Bulldog Wrinkle Care

You know who really has their lives together? 

English Bulldog parents.

I had joined several French Bulldog forums but could not find any answers that gave me awesome results when it came to keeping Yoda and Luna’s wrinkles and skin folds healthy. I came across an English Bulldog community and eventually was able to come up with a method that works for us, and products that I trust and can vouch for.

You’ll probably read everywhere that Bulldog wrinkles have to be cleaned and maintained to avoid bacteria, yeast, and irritation. Easy peasy, clean wrinkles, the dog is happy, no prob.

WRONG! I found myself somewhere between zero information on the right way to maintain wrinkles, and an overabundance of companies throwing their product recommendations up all over the internet promising perfect wrinkles. This entry contains products that I found through multiple recommendations through English Bulldog forums, trial/error, vet recommendations, and they all work for my dogs. I hope that my method and product suggestions can help you and your pup! 

Luna’s wrinkles are high maintenance and require daily care. Issues we see in Luna’s wrinkles include redness, swelling, irritation, loss of fur, and excess moisture. Luna had nearly zero health issues until she was roughly a year old. One day I looked at her to see she had injured herself by scratching at her face so severely. It was pretty shocking, considering she had never exhibited any signs of irritation previously. So speaking from experience – make sure to check your puppies wrinkles even if all seems to be okay. Those wrinkles go pretty deep, and it’s easy to miss any problems unless you’re looking closely. Here’s what I have found to work for Luna:

1. Vetericyn Wound and Skin Care Hydrogel: This stuff is a MIRACLE at healing wounds and what makes it even better is that it’s completely safe to use around the face and eyes. Any time Luna has scratched herself I always apply this and see results within 24 hours. Check their Amazon reviews. Many farmers use this on their farm animals and the before and after pictures of how this stuff heals is seriously unbelievable. (Some of them are a little gruesome but it’s a true testament to how well this stuff works.) They have a few other products that I am looking forward to trying but I recommend this one even just to keep on hand as a first-aid treatment. I’ve used it on many cuts and scrapes for all of our pups.
2. Malacetic Wipes: These wipes are cleansing, drying, and anti-microbial. Active Ingredients include 2% Acetic Acid and 2% Boric Acid. I was using these nearly every other day when I was trying to get Luna’s wrinkles under control. Now we’re down to about once a week unless we have a flare-up. They’re also great to use after a bath to make sure there’s no excess moisture in your pup’s wrinkles. Keep in mind these are medicated wipes and shouldn’t be used as an everyday cleansing wipe.
3. Bark Logic 3 in 1 Ear, Eye, and Nose Wipes (Unscented): I used a different brand previously and they changed their formula which left me devastated! I found these and I really like their formula and they’re super gentle. The only thing I don’t love is the container they’re packaged in but I will overlook that because the actual product is great. I use these for cleaning her face on the days that I am not using the Malacetic wipes. These wipes are perfect for cleaning paws and body too so you definitely get your money’s worth from this product.
4. Natural Dog Co. Wrinkle Balm: I love this. It even SMELLS like it’s soothing her irritated skin. She was a little resistant when I first started using this but now it seems like she actually enjoys it being part of her routine. It’s anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and 100% plant based. It helps soothe and prevent a lot of skin fold problems including dermatitis, yeast, bacterial infections, sores, canine acne, and scabbing. Can you tell I love this stuff? We currently use this on Luna multiple times a week and maybe one to two times a week on Yoda. You can head directly to their website by clicking the banner on the right side of this page and use code JEDISYODALUNA for 10% off your order. They also have a 60 day satisfaction guarantee . You can also purchase through Amazon! Pro tip: Use a Q-tip to apply the balm in tight wrinkle folds.
   1. Side note: I was previously using a popular bulldog wrinkle paste. It had awesome reviews so I went ahead and purchased it. I used it on Yoda and didn’t really see results but I kept using it because it stated it repelled moisture and protected against bacteria/yeast and I felt that was important. I used the paste on Luna and within an hour her face swelled up tremendously and it scared the sh*t out of me! I put her in the bath and washed her face and the swelling went down almost immediately. The Bulldog Paste was a ‘Desitin’ consistency that was thick. The Natural Dog Co. Wrinkle Balm is truly a balm that is slick, easy to apply, and it takes minimal effort to rub it into skin folds. I found the paste to be difficult to use on top of the reaction it caused in Luna.  

Yoda’s wrinkles are pretty low maintenance. I honestly can’t recall a time that I felt there was a lot of irritation. He does have staining which we continue to work on eliminating. Both of these methods help us manage his tear stains:

1. I switched him to  filtered water. I know this may seem a little extra but I’ve seen good results from it. While it hasn’t cured his tear stains, it has reduced them quite a bit. Switching to a gravity water feeder has been super helpful! If you go this route just remember to watch the bowl to make sure it’s clean and free of debris.
2. Malacetic Wipes: These have been amazing for cleaning his wrinkles and they help remove tear stains. Like I said Yoda is rather low maintenance so I only use these once a week. Note that these should not replace your everyday dog wipes. They’re great for feet, ears, and hot spots too!
3. I generally apply Natural Dog Company’s Wrinkle Balm to his wrinkles once a week as well. 

Always keep in mind that you should consult with your vet about any issues you’re having or products you’re considering. These recommendations are not meant to replace Veterinary care. We tried a lot of different prescriptions for Luna’s skin issues and have gotten the best results from the products mentioned below and by sticking to a strict regimen. In fact (knock on wood) it’s been nearly three weeks and we’ve completely stopped administering her steroids which is a miracle.

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