Grooming an English Bulldog

Grooming is an important part of dog care. Depending on the breed, age and health of the dog, grooming may be a daily activity. Many breeds require significantly less grooming than this, but regular grooming helps to ensure the dog is healthy and comfortable.

The main reasons for daily grooming include:

* improved health of the skin and coat
* decreases the chance of various health problems such as thrush, scratches, and other skin problems
* cleans the dog
* allows the groomer to check the dog’s health, such as looking for cuts, heat, swelling, lameness, or a change in temperament (such as depression) which could indicate the dog is sick
* helps to form a relationship between dog and owner

To keep your bulldog healthy just follow these simple steps:

* Brush your bulldog two or three times a week with a soft bristle brush or rubber brush. Begin brushing at his tail against the grain until you’ve brushed him entirely. Then brush his whole body with the grain, followed by a rub down to distribute his natural oils through his coat.
* Bathe your bulldog every two or three months or when excessively dirty with a mild dog shampoo, recommended by your vet, breeder or pet store. Just before bathing, place two drops of mineral oil in each eye and put cotton balls in her ears to keep water out. Use a rubber brush while bathing to remove shedding hair.
* Rinse your dog thoroughly. Pay special attention to rinse out his wrinkles because dirty residue there can quickly lead to infection.
* Dry your bulldog with towels or with a blow dryer. While drying, use a hound brush to leave the coat flat and smooth. Clean ear wax out carefully with a cotton tip swab and rub petroleum jelly onto her nose to soften it.
* Clean your bulldog’s wrinkles using a baby wipe anywhere from twice a week to daily, depending on the messiness of your dog. Once dry, apply baby powder in between his wrinkles to deter moisture.
* Clip your dog’s nails every two weeks. Keep them as short as possible, but just clip the ends, avoiding the quick, which causes pain and bleeding.
* Remove eye stains carefully using a cotton ball with a dab of boric acid. Repeat daily until the stains are gone, then clean the area weekly to prevent stains.

If your bulldog’s deep nose wrinkles appear irritated, you can apply a zinc oxide ointment in between the folds.