Helping Your English Bulldog with Allergies

English Bulldogs, like many pedigree breeds, often suffer from allergies. My 4.5-year-old bulldog, Ribeye, is no exception. We've received advice from veterinarians, allergists, breeders, and other bulldog owners. Here's a round-up of five common allergy symptoms, as well as what worked and didn't work for Ribeye.

Symptom: Excessive Mucus

At about 11 months old, Ribeye began vomiting a couple times a week, with about a half cup of mucus at a time. Of all the dog messes I've had to clean up, this is the most nauseating. After joining several bulldog owner groups on Yahoo, I found that grain allergies are quite common in this breed. A quick trip to a local pet food store set us up with samples of several types of single grain foods. I've been told by breeders and pet store owners that corn is the most common grain allergy, but it turns out that Ribeye the bulldog is allergic to wheat. He was flem free within two days of putting him on a wheat free diet.

Tips: if you're hoping for free dogfood samples, do not go to a chain store; go to a proprietor owned shop. Be sure to check the ingredients on your dog treats as well, and start carrying a treat bag so that you're covered for situations where someone wants to give your dog a cookie.

At 3 years old at 60lbs, Ribeye's excessive mucus production returned. I tried eliminating all grains one a time, and he is now eating a duck and potato diet. The mucus is still present, although to a lesser level, with maybe one mucus vomit incident every other week. When the incidents increase in frequency, I've found that giving him 2 Benadryl at night helps him to be less congested and sleep better. Generic Benadryl, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, works just fine, and I now keep a 100 tablet bottle in the house just for Ribeye. It does leave him groggy the next morning. Online bulldog groups have suggested lemon juice in his water dish, to cut the mucus, but it does not seem to help him. I do keep lemon juice on hand in case his throat should ever fill with foam or mucus, as the acid is known to cut through this.

Symptom: Flakey Skin, Fur Falling Out