Ask the French Bulldog Experts

admin August 12th, 2008

I had a Frenchie for 4 years, and she was healthy. Then last summer she started to wobble in the back legs, and slowly she lost her ability to walk over the next 9 months.  I took her to a specialist, got an MRI, but there was a lesion in her spine, and they couldn’t figure out what it was.  Also she had 7 generative discs.  It was a difficult experience, and ultimately after all kinds of treatment, like acupuncture, joint support powder, and finally a wheel chair,  I could no longer care for the dog properly, and had to give her to a rescue organization that is seeking a new family for her.

She had lots of UTI’s and I couldn’t get her out of my apartment building in time for her to do her business, because she lost sensation.  My wife and I are expecting a child and we both work.  I wanted the dog to be with someone who has easy access to a backyard and a little more time to attend to her special needs.   I feel a lot of guilt about giving her up, but I want her to get the best care.

I just wish I knew what caused her to go lame in the back legs at such a young age.  She is the best dog I have ever had, and seems otherwise happy, she just drags herself around. I would have paid whatever to cure her, but the vet said it was the lesion not her vertebrae that were causing the problem, and an operation would not have helped.

I am afraid to get another dog, because giving up the dog was so difficult for my family.

Is there anything to look for in a perspective dog to show warning signs of this kind of problem?

Missing my Frenchie

Dr. Lori writes –
It sounds like we know exactly why she became paralyzed and that is due to the spinal lesion.  It doesn’t say whether her vet believed it was inherited or from injury, but given she is a frenchie, it’s more than likely congenital and as she aged, the lesion in her spine worsened.   I am guessing here, as I don’t know the specifics, but my supposition is that she had a curve in her spine that caused the spinal cord to “kink”, thus causing the lesion and her clinical signs…

I am sorry that you went through such heartbreak.  There really are often no warning signs, until it is too late to fix it.  My suggestion to you would be to find a breeder who thoroughly health screens at an early age as well as adults…  it might not prevent an issue, but it might help you be more knowledgeable about what you are getting in to.

Again, I am sorry and I hope your girl finds a home that can care for her

Lori Hunt, DVM
French Bulldogs d’Assisi

Tags: disk, French Bull Dog, French Bulldog, Frenchie, lesions, spinal, spine

• French Bulldog Veterinary , intervertebral disk disease
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admin August 12th, 2008

Hi Lori, I know you from some of the lists. I have a back question for you. My Charlotte, who up until recently, was an excellent agility dog, has been having problems.

A couple of months ago I noticed her left leg was smaller in diameter than the right leg(up in the thigh area).  I took her to a vet who is also a chiropractor, and an acupuncturist, she specializes in rehab for agility dogs. She did some adjustments, and gave me some exercises to do with Char to strengthen her core and her back legs.

The next time we went to her Char had a delay in righting her hind legs when placed in a knuckled over position. I was freaked out by this…her left leg remained slightly smaller then the right leg but had increased in size from what it was originally. The vet made some more adjustments and did acupuncture…with in a couple days of the acupuncture Char no longer had a delay in righting either hind leg…she also started playing with her ball again.

I had attributed the stopping of the ball playing with the addition of a puppy…must have been pain. She is retired from agility. We had X-rays done…her thoracic spine is a mess…and she has an area of spondylosis in the lumbar region..the vet said to keep up the core exercises, no agility…lots of long walks, and watch her closely…she said perhaps continuing adjustments and acupuncture on a monthly/bimonthly schedule.

Just wondered if you had anything to add as a frenchie vet.

Thanks and sorry so long…we also added fish oil and Dasuquin to her raw diet.

Dr. Lori writes –

Sounds like you have most things covered.  One thing I can think of is hydrotherapy, perhaps swimming or an underwater treadmill as it may help her build her muscles without bearing much, if any, weight, thus reducing stress on her bones.  You also may want to consider using a short term steroid taper dose during flare ups to decrease the inflammation around her spinal cord.

Lastly, I might suggest muscle relaxers during flare ups, as often times back spasms are muscular in nature.  How are her hips and knees?  The unilateral decrease in muscle mass could be due to these as well.

Hugs to Char and sorry to hear she has retired!

Lori Hunt, DVM
French Bulldogs d’Assisi

Tags: French Bulldog, Frenchie, muscle, spinal, spine, spondylosis, veterinarian, wasting

• French Bulldog Veterinary
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admin July 2nd, 2008

Hello. I’m considering purchasing a 5 month old Frenchie boy from a very reputable breeder.

He was just xrayed and he has 2 hemis. The vet says it is no problem and he has no signs of problems.

Should I be concerned? Thank you.

Dr. Lori writes -

No, 2 hemis does not concern me at all. In fact in my book, that is an excellent frenchie spine! The OFA study of frenchie spines shows little evidence to support that hemis have anything to do with the back problems that frenchies can experience, i.e. Intervertebral disk disease.

A better question might be to ask if any familt members have had any back problems.

Good Luck with your puppy and how nice that you have found a breeder who will X-ray pups before they leave!

Lori Hunt, DVM

Tags: French Bulldog, French Bulldog Veterinary, Frenchie, hemis, hemivertebrae, pup, puppy, spinal, Vet, veterinarian

• hemivertebrae , intervertebral disk disease
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