English bulldog health problems

English bulldogs are laidback, loyal companions who appreciate their creature comforts and love being part of a family!

Although they’re known to be a little stubborn at times, English bulldogs are very clever and enjoy learning new skills. These cuddly dogs prefer several shorter walks a day instead of long hikes – but it’s important never to exercise English bulldogs in hot weather, due to their breathing issues.

The English bulldog’s short, smooth coat is fairly low maintenance, meaning they only tend to need brushing a couple of times a week. However, English bulldogs must have the skin folds of their face cleaned regularly, to protect them from developing skin infections.

Explore our English bulldog breed guide for more information about this iconic breed!

Potential health conditions linked to the English bulldog breed

Please remember that while the following health concerns are frequently seen in the English bulldog breed, each dog is a unique individual. So, your canine companion isn’t necessarily going to suffer from any of the health conditions commonly experienced by English bulldogs. But, if you’re considering pet insurance, you could read our guide to insuring your English bulldog for more information.  

Always speak to your vet if you’re concerned about your dog’s health.   

Don’t forget to visit our dog first aid guides to discover the basics of canine first aid.

BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome)

BOAS, or ‘Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome’, is the term used to describe a range of conformational features most common in flat-faced breeds, that impact on an animal’s ability to breathe. As a flat-faced dog breed, your English bulldog could end up suffering from BOAS.

Sadly, there are many issues that cause BOAS in flat-faced breeds, including:

• Narrow nostrils – breathing is harder for your dog because less air is able to pass through their nose.
• Narrow windpipe – makes breathing very difficult for your dog due to the lack of space available for air to pass through.
• Obstructions of the nose and throat – the same amount of tissue seen in a dog with a longer nose is compacted into the smaller space of your dog’s short muzzle.

Here are just a few of the symptoms associated with BOAS in English bulldogs:

• Snoring.
• Noisy breathing, meaning they often make snorting or snuffling sounds.
• Excessive panting, even at rest.
• Reluctance to exercise.
• Vomiting, due to breathing difficulties.

Additionally, dogs who are flat-faced and have BOAS are at an increased risk of heatstroke.

It’s vital to take your English bulldog to a vet immediately if they’re struggling to breathe or showing signs of heatstroke.

To diagnose BOAS in your English bulldog, a vet will ask about your dog’s symptoms, perform a physical examination, and may assess your dog’s breathing rate following a short walk. If your English bulldog needs further tests, they might see a specialist vet who can carry out an endoscopy (using a camera to check their airways) or MRI under anaesthetic.

The treatment options for BOAS include surgery, ensuring your English bulldog maintains a healthy weight (since being overweight can worsen their symptoms), and keeping them cool during hot weather.

Skin allergies and infections

Atopic dermatitis, also known as ‘atopy’, describes a range of skin allergies frequently seen in dogs that can sometimes lead to skin infections.

For English bulldogs, the most common type of dermatitis they tend to experience is ‘skin fold dermatitis’ or ‘intertrigo’ – which usually occurs between the wrinkles of their face. The folds of an English bulldog’s face provide the ideal environment for bacteria to grow, which can lead to a foul smell, pain, and itchiness, along with redness and inflammation. To treat skin fold dermatitis, a vet is likely to recommend cleaning your English bulldog’s face folds regularly, as well as prescribing anti-microbial shampoo and/or anti-inflammatory medication.

While skin fold dermatitis is one of the most frequently seen types of skin condition in English bulldogs, atopic dermatitis is common in this breed, too. Dogs with atopic dermatitis are likely to scratch, chew, and/or lick the parts of their body that are itchy, inflamed, or irritated, which could include their:

• Face.
• Ears.
• Armpits (axillae).
• Tummy (abdomen).
• Paws.

Vets can diagnose atopic dermatitis by evaluating your English bulldog’s medical history and symptoms, alongside performing a thorough assessment of your dog’s skin.

Just like human allergies, such as hayfever, that require ongoing treatment to manage symptoms, canine atopic dermatitis will probably need to be treated throughout your dog’s life, too.

It can take some trial and error to work out which treatments (or combination of treatments) will work best to ease your dog’s symptoms – for example, medication and/or soothing shampoos. Though, thankfully, the majority of atopic dermatitis cases can be managed effectively to make sure your English bulldog is able to enjoy life to the full.

Eye ulcers

An eye ulcer, or ‘corneal ulcer’, is a wound on the front of your English bulldog’s eye. Eye ulcers can vary greatly in severity, though they often appear suddenly and might get worse over a short space of time. 

Although eye ulcers can have many different causes, ranging from injury to infection, the shape of a dog’s face can increase their risk. For example, eye ulcers are commonly seen in flat-faced breeds, like the English bulldog.

Symptoms like a runny eye, holding their eye closed, and cloudiness of the eye could suggest your English bulldog is suffering from an eye ulcer.

Along with a physical examination of your English bulldog’s eye, a vet may use an orange dye to check the size and severity of an eye ulcer.

To treat a canine eye ulcer, your vet could prescribe eye drops and pain relief, as well as providing support through frequent check-ups, until your English bulldog’s eye has healed. If, however, your English bulldog has a deep corneal ulcer or their eye fails to heal after a course of treatment, they might need surgery to treat it.

Cherry eye

Cherry eye describes a condition in which a dog’s nictitans gland (a tear gland) that’s usually contained within their third eyelid prolapses (pops out of place). 

While the exact cause of cherry eye is currently unknown, vets believe it’s an inherited condition, which is why it’s often seen in specific dog breeds – like the English bulldog.

The main symptom of cherry eye is a red swelling in the corner of your English bulldog’s eye, nearest their nose. However, due to the irritation caused by cherry eye, your English bulldog may end up scratching or rubbing their eye and developing other conditions like corneal ulcers or conjunctivitis.

If your English bulldog has been diagnosed with cherry eye, your vet is likely to perform surgery to put the tear gland back into place. After their surgery, your English bulldog will probably require an inflatable/buster collar, anti-inflammatory medication, and eye drops for a few weeks.

Hip dysplasia

Canine hip dysplasia is a genetic condition (something a dog is born with) that impacts their hip joints. ‘Dysplasia’ is a word linked to abnormal development, so, hip dysplasia describes abnormalities within a dog’s hip joint.

For English bulldogs with hip dysplasia, either one or both of their hip joints are unstable and can cause them to experience pain, swelling, and stiffness – resulting in lameness. Eventually, hip dysplasia can cause English bulldogs to develop arthritis.

Treatments for canine hip dysplasia include weight management, anti-inflammatory medication, and surgery.