Belly rash on French bulldogs is one of the most uncomfortable conditions. Besides it can be quite itchy, it can also grow into a bacterial infection or be one of the symptoms of Cushing’s disease. Since it should be treated as early as possible, these are the tips to do before it becomes severe.
What can cause belly rash on French bulldogs?
As we all know, Frenchies are on a higher tendency to suffer from allergies and different skin rashes. The skin of your dog is like a protective layer that acts as the barrier between him and other things in his environment. Since not all dogs have the same type of skin and immunity, it’s essential to provide your Frenchie with a healthy and well-balanced diet. Your French bulldog’s diet plays the most important role in their skin and coat appearance. In other words, if you feed your pet with cheap and low-quality food, you can’t expect that he will be healthy.
The dog’s skin changes just like the environment around us. Just like our skin becomes dry in the cold weather, so as our dogs become prone to different issues with skin. Belly rash on French bulldogs usually occurs in warm weather, while dry and flaky skin almost always occurs in the winter. Here are the most common reasons for occurring belly rash on French bulldogs:
- Hormonal imbalance
- Contact with poisonous plants such as ivy
- Allergies
- Genetics
- Skin infection
- Flea bites
- Different inflammatory conditions
Bacterial skin infection
Did you know that even micro cuts can cause infections both bacterial and fungal? Otherwise called pyoderma, bacterial skin infections are followed by pus and they look like pimples on the dog’s belly. They are painful in touch and release pus when they become ripe. Just like with human pimples, the bacterial type of belly rash on French bulldogs ends up with crusts and red marks.
French bulldog puppies are often prone to pyoderma, especially when they are still in the kennel. It happens when their beds are not properly cleaned, so their sensitive and weak skin develops this type of rash. Pyoderma is a word of Greek origin that means ‘puss on the skin’. In dogs, it occurs on hairless spots such as the dog’s armpits and belly.
Fungal infection
Fungal infections are not only common but can also be pesky. One type of fungal infection is yeast dermatitis, which causes thickened skin and other symptoms like musty smells, redness, itchiness, or scaling/crusting on your dog’s body.
Ringworms
Do you know how to recognize ringworms in your French bulldog? The dog will show circular lesions on the body that will appear flaky and red. Since it also affects the hair follicles, a dog with ringworm will have brittle hair and develop hairless patches. It’s especially important to note that ringworm is not itchy, but it’s very contagious. If your dog has a ringworm infection, you’ll have to thoroughly clean your house. Carpets, floors, and furniture require deep cleaning.
Allergies in French bulldogs
Contact dermatitis is one of the most common causes of belly rash in French bulldogs. The most common triggers of allergic reaction on your dog’s belly and armpits are seasonal pollen, dust, mites, ivy plant, different food allergies, chemical products, flea bites, etc.
Besides belly rash, you can also spot other reactions in your pet such as hair loss, redness, bumps, and chronic skin infection.
How to treat belly rash in French bulldogs?
Unfortunately, bulldog breeds are on a higher tendency to suffer from belly rash. Besides rash on the belly, they can also develop pimples inside the folds that are moist and dark and more prone to infections. That’s why it’s highly important to regularly clean those spots as well as your Frenchie’s tail pocket.
Depending on the severity of the cause, your vet will prescribe your dog antihistamines or corticosteroid therapy. In case your dog developed an infection, then he will probably need to take oral antibiotics and topical creams to soothe itching. Fungal infections require using special antifungal shampoo and creams, while ringworm also requires cleaning contaminated places and items.
If it’s difficult to discover the root of the problem, then your vet will perform a blood test to see whether there’s an underlying condition. Hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease could be only one of them.
Belly rashes on French bulldogs are usually not serious, but they do require medical treatment. It’s because your dog can cause an infection by scratching the affected spot. Some types of rashes can also be transmitted to humans, so a rule of advice is to always schedule a vet visit.
