Mars Hill Bulldogs

No website can take the place of a veterinarian's advice.  Please know that all the information on this page is just that...information.  If your bulldog is having health issues, please consult your bulldog vet.  If you don't have a vet that knows bulldogs, check one of the links below to get help in finding a bulldog vet in your area.

****NuVet Plus****

NuVet Plus is a great supplement, full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidents. Click the product name for more information or click here to order.

*****Dog Food*****

Dog food information

Dog food database and links 

****Bulldog Vets****

Bulldogsworld vet listing 

Bullynet vet listing

****Canine CPR****

Click here for a link to written instructions Animal CPR

CPR video demonstration

***Canine Heimlich***
Indications of choking:
pawing at the mouth and gasping for breath
no breathing
labored, loud and noisy breathing sounds
anxiousness
drooling
gums may be blue or white
loss of consciousness

>Open the mouth and carefully sweep from side to side with your finger in a hooked position to see if you can feel and dislodge the object. Be careful not to push the object further into the throat or to get bit.

>Pull the tongue forward, removing any object, vomit or foreign object present.
>If the object does not come out by doing the above, perform the following:
* Place the animal on his side on a firm surface or allow him to continue standing.
* Place your arms around the animal's waist
* Close your hands together to make a fist and place the fist and place the fist just behind the last rib.
* Compress the abdomen by pushing up with this fist five times in a quick and rapid manner. (This is similar to the Heimlich maneuver commonly performed on humans to dislodge material in the throat.)
>If the object is not successfully dislodged with abdominal thrusts, perform the following:
* If the animal is small enough, place them stomach side down on your lap. Keep their head lower than their body and slap them forcefully on the back between the shoulder blades to dislodge the object.
* If the animal is too large to place on your lap, hold the animal's hind legs in the air (like a wheelbarrow) so the head hangs down. If their is another person present or if you can hold the back of the animal up with one arm (slip your arm under the groove where their back legs meet their body), and slap the animal forcefully on the back to dislodge the object.
Continue with alternating abdominal compressions and back blows until object is dislodged.
>Once the object is dislodged, stop the thrusts, check for the ABC's (Airway, Breathing and Circulation), initiate CPR if needed and get the animal to a veterinary hospital at once.
Disclaimer: The information provided is not to be used in place of qualified medical advice, please contact your veterinarian with any questions or concerns regarding your pets health and well-being. Information provided by Furr Angels! and their sources is done so in good faith and therefore does not accept responsibility for your actions based on the content of the information provided.

***Poison Control***

Poison Control Phone Numbers 

Poison Dangers to Pets

*****First Aid***** 

Click on my Bulldog Medicine Chest  to get a list of the medications I keep on hand.  Print this out to take to your vet for his/her input. 

We can usually tell if something is wrong with our dogs by the symptoms we see. Vomiting and diarrhea are pretty obvious signs that there is some type of gastro-intestinal distress. Other signs that something is wrong can include coughing and/or runny eyes and nose, loss of appetite, listlessness or sudden behavioral changes.

We should be aware of what is normal and what is unusual for dogs in general, and specifically for our dog, so we can take the best care possible. The following is a brief list that can help you measure your dog's vital signs. As always, if you have any questions, contact your veterinarian immediately.  Don't be afraid to be an advocate for your dog.  If you know in your heart something is wrong, based on the symptoms you see and the way your dog is acting, be strong in your advocacy.  Your dog is depending on you to help the vet understand what is normal and abnormal for him.
Temperature:
Normal temperature in adult dogs is between 101-102.5 degrees. You need to take your dog's temperature using a rectal thermometer.   It's pretty simple. Be sure the thermometer starts below 97 degrees and lubricate the tip with vaseline. You want to insert the thermometer into the dog's anus to a depth that is appropriate for the size of your dog. For small dogs, an inch is probably sufficient. For larger dogs, you may need to insert as much as half the thermometer. Have your dog in a standing position, hold the end of the thermometer in your free hand and keep it inserted for about two minutes to get an accurate reading. (Don't let go of the thermometer, it can be sucked into the dog's body). 
Respiration:
A resting dog breathes about 10-30 times per minute. After excitement, heat, exercise or extreme stress the respiratory rate increases. While at rest, you can count respiration as the dog breathes through his nose by watching the chest move in a smooth, rhythmic motion. You should also count respiration after your dog exercises so you know what normal looks like. Changes in rate or style of respiration of your resting dog may indicate disease.
Heart:
Normal heart beat rate for dogs ranges from 80-140 beats per minute. Small dogs and pups usually have a more rapid heart rate or pulse rate than larger dogs. A normal pulse is steady and firm. You can check your dog's pulse rate by placing your fingertips against the dog's chest just behind the point of the elbow or you can place your  fingers at the middle of the inside surface of the rear leg near the point where the leg meets the body where the femoral artery passes close to skin. Your dog's heart rate and pulse rate should be the same. To count the pulse, either count the beats for one minute or count for 15 seconds and multiply by four.
Capillaries Refill Time:
Capillaries are the small blood vessels that carry blood to the skin. Capillary Refill Time (CRT) is the measure of capillary circulation. Normal CRT is one second or less. To check this, press one finger firmly against your dog's gums. When you lift the finger you will see a pale area which should refill with blood almost instantly with the gums returning to the normal color. Dogs in shock will have poor capillary refill time.
Abdomen:
You can't see what is going on inside your dog's digestive tract, but you can still monitor appearance to help you know what is normal for your dog. Know how your dog looks and sounds on a normal day. How wide is your dog behind the ribcage before and after eating? The abdomen should be soft to the touch and shouldn't have a hollow sound when tapped. It also should not have constant audible gurgling sounds. Dogs with a distended abdomen or with a hollow sound like a drum or with a very active gastric tract may be in distress with enteritis, obstruction, or bloat.  This can be a medical emergency.  Contact your vet immediately.
Urinary Tract:
Healthy dogs have urine that is clear yellow in color. The color will increase as the amount of water excreted decreases and the color will pale as the amount of water excreted increases. Cloudy or bloody urine is not normal and is reason to contact your veterinarian. Normal urine volume ranges from 12-20 milliliters per pound per day. The average water consumption is 30 milliliters (a little more than one ounce) per pound of body weight per day. A sudden increase in water consumption or urine volume may be an indication of disease.
Teeth:
Puppies usually have 28 baby teeth, also called deciduous teeth. Puppies do not have molars and all baby teeth should be in place by six weeks. Adult dogs have an average of 42 permanent teeth which usually start to arrive at 4-5 months and are all in place by 6-7 months. Larger breed dogs tend to have teeth erupting more quickly than smaller breed dogs. Gums are pink and teeth are white in normal dogs. (Some dogs do have black gums and that is normal. Again, know your own dog.) There should be no swelling or bleeding of the gums once all the teeth are in. Be sure to brush your dog's teeth to reduce tartar buildup and keep a healthy mouth.

This should get you started on what is normal for your companion. For more detailed information, you can always talk to your veterinarian about basic health care.