Can You Shave an English Bulldog?

Your English bulldog can leave quite a bit of hair all over your home. If you are struggling to clean all the hair, you may have wondered if shaving an English bulldog would be easier than dealing with all the dog hair.

Can you shave an English bulldog? You should not shave your bulldog. With proper grooming, you can lessen your bulldog’s shedding, and there is no need for shaving.

Bulldogs are a fantastic furry companion, but we all know how annoying the shedding can be. In this article, you will learn why it is a bad idea to shave your English Bulldog and how to properly groom your pup to help make shedding less of an issue.

Can You Shave an English Bulldog?

If you are considering shaving your Bulldog, you should ask yourself why you are shaving them. Unless there is a medical reason for shaving your Bulldog, you could be adding unnecessary issues by shaving them.

English Bulldogs are prone to overheating, which can cause heatstroke. If you shave them, you are making things worse for your pup. Their fur is designed to help protect them from harmful outside elements.

Here are just a couple issues you could run into if you shave your bulldog:

Sunburn

Just like humans, dogs can get sunburned, too. Their fur protects them from the harmful rays of the sun when they are outside. If you remove that protection and the dog is outside (especially in the summer), they could get a horrible sunburn.

The best thing to do if you feel like your bulldog is overheating is to bring them inside a cool place and out of the direct sun. Also, make sure they are drinking plenty of water to help keep them hydrated.

Injury and Infection

Your English Bulldog has some extra skin that bunches up and causes wrinkles all over their body. If you decide to shave your dog, you could easily cut your dog while trying to maneuver around the creases. If you do cut your dog, you are opening yourself up to possible infections. Not to mention, you can seriously hurt your pup.

Your dog may also have bald patches on its body, which many people are concerned about. If your dog has this, be sure to check out our 6 reasons why your bulldog has bald patches.

Will You Ever Have to Shave Your Dog?

There can be circumstances where your dog will have to be shaved. If your pup has a specific health issue and your vet recommends that you shave him, then you should follow your vet’s advice. Usually, if shaving is needed, the vet will take care of it in their office before the procedure. They will make sure it is done correctly and limited to the area that they are working on.

What Causes a Bulldog to Shed?

Bulldogs will shed daily. It is typical for this specific breed to lose their hair. However, it could be possible that your bulldog is losing too much hair. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) reports some conditions that could cause more hair loss than average.

Some conditions that can cause excessive hair loss include:

Parasites (fleas, lice, or mites)
Fungal or bacterial infections
Inhaled or food-related allergies
Kidney, liver, thyroid, or adrenal diseases
Pregnancy or lactation
Specific medications
Cancer
Immune disease
Sunburn
Contact with an irritating substance
Excessive licking

Tips to Help with Shedding

If you are looking for ways to help reduce the amount of hair that is currently coating your home, don’t forget that there are things you can do to lessen the shedding. The following tips can help not only your pup but the amount of cleaning you must do to keep up with the massive amounts of dog hair on your furniture and your carpet.

Bath Time

If you bathe your bulldog regularly, it can help reduce the shedding. A good bath will remove excess hair and, as a result, prevent you from seeing it on your floor. You may want to invest in a hair catcher for your bathtub if you are bathing your dog at home. You don’t want all that hair causing a massive clog in your pipes.

If you are looking for a dog shampoo that can help soothe your pet, try the Paws & Pals 5 in 1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo. It conditions, moisturizes, detangles, is anti-itch, and has odor control. It works well for pets with dry or itchy skin.

Grooming

If you regularly brush your Bulldog, it will pull the loose hair off them and onto the brush. Brushing them once or twice a day will lessen the amount of hair you find around your home. The Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush can help remove unwanted hair that can get into your pet’s undercoat, which will help reduce shedding.

You don’t need to cut your English bulldog’s hair while grooming them, either. Their hair is naturally short and cutting it shorter won’t help with the shedding issues because the shorter hairs will still fall out.

Dog Food

The wrong dog food could mess with your dog’s digestive system and, in return, cause them to shed more. Make sure you are feeding them a well-balanced diet and keep an eye on how they react to a new food that you introduce to them.

Check Their Collar

Make sure you have a decent collar for your dog. If they have an allergic reaction to the collar, it can cause them to scratch more and shed more. Also, when fitting the collar, make sure you aren’t leaving the collar too loose or too tight.

Vacuum

Make sure you have a good vacuum that is designed to pick up dog hair. You need to vacuum regularly to pick up as much of the dog hair as possible. This will help keep unwanted dog hair off of surfaces that it shouldn’t be on and keep your home in pristine shape. BISSELL makes an excellent vacuum for getting pet hair out of your carpets and furniture.

Supplements

If nothing else is helping, you can always check into giving your dog a supplement. Check with your vet before you start giving your dog anything new. Zesty Paws Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for skin and coat could be a wise choice to help your dog get some Omega 3 and fatty acids, which can reduce the amount of shedding.

When to Call the Vet

There are times where you should contact your vet if you feel like your dog requires some medical attention. They can’t tell us how they are feeling with words, so they show us in their actions. Paying attention to your dog’s behavior could be vital in getting them the proper care.

You should call your vet if you notice any of these things:

Open sores anywhere on their body
Excessive scratching
Bald spots or a thinning coat
Skin issues including bumps, redness, rashes, and scabs
Dry hair that is easy to pull out
Excessive foot licking or face rubbing

The sooner you get your pet to the vet for any of the above issues, the faster they can help your pup. If you wait too long, something that you think is mild could turn into something significant. In return, it could cost you more money in the long run, including vet visits and medications.

In Conclusion

Dogs are part of the family, but their shedding around your house can be a huge pain. You may think that shaving your English bulldog could be the answer to all of your dog hair problems, but you could just be causing more problems for your pet.

If you shave them, you open them up to the possibility of sunburn, heatstroke, and injury. Opting to keep your dog well-groomed and keeping up on the vacuuming is the best option for you and will keep your pet happy and healthy.