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Health problems of the Bulldog are many and varied. Though there are dogs that live to 12 or 13 they are a rarity. Most have a much shorter life span, apparently the average is 5 years. Health problems can be seperated into categories, Structural, respiratory, cardio vascular, eye trauma, skin problems, gastric problems, various health problems related to a poor immune system.
Improving the health of the Bulldog is a complicated and long term undertaking. Some problems are easier to remedy than others, though it may prove difficult to eradicate some health problems without excepting that the resulting dogs produced will be a healthier version of the Bulldog and not simply a carbon copy of the exhisting breed standard.
From a breeding point of view we addressed all of these health problems in turn. We discussed potential solutions in terms of breedings that would contribute to improving health in the short term and be beneficial to our program in the long term. We first looked at structure. Which breeds would contribute to tighter, mechanically improved joints and a more atheletic structure allowing free movement. How much would we have to alter the muzzle length to allow uninhibited breathing? Could we completely eradicate breathing problems while maintaining the appearance of the Bulldog? We believed that several Bulldog health problems were simply the result of a poor immune system, caused by years of in=breeding. After lengthy discussion and considerable research we agreed that most skin problems were a direct result of a weak immune system. Digestive problems such as bloat are rarely seen in mixed breeds that are known to have a stronger immune system. Genetic defects such as congenital heart defects and cardio vascular disease are caused by a mixture of inherited illness and in=breeding. The in-breeding simply worsens the heart problems by magnifying them. Equally, Eye problems, such as Entropian, Ectropian and the infamous Cherry eye are a result of genetic defects magnified by in=breeding. Basically, in=breeding has compounded problems like cherry eye to such an extent that unfortunately most, if not all Bulldogs possess a genetic predisposition to produce this and various other eye problems when used for breeding. Due to the laws of probability, very few, if any Bulldogs do not have any dogs in their background/pedigree that have cherry eye. Therefore this problem has proven to many breeders to be the most difficult to eradicate. Something that should be considered however, is that this is a genetic problem past from generation to generation and clearly visible to the eye. Heart problems are also a genetic defect, though they are not clearly visible. Unless heart/cardio vascular problems are severe and debilitating they could be overlooked, yet many Bulldogs may still be affected to some degree. Health problems like these dictate that any program to create a healthier Bulldog must not only address the obvious structural problems of the Bulldog but must also except the genetic weaknesses of the breed and address them with an appropriate breeding problem. Probability dictates that it is unlikely that any British Bulldogs used for breeding, (cross=breeding or otherwise), are free from these genetic problems. Hence, it would be foolish to return to line breeding after spending years attempting to breed out these health issues within the framework of a structured cross-breeding program. Although it may be possible to cause unhealthy genes to lay dormant, as soon as there is any degree of line=breeding/in=breeding, these health problems, such as Cherry eye return and other more serious health problems are not far behind. Ultimately breeders of healthier hybrid Bulldogs hold the key to the future of the Bulldog.
