Bulldogs are a very caring and affectionate breed of dog. However, the same care that they show to their owners and family members should also be shown to them by their owners.
We say this because bulldogs are a very sensitive dog breed that require a lot of care and attention. They definitely require some effort to take care of. Failure to do so would lead to a number of problems.
Here are three problems with bulldogs that you should know.
Breathing Problems
All bulldogs have a breathing problem stemming from a narrow nasal opening. The faces of bulldogs are structured in a flat way. The effect of their flatness is that their air intake is restricted.
This can be seen through your bulldog’s snoring or how they lose breath so fast after minimal physical activity.
The best thing you can do for this is not force so much physical activity on your bulldog.
Apart from that though, the tissue in the back of a bulldog’s throat is very soft and elongated. This also causes breathing problems in bulldogs.
You could have surgery done on your bulldog to fix this. If you don’t, it could result in suffocation.
Bulldogs are Not Swimmers
Bulldogs just can’t swim. Attribute this to how their bodies are structured. Their body has unusual proportions. Short legs with large, bulky, and compact bodies.
In order to address this, just make sure that when your bulldog is in a pool or similar body of water, that you are there to watch him or her. You are the best line of defense. You can also put a life vest on your bulldog just to make sure it doesn’t drown.
Bad Elbows and Hips
Finally, bulldogs are prone to having elbow and hip dysplasia. This means that the sockets from the elbows and hips form in an abnormal way. This leads to crippling and eventual lameness.
This results from the abnormal joint developments when the bulldogs are young, as well as other environmental and genetic factors.
If you see your bulldog running in an odd manner or in what seems like a way that looks as if they are resisting something, this could be an early sing of this dysplasia.
All dogs deal with in their own unique way. Some will just have to warm up to move well. Others will begin limping, while others will just do less and less activities altogether.
Keep your bulldog active by running a lot. Refrain from doing activities that have jumps in them. Also, don’t forget to feed the right dog food for your bulldog.
All of us here at Northern Pride American Bulldogs support the total and holistic care of your bulldogs. Stay tuned for more informative articles on how you can take better care of your bulldogs.