CARING FOR YOUR bULLDOG

The The best way to make sure your Bulldog puppy is obtaining the right amount and the correct type of food for his age is to follow the diet sheet provided by the breeder from whom you obtain your puppy. Do your best not to change the puppy's diet and you will be less apt to run into digestive problems and diarrhea. Diarrhea is very serious in young puppies. Puppies with diarrhea can dehydrate very rapidly causing severe problems and even death.

     If it is necessary to change your Bulldog puppy's diet for any reason, it should be done gradually, over a period of several meals and a few days. Begin by adding a few tablespoons of the new food, gradually increasing the amount until the meal consists entirely of the new product.
     The Single meal can be supplemented by a morning or nighttime snack of hard dog biscuits made especially for medium-sized dogs.  These biscuits not only become highly anticipated treats but are genuinely helpful in maintaining healthy gums and teeth.
     Fresh water and a properly prepared, balanced diet containing the essential nutrients in correct proportions are all a healthy Bulldog needs to be offered.  Dog foods come canned, dry, semi-moist, "scientifically fortified" and all-natural". A visit to your local supermarket or pet store will reveal how vast an array you will be able to select from.

Always feed your Bulldog a high quality food but not one that is high in protein. As far as protein content is concerned, your Bulldog should be on a diet recommended for seniors.  While it is important to remember all dogs, whether toy or giant, are carnivorous (meat eating) animals, Bulldogs cannot tolerate foods that are extremely high in protein.
     Beef, fed regularly, can create intestinal gas problems that are common to Bulldogs and a continual source of embarrassment to their owners.  Lamb based food seems to agree with most Bulldogs.  However, too much meat of any kind or a kibble too high in protein can also cause "hot spots." Hot spots are skin eruptions which cause severe itching that dogs will constantly scratch or chew until large open sores are created. If not attended to properly, the areas in which the skin has been broken begin to form moist, painful abscesses, all hair falls away and a veterinarian must be consulted.
     Finding commercially prepared diets which contain all the necessary nutrients in the proper balance will not present a problem.  It is important to understand though, these commercially prepared foods do contain most of the nutrients your Bulldog requires. Most Bulldog breeders recommend vitamin supplementation for healthy coat and increased stamina, specially for show dogs, pregnant bitches or growing puppies.