Skin and Coat in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs

Skin and Coat diseases are some of the common medical complaints I see in my bulldog practice.

Often, the chief complaint is some degree of itching, from mild to intense scratching and mutilation.

In addition, bulldog owners also complain about:

• Bad skin odor
• Greasy or overly Dry coat
• Scaly, flaky
• “Yeasty” Bulldog.
• Baldness & Alopecia 

Many bulldogs with dermatitis have some degree of hair loss. Some present with extensive diffuse baldness, others with only patchy, focal, multi-focal, or regional alopecia (hair loss).

Some conditions are continuous, others are seasonal or random.

Skin and Coat in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs / COMMON DISEASE:

ALLERGIES: food, atopic, fleas, contact

PARASITES: demodex mites, sarcoptic mites, fleas

KERETENIZATION DISEASE

INFECTIOUS: bacteria, yeast

ENDOCRINE: hypothyroid, Cushings syndrome

CANCER: mast cell tumor

IMMUNE MEDIATED: pemphigus

 Infections are usually secondary to a poorly manged primary problem like immune suppression or allergies.

Bulldog Skin and Coat Disease DIAGNOSIS:

The approach to most skin and coat problems in bulldogs and French bulldogs requires a step-by-step diagnosis, recognizing the breed-unique predispositions and extreme hypersensitivities.

It is important to conduct a proper medical history, chart the physical exam findings, and run the necessary diagnostic tests such as

• Cytology
• Skin Scrape
• Flea Comb
• Allergy Test
• Food Trial
• Fungal Culture
• Bacterial Culture
• Biopsy
• Other

Skin Coat in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs PREVENTIVE CARE:

It is critical to realize that many of the skin and coat problems in bulldogs and French bulldogs are not going to go away overnight and might never be completely resolved.

Preventive care and treatment often last for the pet’s entire life despite the owner’s compliance and goodwill.

Once again, we go full circle back to the cornerstone of this site, which is my “Zen & Bulldog Maintenance” teachings.

To become a  bulldog owner, you have to accept the reality of the “challenging care/beautiful” bulldog dichotomy which will help you to commit to diligent, lifelong bully maintenance.

Prevention is the safest, and least costly treatment to keep your bulldog comfortable, itch-free, and healthy.

The members of this bulldog community prefer prevention over RX

BULLDOG SKIN & COAT THERAPEUTIC SUPPLEMENTS:

Regardless of your bulldog and French bulldog’s skin and coat condition, there are a few effective nonprescription bully therapies you can administer

They are:

• Inexpensive
• Easy-to-administer
• Safe
• Effective against MRSP
• No side effects

Bulldog and French bulldog BATHING & WASHING

Water is soothing and helps remove allergens, bacteria, flakes, and dead skin.

Bully Therapeutic MEDICATED SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER:

Medicated shampoos can help:

• ANTISEPTIC: Fight yeast and bacterial dermatitis
• FOLLICULAR FLUSHING: Flush plugged hair follicles
• ITCH CONTROL: Reduce itch and scratch
• HYDRATE: Hydrate the skin and coat

Bulldog Therapeutic RINSE, SPRAY, GELS, and LOTION :

The hot spot spray, antiseptic spray, and waterless lotion complement Dr. Kraemer’s medicated shampoos.

• WATERLESS
• EASY
• QUICK
• INEXPENSIVE
• COMMENTS SHAMPOO

Bulldog and French bulldogs SKINFOLD ANTISEPTIC WIPES: 

• XL BULLY ANTISEPTIC WIPES
• SM BULLY ANTISEPTIC WIPES
• XL BULLY TEAR STAINLESS WIPES
• EARS CLEANSING WIPES

Bulldog Therapeutic SKIN & COAT SUPPLEMENTS:

Anti-inflammatories, stress relievers, skin barrier building blocks, immune boosters, and pre-and probiotics are all part of your holistic preventive approach to your bulldog skin and coat condition, and good health in general.

• IMMUNE BOOSTER
• FISH OIL EFA
• PRE & PROBIOTICS

Skin Disease in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs

Bulldog Skin Fold Moist Dermatitis

Due to your bulldog’s facial bone compression, they will likely have some excess skin folds over the nose, to the sides, and under both eyes that can lead to chronic skin disease.

• Facial
• Nose
• Chin
• Vaginal
• Paw
• Tail

Many will also suffer from abnormal tailbone growth that will twist the skin around tighter and tighter. .. Read More

Bulldog Demodicosis Mites (Red Mange Mites)

Demodicosis,(“red mange”), is a microscopic skin mite that can be presented “normally” in bulldog puppies, adult bulldogs, and other pets without any clinical problems.

In some bulldogs, especially in immune incompetent puppies and immune-compromised and stressed pets, Demodex can cause skin diseases, sometimes severe ones….Read More

Food Allergy in Bulldogs

Bulldog gastroenteritis food allergies and/or skin dermatitis food allergies are not as common as you might think.

In most cases, GI problems are more likely to be due to parasites, viral infection, bacteria, indiscretion eating, etc.

Your bulldog skin condition is more likely due to atopy (environmental allergens), fleas, yeast, and bacterial infection…..Read More

Environmental Atopic Allergic Itch Dermatitis in Bulldogs

Allergic Atopic Itch Dermatitis in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs are the most common allergies I see in my practice. ….Read More

Grain-Free Diet and Allergies in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs

In most cases, the allergy is to the diet protein source, not the carbohydrates/grains.

It is the meat portion of their diets (animal source) that is associated with bulldog food allergy, not the grains. ….Read More

MRSA (Multi Drug Resistance in Bulldogs) in Bulldogs

MRSA stands for “Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci Aureus” while  MRSP stands for “Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci Pseudintermedius”.

I am going to use the term “Multi-Drug Resistance in bulldogs” interchangeably with “Methicillin Resistant” to simplify the terminology….Read More

Allergy of the Paw (Pododermatitis) in Bulldogs

Pododermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease of the bulldog paw.

It is a common dermatologic problem in bulldogs, and is typically associated with underlying skinfold moist dermatitis and allergies….Read More

Bulldog Flank Alopecia Seasonal Baldness 

Bulldog Flank Alopecia, also known as Bulldog Seasonal Flank Baldness, is associated with a shorter period of sunlight due to the changing of the seasons….Read More

Bulldog Interdigital Cysts

Interdigital Cysts in bulldogs and French bulldogs are typically associated with a bright red, puffy, sometimes erupting lesion located in your bulldog web space….Read More

Bulldog Yeast Infection (Malassezia)

Yeast infections in bulldogs and French bulldogs are common to bulldog’s skin, bulldog’s ears, and bulldog’s skin-folds (facial, nasal, tail, toe, and vaginal folds)…Read More

Bulldog Bacterial Infection PYODERMA

Staphylococcus intermedius is the most common bacteria found, it is part of the normal bully skin microflora but can become an opportunist in the event of a damaged skin barrier due to allergy. Another trigger can be suppressed and compromise the immune system    ..Read More

*Coming Soon: 

All the “Skin-Coat in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs TOPICS” below will be published in the coming weeks. I will be happy to alert you of each new publication via email. Just add your email to our “Join Our V4B Community”  membership listing, or to our “ALERT”  email box in the top left corner. Also, I will alert you of the new release of my upcoming   ”Do It Yourself V4B Bully Maintenance Videos”.

*NEW  Hypothyroidism and Bulldogs…. (coming soon, sign up for our email alert) 

*NEW Ringworm and Bulldogs….(coming soon, sign up for our email alert) 

*NEW Cushings and Bulldogs….(coming soon, sign up for our email alert)