English bulldog care is not only a matter of ensuring you take him to the vet for his annual checkup or anytime he becomes sick, a large part of keeping him healthy is regular grooming.  A well groomed bully is one who receives weekly brushings, tooth brushing, ear cleanings, monthly nail clippings and daily skin cleaning.

Cleansing the skin is a necessary part of english bulldog care because this breed has folds on their face and around their tail.  If you do not make the effort to clean these areas every day, you put your pooch at risk of developing a condition known as fold dermatitis.  This is when the skin under the wrinkles becomes infected, due to a build up of bacteria that was encouraged to grow from the warm moist environment, caused by a lack of airflow to the hidden flesh underneath the crinkles.

Since this type of dermatitis can be very uncomfortable and painful for bullies, and if left without proper treatment can lead to a serious problem, such as a pooch needing to have his tail removed, keeping these rumpled facial and tail parts dirt-free and dry is a must.

Is cleaning wrinkles a difficult part of english bulldog care?  Not at all.  In fact, if you do it on a daily basis and familiarize your pet with it when he is a puppy, the procedure should be quite quick and easy.  Here is the simple process you need to follow:

1.    Use a gentle soap.  It’s a good idea to ask your vet what brand is best.  He/she will likely recommend a germicidal soap that you can either purchase from them or from your local drugstore.

2.    Combine the soap with a damp fresh wash cloth and carefully and gently clean in, around and under the skin folds.  Make sure you avoid the eye area.

3.    Fully dry the creases you washed with a soft cloth to ensure that any left-over moisture is taken care of.  Remember, leaving any dampness can increase sensitivity and raise the risk of problems.

Some owners find that applying powder, such as corn starch, also helps with english bulldog care for their wrinkled coat.  The reason is it assists in keeping the area dry.  Additionally, if your bull dog happens to be one of the unlucky pups prone to irritation, you can also apply a cream that is designed to help heal and relive skin from chafing while protecting it from infection.  Be sure to talk to you vet about the best cleaning and healing products prior to applying any of your own homemade remedies or store-bought items to ensure your bully’s safety and wellbeing.

However, when it comes to actual health conditions and diseases that an english bull dog is at an increased risk for, the best way to protect him is to take him for his annual vet checkup and keep a close eye on his physical condition.  That way, if you ever notice anything out of the ordinary, you can bring it to your veterinarian’s attention.  Should it turn out your pooch is suffering from an ailment, catching it early usually offers your pet with the best chance of quick treatment and recovery.

What types of health conditions should a bulldog owner be aware of?  Aside from cancer, which any dog can develop anywhere on their body, the following are some, but not all of the illnesses that have the potential to affect this breed:

• Patellar dysplasia – This is when the kneecap bone does not grow as it should, causing the english bull dog to have pain in the loosened joint.
• Cleft lip – The two upper halves of the lips do not meet.
• Cherry eye – The gland under the third eyelid sticks out.  It is puffy and red in color resembling a cherry.
• Entropian – The eyelases turn in instead of growing outwards.  This causes them to rub against the eyeball and if not corrected can scratch the cornea and cause permanent eye damage or blindness.
• Muzzle Pyoderma – An infectious skin disease that occurs on the muzzle of the english bull dog.
• Elbow or hip dysplasia – Malformation of either joint that causes the canine extreme pain.
• Folliculitis – Hair follicle infection.
• Circulatory Arteriovenous fistula – an irregular link that develops between the veins and arteries.
• Mitral valve defects – When the mitral valve of the heart is plagued with a group of abnormalities.

Understand, not all of these health problems will be something you have to face as an english bull dog owner.  Some of these conditions simply occur with age, while others are hereditary.  Thus, you need to ensure you safeguard the wellbeing of your dog by obtaining him from a trustworthy breeder, providing him with a healthy lifestyle and regular vet visits.