About This Project

Methodology & Mission

Bridging the gap between peer-reviewed veterinary science and real-world bulldog ownership experience.

Why This Exists

Bulldog owners dealing with chronic skin problems face a frustrating gap: veterinary dermatology literature is excellent but inaccessible, while online community advice is accessible but unvalidated. This handbook bridges that gap.

Every piece of community-contributed information in this handbook has been evidence-checked against the peer-reviewed veterinary dermatology literature. We don't censor community experience — we contextualize it. When an owner reports that Epsom salt paw soaks helped their dog, we evaluate the mechanism, check the evidence, and publish the result with appropriate caveats.

Core Principles

Evidence-first, not opinion-first. Community content is valuable but must be checked. We don't censor — we contextualize.
The handbook is the anchor. The static handbook represents the current state of evidence. Community contributions extend it but don't override it.
Transparency in validation. Users see the evidence assessment alongside every submission. Nothing is hidden.
Veterinary care is always recommended. This site helps owners be better informed, not replace their vet.
Bulldog-specific, not generic. Content is tailored to brachycephalic breeds with skin folds. Generic dog health advice is out of scope.

Validation Methodology

Community submissions are evaluated through an automated evidence-checking pipeline powered by the Claude AI, followed by community review and optional editorial review by veterinary professionals.

Each submission receives a verdict: Validated (supported by peer-reviewed literature), Plausible (sound mechanism, limited direct evidence), Unsubstantiated (no evidence basis found), Harmful (could cause harm), or Needs Context (depends on clinical circumstances).

Submissions flagged as Harmful are immediately rejected with a safety explanation. All other submissions go through a 48-hour community review period before moving to the verified feed.

What We Do NOT Publish

Claims that supplements can "cure" allergies or yeast permanently. Anti-veterinary sentiment. Recommendations for substances toxic to dogs. Unvalidated diagnostic claims. Promotion of unreliable commercial food allergy tests. Misinformation about dietary yeast causing Malassezia dermatitis.

References