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The lovable bulldog is a popular breed, with a big underbite, a stocky build, and a cute, smushed-in face. While unquestionably adorable, these charming dogs come with some…um…hygiene challenges.
Here are some basic bulldog hygiene tips that will keep your bulldog smelling—and feeling—great.
Clean the Folds
Your bulldog’s folds, or “face wrinkles,” give him a lot of character, but they also need a lot of care. Like other brachycephalic dogs, such as Frenchies or pugs, those cute face folds can trap in moisture, sweat, and food, which can not only make your bulldog uncomfortable, but can also lead to smelly dog odors as well as hot spots and skin infections such as skin fold pyoderma.
To best clean your bulldog’s folds:
- 1. We recommend examining your dog’s folds regularly and, as needed, using cotton balls doused with peroxide to gently wipe them clean. This at-home remedy is easy and cheap. One thing to remember: don’t forget the folds around the tail which can also get funky.
- 2. If you want something specially formulated for bulldogs, some genius also created wipes specifically for these folds, called, you guessed it, [easyazon_link identifier=”B07DRFTY4N” locale=”US” tag=”march2020rover-20″]Bulldog Wrinkle Wipes[/easyazon_link]. The main ingredients include stuff like water, aloe vera, and coconut oil to be gentle on your bulldog’s skin.
Protect, Soothe, and Treat
With your bulldog’s lovable wrinkles now properly cleaned, protect and soothe them with various natural and medicated products like these.
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- 3. Developed as a preventative shield for infections and moisture build-up, [easyazon_link identifier=”B01JH2DG8O” locale=”US” tag=”march2020rover-20″]Squishface Wrinkle Paste[/easyazon_link] can be applied to the crevices of the folds, and can also be used under the eyes to prevent tears stains or moisture build-up.
- 4. If their folds are irritated, you can also try Boo Boo Butter (seriously, who comes up with these adorable names?), an oil-based salve that includes shea butter, olive oil, avocado oil, almond oil, beeswax, and more oils than you can shake a stick at—really, just all the oils.
- 5. If your dog does develop skin fold pyoderma, the condition may be treated with antifungal or antibacterial skin cleansers and wipes like [easyazon_link identifier=”B07D8HHQGS” locale=”US” tag=”march2020rover-20″]Ketowell Chlorhexidine Wipes with Ketoconazole for Dogs[/easyazon_link], but serious cases call for a trip to the vet who may prescribe antibiotics or steroids.
Gentle Baths Help, Too
So far, we’ve focused on those flappy folds, but the rest of your charming bulldog can get stinky, too. Here are some things to keep in when bathing your bully.
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- 6. One of the many great qualities about bulldogs is that they have short hair and do not pose the same grooming issues (such as matting, excessive shedding, or wet dog smell) as dogs with more fur. However, a semi-regular bath every few weeks (or even months) using natural shampoo will help your buddy smell fresh and clean. If you are using water and shampoo, make sure you don’t leave your dog wet, because the moisture can get trapped in his wrinkles and exacerbate existing odor problems.
- 7. For a range of bulldog smell and skin issues, check out our guides to dog shampoos for dogs with sensitive skin, for dogs with dry, itchy skin, and on the best safe, scented dog shampoos. Continue your reading with our articles on the best dog towels and the best dog blow dryers for tools to get your bulldog’s folds good and dry after a bath.
- 8. Consider a bulldog-specific shampoo, such as [easyazon_link identifier=”B077Y411VH” locale=”US” tag=”march2020rover-20″]Healthy Breeds Bulldog Deodorizing Dog Shampoo[/easyazon_link], which is made to be moisturizing, cleansing, and contains ingredients you’ll recognize, such as aloe vera, lanolin, and sunflower oil.
- 9. If you’re concerned with the combination of moisture + your dog’s wrinkles, there’s “dry” shampoo for dogs, too. The No H2O Waterless Pet Shampoo has similar ingredients to Healthy Breeds—including, confusingly, water, but also coconut cleanser, aloe, citric acid, and Panthenol. Just use it sparingly at first and keep an eye on those folds to make sure your dog reacts to it OK.
Feed Your Bully Good Food
It has been shown that feeding your dog a grain-free diet can help stave off the stink. Investing in a quality, healthy dog food for bulldogs can go a long way in keeping your bulldog smelling and feeling fresh.
- 10. A formula such as Blue Buffalo Novel Protein Alligator Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is an option to try. “It’s crafted with real alligator, which is rarely linked to food intolerances in dogs, and it’s the only source of animal protein in this canine kibble.” Exotic, but apparently, good for your dog!
Further Reading
Now that you know a little more about keeping your bulldog smelling great, learn more about the different types of this breed in one of the articles below.