American Bulldog Skin Problems

Yeast is the most common fungal infection found in American bulldogs. Yeast infections thrive in warm and moist places such as the groin, armpits, underbelly and ears; the most common site of such an infection will be between the folds of your bulldog's skin. Signs your bulldog may have a fungal yeast infection include constant rubbing of the head and ears, a waxy black buildup and a sour smell emanating from the skin. Treat your bulldog externally by wiping the affected areas daily with a mixture of equal parts apple cider vinegar and water; treat him internally with a mixture of probiotics and apple cider vinegar in his drinking water. Always check with your vet before adding anything to your dog's food or water.

Suffered by American bulldog puppies, impetigo is a skin condition consisting of small pus-filled blisters that pop up mainly on the hairless parts of the pup's body. When the pustules rupture, they dry into dark brown, round crusts. In older dogs impetigo presents as acne, and is found on the lips, chin and groin of your American bulldog. Treatment for both impetigo and acne is similar: remove your bulldog from any unsanitary conditions, and bathe them two or three times a week in shampoo that contains benzoyl peroxide.

Another common skin infection in American bulldogs is pyoderma, an infection that is exacerbated when skin folds rubs together. You can tell if your bulldog is suffering from pyoderma when the skin is red, swollen and irritated, and when a foul odor comes from the affected area. Pyoderma is bacterial in nature, and can be treated either through surgery—to tighten the wrinkles of your bulldog's skin, reducing irritation—or through wiping the sores daily with benzoyl peroxide before rubbing on a steroid cream.

Like any other dog, American bulldogs can experience allergic reactions to food or airborne allergens. If allergies are the culprit in your bulldog's skin infection, the coat will be either dry or extra oily, and flakes of skin may be visible on the fur. He may have patches of scaly skin, and will be itching constantly. To treat food allergies, change your bulldog's diet to narrow down the cause of his allergen—switching to a diet free of grains often helps—and eliminate it. Airborne allergies can be conquered by not letting your bulldog outside during particularly high-pollen-count days, or by administering allergy shots as prescribed by your vet.