Dry, flaky skin in bulldogs and French bulldogs is the most common seborrhea type. Oils, or sebum are produced in the sebaceous glands.
The week is the clue, and it is telling you something useful rather than something discouraging. A bath removes what is on the surface. If the flakes are back within days, the surface is not where the problem is being made.
The detail I would not skip over is that he is not scratching. An itchy flaky dog and a comfortable flaky dog are two different investigations. When there is no itch, I stop looking for an allergy and start asking what the skin is being asked to work with: the diet and the fatty acids in it, parasites that are easy to assume are absent, and the hormones that set the pace for skin turnover. That last group is worth a mention to your veterinarian, because a dull coat and flaking with no itch is often the first thing an owner notices.
So the honest answer to what you are missing is a diagnosis rather than a better bottle. A skin scrape, a look under the microscope and basic bloodwork cost less than the three shampoos you have already bought, and they tell you which of those doors to open.
None of that means the topicals are pointless. A medicated or soothing shampoo and an after shampoo conditioner belong alongside whatever your veterinarian finds, as part of the same plan rather than instead of it, and they keep him comfortable while the cause is being sorted out. Fish oil and a skin and coat supplement may help from the inside, and they take a good few weeks before the coat shows it. What I would stop doing is buying a fourth shampoo and hoping.
Dry Flaky Skin in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs Seborrhea Types
Bulldog dry seborrhea
“Sicca” stands for “dry,” as “Bulldog Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS) stands for “Bulldog Dry Eye”. Many bulldogs with skin disease suffer from the “sicca” type. There are two types of bulldog seborrhea: dry, flaky seborrhea,
- PRIMARY DRY SEBORRHEA: is less common
- SECONDARY DRY SEBORRHEA: the more common one that can be divided into two types
- NON-ITCHY
- ITCHY: which is the most common dry-seborrhea
Bulldog oily greasy seborrhea
Few bulldogs with skin disease suffer from the oily greasy type
Dr. Kraemer’s Bulldog Dry Flaky Skin Rule of Thumb
Most Dry Flaky Skin in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs is secondary to other bulldog skin diseases, thus for the best therapeutic outcome, the underlying cause should be identified.
Dry Flaky Skin in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs / Primary Disease
Primary seborrhea is much less common in bulldogs and is usually due to a keratinization defect or abnormal cell turnover. The distribution is usually wide and often includes the ears and ear flaps.
A primary seborrhea is typically a genetic, hereditary condition, thus it is likely to manifest early in life.
BULLDOG PRIMARY DRY SKIN DISEASE TYPES:
- Bulldog Idiopathic Dry Flaky Skin (unknown reason)
- Bulldog Vitamin A Responsive Dry Flaky Skin
- Bulldog Sebaceous Adenitis (inflammation of the sebaceous glands)
- Bulldog Ear Margin Dermatosis
- Bulldog Acne
- Bulldog Naso-Digital Hyperkeratosis
Dry Flaky Skin in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs / Secondary Disease
Secondary bulldog seborrhea sicca is the most common and usually is an itchy one.
Your bulldog may often exhibit symptoms of itching along with a dry, flaky, and scaly coat. While itching is a common symptom associated with secondary bulldog seborrhea, it’s important to note that several underlying conditions within this category do not lead to itch.
Bulldog dry skin disease itching type
They are secondary to common bulldog and French bulldog skin conditions, such as:
- Bulldog Atopic Itch Allergic Dermatitis
- Bulldog Food Allergy Dermatitis
- Bulldog Yeast Dermatitis
- Bulldog Pyoderma
- Bulldog Scabies
- Skin Disease Due To Gut Dysbiosis and Leaky Bowel Syndrome
Bulldog dry skin disease non-itching type
- Bulldog Demodex Red Mite
- Bulldog Endocrine Diseases like Bulldog hypothyroidism and Bulldog Cushing Syndrome
- Bulldog Pemphigus (sometimes)
- Bulldogs living in a dry, low-humidity geographic location
Flakes are a symptom, not a diagnosis
If you take one thing from this page, take the rule of thumb above. The great majority of dry flaky skin in this breed is secondary, which means the flaking is what you can see and the reason for it is something else. Treat the flakes alone and you will get a decent week after each bath and a return to square one in between, which is exactly the pattern owners describe to me when they have been managing it on their own for months.
The fork that decides everything is whether he itches. An itchy flaky Bulldog is usually dealing with allergy, with a yeast or bacterial problem on the skin, or with mites, and the flaking is collateral damage from the inflammation and the scratching. A flaky Bulldog who does not itch at all points somewhere quite different: a hormonal condition such as an underactive thyroid or Cushing’s, demodex, or in some cases nothing more sinister than a dry house in winter. Same flakes, completely different investigations. You already know which one your dog is, and telling your veterinarian plainly is worth more than any test.
On the bathing itself, two practical points that I had to repeat more often than any others. A medicated shampoo has to sit on the skin for a good ten to fifteen minutes before it is rinsed, and almost nobody waits that long, which is why so many owners conclude a shampoo did nothing. And the product has to match the state of the skin. A degreasing shampoo on an already dry coat makes it drier, and an antiseptic one on skin with no infection strips it for no benefit. Matching the product to the problem matters a great deal more than which brand it is.
Dry Flaky Skin in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs Diagnosis
- Age, History, and Distribution are all vital for the diagnosis
- Skin Scraping: to r/o Demodex and Sarcoptic Mange
- Skin Cytology: to r/o bacteria, yeast, and abnormal cells
- Skin Biopsy: for histopathology
- Allergy Blood Testing (VARL): for Atopic Dermatitis
- Food Trial (RX elimination diets): for food allergies
Dry Flaky Skin in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs / Treatment
Topical therapy and Supplements are essential for all Bulldog Dry and Flaky Skin Disease, as well as Bulldog Oily Greasy Flaky Skin
- FREQUENCY: 1-2 weeks in the beginning, then as needed for maintenance.
- CONTACT TIME: shampoos & conditioners, contact time is 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing.
- HYDRATION: Humectants & Emollients 10 to 15 minutes of minimum contact time are needed to allow proper hydration of the skin.
They are often applied as an after-shampoo conditioner or mixed in them.
- Humectants attract water.
- Emollients prevent water loss and soften the skin.
KERATOLYTIC & KERATOPLASTIC: to help remove scales and flakes. ANTI-PRURITIC: to help reduce the itch. ANTISEPTIC: to help manage secondary bacterial infection. ANTI-YEAST: to help manage secondary yeast infection. DEGREASERS: For bulldog oily flaky greasy skin (Bulldog Oily Seborrhea) to help flush the hair follicles and remove excess oils. BATHING: once or twice a week with medicated shampoo. MOUSSING & GELLING: on non-bath days.
Therapeutic topicals for Bulldog dry skin
Bulldog medicated shampoos
Provided here are various medicated shampoos you should implement depending on the skin state, itchiness, and presence of infection:
- Oily Greasy Bulldog: V4B Oily Bully Medicated Shampoo
- Dry Flaky Bulldog: V4B Bully Hypoallergenic and V4B Bully Aloe Oatmeal Medicated Shampoos
- Itch Bulldog: V4B Bully ItchLess 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner
- Infected Bulldog: V4B Yeasty Bully Antiseptic Medicated Shampoo
- Yeasty Bulldog: V4B Antiseptic Yeasty Bully Medicated Shampoo
Bulldog dry skin no rinse lotion & gels
Bully no-rinse gels and lotion should be used in between baths. They are extremely easy to use, and no rinsing is needed.
- ITCHY BULLDOG: V4B Itchy Bully Gel w/PS
- INFECTED BULLDOG: V4B Yeasty Bully Gel
- SKIN FOLD DERMATITIS BULLDOG: V4B Bully Skin Fold Lotion w/PS
Bulldog dry skin after-shampoo conditioner
Bulldog dry skin spray & wipes
- Antiseptic, Anti-Yeast Bundle
- SPRAY: V4B Bully Skin Fold Antiseptic Spray
- WIPES: V4B Bully Skin Fold Antiseptic Extra Large Wipes and Small Wipes
Bulldog dry skin supplements
- V4B Bully Fish Oil EFA chews Anti-Inflammatory & Skin Barrier Repair:
- V4B Bully Multivitamins Formula
- V4B Bully Pre & Probiotics, V4B Bully Immune Support.
- Vit A, Retinoids
Bulldog dry skin itch control
Often itch control RX is needed at the early intense, acute phase. BULLDOG DRY SKIN RX ANTISEPTIC: Often Antibacterial & Antifungal systemic RX are needed during the acute phase to help eliminate the secondary infection.
On most pages in this range I am explaining why a product is a supporting act. Here topical care is genuinely central, because flaking skin needs scale lifted off it, water put back into it and the barrier helped to hold that water, and none of that happens from the inside. These are topicals, so they belong alongside whatever your veterinarian has advised rather than in place of it, and the treatment decision stays theirs, which matters because an itchy or infected dog usually needs prescription help first before a shampoo can achieve much.
Two things decide whether you get value from any of it. Match the product to the skin: a hypoallergenic or aloe oatmeal preparation for a plain dry coat, an antiseptic one only where there is actually infection, a degreasing one only for the greasy type. And give it contact time, a good ten to fifteen minutes before rinsing, which is the step almost everyone skips. On non-bath days the no-rinse gels and lotions keep the routine going without another bath. The aloe and oatmeal bundle is the gentler option for a simply dry coat and the Ultimate covers the folds as well. Fish oil and the skin supplements listed above may help the barrier from the inside over a good few weeks.
To be clear: supplements or topicals are not substitutes for prescribed treatment. If your dog is unwell, is being treated for a condition, or is already on medication, review any supplement or topical with your veterinarian so it fits the plan you are already following. This page is educational and is not a diagnosis or a treatment plan for your own dog.
Most medicated shampoos fail at the sink, not in the bottle
Owners tell me a medicated shampoo did nothing. Nine times out of ten the bottle was fine and the bath was the problem, so here is what I actually mean by bathing a Bulldog.
Wet him properly first. That takes longer than people think on a dense coat, and shampoo on a half wet dog never reaches the skin.
Work it down to the skin, not through the hair. The skin is where the flaking, the yeast and the bacteria live. A lather sitting on the coat is doing nothing but looking busy.
Then leave it alone. Medicated shampoos work on contact time, and this is the step everyone skips. Lather, wait, and use the waiting for the folds, the tail pocket and the feet. A product rinsed off straight away has been bought and poured down the drain.
Rinse thoroughly, then dry thoroughly, and pay particular attention to the places that stay damp. A Bulldog who goes back to his bed with wet folds is a Bulldog who gets a different problem next week.
Think of it as marinating rather than rinsing a plate. The time it sits there is the part that does the work.
Our shampoos and conditioners are topicals, so they sit alongside whatever your veterinarian has advised rather than replacing it. Used properly they do a great deal. Used in a three minute bath they do very little, and that is not the bottle’s fault.
Dr. Kraemer’s Dry Skin in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs Tips and Warnings
Bulldog dry skin topicals & supplements tip
Topical therapy that includes medicated shampoos, after-shampoo conditioners, No-Rinse mousses, and gels, as well as complementary therapeutic supplements is critical for the short and long term.
- SAFE: They Are Safe and thus can be used long-term.
- $: They Are Inexpensive.
- EASY: They are easy to implement.
- CONVENIENT: They are done at home.
- TREATS: Supplements are available in chews and given as treats.
Bulldog shampoos & conditioners
Medicated shampoos and conditioners should be used:
- FREQUENCY: Bi-weekly during the acute phase, and less frequently thereafter.
- CONTACT: Contact before rinsing should be 10-15min.
- WATER TEMP: If there is inflammation (redness) you should not bathe with hot/warm water.
- IDEAL COMBO: Most times a combination of multiple medicated shampoos, wipes, gels, and sprays is needed.
Bulldog primary seborrhea sicca
- Less common than secondary seborrhea sicca
- Genetic/Inherent, thus often shows up at a young age
- Same treatment, some might need Vit A, Zinc, Retinoid
Flaky Bulldog itching tip
The common pruritic types are:
- Bulldog itch atopic allergic dermatitis
- Bulldog food allergy allergic dermatitis
- Bulldog flea allergy
Flaky Bulldog non-itching tip
Common nonpruritic types are:
- Bulldog Demodex
- Bulldog hypothyroid
- Bulldog Cushing syndrome
- Bulldog dry, non-humid geographic location
Bulldog dry skin treatment duration tip
Treating the acute phase is usually 2-3 months in duration pending improvements.
Bulldog dry skin RX itch control warning
Controlling itch is crucial to prevent self-trauma and damage to your bulldog’s skin barrier. In severe or acute cases, medication may be necessary to manage the itching. However, it’s important to exercise caution as cortisone, steroids, and pred are commonly prescribed for their effectiveness in reducing itchiness.
Despite their initial benefits, prolonged use of these medications can lead to significant adverse effects.
Flaky Bulldog skin RX antiseptic warning
secondary bacteria (Staphylococcus ) and yeast (Malassezia) infections are common and often require systemic medication.
Bulldog seborrhea RX harmful side effects warning
Many of the medications (RX) used can lead to side effects over time:
- STEROIDS: Steroids can lead to iatrogenic Cushing syndrome and a long list of serious medical problems.
- ANTIBIOTICS: Antibiotics can lead to the superbug, multidrug-resistant bacteria, MRSP.
- ATOPICA: Atopica often causes nausea and diarrhea.
- APOQUEL: Apoquel is a possible immune suppressant when given twice a day.
All RX can negatively impact your bulldog’s GI microbiome (“good “ gut microflora), which can lead to dysbiosis and leaky gut syndrome.
Dry Flaky Skin in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs Summary Must Do
- TOPICAL & SUPPLEMENTS (NONPRESCRIPTION): Always implement topical therapy and supplements.
- DIAGNOSIS BASED: Systemic RX should be given based on diagnostic testing findings.
- PRESCRIPTION RX: RX should be prescribed for maximum impact, at the minimal dosage, and for the shortest optimal duration.
In contrast to prescription drugs, therapeutic supplements and topicals are :
- SAFE: for long-term use
- $: inexpensive, affordable
- EFFECTIVE: very effective when used correctly
- EASY & CONVENIENT: used at home and easy to do
Is it just dandruff? Can I leave it?
He flakes badly but never scratches. Does that mean anything?
How often should I bathe him? I thought frequent washing dries skin out.
Can I use a human dandruff shampoo, or baby shampoo?
Will fish oil sort it out?
He looks great for a week after a bath and then the flakes return.
Could it be his thyroid?
More Help from Dr. Kraemer
Flaking is usually the visible end of something else. These pages cover the usual suspects:
- Itchy skin and allergy in Bulldogs
- Pyoderma and bacterial skin infection
- Yeast infection in Bulldogs
- Demodex mites, the parasite that is easy to assume is absent
- Hypothyroidism, a common reason for a dull coat with no itch
- Crusty nose and paw hyperkeratosis
References
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Hyperplastic and Seborrheic Syndromes in Animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Principles of Topical Treatment in Animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Atopic Dermatitis in Dogs
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Diagnosis of Skin Diseases in Small Animals
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