Health is a crucial subject when it comes to the well-being of pets. The difference between poor health and good health is in the dietary lifestyle, state of mind, exercise, and hygiene. Good hygiene comes with commitment and frequency to ensure optimal health for our pets. When it comes to the English bulldog, proper grooming could spell the difference between a miserable-looking dog and a vibrantly healthy one. Proper grooming comes with using the right tools and materials for the exercise as well as the right ways of doing the cleaning. English bulldogs can be groomed by professionals but also be done at home if you have the time and would like to avoid the expenses that come with professional grooming. If home grooming is opted by the owner, the right tools can be obtained from the local pet store. When grooming an English bulldog, it should be kept in mind that the dog has a relatively thin coat of hair and sensitive skin as compared to other dogs. Therefore, the owner should obtain the tools specifically for the bulldog.

Outlined below are the best practices to ensure that your dog obtains and retains that good natural shine of perfect grooming:

  • Regular checks.
  • Bathing.
  • Brushing the hair.
  • Ear cleaning.
  • Eye cleaning.
  • Brushing teeth.
  • Cleaning the nose.
  • Face cleaning (face wrinkles).
  • Clipping the nails.
  • Cleaning the groin region.

  1. Regular checks

Precautions should always be taken to ensure that the English bulldog is in great shape and health. One of the ways in ensuring this is to regularly examine your dog (about 10 minutes a day) for any signs of deficiencies in grooming or nutrition. This process should also enable the owner to detect any early signs of ailments. Alternatively, the dog could be taken to the veterinarian for an examination. It is known that frequent medical examinations help to detect any ailments early to avoid future complications. When checking your dog, the following areas are important to note:

  • The fur and skin: look for rough skin, flaky skin, rashes, skin lesions, scabs, infections, and bare spots.
  • The eyes: look for tear stains, unusual eyeshine, unusual eye color, puffy eyelids, and inflamed eyelids.
  • The nose: look for running nose, discharge, nose color, etc.
  • The ears: look for irritation, reduced hair, inflamed canals, and bad odor.
  • The mouth: check for odor, unclean gums, gingivitis, stained teeth, cavities, etc.
  • Check between toes for inflammation or cysts.
  • Check the area around the tail as well.
  • Check the body generally for unusual traits like posture, limping, unusual sadness, etc.

Once the dog has been checked and there are concerns, consult your veterinarian.

  1. Bathing

To ensure good hygiene for the English bulldog, bathing should be done at least 2 times a month. This should be done using the right kind of soap (mild soap), shampoo (pH balanced), and brushes. All of this could be obtained at the local pet store. Before and during washing, ensure the safety of the eyes, ears, and nose to avoid irritation and infections from the chemicals in the shampoo. Brushing could be done prior to the washing to disentangle hairs and ensure maximum skin contact with water. Lather the soap or shampoo in the water and wash the dog with it, running your fingers over the fur and skin while gently brushing. Begin from the top of the head toward the tail going with the flow of hair and also against the flow repeatedly. Rinse your dog with clean water and towel off to dry for 15 minutes. Do not dry your dog in the sun. You could opt for a hair dry as it does the job perfectly. During the winter, there should be less bathing, and use warm water. Constantly keep your dog warm.

  1. Hair brushing

The English bulldog should regularly be brushed. This requires the right brush or comb so as not to hurt the dog while grooming because the skin is highly sensitive. A brush with soft bristles or a specialized comb obtained from the pet store should be used. Start by gently massaging the skin to feel for bumps, rashes, tangled hair, or lumps while you comb slowly. Gently massaging also helps in ensuring better blood flow in the skin while gently combing ensures you do not hurt the dog from pulling tangled hair. A wide-toothed brush should be used first followed by a narrow-toothed one afterward.

  1. Ear cleaning

The ears should be regularly checked for mites and any other irritations. Excessive scratching could be an indicator of mites. The veterinary should be consulted if there is excessive scratching. Wet wipes or cotton should be rolled gently into the ears to remove dirt. This should be done repeatedly to ensure that all dirt has been removed.

  1. Eye cleaning

When cleaning eyes, dip wet wipes or cotton in hydrogen peroxide. Roll the cotton and gently wipe the corners of the eyes. This should be done repeatedly until all dirt has been removed.

  1. Brushing the teeth

Teeth should be brushed regularly to prevent gingivitis, cavities, unpleasant odor, and other oral ailments. Use specially designed toothbrushes and toothpaste to brush the dog’s teeth. Brush gently over the teeth in a circular manner for about 5 minutes. Rinse with clean water and wipe the mouth area dry.

  1. Cleaning the nose

Clean the wrinkles around the nose with a damp cloth and use draprene ointment (this is what we used and we bought it on Amazon). Clip the hairs around the nostrils to prevent irritability and itchiness. Also, check for any discharges and consult the veterinary if there is any cause for concern.

  1. Face cleaning (wrinkles)

Clean the face with a clean damp cloth. Specifically, clean between the wrinkles and apply petroleum jelly afterward.

  1. Clipping the nails

If the nails are not shedding naturally then they need to be clipped regularly. Use a sharp cutter to clip around the edges. Areas that need clipping are yellow in color. While cutting, use your finger to push the paw upward so as to expose the entire nail. Exercise extreme caution to avoid bleeding.

  1. Cleaning the groin region.

After bathing your dog, this should be the last step of grooming. Use a clean warm damp cloth to gently clean around the groin and underside of the legs. Also gently clean the hindquarters while rinsing to remove any dried excrement.

Conclusion

A clean and well-groomed English bulldog is a happy dog. A happy dog brings happiness to the pet owner and this means fewer frequent visits to the vet. Grooming should always be done regularly and with extreme caution to ensure that all bases are adequately covered. Besides good nutrition, exercise, and a peaceful environment, good grooming is always a sure way to ensure good health for your dog.