British Bulldog Info & British Bulldog Breeders

British Bulldog Health

Being a short nosed (Brachycephalic) Breed, British Bulldogs are susceptible to breathing problems or Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome due to their short and wide skulls and short snouts.  With these respiratory problems, airways can become obstructed and breathing becomes laboured or near impossible.  They are more at risk of heat stroke as they are not able to regulate their body temperature which can be life threatening.  Care and attention to ensure overheating doesn't occur is critical - particularly in hot weather.  The severity of the condition can be relieved somewhat with surgery that widens the nostrils and shortens the palate.  British Bulldogs can also suffer from skin problems, inverted eyelashes, kidney stone disease and kneecap dislocation.

Cherry Eye:  This eye condition is quite common in British Bulldogs, presenting with a third inverted eyelid.  It can be corrected with care, commonly with the third eyelid surgically removed.

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca:  Often referred to as ‘dry eye’, this is usually caused by an autoimmune reaction that affects the tear glands, reducing tears and causing dryness and irritation.

Testing of breeding dogs is recommended for:

X-rays for Hip Dysplasia
X-rays for Elbow Dysplasia
X-rays for Spinal Abnormalities
X-rays for Tracheal Hypoplasia

The British Bulldog Club of Victoria lists DNA tests for the breed which include:

Hyperuricosuria (HUU)
Hyperuricosuria (HUU) means elevated levels of uric acid in the urine. This trait predisposes dogs to form stones in their bladders or sometimes kidneys. These stones often must be removed surgically and can be difficult to treat. HUU is inherited as a simple autosomal recessive defect.

Cystinuria
Cystinuria in dogs is indicated by the presence of cystine stones in the kidney, bladder or ureter. Failure by the kidneys to reabsorb amino acids results in the formation of cystine crystals and sometimes stones in the urine which can lead to blockage of the urethra.