American Bulldog Care
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The American Bulldog is a loyal, protective, energetic, and confident breed. This breed is known as an excellent family dog and, through proper socialization with people, dogs, and cats, they will be extremely friendly to anyone they meet. If an American Bulldog respects you and wants to please you, you will have a very loyal dog standing next to you. No matter what your American Bulldog's personality is, this breed is very protective and will more than likely be an excellent security system for your home and family. Here are some tips on how to ensure your AB is maintained healthy:
1. Make sure that your dog has had all of its necessary immunizations.Vaccinations play an important role in any dog’s health, including your American Bulldog's. The standard immunizations for dogs include Rabies, which is administered at 12 weeks of age or older and then every 1 to 3 years depending on your local laws and your vet’s recommendations. Distemper, Parvovirus, Hepatitis, and Para influenza are usually administered together.
2. Get your American Bulldog spayed or neutered. Spaying and neutering are procedures that prevent unwanted pregnancies and can help to eliminate many health and behavioral issues. Neutering can prevent testicular cancers, prostate problems, urinary marking, and some aggressive behaviors in males. Spayed females have a greatly reduced incidence of mammary tumors and no possibility of uterine infections or uterine cancer.
3. Understand that American Bulldogs are prone to certain health conditions.Some of the more common ones include, but are not limited to, brachycephalic syndrome, laryngeal paralysis, hip dysplasia, deafness, hypothyroidism, entropion, and prolapse of the third eyelid. Most of these health concerns are treatable. Some may only require a simple medication while others may need to be corrected with a surgical procedure.
4. Feed an American Bulldog puppy a high-quality puppy food made specifically for large breed puppies. This helps to ensure that it maintains healthy bones and joints while it is growing. The puppy should remain on this diet until it is around 18 months of age. It can then be considered an adult and gradually be switched to an adult food.Find a high quality food that features a meat as the first ingredient listed on the bag's label. This will give the American Bulldog the protein it needs and it will limit the amount of carbohydrates it consumes. Crude protein should be no less than 30 percent and crude fat no less than 20 percent. The fiber content needs to be 4 percent or less.
American Bulldogs are a wonderful and loving addition to any home but they do come with a hefty list of do's and don’ts because of their size, energy levels, and stereotypes. Educate yourself before bringing a new American Bulldog pup into your home. You will have your work cut out for you, but in return, you will have a loyal and devoted friend to share your home and life with. |