Suffering the seasonal itch, allergies, or even dog acne? Here is some helpful information on how to keep your furry friend's skin happy, good looking, and scratchy free.
Your dog is going through their teenage pimply phase?
Pimples suck, we all know this! It sucks worse for you furry friends since ignoring dog acne puts them at risk for irritation and infection. Causes of dog acne include genetic predispositions, hormones, as well as trauma/stress. Bulldogs and other breeds with wrinkly skin are more prone to acne because bacteria become trapped between skin folds, the perfect environment for pimples to bloom. One thing we've noticed is the hygiene of the food bowls can be a big culprit to the nasty chin bumps. Stainless steel is always the go to since it is safes and easier to keep clean. Plastic food bowls can get small scratches over time which trap and hold bacteria that cannot be removed even with cleaning. Be careful with elevated feeders that are made of wood as well. Certain wood over time can trap bacteria in fissures and transfer them to your pets skin the next time they eat or drink. Think about it... what is the one spot where a dog is rubbing against while eating? Their chinny chin chin of course! If your dog is suffering from the dreaded chin pimples, switch up their bowls/feeders and healing dog balm specially formulated to treat and prevent skin conditions and discomfort. If the problem is persisting, please contact your local veterinarian as soon as possible.
Nose losing that shine? No worries!
Most of the time, a dry nose is just a dry nose. Brachycephalic breeds are prone to dry nose - dogs with short snouts, like Bulldogs, often have difficulty licking their nose. Nasal hyperkeratosis is another common occurrence in most flat faced breeds, that is marked by the excessive formulation of nose crust called keratin, which is a type of protein overgrowth. This condition isn’t life-threatening and most veterinarians consider nasal hyperkeratosis as merely a cosmetic issue. You may have to apply moisturizer to keep it moist and will help comfort and prevent further cracking. Be wary of dehydration along with sunburns in the upcoming summer months as they are very damaging to a dogs nose. Because dogs lick their noses so often, whatever you use should be safe to eat. The nose is a dog’s chief sensory source of information and you want to keep it in top working order, looking, and feeling good. Castor or olive oil can make a world of difference in a dry, cracked doggy nose.
Let's get paw-personal and talk about interdigital cysts and yeasty paws.
We are going to start with those gross, red, painful lumps between your dog’s toes. Interdigital cysts are large lesions that form between a dog’s toes, typically in the webbing of their front paws. Interdigital cysts typically look red and sometimes filled with blood or pus. Certain breeds are more prone to these cysts. Dogs who have short hair between the webbing of their toes are most at risk because these hairs can be pushed into hair follicles. This can lead to inflammation and secondary bacterial infections. Dogs with shorter, coarser hair coats like Bulldogs are more likely to have inflamed follicles. You have probably seen it once or twice before, thankfully they can easily be treated or go away naturally just by cleaning their paws daily. Biggest issue here is yeast! That yucky brownish red gunge between the toes and paw pads will cause interdigital cysts and excessive licking. Miconazole (active ingredient of Monistat) is a commonly used topical antifungal. It is safe to apply to your dog's paws in small amount. Carefully clean and dry the paws before applying a small amount of Monistat in between the toes. Obviously it is not ideal if he licks it right off – the medication will not have time to work, and while he is unlikely to ingest enough to cause toxicity there is always a small risk. Toxicity is more of a concern if a dog chews the whole tube!
Some of our favorite products to help with paws, chins, a nose are made by a Canadian company called Loyal Canine Co.
Keeping that coat gorgeous and shinny.
Patches of hair loss on the sides? That would be called seasonal flank alopecia. It is a skin condition of dogs that typically occurs during the winter months. Affected dogs lose patches of hair, without any other significant evidence of skin disease and commonly effects the Bulldog breed. Seasonal flank alopecia typically begins in early adulthood and often continues on a yearly basis throughout the rest of the dog’s life. What causes it is thought to be by an abnormal response of the hair follicles to the normal hormonal changes that occur with changing day length. This condition is purely cosmetic; therefore, no treatment is really necessary. If you would like to treat this condition for cosmetic reasons however, melatonin is often used for treatment and we swear by it. To be on the safer side, always check with your vet for a diagnosis of seasonal flank alopecia. This is to rule out other possible causes for the hair loss due to unknown health issues. Bloodwork, including a complete blood cell count (CBC), serum biochemistry, and thyroid level, is often performed to rule out hormonal diseases that may cause similar patterns of hair loss.
Dry flaky skin on your Bully sucks but we know the drill.
Generally speaking, bathing your dog can be a chore especially if they hate the tub or shower. Good hygiene makes for a good coat and regular cleaning is a must, not to mention it keeps shedding and dander down, cleanliness is next to doggy godliness! Other thing to do is checking your dog food. Feeding good quality food with Omega-6 & 3 fatty acids (we love Canadian Naturals Omega Fresh Angus Beef), are highly beneficial to their skin in the long run. If your seeing a lot of dandruff, your bully might be suffering from something else entirely. Many Bulldogs can suffer from dry, flaky, scaly skin, though some might suffer from greasy, oily, flaky skin, the medical term for both conditions is Bulldog seborrhea. If this is the case, aggressive alopecia can happen and might be a serious issue which needs to be addressed with medicated shampoos and antibiotics from your veterinarian. Usually these might be underlying issues with dysbiosis, leaky bowel syndrome, infection, or thyroid so consult your local veterinarian as soon as you can.
Slightest of allergies can be solved with your standard antihistamine.
You can use diphenhydramine (Benadryl) to ease the worst of their allergy symptoms, our dog doesn’t need to suffer (with a vet’s guidance of course!). Bully's are curious and energetic, so it’s inevitable that some of them will wind up in some sticky situations. From running through some poison ivy to getting stung by a bee, there are plenty of problems that can lead to your dog feeling itchy, uncomfortable, and swollen from an allergic reaction. The correct dosage of diphenhydramine for dogs depends on their weight. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, the safe dosage is 2-4 milligrams of medication per kilogram of weight, or 0.9 to 1.8 milligrams per pound. This amount can be administered two to three times daily, depending on your dog’s symptoms. While it’s best to use vet-approved Benadryl tablets or ointments, in some cases it is possible to use tablets intended for humans if the situation is dire.
Last recommendation!! We we swear it's good!
Seasonal allergies are common in dogs of all breeds and backgrounds, and Dermabliss is a natural option to help soothes skin-related issues associated with seasonal allergies. Give the recommended amount daily based on the weight of your pet. It's amazing what a little chew and do!®
In a closing note:
The health and well being of all canines are in our best interest and we like to provide our help the best way we can. We are bulldog lovers and canine enthusiasts, not just your average breeder and wish to share our knowledge when we can. Always consult your veterinarian when any issues arise with your pets, we can't stress this enough. Wish you all the best this summer!
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