skin infections. Food trials or allergy testing is recommended by veterinarians to determine what the underlying cause is. Once the source of what is causing the allergies, antihistamines can help control allergy symptoms.

8. Heart Disease

English bulldogs are predisposed to a condition known as Pulmonic Stenosis. This condition is the narrowing of the pulmonary blood supply from the right ventricle to the lungs. If severe enough, this condition can cause fatigue and exercise intolerance. If your dog is experiencing these symptoms, consult with your veterinarian for diagnostic testing. 

Conclusion

This article is to not deter you from adopting this lovable breed but to educate future and current English bulldog owners. Pet insurance is the number one step in securing that your dog lives the best life possible if any health issues were to arise. Maintaining chronic conditions such as those listed above can be financially exhausting. Rather you are adopting a younger or older bulldog, have your new companion evaluated by a veterinarian professional to make sure it is healthy.