Since Bulldogs have very sensitive skin, owners have to come up with home solutions to soothe their pets. Every Bulldog will have itchy, flaky, and inflamed skin at least a few times in its lifetime. With this, you should know a few English Bulldog skin allergies home remedies to save your doggo from suffering.
If you’re yet to find a regimen that works for your sensitive Bulldog, I discussed here a few that you can try. See which one matches your pet’s skin.
Common causes of skin allergies among English Bulldogs
Before we go into the solutions, it’s also important to identify what’s causing your pet’s skin allergies in the first place. Here are the most common culprits observed on this breed:
- Food allergies. English Bulldogs are notorious for their sensitive tummies and reactive immune systems. Unfortunately, food allergies manifest as hives, itchiness, inflamed skin, and other similar symptoms. When this occurs, you can consult your dog’s vet for a potential diet change to avoid the allergens in its food.
- Environmental irritants. Pollens, dust, and smoke can trigger skin allergies in English Bulldogs. Therefore, it’s important to reduce your dog’s exposure to these irritants to avoid adverse reactions.
- Toxic substances. Cleaning agents, fertilizer, and rodent poison are all potential allergens among dogs. Aside from causing irritated skin, these substances can also lead to a full-fledged case of food poisoning.
- Ticks and fleas. Skin parasites are also major culprits when it comes to skin allergies among English Bulldogs. Some English Bulldogs are allergic to the saliva of ticks and fleas, which can lead to a severe reaction.
There are other skin allergens that could affect your dog. If you suspect that your English Bulldog is suffering from an unknown allergic reaction, you should bring it to the vet for proper diagnosis.
English Bulldog skin allergies home remedies
If your Bulldog is suffering from skin allergies, the following home remedies will provide immediate relief:
1. Chamomile soaks
One of the most effective ways to soothe a Bulldog’s skin allergy is to give it a chamomile or green tea soak. The compounds on chamomile are known to have anti-inflammatory and antifungal benefits. Such characteristics are a big help for inflamed and flared-up dog skin.
This method is also very helpful for itchy patches as well as hot spots. The best part is that the chamomile solution is safe for your dog to lick or even drink.
To prepare this remedy, you simply have to fill the tub with lukewarm water. After that, place a few tea bags on it and steep for about five minutes.
You can let your Bulldog soak on this or spot treat the affected areas.
2. Apple cider vinegar
Another effective way to soothe your Bulldog’s skin allergy is an apple cider vinegar solution. Simply mix equal parts of water, and white vinegar, then spray it on your dog’s itchy skin.
The antifungal benefits of apple cider vinegar will help soothe irritations. Just make sure that you dilute it first to avoid the spray from stinging your dog’s skin.
You can also apply the apple cider vinegar solution to your Bulldog’s paws to calm any irritation.
3. Oatmeal baths
Colloidal oatmeal baths are an age-old remedy for irritated canine skin. The anti-inflammatory characteristics of oatmeal help ease irritations due to skin allergies.
You can use a pre-made colloidal oatmeal shampoo for your dog, so you no longer have to prepare the bath manually. But if such shampoo isn’t readily available, you can grind oats into a fine powder.
After that, you need to boil the ground oats to make the colloidal solution. Just make sure you use plain and sugar-free oats for this purpose.
Once you have the colloidal solution, massage it to your Bulldog’s coat and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. This will help neutralize the skin allergy symptoms, so your dog won’t suffer too much.
Overall, colloidal oatmeal baths help a lot in reducing swelling, redness, and itchiness due to skin allergies.
4. Baking soda paste
If your Bulldog only has small patches of irritated skin, you can use a baking soda paste instead. For this solution, you need to mix equal parts of water and baking soda until you come up with a thick paste.
Next, you’ll apply this paste to the affected spots of your Bulldog’s skin. Let this sit for 20 minutes before rinsing for the best results.
If you’re dealing with body-wide skin allergy, you can add a dash of baking soda into the colloidal oatmeal bath.
5. Epsom salt
Is your Bulldog biting and licking its paws? This behavior is a sign of a skin allergy.
In this case, you can use an Epsom salt paw soak to soothe your Bulldog’s itchiness. Don’t worry because Epsom salt isn’t really a type of salt but a mineral-based compound.
Nevertheless, you should prevent your English Bulldog from licking or consuming Epsom salt. This is to avoid any potential side effects due to the concentration of sulfate and magnesium.
6. Coconut oil
For mild skin allergies, a natural way to soothe the symptoms is to apply coconut oil to the affected skin. Just make sure that you use virgin and pure coconut oil, not those with perfumes and other mixtures.
Aside from that, coconut oil has a natural moisturizing benefit, thanks to its fatty acids. This will help restore the health of your Bulldog’s skin.
7. Fish oil supplements
Aside from the mentioned solutions above, a fish oil supplement will help reduce allergy symptoms.
Fish oil is rich in Omega fatty acids that help nourish a dog’s coat. You can find this in pill form or drops that you can mix with your Bulldog’s food.
8. A new diet
Lastly, you should consider switching your dog to a new diet. This is crucial if its current food triggers your Bulldog’s allergies.
Remember to introduce the new food gradually to allow your Bulldog’s tummy to adjust. This will prevent adverse reactions as well as further irritations due to the sudden change.
When should you call the vet?
If your English Bulldog is having breathing problems due to an allergy attack, you should bring it to the vet right away. This situation is a potential case of anaphylaxis, to which home remedies are no longer effective. You have to act fast as this reaction could be fatal to Bulldogs who have short airways.
Moreover, you should bring your Bulldog to the vet if other serious symptoms accompany the skin allergies. For example, losing hair in patches, lethargy, poor appetite, and weight loss are signs that your Bulldog is suffering from something that’s more serious than an allergy.
Also, it’s best to call the vet if you’re not confident about your ability to remedy your dog’s allergies at home. This is the same thing if you’re planning to use antihistamines and drugs that could be potentially dangerous for your canine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I give my Bulldog Benadryl?
A: Benadryl is safe and effective for Bulldogs. However, it’s crucial to provide the right dosage to ensure that your English Bulldog won’t suffer from adverse side effects. Remember that antihistamines like Benadryl are only temporary solutions to your Bulldog’s allergies. It’s still crucial to identify the allergen and avoid it in the future.
Q: How much Benadryl can I give my 50 lbs. Bulldog?
A: In general, you can give 1 mg of Benadryl for every pound of your dog’s weight. So for Bulldogs weighing 50 lbs., you can give 50 mg of Benadryl for each dose. This can be administered up to three times a day, depending on your dog’s needs.
Q: Can I give Claritin to my Bulldog?
A: Plain Claritin is safe for canines, but never give your Bulldog Claritin-D. Claritin-D can cause severe and even fatal consequences to animals. It’s important to consult your dog’s veterinarian about the safe dosage of Claritin that you can give.
Q: Do Bulldog skin allergies go away on their own?
A: Skin allergies among canines will never go away on their own. Some dogs experience reduced attacks over the years, but this isn’t always the case. It’s important to avoid your Bulldog’s triggers so that it won’t suffer from adverse reactions.
Q: How long does it take for Benadryl to kick in among Bulldogs?
A: For Bulldogs, it may take one to two hours for Benadryl to take effect. It all depends on the dosage and how fast your dog’s body reacts to certain medications. Nonetheless, it wouldn’t take longer than two hours. If it took longer than that, it’s possible that the dosage is too low or that Benadryl isn’t effective on your Bulldog.
Final words
With English Bulldog skin allergies home remedies, you can help soothe your pet’s flared-up skin. However, if the dog’s skin symptom is accompanied by breathing difficulties and other serious conditions, you should bring it to the vet right away. Remember that allergies have varying intensities, some of which can’t be treated at home.
My bull dog Zues has always had bad allergies. I make his food now, but before I started making his food and changed his diet the bottom of his paws look like he was growing another pad under his foot. I’ve taking him many times to my vet and they give me medication for his allergies Cephalexin 500 mg and also opaque. This isn’t taking away his growth under his foot. What should I do?