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The Bulldog is one of the most popular breeds of dog in the world, and it is really no surprise. They are loyal, friendly and affectionate, and feature a very unique appearance, which sets them apart from other breeds of dog. Although in general this breed does not usually pose many problems, there are a few aspects of the Bulldog that should be understood by anyone interested in getting one for themselves.

Bulldog allergies are one thing to be concerned with, and, especially if left untreated, they can get to be quite severe. There are actually five specific types of allergies that a Bulldog can develop, which are food allergies, flea allergies, bacteria allergies, contact allergies and atopy. The food allergies are particularly common, especially since there are so many different dog foods on the market and so the chances of your dog being allergic to one or more of the ingredients in the food you choose are relatively high.

There are a few symptoms to all the different types of Bulldog allergies that tend to develop at the onset of the condition. For food allergies in particular the most common symptom is scratching, due to a skin irritation. A few of the foods that may cause allergies in your dog include beef, chicken, lamb, fish, grains and corn.

Avoidance is obviously the best way to keep your dog from having an allergic reaction, however it can be difficult to determine which specific ingredient in the food is causing the dog problems.

It is important that you isolate the allergen, and you can try doing this with an elimination diet, which basically involves you slowly adding one ingredient to their diet at a time in order to determine which one specific ingredient in the food is causing the dog to react.

Flea allergies are also very common when it comes to Bulldog allergies, and one of the biggest mistakes on the part of owners here is that they think that the flea itself causes the allergy. This is actually not true and instead, it is the flea’s saliva that causes problems.

As most people are already aware, one of the most common symptoms of fleas is scratching, so if you ever notice that your dog is scratching or experiencing hair loss, you may want to have them checked for fleas. Then there are also bacterial allergies that can result in your dog developing crusts on their skin and patches of hair loss due to scratching.

Regardless of which particular Bulldog allergies your dog is suffering from it is important that if you ever think something is wrong you get them in to see the veterinarian as soon as possible. They will be able to make a proper assessment and from here determine the best method of treatment.

Last 5 posts by Bobby Callahan

• How To Find A Legitimate Bulldog Breeder - July 17th, 2008
• The Right Bulldog breeder - June 5th, 2008

Tags: Dogs