ALLERGIES IN FRENCH BULLDOG: SOME INFORMATION AND CARE

 

Possibly your French bulldog already had some kind of skin allergy, right? Well know that the frequency of puppies with this type of problems is quite high.

Bulldogs, especially the French bulldog, are a breed very susceptible to allergies, which can have environmental or food causes. This allergy usually manifests between the first six months and three years of age. These allergies, which can also be called atopic dermatitis, are hereditary. They occur due to changes in the immune system of the French bulldog, which responds in an exaggerated way. There is no cure, but there is treatment and control to give your puppy a better quality of life. Control involves an association between medications (oral or injectable), desensitization (immunology), and topical products (shampoos and specific creams).

But beware: not every French bulldog will develop these skin conditions. Don't be alarmed that your puppy will be sick. The important thing is to stay informed if this happens. Learning to recognize the signs of an allergic reaction in your pet is the first step in taking care of it and referring it to the veterinarian.

In the following we will clarify some points regarding allergies that most affect French bulldogs, and what you need to know to give your pet maximum comfort.

 

TYPES OF ALLERGIES IN FRENCH BULLDOGS

Food allergies
The most common food allergy in French bulldogs is related to the type of protein your dog consumes. It may be related to the proteins of meat, soy, corn, wheat and even dairy or chicken eggs.

Environmental allergies
In addition to food allergies, bulldogs can develop allergies to some environmental agents. Among them are pollen, mold spores and mites.

HOW TO IDENTIFY IF YOUR FRENCH BULLDOG IS ALLERGIC
Both for allergies triggered by environmental agents and for food, French bulldogs will have irritable conditions on their skin. These include: itching, redness and swelling. The most inflamed parts of the body that dogs tend to lick, scratch and chew on are the fingers, groin, armpit, ears and eyes.
These symptoms may have an effect on your dog's general health. It is important to be alert if your French bulldog starts to develop secondary infections, such as ear infections. This condition can occur due to the frequency with which your puppy will scratch the ear region, favoring the occurrence of opportunistic infections.

 

POSSIBLE ALLERGY TREATMENTS FOR YOUR FRENCH BULLDOG

Food allergy
The safest way to diagnose food allergy is through the elimination diet. Remove all possible allergens from your dog's diet for approximately 7 days. If the symptoms go away, insert the food back into the diet, one at a time. This will facilitate the diagnosis. If that doesn't work, take your dog for physical exams. If the tests show no other disease, the vet will likely prescribe probiotics and, if necessary, medications.

Environmental allergy

There is no cure for environmental allergies, but you can find out what causes them and provide a comfortable life for your French Bulldog. When the clinical diagnosis is reached, it is advisable - if the dog is more than 1 year old - to start a desensitization treatment. This treatment aims to decrease the allergic sensitivity of your pet, through the inoculation of doses of the antigen that causes the allergic process. This treatment provides good results in about 80% of cases and can keep your French Bulldog asymptomatic or with very mild symptoms for about 2 to 3 years. In cases where the desensitization treatment does not work, or in those where it is not possible to identify the responsible allergens, medications are used to control the symptoms. Currently, there are highly effective drugs on the market, with few side effects, which can be used quite safely.

 

RECOMMENDED SKIN AND HAIR CARE FOR YOUR FRENCH BULLDOG

Due to the issues mentioned above, the French bulldog requires special attention, especially with regard to the care related to your skin and hair. It is recommended:

 Good quality diet: Good nutrition is essential to keep your dog's skin and coat healthy. Include in your fish diet. These are rich in omegas and will help keep your bulldog's skin hydrated.

Frequentes Frequent baths: weekly baths with specific shampoos to reinforce the skin barrier should be performed. They will decrease itching, irritation, deflate the skin, and control the growth of secondary pathogens.

? Pay close attention when drying: dogs like the French bulldog, which have folds, need more attention when drying.

? Daily cleaning of skin folds: skin folds are one of the areas most prone to irritation, so it is recommended to clean these areas daily with wipes or wipes specific for dogs.

Ovação Brushing: brush the animal's fur frequently. This procedure will also help to prevent infections.

? Ear / ear hygiene: regular cleaning of your French bulldog's ears is recommended to avoid ear infections. This procedure must be performed with ear cleaning products for dogs.

Take good care of your bulldog! It is worth mentioning that this text is for information purposes only. If your puppy has health problems, consulting a veterinarian is always the best option.