Not too long ago the neighbor of a friend offered me (free) a pitbull/English bulldog puppy after a stray dog gave birth to a litter of five in his garage. Although it was not the right time for us to add another member to the family, I mentioned the pups to my vet in case he knew anybody else who might want one. His answer was that he would not recommend the combo. While he had no objections to adopting a pitbull, or pitbull mix, he did state that he would discourage anyone from adopting any of the bulldogs breeds (English, French or even pugs) unless they were prepared for lots of big medical bills, especially due to respiratory problems.
In addition, English bulldogs are prone to a number of skin diseases including eczema, canine atopic dermatitis, seborrhea and acute moist dermatitis, etc.; suffer from elbow and hip displasia; arthritis;eye problems such as conjunctivitis; yeast infections; and heart problems to name some of the most common maladies.
Of course every breed is susceptible to a variety of physical ailments. For instance, collies and golden retrievers are just two of the breeds prone to hip displasia. In addition, I have had both a beagle/terrier and standard poodle who developed epilepsy, as well as a German shepherd with a heart valve problem that was not expected to live to be 6 months old. He was nearly 15 years old when he died. Still, it is always best to be aware of potential medical problems before making a lifelong commitment to any pet. It also doesn’t mean that your particular pet will develop them, or should stop you from adopting your favorite breed.
For more information about breed susceptibility, speak with you vet, or contact the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association, 100 Rosecommon Dr., Middletown, CT 06457 860 635-7770.
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