American Bulldog Health Problems and Raising an American Bulldog Puppy to be Healthy

How To Raise a Healthy Dog
Feeding the Best Dog Foods
Vaccinations: Needed or Not?
Spaying and Neutering: Pros and Cons

The most common health problems in American Bulldogs:

American Bulldogs have sky-high rates of hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of 1218 American Bulldogs and found 32% dysplastic – the 15th worst rate of 142 breeds. In addition, 20% of 190 elbow X-rays were dysplastic – the 7th worst rate of 82 breeds. And the true rates are even higher, because most of the obviously bad X-rays are never sent in for official evaluation.

The eyelid disorder entropion is especially common in American Bulldogs with heavy facial folds.

Skin problems are very common in American Bulldogs. Demodectic mange occurs in the breed, especially in American Bulldog puppies and adolescents. Allergies cause itchy skin and can lead to bacterial skin infections (pyoderma).

Hypothyroidism is being reported with increasing frequency in American Bulldogs.

Inherited deafness can occur in American Bulldog puppies.

Can you prevent health problems from happening to YOUR American Bulldog?

Yes, often you can.

1. Some health problems are genetic, which means inherited from parents. Genetic health issues are common in American Bulldogs today because of unwise breeding practices. My book, Dog Quest: Find The Dog Of Your Dreams, shows you how to find an American Bulldog puppy who is genetically healthy.
2. Other health problems are environmental – caused by the way you raise your dog. My best-selling dog health book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to prevent environmental health problems by raising your American Bulldog puppy (or adult dog) in all the right ways.

Here are my dog health tips for raising a healthy American Bulldog puppy or adult dog:

How To Raise a Healthy Dog – My Philosophies
Read my advice on sensible feeding and health care so that your American Bulldog lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet. An excellent goal, yes?

The Best Dog Food For Feeding Your American Bulldog
The best diet for feeding your American Bulldog is real food. Real chicken, turkey, beef, bison, venison, fish....This is not "people food" and I'll tell you why.

The Second-Best Dog Food For Your American Bulldog
If you can't (or won't) feed what your American Bulldog really needs, the best I can do is to point out what to look for – and look out for – when choosing a brand of kibble or canned dog food.

Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not?
How many vaccinations does your American Bulldog puppy really need? Does your adult American Bulldog need yearly booster shots? The vaccination guidelines have changed. Find out what many vets aren't telling you.

The Type of Veterinarian I Recommend
Does your veterinarian belong to the AVMA or the AHVMA? They're not the same at all, and which one you choose can make a world of difference to the future health of your American Bulldog.

Spaying and Neutering: Pros and Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of spaying your female American Bulldog or neutering your male.

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