Archive for March, 2008

Ask the Veterinarian - Crunchy French Bulldog

lorihuntdvm March 17th, 2008

French Bulldog Hips ‘Crunch’ 

I have a male French Bulldog who is 16 mos. old. Since I received him he has always had a noticeable “crunch” palpable over his hind legs at his back while walking. It is not really a click but is obviously some movement at the joint which isn’t smooth.

My vet did not think there was a problem and my dog is quite active and it does not seem to limit him at this time. The only other thing is that while pulling on his lead while on a neighborhood walk he developed some swelling on his foot pad on the right hind leg. The vet gave him a steroid shot but he still, 3 months later, lifts that foot. I have looked at it very carefully and can find nothing obvious.

When he first injured it he had tenderness there and some mild swelling. That is not there now. He favors it at least a few times every day and almost always right after he wakes up in the morning. Most of the time though he runs around the yard like a maniac with no problems.

I’ve read the literature on hip dysplasia and didn’t really think he has this.

What is your opinion?

Dr. Lori writes -

This “crunch” you are describing could be the result of several things, including, but not limited to the following: hip dysplasia, spinal anomalies, spinabifida, perhaps even luxating patellas.

I suggest a good thorough exam by a veterinary orthopedist and some radiographs of his spine and hips to see if any problems may exist and to establish a baseline to compare to in the future. I am glad to know he doesn’t seem affected by it often.

He could also benefit from a joint supplement rich in fatty acids, antioxidants and glucosamine, as could almost all frenchies.

Good Luck to your young man!

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Ask the Veterinarian - scoliosis and kyphosis

lorihuntdvm March 16th, 2008

French Bulldog with scoliosis and kyphosis of the spine

I currently have a French Bulldog girl. I say she was my first baby and she is such and important part of me and my family. She is 2 1/2 years old and she has been diagnosis in having scoliosis and kyphosis of the spine.

I have taken her to a specialist in New Jersey, after a referral from my vet. I have been told that her symptoms and current spine status is not needing surgery at this time, however she experiences pain about every 4-6 months which we treat with a steroid, prednisone. The medication gets her back up an moving within a few days…

My question is, knowing that 80% of bulldog breeds experience this vertebral problem what other options are there for pain relief and prolonging the health for my little girl. Any suggestions or knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

Dr Lori writes -

Unfortunately, we have all chosen a breed in which spinal instability exists, and I am doubtful there is anyone who owns a frenchie who doesn’t at least know someone who has been through this same situation.

I am sorry to hear of your French Bulldog’s spinal deformities, and I do believe that steroid treatment for short bursts of time a few times a year is not a bad thing for her, and helps relieve the inflammation which is being caused by her spinal abnormalities, which in turn prevents it from progressing.

It is quite important that you have her examined and initiate treatment for her as soon as you see the first signs of a relapse. The longer the nerves are compressed, the more damage which can be done and the risk that it may be irreversible.

As far as treating this medically, without surgery, you could also try muscle relaxers as well non-steroidal anti-inflamatories, such as Rimadyl or Metacam.

Another option would be adding omega fatty acids to her daily regimen as they are a natural anti-inflammatory and can help relieve the day to day inflammation on her spine, without constantly medicating her. Surgery is a final option but carries its own set of risks, but if her signs worsen, it may become necessary.

I do hope your French Bulldog girl lives a long and healthy life and that her back troubles are short lived and infrequent.

Good Luck!

Please note that advice from any of our experts is not intended to replace a proper examination by a Veterinarian. When in doubt or in case of an emergency, please take your dog to see a veterinarian for a hands on examination. Click here to locate an experience Brachycephalic Veterinarian in your area.

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Ask the Web Geek - Kennel Blindness?

bullmarketfrogs March 15th, 2008

Kennel Blindness

Hi I’m curious as to what people mean when they say someone is “Kennel Blinded”. I am buying my first show dog after owning a French Bulldog pet for almost four years. When I started calling breeders about a show dog they would ask me where I got my dog from. Someone said to me that the breeder of my pet Frenchie is “Kennel Blind”, and I was too embarassed to ask what this means. I know it wasn’t a compliment by the way she said it! I got the impression she didn’t want to sell me a show dog just because of who I got my pet from.

Why is that, and is kennel blindness so bad that it will make it impossible for me to get a showdog from anyone?

Carol writes -

No one you contact need be afraid that your pet’s breeder has kennel blindness - after all, it’s not catching, although it is quite common among show dog people.

Kennel blindness is a catch all term used to indicate that a breeder is oblivious to the faults of dogs that they themselves have bred - either willfully ignorant, or through sheer inability to separate emotions (I love Suzy, therefore she’s beautiful) from pragmatism (I love Suzy, but you could iron clothes on her back and she moves like she’s on crutches). Oddly enough, some of the most determinedly kennel blind among us can be ruthless critics of other people’s dogs.

It’s natural for us to favour our own offspring, whether two legged or four, but those who choose to breed dogs need to learn that love doesn’t need to be blind, at least not when it comes to show dogs. It’s a lesson that can take time to learn, and you’ll see that some of the best loved pets on a breeder’s couch are often dogs they’d never dream to take in the ring.

I don’t quite understand why anyone you’ve contacted about a show dog should care that your pet Frenchie’s breeder has kennel blindness. Likely, there’s some sort of simmering and long standing resentment there between the two breeders - a situation you’d do best to stay out of, by the way. Feuds between breeders are rarely pretty, and a novice show person doesn’t need to complicate their life any further.

Move on to another breed less resentful of where you got your pet from, and worry about kennel blindness when - and if - you decide to venture into the wild world of breeding.

Carol

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Ask the Veterinarian - French Bulldog With Horrid Hives

lorihuntdvm March 15th, 2008

French Bulldog With Horrid Hives

My Frenchie China has the most awful hives. Our local vet said to change her food to a more natural kind and give her fish oil. We have done that and we bath her every week, but it’s not helping.

How can we figure out what is giving my baby such terrible hives?
Dr. Lori writes :

I would suggest considering having China allergy tested. This may give you a clue as to what is causing the hives. While it still could be food, it is possible it could be environmental as well. Dust mites, weeds, grasses, pollens, detergents, etc., could cause this sort of reaction, as well as bug bites.

An allergy test will give you a clue as to what causes it and you may be able to eliminate that allergen from her daily grind.

If that is not possible, you would be able to institute immunotherapy in the form of allergy injections, so as to relieve her signs, if not eliminate them.

Lori Hunt, DVM

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Ask the Trainer - French Bulldog Conformation Show Training

gollygear March 15th, 2008

Conformation Show Training

What training is needed before I take my French Bulldog girl to conformation, or is there any?

I want to start showing her but can’t find anyone to show her or answer my questions. I got her in the midwest and the southern Californian breeders where I live take no interest in me since I didn’t get my dogs from them. She is a year old now.

Do conformation classes teach her not to try and play with other dogs like she does now? How does everyone get their dogs to ignore the other dogs in the show ring? Part of me wants someone to just come get her and train her and show her and finish her but do people do that or does she need to have training before they will take her?

Thanks for your help.

 

Hope writes -

You’re about to enter a whole new world - Conformation Competition!

You and your girl should get some training before you enter the ring. There are many, many all-breed clubs. You should be able to find one in your area at the AKC website:

http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/index.cfm?action=conf&display=on

Many clubs and trainers do offer Conformation Classes. Aside from ring procedure, you will learn how to “stack” your dog, how to “gait” your dog properly, and how to show her off to her best advantage.

A little obedience training never hurts, either. It will help her focus on you, rather than the other dogs in the ring. If you decide to take an Obedience class, do inform the instructor that you are showing your dog in conformation so you can’t teach her to do an automatic “sit” when you come to a halt.

You could, of course, hire a professional handler to show your girl for you. If she lives with the handler you choose, he or she may train your dog for the ring. If you “deliver” her to the handler at the shows, you will be in charge of training although the handler should be able to help.

Best of luck!

Hope

 

 

Editors note: As Hope says, there are a few ways of going about this. You can -

Owner handle - this means taking the dog into the ring yourself . You will need to learn how to show, and you will need to learn how to train your dog to behave in the ring. As Hope says, you need to look into classes for this - check your local dog clubs, and the AKC.

Hire a handler, and do ring side pick up - this is when the handler picks the dog up from you the day of the show, takes her in the ring, shows her, then gives her back to you after showing. The dog continues to live at home with you. Your dog will still need to be trained by you to be handled in the ring.

Hire a handler and have the dog ‘live in’ - this means the dog stays with the handler while they are showing her. The handler will train her to behave in the ring, and handle her during shows. Generally they will also handle all the details of showing, such as entries and what not. The plus side to this is that your dog will come trained. The downside is that you won’t get trained - but standing at ringside, watching and learning, and talking to your handler can all help you to ‘pick it up’.

You can find a handler by asking around at local shows, especially outside the French Bulldog ring (Talk to people after showing, not before - no one likes talking before they go in the ring, as handlers and owners get nervous, too!). It takes a special kind of handler to take a Bull breed into the ring. You can also consult the PHA - the Professional Handlers Association.

Oh, and give those SoCal breeders a break - it might have nothing to with where you got your dog from, and everything to do with when you’re asking them for help. As I said, shows can be nerve wracking, and people aren’t always their most forthcoming when they’re getting ready to show. Why not join one of the on line Frenchie discussion groups, such as FrenchBulldog-L? There are lots of SoCal breeders on there, and perhaps you can arrange to have one of them meet you before a show and evaluate your dog.

Whatever you choose, good luck, and keep us posted!

- Carol

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