Expert: English Bulldogs ( Marie ) e-mail me at mpmaltese@gmail.com - 12/29/2008

Question
QUESTION: Marie,

We have a new male English Bulldog, who is 16 months old.  He has been with us since mid-
December and appears to be adjusting very well in our home and to crate training.

To date, I have bathed him twice, using a papaya shampoo that was given to us by his previous
owner. Following the previous owners' suggestion, I have also used Tresseme' human conditioner
after shampooing him, brushed his fur weekly, and cleaned his ears with ear cleaner. With all of this
and washing his face daily with regular aloe wipes, my puppy smells horrible!

We have taken him to the vet for a well puppy check up. The vet expressed his anal glands and stated
his health was perfect, other wise.  According to the previous owner, his glands were also expressed
twice before we got him.  Should we be concerned with the frequent need for this procedure?

At present, our puppy is eating Natures Recipe puppy food, which is what the previous owner fed him.  
We also give him Natures Recipe training treats to assist with crate/house training.

We have consulted with the local pet store for advise on getting rid of our puppy's horrible smell.  The
manager seemed to think the smell and the frequent anal gland issues were related to the Natures
Recipe puppy food.  He suggested we try Taste of the Wild. He stated this brand would help with
balancing my puppy's hormones and improve his smell and coat. Do you have any information on
either of these product or any suggestions for other brands we should try?

This is our first puppy and we really want to do the right thing for him.  We have ordered your NuVet
Wafers and have taken a ton of notes from your response to others regarding their English Bulldogs.
Any advise you can provide will certainly be appreciated. Thanks!!!


Karen

ANSWER: Hi Karen, Glad you ordered the NuVET Plus wafers ---- they will help with his digestive, anal glands, skin, coat, smell, joints, knees, hips ..... over all NuVET helps all the body's systems..
GREAT!
NOW, as for your dog food :  here is the POOR review on Nature's Recipe Dog food / puppy formula

LOOK what Susan Peters Has to Say:

Total Score = 6/10

Ask Susan Peters Dog Food Review

There are a lot of ingredients listed in this product which are not required by a dog. Most of the stuff listed are "feel good" ingredients. When it comes down to it the stuff is made from manure with junk added to it. I wouldn't feed manure to my dog and I'm not spending hard-earned money on packaged manure.
She calls it Dog Manure...


Yes, your pet store person gave you some good advice - Taste of the Wild is much better for your bullie kid's general health.

Also, please get some Metamucil Fiber "apple cin" wafer cookies/ get them at the Walmart or supermarket.
Give him just 1 wafer per day / will help to add some Bulk to his stools and help the anal glands to stay clear. I would give him 1 Wafer cookie per day for 10 days. After that, you can do 1 every-other-day, and do this long term.

So, yes, Taste of the Wild puppy food mixed with the food you are using now....Do a 50/50 mix for 3 weeks and then go 100% to the NEW food.
Do this slowly so that your kid doesn't get loose stools.


As for the smell, the NuVET and good food should take most of that away.  I would not use the shampoo you have been using... HOW about some NuVET puppy shampoo- you can call and ask that they send this out to you... call 1-800-474-7044  ( they already have your name in the system)
( order code 81098)
***
You can also find some Natural and Holistic puppy shampoos at the local pet store.
***



I am glad to help.....
Keep in touch and let me know how little MR. Jake is doing with the NuVET and his new food.
We can add a few oils and other supplements as time goes by.  I don't like to do too much all at once.

Here is my private e-mail
mtnmom@gci.net


Marie Peppers LPN MA

ASK the Pet Nurse



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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Marie,
Thanks for the response! at what age should we consider having Jake neutered?

Karen

Answer
You are very Welcome!
You can have him neutered at any time.  Just make sure who does the surgery has experience with putting English bullies under anesthesia.  SEE here:

One critical note:
Surgery:
Anesthetizing any dog has its risks, but with Bulldogs, it is very serious. Because of English Bulldogs unusual airways and difficulty breathing, the muscle relaxation that comes with anesthesia can easily cause English Bulldogs airway to collapse. Sadly, many Bullies have been lost in simple, non-emergency procedures that involved anesthesia. That is but one reason for finding a vet that is very experienced with the breed. It is also a reason that breeding is undertaken by only the most knowledgeable, experienced, and committed families... over 90 percent of litters are born via Caesarian section, and care of the newborn puppies is extremely difficult.

Source:
http://searchwarp.com/swa23132.htm