Vhoas

New member
Jul 9, 2018
59
0
Country
United Kingdom
Bulldog(s) Names
Lola
Our bulldog has just turned one and this summer and last she has struggled with allergies.
It got quite bad last summer which ended up with us taking her to the vet to have an injection.

She has been scratching behind her front legs, chest and stomach (drags her stomach on the floor to scratch)

After watching carefully I have come to the conclusion that the grass in our garden is to blame.
When the grass is green and healthy she will scratch a small amount, sometimes quite a lot on her front legs which results in her cutting then,
or causing lumps which eventually scab over and heal.

But when the grass dies and turns to straw, she develops a rash.
The rash isn't anything major, her stomach just looks saw and warm to touch.
Thankfully she can't scratch it enough to cause damage, but she is obviously in discomfort.

She has 1 tablet of Piriton after her breakfast and if she cuts herself from scratching we apply Sudacrem.
We do our best to wipe her legs and stomach after she goes on to the grass in our garden but she will always find time for a scratch.

I have decided its something about our garden because she will go to my Mum's garden and she will be perfectly fine.

I give her a bath weekly when she shows signs of discomfort with allergies and it works for a day or two..

Is there anything else I can do to help her with this?

I'm planning on replacing the carpet in my living room with Laminate flooring, but is it worth looking in to replacing the grass with artificial?
I understand the vet will want to send her blood sample off to be tested but I'm 90% sure its the grass in our garden that is to blame, to be honest, the previous owner to the house
made a disaster of the garden..

Sorry for the long post :D
But this bully means the world to us and we just want her to be happy.

Regards,

Tom
 

helsonwheels

Well-known member
Jan 10, 2016
13,066
2,370
Alberta
Country
Canada
Bulldog(s) Names
Nyala, Jake (R.I.P. Duke)
Only thing I see is leave her at your moms...IM Kidding!!! :D

Hi there [MENTION=18442]Vhoas[/MENTION] and Welcome... when you say the previous owner made a disaster of the garden, what do you mean like did they use pesticides or something? Also, carpets are the worst absorbing picker uppers of all sorts. Worst thing to have for any allergies. Artificial grass is one way but I would use that money to remove the carpets instead as bullies are more inside than out in a year. But thatā€™s me. Donā€™t wash her too much as youā€™re removing her natural oils from her body n that alone has tendency drying up the skin. What kind of soap are you using. Very hard to play around Mother Nature, always better to work with her. My little white face Duke has the exact same issue when heā€™s on the little pebbles in the pooping area. Itā€™s all 1/2ā€ pebbles and at least 12ā€ or more thick of it n scratches his front legs like yours non stop when he stands on it. Once heā€™s off heā€™s ok. He walks on the cement pad all the way to the pen at the far end of the yard n crosses 3ā€™ grass only to get to the pen. So itā€™s not the grass in his case. He plays on the grass most of the day with Nyala n he wonā€™t scratch. I donā€™t use any chemicals on my grass either and why I asked what you meant by last owner that did a disaster to the garden.
 

2BullyMama

I'm not OCD....now who moved my bulldog?
Staff member
Community Veteran
Jul 28, 2011
48,581
3,673
Gilbertsville, PA
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Chelios (Frenchie), Nitschke (2004-2011) Banks (2005-2014) and Lambeau (2014-2024)
Welcome to EBN!

Our guy is allergic to grass as well.. what I do to help is wipe his paws, chest and face after being outside. It takes the allergen off the fur so it lessens (doesn't stop or cure) the reaction. We also get Cytopoint shots during summer and fall to help keep the allergies under control
 

Cbrugs

Administrator
Community Veteran
Dec 9, 2016
5,646
1,550
Seattle, WA
Country
United States
Bulldog(s) Names
King Louie, Jax (French Bulldog), Ella Mae and Darla Rae
Welcome!

My French Bulldog is allergic to everything green outside. He also gets the Cytopoint injection which helps tremendously. As stated, give him a wipe down after coming inside. I use medicated wipes (chlorohexidine) to wipe his paws and belly and armpits. I use to give Jax weekly baths with a medicated shampoo as well but since being on the Cytopoint, now he gets a bath maybe twice a month.
 
OP
V

Vhoas

New member
Jul 9, 2018
59
0
Country
United Kingdom
Bulldog(s) Names
Lola
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #5
The previous owner just hadn't looked after the grass so it dies really easily.
When we visit family Lola is fine on nice green grass for some reason.

Yesterday was a difficult day for her.
She is on her own for around 2 hours a day because we are at work, when my girlfriend came home she found that Lola had been scratching and cut the back of her legs, and cut her stomach a little..

I have decided to postpone the garden until after our holiday (48 days until Florida :D) I will be removing the carpet and putting down laminate.
What you said makes sense about the carpet absorbing.

We did think for a short time its because she gets anxious on her own..
I'm at home with her all morning until I go to work at Mid day and today she has scratched once for a few seconds.
I have a camera set up so I can keep an eye on her, and its always when we are at work she will go mad scratching.

I find myself shouting down the microphone at her to stop :p
Which she does eventually.

Its such a difficult thing because she is obviously in discomfort. She is booked in to be Spade on Monday which will be another difficult day..
Luckily she is going to a bulldog specialist to be Spade so I might ask them for some advice regarding this.

Regards,

Tom
 

helsonwheels

Well-known member
Jan 10, 2016
13,066
2,370
Alberta
Country
Canada
Bulldog(s) Names
Nyala, Jake (R.I.P. Duke)
[MENTION=18442]Vhoas[/MENTION] , when she gets spayed, make sure she doesnā€™t get all sorts of shots for whatever at the same time cause sheā€™ll already be at the vet. Meaning do one thing at a time. Let her get spayed and once sheā€™s back on track weeks later and if she is due for a shot for whatever, do it then. Some vets will do all the shots in one day n thatā€™s when you often see n hear bad side affects. Or some vets will give same does to a Great Dane to a smaller dog. Nowadays, more n more vets are giving shots by weight. (About time imo) Ask questions. If she gets shots for allergies n needs her routine shots, donā€™t have them done in the same day. Basically just space everything out for side effects.
 
OP
V

Vhoas

New member
Jul 9, 2018
59
0
Country
United Kingdom
Bulldog(s) Names
Lola
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
[MENTION=18442]Vhoas[/MENTION] , when she gets spayed, make sure she doesnā€™t get all sorts of shots for whatever at the same time cause sheā€™ll already be at the vet. Meaning do one thing at a time. Let her get spayed and once sheā€™s back on track weeks later and if she is due for a shot for whatever, do it then. Some vets will do all the shots in one day n thatā€™s when you often see n hear bad side affects. Or some vets will give same does to a Great Dane to a smaller dog. Nowadays, more n more vets are giving shots by weight. (About time imo) Ask questions. If she gets shots for allergies n needs her routine shots, donā€™t have them done in the same day. Basically just space everything out for side effects.

Oh I agree don't worry.
We have a local vet that we use for the smaller issues, but anything that I'm concerned with we use the specialist but we have to wait a few weeks because he is extremely popular. She is being spade Monday then I'm giving her an easy 4 weeks, then I'll take it from there.
We are going on holiday soon, but luckily I have a friend who also has a bulldog so she will be in good hands.
 

2BullyMama

I'm not OCD....now who moved my bulldog?
Staff member
Community Veteran
Jul 28, 2011
48,581
3,673
Gilbertsville, PA
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Chelios (Frenchie), Nitschke (2004-2011) Banks (2005-2014) and Lambeau (2014-2024)
Oh I agree don't worry.
We have a local vet that we use for the smaller issues, but anything that I'm concerned with we use the specialist but we have to wait a few weeks because he is extremely popular. She is being spade Monday then I'm giving her an easy 4 weeks, then I'll take it from there.
We are going on holiday soon, but luckily I have a friend who also has a bulldog so she will be in good hands.

Hope allā€™s goes well on Monday... keep us posted


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Bunnymomjulie

New member
Jun 29, 2018
4
0
Country
United States
Bulldog(s) Names
Brady
Even better than laminate is the tile that LOOKS like hardwood flooring! Our Brady loves it because it's cool in the summer, and we love it because it's easy to wipe things up!
 

Most Reactions

šŸ“° Latest posts

Members online

No members online now.
Top