When I examine a new bulldog puppy that comes in for its first puppy visit and examine it from head to tail there are a lot of things to cover. This article is slanted towards things to hopefully watch out for and to avoid when choosing a puppy. Some things are also still very manageable and may not require you to choose a different puppy. Keep in mind that this is from my veterinary perspective looking at healthy physical characteristics, not necessarily what is popular amongst bulldog breeders. Ok, here we go.

Eyes: Most bulldogs will have some degree of lower lid entropion (eyelid curling under allowing hairs to touch the cornea). Generally, this will just cause the eye to water more and the bulldog owner will just have to wipe the area below the eye to keep it dry. If the puppy has severe entropion with both upper and lower eyelid involvement or if the puppy is already acting painful and having a difficult time keeping its eyes open then your puppy may need corrective eyelid surgery as an adult.

Nose: Examine the nares (or the nasal openings) to look for nicely open nostrils rather than narrow or what is known as “stenotic” nares. If the nares are so stenotic that it is difficult to see an opening or if it creates an audible restricted sound as air passes through the nares then your puppy may need surgical correction of the nares later in life.

Mouth: Most bulldogs have an underbite and unless there is such an extreme disparity between the upper part of the mouth and the jaw that makes it difficult to pick up food this generally does not cause any problems and is considered normal.

Facial Folds: They look great but remember the bigger they are and the more they have the more you’re going to have to keep them clean and dry.

Umbilicus or Belly Button:  This is a common site for a hernia known as an umbilical hernia. If you feel a little outpouching of fatty tissue in this area that either comes and goes or seems to disappear back into the belly when you press on it then the puppy probably has a hernia which should be later surgically repaired. This is not a serious problem and is easy to correct. Some puppies will have a small amount of fat that became entrapped at this site when the umbilical opening closed after birth that is not a true hernia and does not need to be corrected. These puppies look like they may have a small hernia but the fatty tissue cannot be pushed back into the abdomen.

Tail: Some puppies have an extremely tight, almost “ingrown” in appearance screwtail that can be more problematic than any of the above items listed in this article. If you cannot see a little space between the tail and the body while holding up the tail with minimal effort then it may be difficult for this area to stay dry and clean. This is a little difficult to describe but if, when you go around the tail base with your finger, it disappears under a ring of skin, this area will be prone to a very itchy, moist dermatitis for the life of your bulldog. You will need to clean this area at least weekly (if not more often) and apply creams such as pellitol or zinc oxide or use other remedies to promote a dry environment.

These are just some of the things that you can look for as you select your bulldog puppy. The first puppy visit with your veterinarian will also be very important as your veterinarian should check these areas as well as listening to the puppy’s heart and lungs, looking for congenital cataracts, checking the knees for luxating patellas, and checking for spina bifida if the puppy has any problems with incontinence and rear leg weakness.
This information may be used as a starting point in your discussions with your veterinarian. Please consult with your own veterinarian for your bulldog’s plan of care.

With best regards,

 

Dr. Erik Weisgerber

 

Dr. Erik Weisgerber

BEECHWOLD VETERINARY HOSPITAL

4590 INDIANOLA AVE.

COLUMBUS, OH 43214

(614) 268-8666