Congested Bulldogs

[AmyPetrie]

I have 2 bulldogs and both of them are having trouble breathing and they just sound like they need to cough to clear whatever it is they have in the throat or nose. What would someone recommend giving them to clear this up??

[Lord Goliath]

Is this an ongoing thing or something that has suddenly appeared?  I guess what I mean is could it be a cold or something?  

Either way a shot of lemon juice into the back of the throat from a squeezable plastic lemon usually works pretty well.  The lemon juice will cut through the phlegm and allow your Bullies to cough or vomit up the crud.  

I hope this helps.  I have never tried it but I have heard that a shot of cola does the same thing.

[AmyPetrie]

It is an ongoing thing with my little one, but with my older one it just started this weekend.  The last vet check up he listened to the little one and didn't hear anything wrong with her, but I am a little worried

[Lord Goliath]

Is there any discharge from the nose at all?  How about their eyes?  If they have runny eyes as well it may be a sinus infection or even allergies (more likely now that Spring is here).

[AmyPetrie]

Rylee, the little one, seems to always have red and watery eyes, and Raider the bigger one has always had dry red eyes and a really really dry nose.  The vet recommended I give the Bendadryl, but I wasn't sure if that work or not.

[Lord Goliath]

Benadryl is pretty safe to give and may help with the eyes as well as the phlegm.  Check with your vet, but the rule is that they can have 1MG per lb. of weight up to 50 MGs.  

If the benadryl helps, you can be pretty sure that it may be allergies.  Could even be something new in the house like a new laundry detergent or something.

[roosmom]

Hey, just wanted to let you know that the Benadryl is very safe. I work in a vet hospital, and both of my bullies are on it, the smaller is on 50mg twice a day (two tablets), and my larger one is on 75 mg twice a day. Your vet will probably recommend 50 mg. It can help quite a bit. Has the vet said anything about the trachea of the one who has had this as an ongoing problem? There is also a problem often referred to as "reverse sneezing". They might be things to check out. Good Luck!