The government has forced the airlines to release information on the number
of pet deaths during air travel and the outlook is very grim for Bulldogs.
Of the 122 deaths over 50% were flat-nosed breeds with the Bulldog leading
the pack at 25 deaths.  Pugs were next with 11, followed by Frenchies.

Personally I would never fly my Bulldog in the cargo area of an airplane.  My
cousin was a pilot who first alerted me to the high number of dog deaths that
were never released to the public.

For the reasons why a Bulldog is so susceptible to death, read this FAQS page
from the American Veterinarian Medical Association:
http://www.avma.org/animal_health/short-nosed_dogs_air_travel_faq.asp

Here’s an excerpt:

“brachycephalic breeds are prone to respiratory problems because, although they have shortened noses, they still have to pack all of the same anatomical structures in there that dogs with longer snouts do. Just because their snouts are shorter doesn’t mean they’re missing any parts – they still have to pack nasal passages, sinuses, and a hard palate into that small area. It’s sort of like moving from a house to an apartment and having to put the same amount of furniture in the apartment – it’s all there, but it can be a bit cramped. The situation is worsened if the dog is overweight or obese.”

And one more - I couldn’t have said it better:

“As a result of the tighter space, they are prone to problems such as smaller-than-normal nostrils, a longer-than-normal soft palate, and a narrowed trachea (or windpipe). Because of these abnormalities, they don’t breathe as efficiently as dogs with normal-length snouts and can have difficulty cooling off when they’re playing or exercising, or if they’re stressed or overheated. And when they’re stressed, their airway can actually collapse (either partially or completely) and cut off their airflow.”

You can also watch this related short video:
http://www.avmatv.org/media.cfm?c=761&m=3503&s=68&

It’s just another one of those Bulldog things.  When I travel with Archie, I
drive.  Mostly I just leave him at home where he’s happiest with the same
reliable dog sitter every time I leave.

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I have been asked if i would care for 3 yr old female bully i already have 5 yr old male do you think it would be ok to have this dog or do you think i will have problems.

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It depends upon the temperament of both dogs.  I’ve found males to be more tolerant of new females coming into their territory than the reverse.  You should let the dogs meet in a neutral territory (don’t just bring her into his house) and see how it goes.

Dogs are very social animals but they also have a pack mentality and sometimes they just don’t like a new dog around their space.  If the dogs meet and bow down to each other playfully that’s a good sign.  If they stand rigid or the hairs on the back of the neck go up then things aren’t going so well.

Also give the dogs lots of positive reinforcement for good behavior.  Don’t be nervous because your dog will pick up on your feelings and that can complicate things.

Here’s an article from the Humane Society on how to introduce pets: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/introducing_new_dog.html

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Gotta love this little English Bulldog Gal, from blogger I am Your Canadian Boyfriend

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It’s the long hot summer and it’s time to think about your bulldog’s inability to cool off. Nothing makes me angrier than to see some ignorant human walking a bulldog down the black pavement in hot weather. Dogs partially cool off through the pads of their feet, so think about this.

Pavement can get upwards of 120 degrees in the sun. I’ve seen many bulldogs panting so hard their tongue is coming out of their head five or more inches in an attempt to cool off. If a bulldog gets to this degree of overheating death is possible. And it may occur a few hours later so the owner doesn’t “know what happened”. This sad scenario is one I’ve heard of numerous times.

My Bulldog Archie is a very active dog. I walk him two miles in the morning (earlier and earlier as the days warm up, making sure it’s below 60 degrees in the morning) and again in the evening if it’s not too hot. He’s trim and fit. The exercise is a bonding experience for me and him and it also helps work off excess energy.

Not all Bulldogs are like Archie. My Vivy could not have done this. Her breathing was too compromised. Only you can determine if your Bulldog can tolerate walking in the warm weather. Archie has a little longer snout and he’s able to breathe better than many other Brachycephalic dogs.

A lot of a dog’s cooling mechanism is in the snout, not through the skin as in us. The long snout allows air to travel over the tongue and by evaporating saliva cools down a dog. Since the Bulldog breeds have short noses and elongated palates they do not have this capacity to cool off properly. The air is slowed down, the throat swells causing more distress, thickening saliva and “foamy stuff” which further compromises breathing. This can lead to heat stroke and death.

If you have any doubts about overheating don’t take your bulldog out at all. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

If you want to exercise your dog in the heat, here are a few tips. It’s June in California and it can get up to 80 degrees or more so I take him early in the morning when the temperature is around 60 degrees.

I take a bottle of water and wet him down on his back, belly, sides, and rear end, avoiding his face and wrinkles since water will make his folds get infected. An option is what I call the “wet t-shirt” routine. Put your dog in a child’s t-shirt or a cooling blanket from a pet store and soak it in water to keep him or her cool.

I keep a close eye on his breathing. If he’s panting too rapidly I let him take a little rest in the shade.

Speaking of shade, I only walk him in a shady area. Direct sun is way too intense for an English Bulldog in the summer months.

If your dog’s tongue starts to protrude out the mouth really far, in contrast to normal tongue panting, it is a sure sign of overheating. Do not let this happen. If it does you need to cool the dog down immediately with more cold water and don’t let him walk anymore. Carry him to your air conditioned car or home immediately.

Another sure sign of overheating is when a Bulldog drops to the ground. This requires immediate attention and cooling.

Another sign of overheating is vomiting. If your bully is laying in the sun on a hot day (I wonder why they like to do this!) and starts to pant and gets up and throws up, she is in trouble. Take her inside and cool her down. Don’t just let her stay outside without keeping an eye on her when it’s hot because sure enough she’s going to go lay on the patio in the sun.

your bulldog pal,
Jan

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Hi Jan,
We had traded a few emails about a month ago regarding my then 7 (now he’s English Bulldog named Tyrus. After reading your book and doing some research online about the breed and there breathing problems, I was wondering if it wouldn’t be to risky to at least have tyrus examined for any of those type of problems? i.e palate issue, etc…. Jan, His snoring is soooooooooo loud, seems to have gotten louder by the day. He has no other issues. No regurgitation, vomiting, none of that. But his breathing and snoring when he sleeps is a whole different story. Sometimes I feel I have to wake him up if I don’t here him. He’s always snored, never this loud. Is this just part of him getting a little older? Is it worth getting him examined for these issues? I’m so confused. I don’t want to have to put him through that, but I also would feel awful if there was something going on that I could have possibly looked into. Thank you for your time in reading this email, I know i’m like a worry wart, but this guy is my best buddy, and I want to do the right thing for him.

Chris

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Hi Chris,

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Hi Jan,

We have not spoke in a while I hope all is well with you and you bully.  I have a concern that I wonder if you could help me with. I noticed this morning a swelling or puffiness in my bully’s ear. I called my Vet but he won’t be in until tomorrow. When I described what I saw to the nurse she said she is pretty sure it is a hematoma and that he would need surgery.

I am very scared of surgery because I know how risky it is with Bulldogs. I have been reading all kinds of things on the internet, one thing I read was that old fashioned Vets don’t rush into surgery they suggest boiling water and adding sea salt and bathing the ear every hour, or using witch hazel.  Do you know anything about this and can you give me any advise on what I should do I am very frightened.

Thanks,  Your Bully Friend, JoAnn

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Hi JoAnn,

It sounds like it’s an aural hematoma which will probably need to be drained if it doesn’t go away using the methods you know about.  It can be caused by either an insect bite, ear mites, an ear infection, or from being irritated by scratching and/or injuring the small blood vessels in the ear flap.

I think you need to have it looked at to find out what it is and proceed from there.

It would not be a surgery that should require being under anesthesia very long.  There is always a risk but if your vet is familiar with bulldogs and knows which type of anesthesia to use and the smaller breathing tubes, and if your dog is in good health, it should go fine.

You should ask him about the cures you’ve heard of.

Here’s some information on aural hematomas from The American College if Veterinarian Surgeons

Overview

An aural hematoma is a collection of blood within the cartilage plate of the ear and the skin and usually arises as a self-inflicted injury from scratching and head shaking.

Causes

Underlying causes include all conditions that result in otitis externa (infection of the external ear canal). Hematoma formation has also been associated with increased capillary fragility (e.g., as seen with Cushing’s disease).

Incidence and Prevalence

Aural hematoma is the most common result of physical injury to the pinna (the “flap” of the ear). The condition is common in dogs with chronic otitis externa, and less common in cats.

Signs and Symptoms

Swelling associated with aural hematoma is most apparent on the concave inner surface of the pinna. (Figure 1) The swelling is soft and warm in the early stages. With chronicity, fibrosis and contraction will thicken and deform the ear, resulting in a cauliflower contracture.

Risk Factors

Sources of irritation to the ear have been implicated in the development of aural hematoma. These include inflammation, parasites, allergies, and foreign bodies. Most patients usually have an associated otitis externa. Recurrence of the condition is common if the underlying condition is not resolved.

Treatment Options

Treatment options included needle aspiration and bandages, tube drainage systems and incisional drainage.  Apposition between the tissues should be restored and maintained with bandages, with fibrin sealants, with the aid of sutures, or with tissue welding using laser.  The goals of surgery are to remove the hematoma, prevent recurrence, and retain the natural appearance of the ears.

Let me know what you decide.

your bulldog pal,

Jan

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Hello

I just wanted to get your opinion on my bulldog Bitzy(Bo Bo).  She’s about 7 months old and has already been through her first heat.

For the last few months(4 or so) we noticed she babies her hind legs quite a bit, mostly when she gets up from sitting, and she doesn’t like for us to touch her hind legs,but mostly down towards the bend of her legs. She doesn’t yelp if we do touch them she just kinda pushes/licks our hand if we do. She also tends to lick and bite at her legs out of the middle of no where as if something has bitten her.

Once she’s up if there something she wants to stay up for like playtime,eating or to go to bed, then she stays up, but if she just gets up to go outside or to wonder around the house then she usually will sit down not much after getting up.

Although she has no problem running around the yard at full speed pickin on my twice her size old english buddy, or chasing the garden hose when it on. For a while we thought she was just being lazy maybe,or maybe overweight, but now as the time has progressed and she’s lost a little baby puppy pounds and we’ve noticed how she sometimes just want to lay and sleep were thinking it’s probably something a bit more serious. if you have any idea in what could be wrong with our bitzy bo bo please let us now asap.

thanxs very much.

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Hi Dawnette,

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When I was a child we had lots of pets.  My mom loved cats and I even go to see kittens born!  We also had a couple dogs.  Alas, none were bulldogs - my love affair with English Bulldogs started when I was an adult! None of us suffered from allergies and now science may have discovered why!

I read this post from Dr Marty Becker, from his new book The Healing Power of Pets

New evidence suggests that exposure to pets early in life might actually help the body build defenses against allergies and asthma, thereby protecting children from developing reactions, rather than triggering them.

“Kids exposed to animals seemed to be better off,” said Christine Johnson, Ph.D., a senior research epidemiologist with the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. Christine Johnson’s study… tracked 833 children over seven years and found that exposure to two or more cats and dogs at one year of age made children less susceptible to other allergy-inducing substances by the time they turned seven, and that the exposure even improved some boys’ lung functions.

Other research since then has supported these findings, but it’s not just allergens; it’s germs, too. It’s part of what’s known as the “hygeine hypothesis,” the idea that as standards of household cleanliness have been raised, children are being exposed to fewer and fewer germs and allergens, and their immune systems are not as robust as they would be if raised with dust, dirt, farm animals and, of course, “snakes and snails and puppy dog tails.”

One important note: It’s very important that you start early. If you have pets from birth or as toddlers, great. If you wait until you’re a teenager to get a pet to reduce allergies or asthma, not only does it not work, it may make these conditions worse.

Find out about Marty’s book at this link The Healing Power of Pets

And be sure to let your small children cuddle with your bulldog - it’s good for both of them!

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Hello Jan,

Do you know how any natural ways to cure Giardia?
I have heard Oil of Oregano or Grapefruit Seed extract?

Thank you

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Hi Giancarlo,

Giardia is a parasite that is fairly common in dogs in certain areas.  It usually goes away on it’s own.  If it’s chronic or persists over two weeks or there’s a lot of blood in the stools or if your dog gets listless, then you should seek vet treatment.

The danger of giardia is dehydration from too much diarrhea so be sure he gets enough water. To encourage him to drink you can add some broth to his water - he should then lap it up!

You vet will most likely treat the infections with Metronidazole (Flagyl), an anti-fungal medication which is effective but not a good long term solution.

Oil of oregano is pretty hard on the stomach so I wouldn’t recommend using it. One I do use is a herbal remedy with black walnut, clove, and wormwood variations which you can get at a natural or health food store.  Get the liquid form so you can control the dosage. I haven’t tried the grapeseed oil but have heard of people using it.

Personally I’d do the black walnut treatment and wait to see if it resolves itself.  I would also work on boosting his beneficial bacteria to and boosting his immune system by adding probiotics (beneficial bacteria) and L-Glutamine (an amino acid to aid digestion) to his food.

Both are available at natural foods stores.  Bear in mind the normal dose is for a 150lb human so change for his weight.  You should  also add omega 3s in the form of fish oil or flaxseed oil.  These should help boost his immune system and prevent more infection.

your bulldog pal,

Jan

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Hi Jan,

regarding the bully nose, I noticed that it gets very dry
so i started to put vaseline on it and now it seems as
though his nose is shedding itself and black parts of
his nose are peeling, do you have any suggestions??

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