Tag: bulldog health

That Was a Sneeze?

Sabrina A.W.
Daisy face post-sneeze

The first time I heard Dallas reverse sneeze I went into complete emergency mom mode (a.k.a. fully freak out and panic). It sounded horrible and nothing, nothing like a sneeze! It sounded more like a honking angry goose but way louder. If you have never seen a dog reverse sneezing, I suggest you google it. It’s pretty crazy.

Reverse sneezing is pretty common in our home and as I said, it is alarming to hear, but it is normal and nothing to be concerned about. It occurs when the dog’s soft palate is irritated. The soft palate can become irritated by many things such as:

  • allergies
  • household products
  • scents
  • having their collar pulled
  • excessive exercise
  • nasal mites
  • viral infections

These irritants can cause a spasm that triggers the trachea to narrow and in turn , the dog will try to get extra air into its lungs by stretching his neck and opening his chest. When he fails to get the air through his trachea, he will then forcefully pull air through his nose which causes the backwards sneeze.

Now I know I said that it is nothing to be concerned about but it may be a good idea to take a video of your pet in action and have your vet take a look at it to make sure that it is in fact just a reverse sneeze and not some other condition. Also, if it is something that is happening chronically then you may want to bring that up to your vet as well.

Reverse sneezing, also known as Paroxysmal Respiration, doesn’t require any medical attention. I’ve read that you can cover their nostrils which forces them to swallow which could help eliminate whatever is irritating their throat but I like to give “mom attention” instead. I try and soothe her by speaking softly and trying to calm her while gently rubbing her throat. It usually passes within 30 seconds although it does feel much longer.

How to Care for our Squishy-Faced Friends

Sabrina A.W.
a fist full of squish

Oh those cute bulldog faces! So wrinkly, squishy, cute and stinky. Ya, unfortunately those wrinkles that we love so much can become pretty funky pretty quick if not taken care of. Part of a bulldog owners daily routine should consist of cleaning and caring for their bully’s wrinkles. I wanted to share my wrinkle care routine and a couple products that help me tackle the funk and stink.

Those wrinkles can be real moisture and bacteria traps therefore keeping them clean will help prevent the development of infections. Our girl Daisy was born with the largest nose rope that I have ever seen! She has grown into it but it is still quite large. She also has very active tear ducts that keeps her face very wet. Any time that Daisy eats, drinks or chews on her toys, her face gets even more wet. Every day (sometimes a few times a day) I will clean her face with a baby wipe. I make sure that the wipes I am using are gentle and fragrance-free. I clean under her nose rope and in-between her folds. Once I have cleaned them up I will use a soft cloth and I pat them dry. I try not to rub them too much. I don’t want to cause her any irritation. If her folds smell stinky (they tend to smell like a dirty, wet dish rag) I will use a chlorhexidine solution to clean away the bacteria. We have used these wipes in the past that have worked really well https://www.amazon.ca/DOUXO-Chlorhexidine-3-Pads-Ct/dp/B01MDRJZGZ These wipes are really thick so we would sometimes cut them in half to make them last longer.

You can also purchase the Chlorhexidine solution and use a quilted cotton pad (you don’t really want to use the regular cotton balls as will leave cotton behind on their faces) to clean them up. The solution will last forever! https://www.amazon.ca/Durvet-Chlorhexidine-Solution-fl-oz/dp/B000HHSD8M/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2af-BRDzARIsAIVQUOf3d-r4YqUc0gLR6EaBEg6j2g7yeAI-7gcVEs9kiNoqP1g2D7aOH7oaArY3EALw_wcB&hvadid=208447550566&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9001003&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12801653351656807521&hvtargid=kwd-296696470771&hydadcr=27202_9609738&keywords=chlorhexidine+solution&qid=1607099238&sr=8-2&tag=googcana-20

Once we have used the solution and patted the folds dry again I will keep them dry with a wrinkle paste. We like Squishface Wrinkle Paste and not because it has a cute bulldog on the tube and I am a sucker for everything bulldog but because it is really thick and works like a charm. https://www.amazon.ca/Squishface-Wrinkle-Paste-Wrinkles-Frenchies/dp/B01JH2DG8O

This routine has helped us care for our girls and we haven’t faced any infections yet. Bulldogs are a special breed that require special care. I would love to hear about some of your tips and products that have worked for you and your bullies!

If it was only boogers!

Sabrina A.W.

I loved this meme the moment I saw it. It’s funny because it’s true! Eye boogers, dirty wrinkles, crusty butt nuggets… is this what I signed up for? Yup. I sure did and I will do it again and again!

Bulldogs tend to need a little extra care when it comes to keeping themselves clean. The way that they are built doesn’t really allow them access to all their bits and pieces, if you know what I mean. That is where us pet owners come in. We stockpile baby wipes in our house! We wipe our girls after they come in from their business. We wipe their feet when they are muddy. We wipe their eye boogers, wrinkles and tail pockets too. They really do come in very handy. Just make sure that they are hypoallergenic and scent free.

To some, this may sound like a lot of work and sometimes it does feel like a lot (especially when our girls are in heat and now there are diapers to deal with too!). If that is the case, then maybe a Frenchie is not for you, or maybe any dog for that matter.

Bulldogs do need extra care but when you are in love with your pet, those things aren’t a bother. It’s one of the ways that we show our furry buddies how much we care for them.

There is a plus side to having a dog that can’t reach it’s own butt! You will never have that awkward moment on the couch with your father-in-law when your dog decides to come on over and start licking himself. Ya, I don’t know about you, but that there is enough for me! “You need a bum wipe Luna? No problem!”