American bulldogs can make a great family pet but some additional care should be taken to monitor their skin health. American bulldogs can develop skin irritations caused by insects, food or environmental allergies, an overgrowth of yeast or a lifelong skin condition named ichthyosis. Cleanliness, a proper diet and frequent monitoring of your pet’s overall health will help decrease the likelihood of skin conditions with American bulldogs.
Insect Irritation
According to Great Breeds, you may see various skin conditions with American bulldogs if they are exposed to insect bites. Insects are more troublesome in warmer climates, with fleas being one of the most common. Two skin conditions caused by flea bites that affects many breeds including American bulldogs are pyotraumatic dermatitis or hot spots and flea allergy dermatitis or FAD. This is caused by a dog itching, licking or chewing at flea bitten areas. Your dog may irritate the skin to the point where sores form and begin to seep, which can invite other bacteria to enter the damaged skin.
Allergies
American bulldogs can develop allergies to their environment such as pollen and grass allergies. An antihistamine prescribed by your vet is usually helpful as well as controlling their diet. Some dogs may need to be fed corn free or gluten free diets to help control their sensitivity to these common elements.
Food allergies can also cause skin conditions. Just like humans, the occasional American bulldog will develop a food allergy which can cause hives and much itching. Itching again leads to scratching, licking and chewing and the possibility of sores. A hypoallergenic diet may be prescribed with ingredients such as cottage cheese, mutton, tofu, rice or corn oil. Previous dietary food items can be added back in to the diet one at a time to try to isolate which food is causing the allergy.
Hereditary Problems
Ichthyosis is rare but will cause skin problems with American bulldogs. The outer layer of the skin and footpads becomes more thickened and the skin is rough with greasy flakes that visibly stick to the hair and skin. Ichthyosis is usually detected at birth and will become more pronounced with age. Older dogs that seem to contract the disease later on may have another underlying problem that is not ichthyosis. This skin condition can and should be managed under the care of a veterinarian to prevent infections from cracked skin. Dogs and their parents and siblings who carry this inherited trait should not be allowed to breed.
Oh Those Cute Wrinkles
Those heavy wrinkles are cute, but yeast growth in wrinkles can cause skin conditions with American bulldogs especially in areas of the country that have hot and humid conditions. Yeast growth will give off an odor and may be irritating for your dog but is easily treated by cleaning the wrinkles and folds regularly.
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