Your bulldog's adorable facial wrinkles harbor heat and moisture that can cause heat rash. His squat, compact body is susceptible to heat rash in other areas as well, including his neck and under his back legs. Care for heat rash quickly to help prevent a more serious skin infection.
Step 1
Look for signs of heat rash, which include pink or red skin or small red bumps. You'll find them in the folds of the dog's skin at the face, under the legs around the groin and armpits, and in the folds of his neck. Severe rash may manifest elsewhere.
Step 2
Wipe your bulldog's wrinkles clean daily with a damp cloth or baby wipe. Wipe deep inside each wrinkle. Dry the area thoroughly.
Step 3
Apply corn starch powder to the inside folds of the wrinkles or areas where the skin rubs together, after you wash them, to help absorb moisture. Sprinkle the powder onto your fingers and rub gently inside the wrinkles; don't sprinkle the powder directly into your pup's face, which could cause him to breathe in the powder.
Step 4
Cover red, bumpy rashes with a diaper rash cream that contains zinc oxide. Apply the cream two to three times a day until all the redness is gone. Ask your veterinarian for suggestions on what kind of diaper rash cream will work best for your pooch.
Step 5
Watch the folds carefully to make sure the heat rash begins to look better -- meaning less red or covering a smaller area -- in 24 to 48 hours of starting the corn starch and diaper rash cream regimen. If it doesn't, go see your vet to check for facial fold dermatitis, which often requires antibiotics to treat.
References
Tips
- If you notice a rash when you don't have diaper rash cream handy, use petroleum jelly to provide some relief until you can purchase the cream.
Warnings
- Bulldogs suffer from a variety of skin allergies, so check with your vet if your pet seems to have constantly recurring rash anywhere on his body. It could be triggered by an environmental factor, such as grass or your carpet.
- If the rash looks black, oozes pus or emits a foul odor, contact your vet immediately to check for bacterial or yeast dermatitis.