Crash course for a newbie

[MelanieNormansMom]

Hello. I'm new to everything bulldog. I intro'ed myself last night on the intro page. I am now mom to a 3 year (so I'm told) bulldog that was rescued from a neglect situation. It blows my mind what good shape he's in and how wonderful his temperment is. He's housebroken , no cysts on his feet, or tumors, no cherry eye or sores/infections etc, walks on a leash, knows his name and "sit." He isn't fearful or agressive. He's Mr Mellow-Joe Cool. My friend-the main rescuer- had him a week and he fit right in with her family. I've had him home with me since Saturday and you'd think he'd been her for years. Baffled how he came to be where he was chained and neglected.
Anyway....I've been reading and trying to figure stuff out as fast as I can. I hope I haven't committed too many no-no's so far.
I'm slowly moving him off of the yuck food he was on-but I guess yuck food is better than no food... He's fine with me wiping his face and wrinkles and heinie bum. I think we may have a bit of red yeast going in his nose rope and tail. His eyes don't seem overly wet or runny. I have a good front face pic of Norm on my profile but I haven't figured out all the ins and out yet of getting it to be my avatar.
Last night he decided to hop his happy self right into the shower with my 7 year old. He was so proud of himself. And my daughter thought that was THE funniest thing ever. I found some mild baby shampoo, lathered him up, rinsed and dried him off really well. Baby shampoo....ok to use or not good? His coat felt so soft and shiny smooth after. I figured the flea and tick shampoo my other dog that is sensitive to NOTHING would be too much for him??
I know people food is supposed to be no-no for all dogs and we definitely don't feed table scraps but every so often we do give treats like bites of meat etc. Are there things that are a DEFINITE omg NO WAY feed that or let your bully eat it???
Any other hard and fast no-ways or omg you HAVE to have/do this I need to know ASAP??? Thanks so much for plowing through this to the end. I just don't want to mess up super bad right off the bat.

 

[2BullyMama]

WOW... he really is a great little guy.... would have loved to had seen the shower jump. Too cute.

Baby shampoo is not bad... just want to watch how often you bathe them as it shuld only be done as necessary. Too much strips their coat of natural oils which are really good form them.

Yuck food to better food is always a good thing.... try to stay away from chicken and grains - lots of bullies have issues with those products. Many members feed raw and/or home cooked meals. There are forums specifically for these topics.

People food -- veggies, fruits and some dairy are great for them.. A lot of us give carrots, green beans, blueberries, bananas as treats or part of meals. No-no's are onions, rasians and grapes - these are toxic to dogs.

Witch hazel on a cotton pad will help with keeping his folds clean... once every other day is good. And then every day with unscented baby wipes.

 

[BruceP]

Sounds like you are headed in the right direction. There is a food rating chart here on EBN of food tested to be good and not so good for bullies. Since this is a not for profit sight, there is no food manuf. paying for advertising. I suggest you pick a food from the article. Bullies are food sensitive and even what is good for one may not be good for yours. Its pretty much trial and error.
Lots of allergies in bullies. So you need to be careful... even in what shampoo you use. I can only tell you what we use: Selsun Blue followed by an oatmeal dog shampoo from Walmart. Works for HRH.
There are a few things you never give a dog, chocolate, raisins, grapes to mention a few. We use her kibble as treats for HRH so we arent adding other ingredients to her diet.
Im sure others will be along soon to add additional help

 

[cali~jenn]

Ditto what everyone else has said. As far as baby shampoo, that is what I use. My kids use Burt's bees baby shampoo/wash so once my Johnson's and Johnson's is gone for the pups I will switch since they use all natural things and I like that idea of it. I also follow up with good ol Pantene conditioner. It makes their fur soooooo soft and smell yummy. Yesterday was bath day here and everyone is sooo fluffy, love it. I only scrub about once a month although before having my kids I admit it was more every week or two and they were fine with that. Salmon oil is something many people also buy and add in their diet. Can give a tbsp of yogurt, cottage cheese, canned pure pumpkin in their foods as well. If he needs some extra meat on his bones the pumpkin has lots of nutrients and will help there as well as help keep his firm while you transition to the better food. mine love all sorts of fruits and veggies. String cheese always gets shared too but we don't eat it very often. Need to go look at his pic now.

 

[Baconator]

You've gotten great advice so far, we feed Bacon a salmon oil pill every night with his kibble it helps keep their coats soft and shiney. We just switched to the pills because the raw oil is smelly and in our case Bacon liked to wipe it everywhere during and after eating so the entire house stunk. The other thing that we add to his kibble is raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, it helps boost their immune system, just about a cap full in his kibble.

 

[Alice Kable]

Welcome to you and Norman! I'm looking forward to your posts and seeing pictures of Norman!

 

[Davidh]

Welcome to the site and bless you for adopting that sweet boy. You have some great info above. Some other things to know about chew toys is, no rawhides, bully sticks, or pig ears. They are chocking hazards, and can do damage to their intestines. Use Nylabones, Kong toys, or hard rubber toys. Looking forward in seeing pics of your baby. There is plenty of info here so just look around, ask questions and have fun.

 

[Baconator]

Also antlers, they are a little bit on the expensive side but they last FOREVER!!!!!!!! Well not forever but a really really long time, we still have the first one we got Bacon over a year ago and it's almost totally intact still.

 

[Valentine215]

Kudos to you for rescuing him...and he seems like a loveable little guy! Can't wait to see pics! I haven't been on here long but I sure do wish I had found this site A LONG time ago. Lucky you for finding it! There are a lot of folks here who are completely committed to their bully's well-being.

you're doing great so far! :D

 

[mc68mc]

Welcome this is a great sight for lots of bully info - we got April the same way -when i found this place it was so helpful now i come here to be part of the bully family !

 

[Vikinggirl]

You got lots of excellent advice above, bless you for adopting sweet Norman. Baby shampoo is fine for bathing, we use tearless puppy shampoo with oatmeal and chamomile from Petsmart, I like to do a second rinse with apple cider vinegar and water, pour it on their skin, not on their heads and leave it on for a few minutes then rinse it off with warm water. It makes their skin and fur really soft and shiny, plus I find they stay nice smelling longer between their baths. We bathe our guys twice a month. Most people on here feed their bullies Fromms, we use Fromms Beef Frittata, because our female Blossom is allergic to chicken and Salmon, you can check out the food ratings forum on this site, and look at the 5 and 6 star foods. We also give our guys supplements like a fish oil supplement, Dozer gets salmon oil, and Blossom gets cod liver oil, we give them apple cider vinegar in their drinking water everyday, 2 Tbsp of plain unsweetened yogurt on their kibble every morning, this is good for their digestion, as it has probiotics, and boosts their immune system, and we also give a cranberry pill every day in their food , to prevent bladder infections. Most supplements that are okay for humans, are okay to give to dogs as well, so you can buy them at a drugstore, or health food store, you'll find them cheaper there than from your vet. The only treats we give them are bananas, strawberries, blueberries, cut up apples, green beans, cheese strings once in a while, a hard boiled egg once a week, and baby carrots. You can go on the different forums and read about health and issues regarding everything bully. Good luck and congratulations. Enjoy.

I copied and pasted some threads for you to read, I hope you find them helpful

Current Article










By Singing The Praises Of Apple Cider Vinegar on Jul 6, 2008 in Dr.Jeannie, Dog Health - Immune System, Dog Breeders Corner, Dog Heart Health, Dog Nutrition, Doggone Home & Garden Stuff




Apple Cider Vinegar




Apple cider is known around the world as Mother Nature’s miracle medicine, a powerful weapon in the war against aging and disease that is more effective than many high-priced prescription drugs. When God created this fruit He designed it be a food and a medicine!
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is golden liquid concentrated with the healthy goodness of apples. It contains more than 30 important nutrients, 12 minerals, over 6 vitamins, essential acids and several enzymes. Moreover, it has a large dose of pectin for a healthy heart, and thus, healthy as a whole.
Many vitamins, minerals and other nutrients and substances are available in ACV to improve the health of your dog. ACV can provide them with enzymes and important minerals, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, chlorine,
phosphorus, iron, silicon and other trace minerals. The vitamins contained in ACV are bioflavonoids (vitamin P), beta-carotene (precursor to vitamin A), vitamin C, E, B1, B2, and B6. Tannins from the crushed cell walls of fresh apples as well as malic acid, tartaric acid, propionic acid, acetic acid and pectin (fiber) are also contained in ACV.
ACV is cheap, easy to use and it really benefits our health in numerous ways. ACV can benefit both people and their pets. It is antibacterial and anti-fungal and gives the immune system a good boost. As a high potassium electrolyte balancer, it remineralizes the body and helps normalizethe blood’s alkaline acid balance.ACV is the natural king of skin remedies. It is wonderful for itching and scratching pets as well as a superb skin and hair conditioner. Good old apple cider vinegar either straight or diluted 50/50 with water can be applied directly to the affected area and allowed to dry. It will kill bacteria on hot spots, eliminate dandruff, rejuvenate hair, skin and help sweeten and balance the pH levels in the body. When giving your dpg a bath, shampoo, rinse, then apply ACV either straight or diluted, followed by rinsing with water. Notice, any residue shampoo will be washed out and you will feel and see an increased softness and sheen to the coat.
Apple cider vinegar is a powerful detoxifying and purifying agent. It breaks down fatty, mucous and phlegm deposits within the body. By breaking down these substances it improves the health and function of the vital organs, such as the kidneys, bladder and liver, by preventing excessively alkaline urine. Put a tablespoon of ACV in your dog’s drinking water every day and you will no longer have those brown spots in your lawn from the dog’s urine.




This powerful potion also promotes digestion, assimilation and elimination, all the while neutralizing any toxic substances that enter the body. Cider vinegar has been found to ..neutralize any harmful bacteria that may be found in certain foods. While dogs and cats do not have to worry too much about the bacteria in raw meat, if YOU are in doubt, you can pour a little Apple Cider Vinegar over thier raw meal.
Cider vinegar can also be beneficial for symptoms such as tooth decay and splitting of your dog’s toenails, which can be symptoms of potassium deficiency. Potassium is essential for the replacement of worn-out tissues within the body. This mineral is also important to soft tissue repair, as calcium is to the bones and teeth which makes it a wonderful supplement for senior dogs.
Tests have proven that when potassium, in the form of cider vinegar is fed to livestock their appearance improves and their stamina increases.
Cider vinegar is thought to be beneficial in the treatment of arthritis, as a supplement added to your pet’s daily water supply (or poured over the food) or with compresses soaked in hot vinegar applied directly to the joints. It is also thought to be helpful when used to treat allergies, osteoporosis, cancer, candida, high cholesterol, constipation, muscle cramps, colitis, diabetes, diarrhea, depression, dizziness, ear discharge, eczema, fatigue, kidney stones, kidney and bladder problems, metabolism, and stiff joints.
The supplementation of ACV has been known to naturally remove red tear stains from the inside out. It is also used by many to prevent fleas when used in a rinse for the dog’s coat.
Recently, Dr. Louis Ducarre of Geneva, Switzerland, author of the fairly new book,Natural Cures, Natural Life states that when mixed with honey, apple cider becomes potent enough to cure cancer, heart disease and other deadly ailments .
Natural apple cider vinegar is found in health food stores. It should be a rich amber color with the “mother” quite visible as sentiment on the bottom. The strength of vinegar is important. All varieties of vinegar contain about 4 to 7 percent acetic acid, with 5 percent being the most common amount. Acetic acid is what gives vinegar its tart and sour taste.
There is nothing beneficial about commercial distilled vinegars except for pickling, cleaning and disinfection —they have no health value!
Bragg, Paul and Linda, N.D., Ph.D., “Apple Cider Vinegar, Miracle Health System”, Published Health Science, Santa Barbara, California
Jarvis, D.C, M.D., D.C. “Folk Medicine”, and“Arthritis and Folk Medicine”, Published Fawcett Publications, Inc., Greenwich, Connecticut
Puotinen, C.J., “The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care” Published Keats Publishing, Inc., New


Dog Food Ratings
With thousands of dog foods on the market, how do you know which one to choose for your dog?






Our research on dog foods was done in April of 2010 and we are continuously adding new foods to our list. If you have a food that is NOT on our list, please send a personal message to cowsmom.


For even more information on dog food, visit our English Bulldog Nutrition Forum to see what food and health tips our members are using. Dog food brands are listed in alphabetical order according by star rating.


Keep in mind, these gradings are based upon ALL dog breeds. English Bulldogs are more prone to allergies and more sensitive to foods and ingredients such as high levels of protein than other dog breeds. Therefore, this is to be used strictly as a GUIDELINE for you to find a great choice for your bulldog. It will be trial and error unitl you find the perfect food, and a 4 star food may work better for your English Bulldog than a 6 star food.


Remember to always take time while switching foods. Add more of the new food to the current food you are feeding for a minimum of a week until they have made a complete switch.


Also note, we are not paid to say any dog food is better than the other! These ratings are based upon several factors. Ingredients, research, label reading, additives, vitamin content, cooking times, wikipedia, other online articles, and most of all member testimonials.


Click Here to read about understanding dog food labels.




6 Stars = Best Foods
1 Star = Yuk.








Click this bar to view the original image of 604x92px.


6 Star Dog Foods:
Artemis- Maximal Dog
Blue- Wilderness
Earthborn Holistic- Primative Natural
Fromm Four Star Foods- All Dry Kibble Formulas
Fromm Four Star Foods- All Grain Free Kibble Formulas
Go Natural Fit + Free Grain Free Adult, Puppy, & Senior
Horizon Legacy- Adult Canine
Horizon Legacy- Puppy
Merrick-Grain Free Duck, Pork, Chicken, Buffalo
Nature's Logic Natural- All Dry Kibble Formulas
Nature's Variety- All Instinct & Grain Free Forumlas
Orijen-Adult, Puppy, Regional Red, Six Fish & Senior
Wellness Core
Wellness Core Ocean
Wellness Core Reduced Fat


Click this bar to view the original image of 510x94px.


5 Star Dog Foods:
Acana- Regionals- Grasslands, Pacifica, Prairie Harvest, & Ranchlands
Acana-Classics- All Formulas
Acana-Singles- Duck and Bartlett Pear & Lamb & Okanagan Apple
Artemis Fresh Mix- Adult, Small Breed adult, & Weight Managment
Artemis Fresh Mix- Med/Large Breed Puppy, Small Breed Puppy
AvoDerm Natural Chicken Meal & Brown Rice- Adult Dog or Puppy
AvoDerm Natural Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Adult Dog
Back To Basics- All formulas
By Nature BrightLife Canine Food
Canidae-All Life Stages or Beef & Fish
Canidae- Grain Free- ALS formula or Salmon Meal formula
Castor n Pollux Ultramix grain free or grain & poultry free
Dogswell Nutrisca- All Formulas
Earthborn Holistic: Great Plains Feast, Coastal Catch, Meadow Feast
Evanger's Pheasant & Brown Rice
Fromm Gold Nutritionals- Adult, Large Breed Puppy, Puppy & Senior
Go Natural Refresh + Renew Chicken
Go Natural Sensitivity + Shine Salmon
Go Natural Sensitivity + Shine Duck
Innova- EVO
Innova- EVO Red Meat
Innova- EVO Reduced Fat
Innova- Adult Dry Dog Food - Red Meat - Large Bites & Small Bites
Innova- Adult Dry Dog Food - Small Bites & Large Bites
Innova- Puppy Dry Puppy Food
Merrick-Classic Recipes- All Formulas
Nature's Variety Prairie- Beef Meal & Barley
Nature's Variety Prairie- Chicken Mean & Brown Rice Canine Dry Diet
Nature's Variety Prairie- Lamb Mean & Oatmeal
Nature's Variety Prairie- New Zealand Venison Meal & Millet
Nature's Variety Prairie- Salmon Mean & Brown Rice
O&M Prime Life Plus
Pinnacle Peak Protein formula
Show Bound Naturals Chicken & Brown Rice formula
Show Bound Naurals Lamb & Brown Rice Formula
Timberwolf Organics- Black Forest Ham or Dakota Bison Canid formula
Timberwolf Organices- Nutrient Dense Lamb, Barley and Apples Canid Formula
Timberwolf Organics- Ocean Blue Canid Formula or Southwest Chicken Canid Formula
Timberwolf Organics- Wild & Naural Canid Formula or Wilderness Elk Dry Canid Formula
Wellness- Just For Puppy
Wellness Super5Mix- Chicken, Lamb, Large Breed Puppy or Small Breed


Click this bar to view the original image

0 Comment(s)