Expert: Charlotte Sherrell, DVM - 7/18/2009

Question
I have a 2-year-old female English Bulldog, weight 43-lbs.
She will almost every day sit and rock back and forth and make her head bob up and down in a continuous motion for about 2-3 minutes, usually with her mouth open.  She will do it 1-3 times daily.  I can't figure out why she does this.  I know she has allergy problems (which the Vet has us give her 1/2 Prednisone tablet on a tapering dose & Genesis Topical Spray for her paws).  She will also 1-2 times a day go into her cage and scratch her bottom on the sides of the cage when itching (At least that is what I think it is for).  I clean her ears 2 x weeks with Q-tips for "gunk" - which she has a lot of and will cleanse it with a cleanser I received from the Vet.  I also use it when she gets a bath about every 2 weeks or so.  Do you have any idea why she would sit and do this?  My husband and I are not sure if we need to do anything for her.

One more question - What types of chew toys or chew bones can we give her.  She gets choked on so many that are not allowed but she misses the chewing.  Rawhides are out because they get caught in her throat.  I haven't come up with any really good toys that she doesn't tear up within 1 hour completely and we have to throw away, or else she eats them and we have to see a Vet on an emergency basis - Help!

Answer
Carrie -

Unfortunately I cannot give you any insight why you Bulldog may be rocking back and forth.  It sounds as if she is having a behavior issue and maybe you she seek the advise of a animal behaviorist.  

Chew toys need to be highly digestible or they need to be the type that your dog cannot tear up.  Rawhide does not digest well and I do not advise that it be given to any dog especially pups with narrow airways.  Try giving her an extremely large bone that she can chew on, but cannot tear to pieces.  That will help to satisfy her urge to chew and at the same time avoid  an emergency situation.

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell,DVM