Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

    rewards header
    Become a member today!
    Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
    Already a member? Sign in
    Petco Pay LogoBecome a credit card member today!

    Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
    when you use Petco Pay!

    APPLY NOW
    Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Why is my English Bulldog losing hair, licking paws, and dry ears?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | English Bulldog | Female | spayed | 68 lbs

Hi we adopted a english bulldog that is 9 years old she was a breeder dog before we adopted her she has had eye surgery for chronic dry eye so she already jas eye problems she also was missing a big patch of hair on her side when we got her the vet said it was probably due to not enough sun light well it never grew any hair back she has lost a lot more hair it is not mange she was tested she is licking her feet non stop till theu r raw and her ear is very very very dry

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Ann Dion, DVM

Answered By Ann Dion, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on December 6th, 2018

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Bulldogs are notorious for having skin issues and allergies, along with their other problems (breathing issues, eye issues, etc.) I suggest talking with your vet to see if there is a current infection (yeast or bacteria) on her skin or in her ears. If there is, this needs to be treated. After this secondary infection is treated you need to address the underlying cause, which is most often allergies. Allergies can be to food, laundry soap, environment, etc. I would start by switching her to a hypoallergenic diet (prescription from the vet), and discuss medications such as Apoquel, Atopica, or steroids, to control her allergies (if they feel this is the cause after examining her).

The hair patch loss could be due to lack of melatonin, and you can try supplementing, but could also be due to hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease, or allergies. Ask your vet about testing for these.

An E-collar can be used to prevent licking/chewing at the feet to give them time to heal. This is often required.

Best of luck with Olive! I hope she feels better soon.
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Maria DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 8th, 2019

    This can be mites or it can be allergies. Unfortunately, to rule out mites you would need a skin scrape. If you were to use medication it is a prescription, so it is difficult to treat completely without seeing a veterinarian.

    If you need financial help here is a website with some information that may be able to help you afford the veterinary care.
    https://www.pawbark.com/financial-help-for-veterinary-care-costs/

    Thank you for using PetCoach.

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on June 14th, 2018

    Hi there. Hair loss, excessive chewing on her paws, a skin odor, and waxy discharge or debris in the ears are all very common signs of allergies in dogs. This could be a food allergy, or an allergy to something in the environment. Other possible causes would include a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites (mange).

    I'm not sure what kinds of testing and treatment have already been done, so it's hard to give specific advice on what the next recommended steps would be. Allergy testing, and/or a diet trial with a prescription hypoallergenic food such as Hills z/d or Purina HA may be helpful to try and get a diagnosis. For symptomatic treatment, a short-term course of steroids and antibiotics might be a reasonable place to start, so you can certainly discuss this with your vet if it hasn't been done already.

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Health & Wellness
Why is my English Bulldog losing hair in patches on his neck?
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My English Bulldog has skin patches. Is it allergies or infection?
HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! English Bull dogs are prone to allergies (food and environment), skin infections, demodex, and immune conditions. I would have the bumps checked to see if they are from a skin infection from yeast and/or bacteria. I would put Henry on Bravecto or Nexgard to cover for demodex. Since he is older I would have full blood work done, including a thyroid profile. If the skin doesn't improve on therapy in 3 weeks have some of the lesions biopsied to make sure it isn't skin cancer. Especially if skin problems are abnormal for him. If the lesions are more bumps than flat hairless areas and aren't consistent with a skin infection I would jump to the biopsy sooner. I hope this helps and I wish Henry a speedy recovery!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Why is my dog losing ear hair and getting bumps? Home remedies?
Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on your description, it sounds as if Daisy may have a skin allergy or infection. If she is losing hair behind her ears, she may be scratching at the base of her ears due to an ear infection. If her ears look infected, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her so you can get the infection treated with prescription ear medication. Below are some recommended products, which you can find online, that you can try to see if these help relieve the symptoms you are seeing. If the condition worsens or does not resolve, I would recommend having her examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. 1. Douxo PS Chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly until resolved 2. Malacetic conditioning spray and apply to the affected areas 2-3 times per day until resolved 3. Essential 6 spot on by Dermoscent 4. Douxo PS Calm mousse and apply to the entire body once daily on the non-shampoo days.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
How to prevent my bulldog's skin and ear infections due to allergies?
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. The best way to prevent allergies is by preventing the possible allergic component if one is known. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Why does my dog have white, flaky patches in her ears with hair loss?
Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Judging by your description, it sounds as though Shiloh may have a skin infection or seborrheic dermatitis possibly. Without pictures and not being able to examine the area myself, it is difficult to say for sure. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine Shiloh so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. Shiloh may need an oral antibiotic and topical therapy for treatment. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
My dog has bald spots, scratches, ear lumps, and a strong odor. Why?
Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Based on what you are describing, and the pictures, I suspect that Willow may have an infection with ectoparasites, such as mites or fleas, that are causing her to be itchy. Your veterinarian can perform a skin scrape and evaluate the cells under a microscope to look for evidence of infectious agents. Please ensure that Willow is on a monthly topical flea and tick preventative that you purchase from your veterinarian; NOT one that can be purchased from a pet or grocery store, as these are not regulated and can be very toxic to pets. Willow could also have allergic skin disease, secondary to food or environmental agents. You can talk to your veterinarian about trying a diet trial to determine if Willow's itchy skin resolves on a particular novel protein diet. The thickened ears can be due to chronic ear infections, so your veterinarian will be able to examine the waxy debris under a microscope and prescribe the appropriate medication based on whether they see bacteria and/or yeast in Willow's ears. I hope this is helpful!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My Frenchie is scratching, licking, balding, and has flaky skin. Why?
Lou is adorable! Unfortunately Frenchies are notorious for developing both environmental allergies (atopy) and food allergies. These signs can be especially apparent during seasonal weather changes. Other issues, like secondary bacterial or mite infections could be causing hair loss. It would be best to have Lou examined by a veterinarian to evaluate for infection and to prescribe medications to help relieve the itch. There are newer, safer medications available for allergies like Cytopoint that have been proven very successful. Lou may need a medicated shampoo or even oral anti- fungal or antibiotics is infection is present. Until you can get to your veterinarian you can try bathing with a soothing shampoo like Douxo Calm to provide some relief for Lou. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Lou is feeling better soon!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Health & WellnessDog Allergy Medicine & Itch ReliefDog Skin & Coat SupplementsDog Ear & Eye CarePrescription Shampoo for DogsDog Ear CareAllergy & Itch Relief Dog ShampoosDog Vitamins & SupplementsDry Skin Dog ShampoosDog Ear & Eye MedicineDog Grooming SuppliesDog Eye CareDog Medicine and PrescriptionsPrescription Allergy Medicine for DogsDog Thyroid Medication & Hormone CareOatmeal Dog ShampoosAntifungal Medication for DogsCat Allergy & Itch ReliefFlea & Tick Solutions for DogsPrescription Horse Skin & Coat Care
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Share

Styled arrow button