Nobody who owns a bulldog will ever tell you that their dog lacks for hunger. For many people dogs end up being an animated garbage disposal when it comes to dinner. However, you need to be careful on what you are feeding your dog. Bulldogs in particular tend to be more susceptible to “toxic” foods.

For starters, your bulldog should be fed a recommended dog food. Table scraps just won’t do. Surprised? Well, here are five foods that might do more than make your dog whimper a little. These foods can cause some serious damage to your favorite companion. And, it’s a good bet that some of these foods might surprise you.

On this list we are looking at everyday foods that might surprise you. We’ve left out the common toxic foods such as chocolate, grapes, raisins, and onions. So, before you clear off your dinner table into your bulldog’s food dish take a look at these human delicious, yet bulldog toxic foods. You’ll thank us.

1. Raw Bread Dough

Raw bread dough can harm your dog in several ways.

First, introducing raw dough (yeast) to a dog’s stomach can inhibit fermentation.

Secondly, the dough can cause large gas bubbles that force your dog’s stomach and intestines to expand. This can lead to extreme pain and a ruptured stomach or intestinal tract.

2. Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are on this list because of how recently they’ve been discovered to be a problem for dogs. In fact, the discovery is so new that scientists don’t even know what chemical compounds harm the dogs. What’s unique about macadamia nuts is that dogs appear to be the only species known to have problems.

While problems appear to be nonfatal, your dog will definitely be in pain. They may experience frequent vomiting, difficulty walking, tremors, depression, and hypothermia.

3. Apple Cores

Apples may be one of the most popular fruits on the market, but for dogs, apple cores can be one of the most toxic. The core of an apple contains cyanogenic glycosodes. Haven’t heard of it? Well, how about its common name—cyanide?

Leaving your cores laying around can lead your dog to breathing problems, seizures, shock and coma.

4. Avocado

Avocado’s are a deliciously buttery fruit popular in guacamole, sandwiches, and pasta. However, for your english bulldog the dangers are two-fold.

First, the entire fruit from the pit to the leaves contains a toxin called persin that can lead to stomach problems, breathing issues, and fluid build-up in the chest.

Second, the pit—hard and slippery—can become lodged in the bulldog’s gastrointestinal tract.

5. Bacon

Okay, I bet you didn’t expect to see bacon on the list. In fact, many of you might have been sliding crisp pieces of fatty bacon to your bulldog for years. However, fat-rich bacon can lead to pancreatic which can lead to an inflamed pancreas that affects its functionality.

When the pancreas loses functionality your dog will suffer from digestion issues and difficulty absorbing nutrients.

The average lifespan of an English Bulldog is between 8 and 10 years. To put this in perspective, smaller dogs such as Chihuahua’s and Yorkshire Terriers have a life span of 17-20 years old. Conversely, larger dogs such as Mastiffs have a lifespan as short as 5-6 years.

When it comes to lifespan, size does matter for dogs. However, it is important to understand that every dog is different, as every breed is different. For bulldogs, helping them live a fulfilling and long life means tending to their unique physical and emotional needs.

While a bulldog’s lifespan may only be 8-10 years, many have lived as long as 15 – 18 years. To help your dog reach a long life here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Stick to healthy and nutritional food for your bulldog:

English Bulldogs are notorious eaters. When considering a healthy and nutritional food you will also need to consider how much food to feed your bulldog and how often. Castlewood Bulldogs can always help you to decide on a food brand and type that is best for your bulldog. The guideline for feeding a bulldog is 20 to 70 calories per pound, per day. This of course varies depending on your dog’s lifestyle (sedentary or active). You should also feed your dog several times a day, as if you leave a big bowl of food out once a day your bulldog may very well eat it all in one sitting which can cause multiple problems.

Some research has suggested that varying your bulldog’s daily food schedule can help your dog stay healthier.

2. Be proactive with your bulldog’s health:

Due to the bulldog’s physical nature they are prone to health issues. While at one time bulldog’s may have been one of the healthier and strongest dogs on the planet, they are now domesticated into a breed that while loving, lacks some physical initiative such as running for long periods of time. Your English Bulldog is more likely inclined to cuddle up on the couch than he is to going for a long walk. In addition, his broad body may look intimidating, but in many ways can cause health issues.

Understanding the breed’s common health conditions such as obesity, cardiac and respiratory disease, are important to understanding symptoms of each. You will likely come to find your dog wheezes, slobbers, and has gas issues. Over time you will come to find how your bulldog does each of these and what is, or is not normal for your bulldog. However, it is important to be diligent and not allow something you feel is normal to be ignored. There are many underlying health concerns for bulldogs.

Take your bulldog to the vet regularly, and be quick to check up on any concerns.

3. Understand your bulldog’s genetics

As mentioned with health issues, it is important to understand your bulldog’s ancestry, if for anything to understand potential genetic health issues that may plague your dog later in life. Genetic conditions for bulldogs – as with many dog breeds – can affect nearly their entire body. In addition to hereditary respiratory and cardiac conditions, your dog’s ancestry may include skin, reproductive, and digestive conditions as well as others.

Keep in mind, that dogs, just like humans, have the same concern over genetic history. However, the importance is understanding your dog’s genetics so you know how to address the concern if it does appear in your bulldog.

4. Be there emotionally for your bulldog

Bulldogs are cuddly, friendly, and need your emotional companionship. They are, after all companion dogs, and will reciprocate your love. The emotional well-being of your dog will have a strong influence on your dog’s stress level. Most bulldogs tend to be so relaxed home owners will often forget they are around. So, it’s important your dog is given affection and positive nurturing attention.

The more playtime and cuddle time you can get in with your bulldog the better off they will be in the long run.

5. Try to go for a walk with your bulldog

Alright, so your bulldog may not be as excited to walk around the block as other dog breeds are. However, this does not mean that you shouldn’t try. All dogs need exercise, and for bulldogs prone to laziness and obesity it can’t be stressed enough to try and get your dog exercise.

While you shouldn’t expect your bulldog to sprint up and down the park, you can expect a short walk. And that’s all you need to start with. For most bulldogs, they will accommodate a walk of a certain distance. It may not be long, but whatever your dog’s comfort level is, is what is important. You shouldn’t have to drag your dog. If he isn’t willing to go farther, then turn around and go home. Remember, emotional and physical well-being should go hand in hand.

The best way to deal with hot spots is to prevent them from forming in the first place. To do this, learn what is causing them. In most cases, hot spots in bulldogs are caused by food allergies, meaning proper diet and nutrition is the best form of prevention. Feed your dog a high quality, grain free food (grains are the leading cause of food allergies). You can also have a veterinarian test your bulldog for environmental allergies and recommend a treatment. If allergies are not the cause of your dog’s hot spots, fleas or ticks might be the culprit. You can stave off these pesky insects topically with Diatomaceous Earth; a natural, non-harmful, food grade powder. No matter the cause, preventing hot spots is a lot cheaper and a lot easier on your dog than treating those that have already formed.

When a hot spot does form, you’ll need to treat it properly to avoid infection. Topical ointments treat hot spots particularly well. What has worked best for my bulldogs is Nu-Stock. To use Nu-Stock, apply a generous amount to the affected area with a gloved hand. (The product is quite smelly.) Repeat this every three days, or until the wound scabs and dries up. By this time the affected area may be completely bald but the nice thing about Nu-Stock is that it also promotes hair growth. Nu-Stock is also useful for cuts, abrasions, and various other skin conditions, so it’s good to keep it around even after the hot spot disappears.

Whatever the cause, managing hot spots is an important part of being a bulldog owner. The lesions are uncomfortable and can lead to other, more serious problems like infections. Thankfully, these problems are easy to avoid, and hot spots can be taken care of cheaply and effectively.

How To Treat Bulldogs With Bad Breath

Imagine sitting down to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee when you detect a terrible smell. You walk around the room, looking under rugs and behind bookcases. Then, your wrinkly-faced bulldog trots up to assist with the search, panting like he always does, and you stop, realizing you’ve found the source of your woes. It was your beloved dog the whole time. As each breath plumes into the air, you know you must do something to treat it. Luckily, there are ways to get rid of the dreaded “doggy breath.”

Woah….my bulldog could use a breath mint!

There’s one thing in particular that is often the culprit giving our bulldogs foul breath. As a bulldog licks or grooms itself, hair loosens and goes straight into the mouth. These fine bits of hair have the nasty habit of gathering at the gum line. If these bits of hair go unnoticed for a time they begin to take on a foul odor giving our bully atrocious breath. Unfortunately there is nothing they can do about it on their own. This is where their human comes in to save the day. It’s a simple fix and only takes a minute to do. Go to you medicine cabinet, grab a couple of cotton swabs, and clean all hair and debris from the upper and lower gum line, rinse with water and you’re done.

How To Clean Your Bulldogs Teeth

The most important and most obvious way to treat bad breath and prevent oral disease is to brush your dog’s teeth. What isn’t obvious, though, is how to do this without getting toothpaste on the walls because your dog refuses to let you do it. To make brushing less of a challenge, start brushing your dog’s teeth at an early age, and get him used to it by doing it every day. Begin by massaging his teeth with your fingers dipped in peanut butter. When he’s ready, introduce a toothbrush with dog-friendly toothpaste on it. There are many kinds of toothbrushes, ranging from rubber finger-sized ones to plastic ones that look similar to a human’s toothbrush. It’s a good idea to try each one to see which works best.

As is the case with brushing human teeth, there is a technique to brushing dog teeth. To start, gently grab the top of his muzzle and lift his upper lip. Brush as many outer teeth as you can by tilting the brush at an angle and using a circular motion. To make the experience positive, reward your dog with a treat or praise him if he doesn’t struggle or resist. Then, lift the upper jaw and brush the molars and insides of his teeth. If your dog starts to resist, keep your hand on his muzzle and wait until he stops to proceed. Do not force him. Repeat this process regularly, ideally on a daily basis, but at the least several times a week.

It is important to realize that brushing is only one part of preventative oral health. At home, regularly inspect your dog’s gums for signs of disease. Healthy gums are pink and not swollen. If you see redness, bleeding, swelling, growths, or tumors, or if you notice your dog drooling more, he might have a serious health problem and should be seen by a vet. During your dog’s annual check-up, have your vet inspect your dog’s teeth, and schedule a deep cleaning if necessary. Do remember that only someone familiar with English bulldogs should put your dog under anesthesia to reduce the risk of complications.

While bad breath may seem funny, in reality it is no laughing matter, especially for English bulldogs. Because of their bone structure, their teeth tend to crowd more, increasing the risk of infection. There is also a connection between oral health and overall health, so cleaning your dog’s teeth is not just about giving him a pretty smile; it could prolong his life.