8 Common English Bulldog Health Issues

English bulldogs are very popular dogs, especially in the United States.

An English Bulldog is defined by the American Kennel Club as the biggest standard breed, weighing from 30 pounds to 50 pounds, and standing between 17.5 inches and 23 inches tall.

The average lifespan for a bulldog is 12-15 years; the oldest bulldog in the world lived for 16 years and 9 months.

English bulldogs are very well known for their gentle and friendly personality and are often chosen for their companionship.

Despite the fact that they are a popular breed, there are health issues that affect English bulldogs.

The most common English Bulldog Health issue is hip dysplasia (HD).

The condition is seen in most standard breeds, and the problem is worst in bulldogs. This condition is caused by a problem with their lower legs: the femur (thigh bone) and the hip joint (ball and socket) do not develop properly.

As of January 2016, the American Kennel Club has ruled that, unless the dog has a hip dysplasia mutation that can be detected by a genetic test, the dog is not eligible for a title.

The change was proposed by the AKC, along with other standard-breed organizations, and was intended to help slow the sale of English bulldogs that are not healthy.

Breeders can still sell puppies with the mutation, but they will not be able to use the title of “English Bulldog,” nor can they be registered with the AKC or other associations.

This ruling will be in effect for all English bulldogs until the AKC issues another ruling, which may be as long as several years.

The most common English Bulldog Health Issues

1: BAOS (Brachycephalic Airway Obstructive Syndrome)

The English bulldog has a narrow nasal and short face, which causes pressure in the airway, which causes respiratory obstruction, and due to that, the English bulldog faces Brachycephalic Airway Obstructive Syndrome (BAOS) problems.

They feel breathing issues are more likely in humid climates or when they are exhausted during exercise.

2: Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a degenerative joint disease and can be linked to many factors, such as genetics, breed standard, and the environment.

The British Bulldog Society reports that more than half of bulldogs have dysplasia in some joints. A lack of exercise and a lack of nutrition can cause hip dysplasia.

The amount of time the dog spends walking and running can also contribute to the development of hip dysplasia.

The American Kennel Club reports that more than 70% of English bulldogs are considered to have some degree of hip dysplasia.

This means that the dog will require surgery or other treatment in order to correct the condition.

Many owners will take their English bulldog to the veterinarian for the condition to be treated. The condition can require treatment with medication, surgery, or a combination of both to correct it.

Some of the main symptoms of hip dysplasia are a dog’s difficulty getting up, walking, or running; a dog’s ability to stand up straight; and a dog’s inability to sit in an upright position.

The AKC says that English bulldogs with hip dysplasia often have bad reactions to stairs and are more likely to have bad reactions to running upstairs.

They may also have difficulty walking and running. The condition can be caused by a number of factors, and it can affect any dog.

It is not possible to tell if a dog has hip dysplasia if they develop any of the symptoms of the condition.

The only way to test for the condition is to have a veterinarian perform a physical exam and run tests for it.

The condition only shows up in young dogs and English bulldogs have a tendency to develop hip dysplasia.

If a dog under five years of age has problems with walking, the dog should be taken to a veterinarian for a physical exam.

3: Patellar luxation

Some kinds of English bulldogs face misalignment in bones and develop conditions like thigh bones, calf bones, and kneecaps that do not line up as they should be, and these issues cause lameness or abnormal gait.

These conditions could be present from the birth of the puppy, but that is not realized until later in life.

In most cases, these conditions rub the joints together and develop the issue called canine inflammatory arthritis, and such situations can become severe over a period of time.

In such cases, you should contact your veterinarian if you notice an abnormal gait or lameness in your puppy.

In most cases, your puppy might have to go through surgical intervention in order to walk correctly.

4: Dermatitis

This issue occurs because of their physical structure.

The English bulldog has folded skin around its face, lips, and tails, and around the folded skin they generate sweat and moisture, which leads to dermatitis problems.

To avoid these issues, you should keep their folds clean and dry.

5: Eczema

As you know, your English Bulldog has a short snout. That means if they have to smell anything like food, which they usually do before eating, they have to bury their face in things.

And when they bury their face in the things they want to smell, they might encounter more bacteria and toxins, and that leads to eczema and inflammation and this is one of the common English Bulldog health issues.

So to avoid such problems as inflammation, you should use stainless steel bowls for food and water, which can be easily cleaned.

In such cases, you should consult your vet, who might recommend an antibiotic ointment.

6: Demodectic

Demodectic mange is one of the very common English bulldog health issues including all dogs.

Demodectic mange is caused by the Demodex mite. Normally, it doesn’t cause any problems, but any dog with a weak immune system can develop the disease. 

So if you see patches of scaly, red skin or hair loss around the head, neck, or legs, you should contact your veterinarian. 

7: Cherry Eyes

English Bulldogs face several eye problems, like dry eyes, eyelid abnormalities, eyelash abnormalities, and cataracts as well.

But one of the most common English bulldog health issues related to the eye is Cherry Eye, and the symptoms of Cherry Eye include a red bulge in the corner of the eye.

The cherry eye leads to discomfort in vision, so you should contact your vet as soon as you realize such issues, and it can be treated without surgical intervention.

But if it is left untreated, it could cause vision problems in severe cases.

8: Ectropion and Entropion

Entropion and Ectropion are very common English Bulldog health issues. Entropion occurs when the eyelids of a dog roll inward. And the droopy eyelid causes entropion.

These are not serious problems, but if your pet is feeling very irritated, then they definitely need your attention. In some cases, that could be painful.

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