Ask the French Bulldog Vet - Pup sleeps with open eyes?

admin August 9th, 2008

Our 7 mo. old Frenchie (male) sleeps quite often with his left eye half open.  He has plenty of tears, but I cannot imagine that this would be healthy over the long haul.  Should I take precautions?

Lori writes –

Some dogs often sleep with their eyes half open or all the way open.  This may be “normal” for him, but is worth having a full ophthalmologic exam, including tear production, so you can have peace of mind.

Lori Hunt, DVM
French Bulldogs d’Assisi

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Ask the Frenchie Vet - Flying My Frenchie?

admin August 8th, 2008

I live overseas and when I next go to the States I am hoping to rescue a Frenchie.  I am concerned about the long haul flight back though.  Is this something that would raise a red flag to you?

Dr. Lori writes –

I think you could certainly arrange to fly your Frenchie in the cabin with you.  Flying them in cargo can be risky, so if that is something you would do, it is best to really check out the holding cabin to be sure it is temperature controlled.

Lori Hunt, DVM
French Bulldogs d’Assisi

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Ask the Dog Food Geek - Raw KILLS Dogs?

admin August 8th, 2008

Hi, I know youve heard this question before, but I have been thinking about giving my dog raw food. She has some really bad allergies and now she has had an attack of pancreatitis. It was VERY frightening! She bled so much we thought she would die. She was in the vet hospital for three days and they said it was ‘touch and go’ for a while. We have had her on I/D ever since, but I have been reading about raw, and how it has helped so many dogs with pancreatitis and allergies.

So, we talked to our vet and he said “Oh no you can’t do that, raw food kills dogs, they get salmonella and die”. And now we aren’t sure. I know raw meat has salmonella. We want to do what is right for our dog and feed her the best food. Her stomach is still upset and her stools soft on the I/D. We don;t like giving it to her. BUt we don’t want to kill her if thats what raw will do!

So I want to know - is it safe?

Carol writes –

Oh dear. Yes, there are lots and lots of people out there who will tell you all the TERRIBLE things OMG! that will happen if you feed raw, and don’t get me wrong - there are risks. These risks, however, can be managed with some pretty basic rules about food storage, preparation and management.

First of all, freeze ALL meat for at least three weeks before feeding it. This will kill almost all of the common parasites which can infest raw meat.

The second step? Simple. Follow the same rules for preparing raw pet food as you would when handling raw meat for yourself and your family.

Don’t cut on wooden surfaces. Don’t allow to get to room temperature. Clean all surfaces, utensils and feeding dishes. Wash your hands.

Really, that’s about it. Think about it — if handling raw meat was so OMG TERRIBLE!!!, how come we can manage it for ourselves, each and every day, without all OMG DYING!! when we do so? Do the parasites and germies magically know that this is dog food, not people food?

Here’s a good compromise - feed her the pre made, frozen raw diets now available on the market. I’ve tried the following products:

Nature’s Variety Raw Patties
Paw Naturaw Organic Bison
Home Made 4 Life (Canada only)
As for pancreatitis and raw, I say go for it - I also have a dog who’s had scary pancreatitis attacks (is there anything worse?), and her condition never cleared up fully until I put her on raw.

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Ask the Frenchie Veterinarian - Snuffling, Snorting and Sniffing

admin August 7th, 2008

This site is so great.  Thank you for everything that you have advised for Stella.  Two questions today:

Something that we’ve been curious about:  Ever since we met Stella she has been making this quiet whimpering sound.  Usually when you pick her up (loves being held, so I don’t think it’s an anxious sound) , but sometimes it’s even when she is just walking around.  We think it’s adorable, but sometimes we wonder if maybe she is in pain, or when we pick her up we are pressing on something that is straining her breathing?  She seems fine, but always makes that noise.

We obviously understand that Frenchies have breathing problems.  But, is there a way to tell if her snorting/snoring is just normal, or if it’s a problem.  We find that certain positions are very bad for her snorting – and she realizes it too.  But is there something we should look for?

Dr. Lori writes –

Sounds like Stella has the usual Frenchie range of communication.  They sure can make some strange, very un-doglike noises!

I have a few that purr a bit when you pick them up… maybe that is what she is doing.  If you could get a video of the noise, it would be very helpful is assessing it.

In answer to the second part of your question, if Stella doesn’t vomit, gag, produce a lot of phlegm, get out of breath quickly, or have trouble eating, she is probably fine.

I have written an article, which you’ll find here.  Have fun with Stella!

Lori Hunt, DVM
French Bulldogs d’Assisi

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Ask the French Bulldog Training - Potty Training Problems

admin August 6th, 2008

Hi Hope,

We recently added a new French bulldog pup to our family- Alphonse!
He came to our home from a reputable breeder at the age of 9 weeks, and he has been a joyous addition to our family thus far.

I read through your advice and responses on this message board on potty training, and have strictly abided to your advice.

After a few weeks, Alphonse began getting the hang of things. He started going towards the door (we used the same door to take him out each time) when he needed to potty, and he even responds to the “go potty” command which we consistently use each and every time he goes.

Alphonse is now 4 and a half months old, and he has been accident free for the last few weeks! Fantastic!

However, just this morning, we were playing with Alphonse as we normally do (our schedule with him- potty, eating, playing, sleeping, etc- has been very routine). All of a sudden, while playing his favorite game, fetch, he stops, makes eye contact with me, and then proceeds to pee!

We thankfully caught him in the act, firmly told him NO, and took him outside where he finished the rest.

What happened here? He wasn’t overly excited, he didn’t eat or drink anything out of the norm, and it seemed as though we were SO close to having him potty trained.

Also, what is the correct remedy going forward to ensure that he stays on the right track on the potty training front?

Hope writes –

Would you believe - you’re doing everything right? Nothing’s gone wrong, nothing needs to be changed.

Alphonse, bless his little heart, is being a puppy.

There are a few things that could be going on here. The most likely is that Alphonse isn’t totally convinced yet that outside is the only place he’s allowed to do his business. Like any other juvenile, he’s testing the boundaries - seeing exactly what he’s allowed to get away with.

Another possibility is you’ve reached a training plateau. I’ve heard various explanations for it, including one theory that there’s a lag while behavior is embedded in long-term memory. I don’t really worry about the why - I just know that at some point it’s going to seem like my dog has forgotten everything she ever knew. Fortunately, their brains stop rattling around in their skulls and settle into the socket again rather quickly.

Stay consistent, enforce the rules you’ve set and Alphonse will get with the program. He may be testing your patience and being a stubborn little bully boy, but he’s actually right on schedule. No puppy is truly securely potty-trained until about six to eight months, so relax, enjoy - and watch him every second!

Hope

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