Bulldog Friends

"Pano" in English Bulldog puppies

2012-02-05T23:12:00.000-08:00

As a breeder I am seeing more bulldog puppies between 3 and 9 months oldthat start limping for no reason. Panosteitis is the long form for what breederscall " pano ". It is more of a growth problem than a disease, but it is verypainful for young dogs.
No one knows what causes pano, there are alot of theories, everything froma viral infection, to genetics ( certain breeds and families of dogs are more prone than others ) to nutrition ( particularly protein and fat ) Pano iscommon in fast growing dogs that carry a few extra pounds.Most likely pano has several different causes including viral, genetics andpossibly nutritional.
It starts with a sudden onset of lameness that can last for 2 to 5 months,sometimes even longer, and can shift from leg to leg. Pano can affect thefront or back legs. Some dogs will have pano in more than 1 leg at a time.
Pano is diagnosed by a combination of x-rays and symptoms. X-rays don'talways show increased bone density that is sometimes seen. If yourveterinarian doesn't know what to look for, it can be easily missed.There really is no specific treatment, but since it often is very painfulthere are a few things you can do.
If your bulldog puppy is on puppy food take them off, you must slowdown their growth. Puppy food causes dogs to grow to fast ( that iswhat pano is, growing to fast )Start giving your bulldog puppy glucosamine/ chondroition supplements.I buy the human version ( spring valley brand ) from any discount store.

Glucosamine Dosage total per day
Dogs		Cats
weight	amount
under 25 lbs	500 milligrams	500 milligrams
25-50 lbs	1000 milligrams
over 50 lbs	1500 milligrams

Start your bulldog puppy on fish oil supplements. 1000 mg for an adult dog(for a puppy I poke a hole in the capsule, and squeeze about 7 or 8 drops on their food ) To much will make their stools loose, so you may have to adjustthe dose. Fish oil is a natural anti-inflammatory .
If your bulldog puppy is still having problems limping, ask your veterinarianabout using Rimadyl for a short time to get them threw until it runs it's course.

English Bulldog puppies - colostrum the important first food

2011-12-11T15:44:00.000-08:00

Immediately after birth, English Bulldog females produce a special type of milk
called colostrum. Newborn English Bulldog puppies, through a process we do
not fully understand, are able to absorb the large maternal antibodies into their
blood system through their intestinal wall.
Colostrum offers protection from a number of infectious diseases, and can only
be absorbed for the first 18 hours of life ( or less )
It is not uncommon to bring your English Bulldog female home from her c-section
and there is no colostrum. You can talk with your veterinarian, and have them
draw blood from your female ( or any well vaccinated dog ) Your veterinarian
will spin the blood down and collect the serum. Each puppy should receive about
1 cc of serum either by SQ injection or by giving it slowly by mouth. It is best if
you can repeat the serum in 12 hours. Giving serum to each puppy ensures that
they will be protected, just as thou they received colostrum.

Sudden Death in pregnant Bulldogs

2011-10-23T13:47:00.001-07:00

By Terri Cook & Michelle Peres

As long time breeders of Bulldogs, together with years ofexperience it can be devastating to lose a pregnant female Bulldog just daysbefore they are due to have their puppies. Breeding Bulldogs is a task thatshould not be taken lightly and should be well thought out in advance.

In some of our past experiences pregnancy in a Bulldogthat is carrying a large litter or carrying excess fluid during theirpregnancies can be dangerous, even life threatening. You should always consultwith your veterinarian about their care, proper diagnosis and course oftreatment of your pregnant Bulldog.

It is not uncommon for Bulldogs to carry some extra fluidwhen they are pregnant, some will carry more fluid than others. Bulldogs thatare carrying larger litters or carrying excess fluid can put tremendouspressure on their lungs; with all this pressure on their lungs carbon dioxidebuilds up causing respiratory acidosis. The build up of acid in the Bulldogsbody causes large amounts of potassium to be released from the cells into theblood and sodium levels to drop. High potassium levels can cause heartarrhythmias and if the potassium levels are not controlled it can lead tocardiac arrest. Some signs of high potassium levels are nausea; some pregnantfemales will stop eating, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness or muscle tremors.Please note in the final last week of a Bulldogs pregnancy it is not uncommonfor some Bulldogs to experience some of the above symptoms due to the pressureof carrying growing puppies. In the final days of a normal Bulldog pregnancywithout any complications some Bulldogs may stop eating, feel nausea orvomiting and some may experience some loose stools or diarrhea. ExperiencedBulldog breeders know their female Bulldogs normal behavior, you know yourfemale, our advice if you feel your female Bulldog is over stressed during herpregnancy by carrying a large litter or excess fluid you should seek the adviceof your veterinarian. We have found from our own past experiences that havingyour pregnant female Bulldog who is showing signs of stress from carrying alarge litter, excess fluid or complications during her pregnancy be evaluatedby your Veterinarian. In our own past experiences our Veterinarians evaluatedour pregnant females and have done blood work/blood panels checking theirpotassium, sodium, calcium and glucose levels. Depending on what their bloodwork/panels results were determined the course of treatment for high potassiumlevels administered by our veterinarian which were IV fluids of sodiumchloride, sodium chloride which has electrolytes and sodium i.e. salt, IVfluids may need to be given over several days in small amounts by yourveterinarian depending on results of their blood work/panels, also depending ontheir blood work/panels your veterinarian may add glucose and calcium to theirsodium chloride. Raising the level of sodium, glucose and if needed accordingto their blood panels calcium will help bring down the high potassium levelsback into balance. If your pregnant Bulldog is carrying excess fluid, moreexcessive than normal some veterinarians may also give a diuretic such as Lasixto increase urination, potassium is also eliminated from the body throughurine. Only Veterinarians should determine after evaluating your pregnantfemale if a diuretic should be administered giving the proper dosage andduration it should be used.

In conclusion from our own past experiences in breedingBulldogs this is some of the complications we have experienced. We always seekthe advice of our veterinarians, taking our pregnant females who are showing tobe stressed or having complications during their pregnancy to our veterinarianto be evaluated for proper diagnosis and what course of treatment should bepreformed.

Staph skin infections in bulldogs

2011-10-08T23:00:00.000-07:00

Staphylococcus bacteria ( staph ) are normally present on the skin of
all dogs as well as humans.Usually staph infections are secondary
infections caused by something else. What this means is, that
something must be compromising the dogs skin's ability to fight off
infection to allow a staph infection to occur. The most common
reason for recurring or chronic staph infections in dogs are allergies.
Your vet may recommend that your dog also be checked for
parasites or low thyroid ( these can also weaken the immune system )
In dogs staph infections can look like red bumps/ pimples, or round
areas that look like ringworm. Treatment involves medicated
shampoo's, such as a shampoo that contains chlorhexidine or
benzoyl peroxide, oral antibiotics ( sometimes for as long as 6 to 8
weeks ) and if allergies are the cause, also giving an antihistimine
such as benadryl.

Interdigital Pyoderma/ Cysts in English Bulldogs

2011-06-06T22:12:00.000-07:00

Interdigital pyoderma is a common problem in bulldogs. The
most common cause is a deep bacterial infection caused by
staph bacteria. Bulldogs have short bristly hairs between
the toes on the bottom of there foot. The short hairs are
easily forced backwards into the hair follicles as the dog
walks. Hair is very inflammatory to the skin, and a secondary
bacterial infection is very common. Allergic dermatitis is also
a common cause of cysts that keep coming back.
Treatment
1. foot soaks with "Epsom salts " and warm water. Epsom salt
    will bring the cyst to a head so that it will drain.
2. foot soaks with " chlorhexiderm " Chlorhexiderm is an
    antibacterial solution that will kill bacteria.
    Foot soaks should last for about 10 minutes.
3. dry the foot
4. after drying apply panalog ointment or preparation H.
5. repeat the foot soaks daily until the swelling is gone.
Sometimes the interdigital pyoderma keeps coming back.
In these cases a combination of topical ( foot soaks ) and
systemic ( antibiotics ) therapy is needed. It may be difficult
for antibiotics to reach all the way to the source of the
infection, sometimes treatment for 3 to 8 weeks may be
needed.

Crate training your English Bulldog puppy

2011-06-02T22:45:00.000-07:00

Crate training your English Bulldog puppy has many benefits,
it creates a den-like enclosure, it will help you house break
your puppy, and it will prevent destructive chewing.
For English bulldogs we recommend a wire crate ( they have
better air circulation, so your puppy will not get to warm, in
the winter you can cover the crate with a blanket or crate
cover ) As long as you keep a few rules in mind, crate
training can be wonderful. Puppies under 4 months old have
little bladder or sphincter control. Puppies under 3 months
have even less. Very young puppies under 9 weeks old should
not be crated, they need to eliminate very frequently ( usually
8 to 12 times a day or more )
Crate Duration guidelines
9-10 weeks approx. 30 - 60 minutes
11-14 weeks approx. 1 - 3 hours
15-16 weeks approx. 3 - 4 hours
17+ weeks approx. 4 + ( 6 hours maximum )
Except for overnight, neither a puppy or adult dog should be
crated for more than 5 hours at a time ( 6 hours maximum )
NEVER use the crate as a form of punishment for your puppy
or dog. This simply makes the dog fear and resent the crate.
Your puppy should be happy to go into his crate at anytime.
You can use the crate as a brief time-out for your bulldog
puppy as a way to discourage nipping or excessive rowdiness.
Do not allow children to play or handle your dog while they
are in the crate. The crate is your dogs sanctuary, and they
need to be able to have a place to go if they need to get away
from something, and know they are safe when they are in it.
Important reminders
If your bulldog puppy has an accident in the crate while you
are out, do not punish him when you return, simply wash out the
crate.
Always remove your bulldogs collar before confining them in
the crate, even buckle collars can get stuck on the bars of the
crate. If you leave a collar on your puppy or dog use the
"breakaway" safety collars.
Be certain your puppy has eliminated before being crated.
Introducing your bulldog puppy to the crate
Drop small pieces of kibble or dog treats in the crate, when
your puppy goes in to investigate the crate they will find edible
treasures. You can also feed your puppy inside the crate.
In the beginning praise and pet your puppy when they go into
the crate. Do not push, pull or force the puppy into the crate.
It is helpful to first crate your puppy for short periods of time
while you are home.
Alternative methods of confining your puppy
If your puppy is to young or you need to leave for an
extended time ( longer than the recommended time ) use a
small to medium sized area with a non-porous floor. Set
the crate with food and water at one end with some news
papers several feet away. Confine your puppy to this area
with a child gate. Your puppy will feel less isolated if you
use a child gate rather than a solid door.

Tough toys for your English Bulldog !

2011-05-09T22:47:00.000-07:00

Buying toys that can stand up to the chewing ability of bulldogs
can be pretty daunting. Cute stuffed toys and squeak toys don't
stand a chance! Here are some good toys for bulldogs that can
take a bulldogs chewing.
Nylabones - they last forever !
Deer Antlers - my dogs love these, just be sure to buy the large
size.
Please don't give your bulldog rawhides, pigs ears or greenies.
Besides upsetting your bulldogs stomach they get rawhides
and pigs ears soggy from chewing on them and will try to
swallow them whole !
Kongs - these are great toys, you can stuff them with all kinds
of things..
stuff them with peanut butter and freeze them
mix peanut butter and some dry dog food and freeze
small pieces of apple ( skin removed )
put some peanut butter ( or something gooey ) into the small
hole on the top of the kong, mix some canned dog food and
water and pour into the kong then freeze.
Kongs can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
Balls - solid rubber ( make sure to buy a large size, so your
bulldog won't try to swallow them )

Pinched nostrils in Bulldogs

2011-05-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

Stenotic nares ( also called pinched nostrils ) can be seen
in bulldogs, or any breed of dog bred for short noses.
Stenotic nares are relatively simple to diagnose by
looking at the size of the opening of the nostril. You will
see your dog breathing threw there mouth more than
normal, and they will also make wheezing sounds when
there mouth is closed. The narrowing restricts the
amount of air that can flow into the nostrils. I have
seen pinched nostrils in young puppies, but as they
grow a lot of times the nostrils will get wider. You
should have your bulldog puppy looked at by your
veterinarian and if the nostrils are still pinched when
the puppy is around 6 months old then have them
surgically corrected. The surgery is quite simple, a
wedge of tissue is removed and then sutured. Some
veterinarians are now using laser surgery to correct
stenotic nares.

Help.. my bulldog has no hair on the sides of it body !

2011-05-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

If your bulldog is suffering from hair loss on the sides of it's body,
it is probably seasonal flank alopecia ( most often called SFA )
Certain breeds of dogs are prone to SFA, and the english bulldog
is one of them. No one is certain what causes SFA, but it is
believed to be light responsive ( hair loss occures after winter
when the days are shorter and there is less sunlight ) The bulldog
will have hair loss on both sides of the body, and the skin
underneath where the hair was will be black. It is a good idea to
have your veterinarian check your dogs thyroid level, and if your
dog is showing any signs of cushings, to also have a cushings test
done. If your dogs thyroid test comes back normal it is probably
SFA ( a diagnosis can be made by the breed of dog, the area of hair
loss, the time of year the dog is affected and also by skin biopsy's )
Treatment for SFA involves letting the dog get more sunlight,
and giving the dog melatonin. Most dogs will regrow there hair,
sometimes the dog will skip a year before they regrow some hair,
and there are some dogs who never regrow there hair completely.
SFA is not life threatening and is more of a cosmetic issue than
anything.

Rapid Growth Phase in Bulldog puppies

2011-03-14T22:06:00.000-07:00

Bulldog puppies tend to go threw periods of rapid growth, and can be prone to several conditions.
I do recommend that bulldog puppies be put on glucosamine/ chondroition supplement and fish oil.
The first condition they can be prone to is panosteitis ( most people call it
" growing pains ", "pano"or "shifting leg lameness" ) Pano is generally seen
between 5 - 12 months of age ( I have seen this in puppies younger than 5 months )
Symptoms of pano are :
-sudden lameness
-periods of lameness lasting 2 to 3 weeks and it may shift from leg to leg
-loss of appetite
-some dogs run a fever
-reluctance to rise
-reluctance to engage in normal activities
-exercise intolerance
-whimpering when rising, moving or being touched
Pano has no specific treatment, but is very painful. So most veterinarians
recommend rest, and a painkiller like Rimadyl. Diet is also thought to play
a role. High protein puppy diets may make the puppy grow to fast. Most
veterinarians recommend a reduced protein diet ( usually an adult dog food )
The second condition is a carpal deformity. ( The carpal joints are in the front
legs ....where our wrists would be )

When the puppy stands up or walks they tend to " knuckle over " on the
wrist joints. X-rays are not needed for a diagnosis of carpal flexural deformity.
This condition is corrected with diet ( taking the puppy off of the high protein
puppy food and putting them on an adult dog food ) If the condition is bad
your veterinarian can apply a splint or vet wrap to the leg for 2 to 3 weeks.

Long - Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs

2010-12-05T22:04:00.000-08:00

We are firm believers in spaying and neutering dogs ( to prevent unwanted litters of puppies, and for the health benefits ) After reading this article we are recommending that dogs be spayed and neutered after they are mature ( usually after 1 year of age )

Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs

Laura J. Sanborn, M.S.
May 14, 2007

Precis

At some point, most of us with an interest in dogs will have to consider whether or not to spay / neuter our pet. Tradition holds that the benefits of doing so at an early age outweigh the risks. Often, tradition holds sway in the decision-making process even after countervailing evidence has accumulated.
Ms Sanborn has reviewed the veterinary medical literature in an exhaustive and scholarly treatise, attempting to unravel the complexities of the subject. More than 50 peer-reviewed papers were examined to assess the health impacts of spay / neuter in female and male dogs, respectively. One cannot ignore the findings of increased risk from osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, hypothyroidism, and other less frequently occurring diseases associated
with neutering male dogs. It would be irresponsible of the veterinary profession and the pet owning community to fail to weigh the relative costs and benefits of neutering on the
animal’s health and well-being. The decision for females may be more complex, further emphasizing the need for individualized veterinary medical decisions, not standard operating procedures for all patients. No sweeping generalizations are implied in this review. Rather, the author asks us to consider all the health and disease information available as individual animals are evaluated. Then, the best decisions should be made accounting for gender, age, breed, and even the specific conditions under which the long-term care, housing and training of the animal will occur. This important review will help veterinary medical care providers as well as pet owners make informed decisions. Who could ask for more?
Larry S. Katz, PhD
Associate Professor and Chair
Animal Sciences
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ 08901

INTRODUCTION
Dog owners in America are frequently advised to spay/neuter their dogs for health reasons. A number of health benefits are cited, yet evidence is usually not cited to support the alleged health benefits. When discussing the health impacts of spay/neuter, health risks are often not mentioned. At times, some risks are mentioned, but the most severe risks usually are not.
This article is an attempt to summarize the long-term health risks and benefits associated with spay/neuter in dogs that can be found in the veterinary medical literature. This article will not discuss the impact of spay/neuter on population control, or the impact of spay/neuter on behavior. Nearly all of the health risks and benefits summarized in this article are findings from retrospective epidemiological research studies of dogs, which examine potential associations by looking backwards in time. A few are from prospective research studies, which examine potential associations by looking forward in time.

SUMMARY
An objective reading of the veterinary medical literature reveals a complex situation with respect to the longterm health risks and benefits associated with spay/neuter in dogs. The evidence shows that spay/neuter correlates with both positive AND adverse health effects in dogs. It also suggests how much we really do not yet understand about this subject.
On balance, it appears that no compelling case can be made for neutering most male dogs, especially immature male dogs, in order to prevent future health problems. The number of health problems associated with neutering may exceed the associated health benefits in most cases.
On the positive side, neutering male dogs
• eliminates the small risk (probably <1%) of dying from testicular cancer
• reduces the risk of non-cancerous prostate disorders
• reduces the risk of perianal fistulas
• may possibly reduce the risk of diabetes (data inconclusive)

On the negative side, neutering male dogs
• if done before 1 year of age, significantly increases the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer); this is a common cancer in medium/large and larger breeds with a poor prognosis.
• increases the risk of cardiac hemangiosarcoma by a factor of 1.6
• triples the risk of hypothyroidism
• increases the risk of progressive geriatric cognitive impairment
• triples the risk of obesity, a common health problem in dogs with many associated health problems
• quadruples the small risk (<0.6%) of prostate cancer
• doubles the small risk (<1%) of urinary tract cancers
• increases the risk of orthopedic disorders
• increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations

For female dogs, the situation is more complex. The number of health benefits associated with spaying may exceed the associated health problems in some (not all) cases. On balance, whether spaying improves the odds of overall good health or degrades them probably depends on the age of the female dog and the relative risk of various diseases in the different breeds.

On the positive side, spaying female dogs
• if done before 2.5 years of age, greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors, the most common
malignant tumors in female dogs
• nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra, which otherwise would affect about 23% of intact female dogs; pyometra kills about 1% of intact female dogs
• reduces the risk of perianal fistulas
• removes the very small risk (0.5%) from uterine, cervical, and ovarian tumors

On the negative side, spaying female dogs
• if done before 1 year of age, significantly increases the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer); this is a common cancer in larger breeds with a poor prognosis
• increases the risk of splenic hemangiosarcoma by a factor of 2.2 and cardiac hemangiosarcoma by a factor of >5; this is a common cancer and major cause of death in some breeds
• triples the risk of hypothyroidism
• increases the risk of obesity by a factor of 1.6-2, a common health problem in dogs with many
associated health problems
• causes urinary “spay incontinence” in 4-20% of female dogs
• increases the risk of persistent or recurring urinary tract infections by a factor of 3-4
• increases the risk of recessed vulva, vaginal dermatitis, and vaginitis, especially for female dogs
spayed before puberty
• doubles the small risk (<1%) of urinary tract tumors
• increases the risk of orthopedic disorders
• increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations

One thing is clear – much of the spay/neuter information that is available to the public is unbalanced and contains claims that are exaggerated or unsupported by evidence. Rather than helping to educate pet owners, much of it has contributed to common misunderstandings about the health risks and benefits associated of spay/neuter in dogs. The traditional spay/neuter age of six months as well as the modern practice of pediatric spay/neuter appear to predispose dogs to health risks that could otherwise be avoided by waiting until the dog is physically
mature, or perhaps in the case of many male dogs, foregoing it altogether unless medically necessary. The balance of long-term health risks and benefits of spay/neuter will vary from one dog to the next. Breed, age, and gender are variables that must be taken into consideration in conjunction with non-medical factors for each individual dog. Across-the-board recommendations for all pet dogs do not appear to be supportable from findings in the veterinary medical literature.

FINDINGS FROM STUDIES
This section summarizes the diseases or conditions that have been studied with respect to spay/neuter in dogs.

Complications from Spay/Neuter Surgery
All surgery incurs some risk of complications, including adverse reactions to anesthesia, hemorrhage, inflammation, infection, etc. Complications include only immediate and near term impacts that are clearly linked to the surgery, not to longer term impacts that can only be assessed by research studies. At one veterinary teaching hospital where complications were tracked, the rates of intraoperative,
postoperative and total complications were 6.3%, 14.1% and 20.6%, respectively as a result of spaying female dogs. Other studies found a rate of total complications from spaying of 17.7% and 23%3. A study of Canadian veterinary private practitioners found complication rates of 22% and 19% for spaying female dogs and neutering male dogs, respectively.
Serious complications such as infections, abscesses, rupture of the surgical wound, and chewed out sutures were reported at a 1- 4% frequency, with spay and castration surgeries accounting for 90% and 10% of these complications, respectively. The death rate due to complications from spay/neuter is low, at around 0.1%

Prostate Cancer
Much of the spay/neuter information available to the public asserts that neutering will reduce or eliminate the risk that male dogs develop prostate cancer. This would not be an unreasonable assumption, given that prostate cancer in humans is linked to testosterone. But the evidence in dogs does not support this claim. In fact, the strongest evidence suggests just the opposite.
There have been several conflicting epidemiological studies over the years that found either an increased risk or a decreased risk of prostate cancer in neutered dogs. These studies did not utilize control populations, rendering these results at best difficult to interpret. This may partially explain the conflicting results. More recently, two retrospective studies were conducted that did utilize control populations. One of these studies involved a dog population in Europe and the other involved a dog population in America. Both studies found that neutered male dogs have a four times higher risk of prostate cancer than intact dogs. Based on their results, the researchers suggest a cause-and-effect relationship: “this suggests that castration does not initiate the development of prostatic carcinoma in the dog, but does favor tumor
progression” and also “Our study found that most canine prostate cancers are of ductal/urothelial origin….The relatively low incidence of prostate cancer in intact dogs may suggest that testicular hormones are in fact protective against ductal/urothelial prostatic carcinoma, or may have indirect effects on cancer development by changing the environment in the prostate.” This needs to be put in perspective. Unlike the situation in humans, prostate cancer is uncommon in dogs. Given an incidence of prostate cancer in dogs of less than 0.6% from necropsy studies, it is difficult to see that the risk of prostate cancer should factor heavily into most neutering decisions. There is evidence for an increased risk of prostate cancer in at least one breed (Bouviers), though very little data so far to guide us in regards to other breeds.

Testicular Cancer
Since the testicles are removed with neutering, castration removes any risk of testicular cancer (assuming the castration is done before cancer develops). This needs to be compared to the risk of testicular cancer in intact dogs. Testicular tumors are not uncommon in older intact dogs, with a reported incidence of 7%. However, the prognosis for treating testicular tumors is very good owing to a low rate of metastasis, so testicular cancer is an uncommon cause of death in intact dogs. For example, in a Purdue University breed health survey of Golden Retrievers, deaths due to testicular cancer were sufficiently infrequent that they did not appear on list of significant causes of "Years of Potential Life Lost for Veterinary Confirmed Cause of Death” even
though 40% of GR males were intact. Furthermore, the GRs who were treated for testicular tumors had a 90.9% cure rate. This agrees well with other work that found 6-14% rates of metastasis for testicular tumors in dogs. The high cure rate of testicular tumors combined with their frequency suggests that fewer than 1% of intact male dogs will die of testicular cancer.
In summary, though it may be the most common reason why many advocate neutering young male dogs, the risk from life threatening testicular cancer is sufficiently low that neutering most male dogs to prevent it is difficult to justify. An exception might be bilateral or unilateral cryptorchids, as testicles that are retained in the abdomen are 13.6 times more likely to develop tumors than descended testicles and it is also more difficult to detect tumors in undescended testicles by routine physical examination.

Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer)
A multi-breed case-control study of the risk factors for osteosarcoma found that spay/neutered dogs (males or females) had twice the risk of developing osteosarcoma as did intact dogs.
This risk was further studied in Rottweilers, a breed with a relatively high risk of osteosarcoma. This retrospective cohort study broke the risk down by age at spay/neuter, and found that the elevated risk of osteosarcoma is associated with spay/neuter of young dogs. Rottweilers spayed/neutered before one year of age were 3.8 (males) or 3.1 (females) times more likely to develop osteosarcoma than intact dogs. Indeed, the combination of breed risk and early spay/neuter meant that Rottweilers spayed/neutered before one year of age had a 28.4% (males) and 25.1% (females) risk of developing osteosarcoma. These results are consistent with the earlier multi-breed study but have an advantage of assessing risk as a function of
age at neuter. A logical conclusion derived from combining the findings of these two studies is that spay/neuter of dogs before 1 year of age is associated with a significantly increased risk of osteosarcoma. The researchers suggest a cause-and-effect relationship, as sex hormones are known to influence the maintenance of skeletal structure and mass, and also because their findings showed an inverse relationship between time of exposure to sex hormones and risk of osteosarcoma. The risk of osteosarcoma increases with increasing breed size and especially height. It is a common cause of death in medium/large, large, and giant breeds. Osteosarcoma is the third most common cause of death in Golden Retrievers and is even more common in larger breeds. Given the poor prognosis of osteosarcoma and its frequency in many breeds, spay/neuter of immature dogs in the medium/large, large, and giant breeds is apparently associated with a significant and elevated risk of death due to osteosarcoma.

Mammary Cancer (Breast Cancer)
Mammary tumors are by far the most common tumors in intact female dogs, constituting some 53% of all malignant tumors in female dogs in a study of dogs in Norway where spaying is much less common than in the USA. 50-60% of mammary tumors are malignant, for which there is a significant risk of metastasis. Mammary tumors in dogs have been found to have estrogen receptors, and the published research shows that the relative risk (odds ratio) that a female will develop mammary cancer compared to the risk in intact females is dependent on how many estrus cycles she experiences:

# of estrus cycles before spay Odds Ratio
None 0.005
1 0.08
2 or more 0.26
Intact 1.00
The same data when categorized differently showed that the relative risk (odds ratio) that females will develop mammary cancer compared to the risk in intact females indicated that:

Age at Spaying Odds Ratio
< 29 months 0.06
>30 months 0.40 (not statistically significant at the P<0.05 level)
Intact 1.00

Please note that these are RELATIVE risks. This study has been referenced elsewhere many times but the results have often been misrepresented as absolute risks.
A similar reduction in breast cancer risk was found for women under the age of 40 who lost their estrogen production due to “artificial menopause” and breast cancer in humans is known to be estrogen activated. Mammary cancer was found to be the 10th most common cause of years of lost life in Golden Retrievers, even though 86% of female GRs were spayed, at a median age of 3.4 yrs. Considering that the female subset accounts for almost all mammary cancer cases, it probably would rank at about the 5th most common cause of years of lost life in female GRs. It would rank higher still if more female GRs had been kept intact up to 30 months of age.
Boxers, cocker spaniels, English Springer spaniels, and dachshunds are breeds at high risk of mammary tumors. A population of mostly intact female Boxers was found to have a 40% chance of developing mammary cancer between the ages of 6-12 years of age. There are some indications that purebred dogs may be at higher risk than mixed breed dogs, and purebred dogs with high inbreeding coefficients may be at higher risk than those with low inbreeding coefficients. More investigation is required to determine if these are significant.
In summary, spaying female dogs significantly reduces the risk of mammary cancer (a common cancer), and the fewer estrus cycles experienced at least up to 30 months of age, the lower the risk will be.

Female Reproductive Tract Cancer (Uterine, Cervical, and Ovarian Cancers)
Uterine/cervical tumors are rare in dogs, constituting just 0.3% of tumors in dogs.
Spaying will remove the risk of ovarian tumors, but the risk is only 0.5%. While spaying will remove the risk of reproductive tract tumors, it is unlikely that surgery can be justified to
prevent the risks of uterine, cervical, and ovarian cancers as the risks are so low.

Urinary Tract Cancer (Bladder and Urethra Cancers)
An age-matched retrospective study found that spay/neuter dogs were two times more likely to develop lower urinary tract tumors (bladder or urethra) compared to intact dogs. These tumors are nearly always malignant, but are infrequent, accounting for less than 1% of canine tumors. So this risk is unlikely to weigh heavily on spay/neuter decisions. Airedales, Beagles, and Scottish Terriers are at elevated risk for urinary tract cancer while German Shepherds have a lower than average risk.

Hemangiosarcoma
Hemangiosarcoma is a common cancer in dogs. It is a major cause of death in some breeds, such as Salukis, French Bulldogs, Irish Water Spaniels, Flat Coated Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Boxers, Afghan Hounds, English Setters, Scottish Terrier, Boston Terriers, Bulldogs, and German Shepherd Dogs. In an aged-matched case controlled study, spayed females were found to have a 2.2 times higher risk of splenic hemangiosarcoma compared to intact females.
A retrospective study of cardiac hemangiosarcoma risk factors found a >5 times greater risk in spayed female dogs compared to intact female dogs and a 1.6 times higher risk in neutered male dogs compared to intact male dogs. The authors suggest a protective effect of sex hormones against hemangiosarcoma, especially in females. In breeds where hermangiosarcoma is an important cause of death, the increased risk associated with spay/neuter is likely one that should factor into decisions on whether or when to sterilize a dog.

Hypothyroidism
Spay/neuter in dogs was found to be correlated with a three fold increased risk of hypothyroidism compared to intact dogs. The researchers suggest a cause-and-effect relationship: They wrote: “More important [than the mild direct
impact on thyroid function] in the association between spaying and neutering and hypothyroidism may be the effect of sex hormones on the immune system. Castration increases the severity of autoimmune thyroiditis in mice” which may explain the link between spay/neuter and hypothyroidism in dogs. Hypothyroidism in dogs causes obesity, lethargy, hair loss, and reproductive abnormalities. The lifetime risk of hypothyroidism in breed health surveys was found to be 1 in 4 in Golden Retrievers, 1 in 3 in Akitas, and 1 in 13 in Great Danes.

Obesity
Owing to changes in metabolism, spay/neuter dogs are more likely to be overweight or obese than intact dogs. One study found a two fold increased risk of obesity in spayed females compared to intact females. Another study found that spay/neuter dogs were 1.6 (females) or 3.0 (males) times more likely to be obese than intact dogs, and 1.2 (females) or 1.5 (males) times more likely to be overweight than intact dogs. A survey study of veterinary practices in the UK found that 21% of dogs were obese. Being obese and/or overweight is associated with a host of health problems in dogs. Overweight dogs are more likely to be diagnosed with hyperadrenocorticism, ruptured cruciate ligament, hypothyroidism, lower
urinary tract disease, and oral disease. Obese dogs are more likely to be diagnosed with hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis, ruptured cruciate ligament, and neoplasia (tumors).

Diabetes
Some data indicate that neutering doubles the risk of diabetes in male dogs, but other data showed no significant change in diabetes risk with neutering. In the same studies, no association was found between spaying and the risk of diabetes.

Adverse Vaccine Reactions
A retrospective cohort study of adverse vaccine reactions in dogs was conducted, which included allergic reactions, hives, anaphylaxis, cardiac arrest, cardiovascular shock, and sudden death. Adverse reactions were 30% more likely in spayed females than intact females, and 27% more likely in neutered males than intact males. The investigators discuss possible cause-and-effect mechanisms for this finding, including the roles that sex hormones play in body’s ability to mount an immune response to vaccination. Toy breeds and smaller breeds are at elevated risk of adverse vaccine reactions, as are Boxers, English Bulldogs, Lhasa Apsos, Weimaraners, American Eskimo Dogs, Golden Retrievers, Basset Hounds, Welsh Corgis, Siberian Huskies, Great Danes, Labrador Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers, American Pit Bull Terriers, and Akitas. Mixed breed dogs were found to be at lower risk, and the authors suggest genetic hetereogeneity (hybrid vigor) as the cause.

Urogenital Disorders
Urinary incontinence is common in spayed female dogs, which can occur soon after spay surgery or after a delay of up to several years. The incidence rate in various studies is 4-20% for spayed females compared to only 0.3% in intact females. Urinary incontinence is so strongly linked to spaying that it is commonly called “spay incontinence” and is caused by urethral sphincter incompetence, though the biological mechanism is unknown. Most (but not all) cases of urinary incontinence respond to medical treatment, and in many cases this treatment needs to be continued for the duration of the dog’s life. A retrospective study found that persistent or recurring urinary tract (bladder) infections (UTIs) were 3-4 times more likely in spayed females dogs than in intact females. Another retrospective study found that female dogs spayed before 5 ½ months of age were 2.76 times more likely to develop UTIs compared to those spayed after 5 ½ months of age. Depending on the age of surgery, spaying causes abnormal development of the external genitalia. Spayed females were found to have an increased risk of recessed vulva, vaginal dermatitis, vaginitis, and UTIs. The risk is higher still for female dogs spayed before puberty.

Pyometra (Infection of the Uterus)
Pet insurance data in Sweden (where spaying is very uncommon) found that 23% of all female dogs developed pyometra before 10 years of age. Bernese Mountain dogs, Rottweilers, rough-haired Collies, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Golden Retrievers were found to be high risk breeds. Female dogs that have not whelped puppies are at elevated risk for pyometra. Rarely, spayed female dogs can develop “stump pyometra” related to incomplete removal of the uterus.
Pyometra can usually be treated surgically or medically, but 4% of pyometra cases led to death.
Combined with the incidence of pyometra, this suggests that about 1% of intact female dogs will die from pyometra.

Perianal Fistulas
Male dogs are twice as likely to develop perianal fistulas as females, and spay/neutered dogs have a decreased risk compared to intact dogs. German Shepherd Dogs and Irish Setters are more likely to develop perianal fistulas than are other breeds.

Non-cancerous Disorders of the Prostate Gland
The incidence of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH, enlarged prostate) increases with age in intact male dogs, and occurs in more than 80% of intact male dogs older than the age of 5 years. Most cases of BPH cause no problems, but in some cases the dog will have difficulty defecating or urinating. Neutering will prevent BPH. If neutering is done after the prostate has become enlarged, the enlarged prostate will shrink relatively quickly. BPH is linked to other problems of the prostate gland, including infections, abscesses, and cysts, which can sometimes have serious consequences.

Orthopedic Disorders
In a study of beagles, surgical removal of the ovaries (as happens in spaying) caused an increase in the rate of remodeling of the ilium (pelvic bone), suggesting an increased risk of hip dysplasia with spaying. Spaying was also found to cause a net loss of bone mass in the spine .
Spay/neuter of immature dogs delays the closure of the growth plates in bones that are still growing, causing those bones to end up significantly longer than in intact dogs or those spay/neutered after maturity. Since the growth plates in various bones close at different times, spay/neuter that is done after some growth plates have closed but before other growth plates have closed might result in a dog with unnatural proportions, possibly impacting performance and long term durability of the joints. Spay/neuter is associated with a two fold increased risk of cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Perhaps this is associated with the increased risk of obesity.
Spay/neuter before 5 ½ months of age is associated with a 70% increased aged-adjusted risk of hip dysplasia compared to dogs spayed/neutered after 5 ½ months of age, though there were some indications that the former may have had a lower severity manifestation of the disease. The researchers suggest “it is possible that the increase in bone length that results from early-age gonadectomy results in changes in joint conformation, which could lead to a diagnosis of hip dysplasia.” In a breed health survey study of Airedales, spay/neuter dogs were significantly more likely to suffer hip dysplasia as well as “any musculoskeletal disorder”, compared to intact dogs, however possible confounding factors were not controlled for, such as the possibility that some dogs might have been spayed/neutered because they had hip dysplasia or other musculoskeletal disorders. Compared to intact dogs, another study found that dogs neutered six months prior to a diagnosis of hip dysplasia were 1.5 times as likely to develop clinical hip dysplasia. Compared to intact dogs, spayed/neutered dogs were found to have a 3.1 fold higher risk of patellar luxation.

Geriatric Cognitive Impairment
Neutered male dogs and spayed female dogs are at increased risk of progressing from mild to severe geriatric cognitive impairment compared to intact male dogs. There weren’t enough intact geriatric females available for the study to determine their risk.
Geriatric cognitive impairment includes disorientation in the house or outdoors, changes in social
interactions with human family members, loss of house training, and changes in the sleep-wake cycle. The investigators state “This finding is in line with current research on the neuro-protective roles of testosterone and estrogen at the cellular level and the role of estrogen in preventing Alzheimer’s disease in human females. One would predict that estrogens would have a similar protective role in the sexually intact female dogs; unfortunately too few sexually intact female dogs were available for inclusion in the present study to test the hypothesis”

CONCLUSIONS
An objective reading of the veterinary medical literature reveals a complex situation with respect to the longterm health risks and benefits associated with spay/neuter in dogs. The evidence shows that spay/neuter correlates with both positive AND adverse health effects in dogs. It also suggests how much we really do not yet understand about this subject.
On balance, it appears that no compelling case can be made for neutering most male dogs to prevent future health problems, especially immature male dogs. The number of health problems associated with neutering may exceed the associated health benefits in most cases.
For female dogs, the situation is more complex. The number of health benefits associated with spaying may exceed the associated health problems in many (not all) cases. On balance, whether spaying improves the odds of overall good health or degrades them probably depends on the age of the dog and the relative risk of various diseases in the different breeds.
The traditional spay/neuter age of six months as well as the modern practice of pediatric spay/neuter appear to predispose dogs to health risks that could otherwise be avoided by waiting until the dog is physically mature, or perhaps in the case of many male dogs, foregoing it altogether unless medically necessary. The balance of long-term health risks and benefits of spay/neuter will vary from one dog to the next. Breed, age, and gender are variables that must be taken into consideration in conjunction with non-medical factors for each individual dog. Across-the-board recommendations for all dogs do not appear to be supportable
from findings in the veterinary medical literature.

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Thinking About Breeding Bulldogs....

2010-04-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

If you are contemplating breeding Bulldogs, please do your research! Raising a healthy litter of Bulldog puppies requires major commitments of time, effort, and money.
There are many factors to consider before breeding Bulldogs. It is important to know the Bulldog Standard, the health and temperament of your Bulldogs, your Bulldogs’ bloodlines, and if your Bulldogs conform to the Bulldog Standard. As a responsible breeder, you should aspire to breed for the betterment of the breed and Not breed for greed!
If you have a female Bulldog, it is important to consider your true motivation for breeding her. Do you want to breed for the betterment of the breed or do you want to breed her just one time, just because? You or someone you know wants a puppy from her; you want your children to see the miracle of birth and having puppies; or perhaps are you thinking breeding her will generate extra income, etc.
More importantly, is breeding your female worth risking her life? There is so much that could go wrong with breeding your female, even to those who have years of experience with breeding Bulldogs and the consequences can be heartbreaking and expensive. You could lose your female to a pregnancy complication, or while she is under anesthetic, or even after she has had her puppies, complications can still arise. Therefore, it is important to ensure that your female is healthy for breeding, can endure the stress of a pregnancy to carry a litter to term.
It is also highly recommended that you have health screening performed on your Bulldogs before breeding, to help minimize the risk of your Bulldogs passing poor genetics to their offspring. Health screening can be performed by a trusted veterinarian. Many breed clubs are recommending health screening be done on dogs before being bred, the more you know the better informed you are on your breeding decisions.
After considering your motivation for breeding Bulldogs and your Bulldog’s health and well-being, now ask yourself if you have the money and time to devote to raising a healthy litter of Bulldog puppies. Bulldog puppies are usually born via c-section, most Bulldogs cannot naturally whelp their puppies themselves. Once born, neonate puppies require around-the-clock care for their first several weeks of life. It is not uncommon for neonate puppies to require supplemental feedings, either tube feeding or a bottle, puppies should be fed every 2 hours and each feeding can last about an hour.
Now ask yourself if you are going to be there for the lifetime of your puppies. Will you be there to help your puppies’ new families with their questions and concerns? Are you willing to take back a puppy you bred if his or her family cannot care for the puppy or if the puppy develops major health issues?
If you are looking for a Bulldog puppy, it is important to research breeders and their Bulldogs. Be sure to find a breeder who will be there for you and who is willing to mentor you throughout your puppy’s life. A Bulldog breeder should want to take the time to answer all of your questions and to address any concerns you might have. We all started somewhere and, thanks to our mentors and fellow Bulldoggers, we all continue to learn about the breed. Bulldogs are a special breed; they’re your children who never grow up. They are people dogs who need your love and affection. They also have special needs, require special care, and can be an expensive breed to own. Therefore, it is important to ensure that a Bulldog is the right breed for you. Not every breed of dog is going to be a perfect companion for everyone!
As the Bulldogs popularity increases so, unfortunately, does the number of wonderful Bulldogs going into rescue. Most rescues are non-profit and need funds more than ever, especially with our economy these days; to provide medical care, to spay/neuter, micro-chip, vaccinations, worming, for food and their everyday care. People involved with Bulldog rescue donate their time, money, homes, and most especially, their love. They do everything in their power to ensure that these rescued Bulldogs find wonderful new families, homes and are provided with the love and attention they deserve. Not every Bulldog that goes into rescue comes from a bad situation or home, but for many Bulldogs going into rescue, it is their chance for a better life. Be thankful to the people who are involved with Bulldog rescue, they have seen it all the good and the bad; they are angels for the Bulldogs who end up in their care.
In conclusion, if you are contemplating breeding Bulldogs, be responsible for what you breed and strive to breed for the betterment of the breed. If you are looking for a Bulldog puppy, do your homework and make sure that a Bulldog is the right breed for you. It really does affect so many lives.

Basic non-emergency bulldog care

2010-04-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

There are several minor ailments you can treat at home. Remember if the home remedy doesn't take care of the problem in a day or two it's time to take the dog to the veterinarian.

Vomiting
For minor upset stomach Pepto Bismol or a similar medicine for the dogs weight ( ask your veterinarian for the dose ) If the upset last longer than 24 hours take the dog to the veterinarian.

Diarrhea
Kaopectate works well for diarrhea. Ask your veterinarian for the dose. If the diarrhea continues longer than 24 hours or if there is blood in the stool take your dog to the veterinarian.

Interdigital Cysts
These are the bumps that come up in between the toes. Remedies include :
Soaking the foot in Epsom salts and water or massengale douche solution
Applying Preparation H
Applying Benzoyl Peroxide 10 % ( acne cream ) to the bottom of the foot in between all the toes

Facial Acne
Bulldogs are forever putting there faces into all kinds of places, and some are susceptible to topical bacterial infections. The dog will get pimples on it's face and chin. You can try Oxy 10 ( benzoyl peroxide ) use the pads to clean the face.

Tail
Some bulldogs have there tails set in a pocket. If yours does you will need to keep the pocket clean and dry. Wipe it out frequently ( you may have to use gauze pads or cotton balls if the tail is really tight ) You can apply a diaper rash cream ( desitin ) in the tail pocket to keep the area dry.

Insect stings
If your bulldog is stung by a bee or other insect give them benadryl ( a 25 mg capsule will treat a 25 # dog or 2 capsules will treat a 50 # dog etc ) watch them closely for the next 1/2 hour. You may also apply an ice pack to the area where they were stung if you know where it is. If the area around the sting swells, if hives appear, or the dog seems to have difficulty breathing, rush your dog to the veterinarian ( This is a medical emergency if your dog is having trouble breathing )

Eyes
Dust, wind, pollen, the things that make your eyes burn and water have the same effect on your bulldog. You can rinse your dogs eyes out with a eye wash solution.

Allergies in Bulldogs

2009-04-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

Spring is here….
We all welcome the beautiful days of spring, the flowers are blooming, and trees are budding, enjoying the wonderful days outside. Unfortunately with spring and all of the new blooms comes allergy season, the pollen is high, in some regions more than others and yes allergies can affect our beloved dogs just as it does in people. Some might see watering of the eyes, sometimes swollen eyes, runny nose, hives or our Bulldogs seem to be itchy more than normal and yes there seems to be tons of shedding this time of year.

Dogs that are allergic to something will show it through mild to severe itching sensation over his body and skin problems, rubbing their faces on the carpet or couch, scratching their sides, belly and tail area. Sometimes there is hair loss, which can be patchy or inconsistent over the body leaving a mottled appearance. The skin itself may be dry and crusty, reddened, or oily depending on the dog and the skin lesions seen in an allergic dog are usually the result of him mutilating his skin through chewing and scratching. It is very common to get secondary bacterial infections of the skin due to these self-inflicted lesions, such infections may be treated with antibiotics. Dogs with allergies may lick and chew on their feet until they are irritated and red, the feet are the only place dogs have sweat glands and can become inflamed with allergies. The allergic dogs are more prone to ear infections due to the wax-producing glands of the ear overproduce as a response to the allergy, bacteria and yeast can often "over grow" in the excessive wax and debris in the ears, creating the ear infection.

It may seem logical that if a dog is allergic to something he inhales like certain pollens, he will have a runny nose, irritated eyes and itchy skin; if he is allergic to something he eats such as beef, corn or wheat products, could show irritation around the rectum area, belly, itching more and even hives; rare but he may vomit and may have loose stools; or if allergic to an insect bite or flea bite (it is the saliva from the flea bite, that creates the allergen to fleas), he may develop a swelling at the site of the bite, itching and sometimes hives.

Dogs with allergies may show the following symptoms:

• Chewing on feet
• Rubbing the face on the carpet
• Scratching the face and body
• Recurrent ear infections
• Hair loss

Here are some tips for at home when you are living with a dog with allergies:

You should consult with your veterinarian if you suspect that your Bulldog is suffering from allergies for proper diagnosis and course of treatment for your Bulldog.

• Try giving an oatmeal bath 3-4 times a week (some pet stores carry oatmeal formulated shampoo)
• Allow your dog to sit in a bath filled with Epsom salts
• After discussing this with your vet, try using essential fatty acids, namely omega-3 and omega-6. They have natural anti-inflammatory agents and can be purchased at most pet stores or veterinarians
• Try using an air de-humidifier and place activated charcoal around house plants to decrease molds
• Use air conditioners rather than open windows
• Dust and vacuum often
• Treat your pet for fleas, regardless of whether or not you see them
• Use a hypoallergenic dog food or create a homemade diet for your pet
• Be careful what you are washing your dog's bedding in
• Talking with your vet about using antihistamines ( example: Benadryl or Zyrtec )

References:
bulldogsworld
pet education

Bulldog Head Tremors

2009-04-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

This is a very good article written by Kathy Jacobsen about head tremors in the Bulldog.

______________________________________________________________

Partial/ Focal Seizures, Paroxysmal Dyskinesia, Head Tremors

In the Bulldog??

By Kathy Jacobsen

The topic of this article, very simply put is: head tremors, fly biting and circling behaviors in our beloved Bullies. Looking at the title, however, it becomes painfully apparent that these neurologic anomalies that we are seeing in the bulldog today fall into the “grey” area of veterinary and human neurologic disorders.

What qualifies me to discuss such a topic, you might ask? My answer to you would be good old experience. I have been in bulldogs for close to 16+ years, had 7 litters and of those 7 litters have had 5 dogs/bitches who have exhibited 1 or more of these behaviors.

I plan on reviewing the scientific findings from articles I have pulled from the internet and then share my experience, including what I did to minimize the behaviors along with how well it worked on each dog.

Let’s start with some general definitions taken directly from the literature:

Epilepsy: “a chronic condition characterized by recurrent seizures. It is a disorder of the brain where abnormal electrical activity triggers further uncoordinated nerve transmission. This uncoordinated and haphazard nerve tissue activity scrambles messages to the muscles or your dog’s body and the coordinated use of muscles is then inhibited.” The characteristic seizure activity seen in epilepsy are classed as

Seizures: involuntary contraction of muscles, caused by an electrical storm in the brain that can be everywhere at once and can be seen on EEG. Partial seizure where the abnormal electrical impulses begin in a small area of the brain and may or may not migrate to other areas of the brain.

Focal/Partial seizures

Simple focal seizures (minor motor or focal motor seizures) when consciousness is preserved. The area of the brain that is affected is the area that controls movement. Usually the face is affected, resulting in twitching or blinking. This is usually limited to one side of the face. The dog is usually alert and aware of it’s surroundings
Complex focal seizures when consciousness is altered– ie the pet is staring off into the distance but you cannot gain their attention. This seizure will originate in the area of the brain that controls behavior and is sometimes called a psychomotor seizure. The dogs consciousness will be altered and he may exhibit bizarre behavior such as unprovoked aggression or extreme irrational fear. He may run uncontrollably, engage in senseless, repetitive behavior or have fly-snapping episodes where he appears to be biting at imaginary flies around his head.

Grand Mal (tonic-clonic) seizures – which begins with an involuntary contraction of all skeletal muscles and loss of consciousness.

Paroxysmal Dyskinesia is a movement disorder. There are brief attacks of the symptoms with the dog appearing perfectly normal between the episodes, the same way there are discrete attacks of seizures in epilepsy. Dyskinesia refers to an abnormal, involuntary movement or posture. Movement disorders usually originate from the deeper areas(the basal nuclei) of the brain. These areas are responsible for translating the commands from higher brain areas (e.g get the ball) into movements (e.g. stand up, begin trotting, etc). The distinction in the human between seizure activity and dyskinesias is based on looking for abnormal electrical activity on the surface of the brain with an EEG. By definition, seizures have abnormal EEG activity, while paroxysmal dyskinesias do not. People with paroxysmal dyskineasis often experience a decrease in episodes as they age while epileptic people and dogs will worsen with age.

Let’s talk now about Head Tremors in the Bulldog.

In my experience, head tremor activity in the Bulldog usually starts around the age of 2 years old. The motion you will see will almost always be a fast side to side rocking motion (ear to shoulder – ear to shoulder) occurring in rapid succession. Occasionally I have seen an up and down motion (like they are shaking their heads to say yes) but for the most part it is the same fast rocking. The way it was defined to me was that the neuron cluster that controls a certain motor function, in this case head movement, begins to fire continuously. The reason for this rapid fire is truly unknown.

I have not experienced any drooling or other body part involvement. It has always been isolated to the head. When you call the dogs name they can stop the bobbing motion for a few seconds and will look at you, then it will kick in again. They can move their heads and watch you move from place to place, they can even walk around etc.

Scenario I: The bully will be sleeping very soundly and all of a sudden the head will start rocking – usually from side to side very quickly- occasionally you might experience one bobbing up and down. This sudden head motion will cause the bully to awaken suddenly. An episode will last from 15 to 30 seconds, sometimes longer. It may stop on its own and then as the dog lays down to go back to sleep the head tremor will reoccur.

Scenario II: A bitch will be pre-season or just come into season. Males head is bobbing for all it is worth.

Scenario III: A bitch is post whelp, in the milk let down phase of lactation, and trying to nurse a litter of hungry pups. In this case the bitch has had surgical trauma as the result of a C section, is in pain, is not eating and is trying to make milk. This, in my opinion is different than the head tremors described in Scenario I and II.

When you see this What Do You Do?

The first time we experienced this phenomena was a scenario III post whelp– I panicked. I grabbed the puppies off the bitch and almost caused one to aspirate. When I gained a little composure I called a breeder friend of mine and explained what I was seeing. She told me that it was not uncommon and I should try to get some sugar, honey, Karo syrup into her. The thought is that the blood sugar had experienced a sharp drop at that point in time thus stimulating this type of a response. We gave the girl the Karo and low and behold the tremors stopped within a couple of seconds.

The next time we witnessed this behavior – was a little different. The bitch was not post whelp. However, she was 3 days prior to coming into season. She had been sleeping on the couch. We gave her honey. It stopped. Started up 15 minutes later we repeated the karo. Same result. We gave her frozen yogurt, same result. This went on for almost 24 hours with the length of time between episodes varying from 10-15 minutes to as long as a half hour. Needless to say we packed her up and went off to the vet who said: this is not unusual in this breed. Normally we don’t do anything. Epilepsy meds have proven to be ineffective for the most part, phenobarb has too many side effects. The Veterinarian stated that they suspect it has something to do with the growth activity at this age or stress which can cause a sudden drop in glucose levels in the blood. There can be different things or circumstances that can trigger an episode. Such as a traumatic experience, and injury, hormones, etc. In this girls case we have determined that it is a hormone trigger, specifically at the time of a progesterone spike associated with ovulation. The vet recommended Calcium and Taurine supplementation twice daily. As you know calcium is one of the minerals needed for healthy nerve growth and electrical conductivity, Taurine is an amino acid that works with Calcium. The Vet said she may grow out of it.

So, we took that information and we asked for a referral to a neurologist. This specialist did all of the neurological tests and determined she was fine. She ordered ionized calcium levels along with several other specific blood tests. The results all came back normal. She recommended an MRI to determine if there was an injury or tumor. We declined this step at the time, due to finances but decided if she showed any other neurological symptoms such as falling down or aggression, which could be indicative of an injury or tumor, that we would come back to do the MRI. Six months went by on the Calcium, Taurine supplementation to which we added a heaping tablespoon of Ricotta cheese every morning and every couple of days a heaping bowl of frozen vanilla yogurt with honey in the evening. No incidents. The day we bred her – in at the time of the progesterone spike indicating ovulation that we were waiting for– she had one mild episode then nothing for the entire pregnancy. The episodes started up the second week of lactation when the calcium bolus given at the time of the C-section was gone and 6 hungry puppies were pulling on her calcium/glucose levels. Five months have since passed and she has been just fine – no episodes.

My Recommendations:

If your dog exhibits this head bobbing behavior

DON’T PANIC!!! This could only worsen the situation by adding additional stress on the dog.
– give them a bowl of ice cream or frozen vanilla yogurt with honey to get the situation under control. If you don’t have any of those then Ensure, Pediasure, Karo syrup all work because of the sugar and or calcium content. Liquids work quicker because they are absorbed into the mucosa of the mouth.

Call your veterinarian and advise of the situation. Schedule an appointment for a visit and have your vet do a health screening with blood work. Odds are the blood work for calcium and sugar will be fine.
Keep a record of each episode, every time one occurs – describe it in great detail, time it occurred – how long, how frequent. Give this info to the vet when you see him.
IF they do not get any worse than the head bobs – don’t do anything else but observe and document. If the behavior changes in any way – call the vet, you may need additional assistance at this point.

Two other behaviors I would like to mention briefly are the fly chasing and the circling behaviors. Fly chasing is just that, the dog seems to be chasing and trying to catch imaginary flies. Again, if you call the dog by name he will stop and look at you then resume the behavior. The other is circling. This looks like VERY slow motion tail chasing. Usually in the same direction each time it happens. IF you call the dog they will stop to acknowledge you then start up again. In this case, I go over and give my girl a nudge and she stops and resumes whatever she had started to go outside to do. This seems to happen outdoors only, so I sometimes wonder if bright sunlight is the trigger mechanism for her. In any event – both of these behaviors are neurological events. Basically harmless. Both of these dogs are on the same calcium and taurine supplementation. The supplementation has basically eradicated the fly chasing in the one dog and the episodes of circling are fewer with the other dog.

In closing I would like to say that these behaviors are basically just annoyances to you and the dog. I would never discourage you from having the dog checked by a Veterinarian. Remember, every dog just like every person is different and they react differently to certain stimuli and medications. I suggest you try this regimen and if the behavior continues see your veterinarian for more extensive testing and follow up.

Bibliography:

Chinook Seizures by Dennis O’Brien, DVM, PHD

http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/chinook/chinook.html

Vetinfo-4dogs

http://www.vetinfo.com

Canine Epilepsy

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/CanineEpil.htm

Dr. Paul Kinnear, DVM 718-948-3331

Watching your Bulldog grow

2009-03-29T21:41:00.000-07:00

Bulldogs mature slowly-very slowly. One begins to wonder if they are ever finished changing. Other breeds are considered grown at 18 months, except to add or lose weight. The basic structure has matured, but not bulldogs. Somehow they keep right on changing for another 18 months. Furthermore, they do it all in sections; generally, they are considered mature at three years.
You've got your new puppy, here is what might be in store for you.
Your puppy enters the world with a pink nose and around 10 or 12 ounces of weight. By 3 0r 4 days old, the nose starts to sprouting little black spots. Some pups will have solid noses by two weeks ; others, especially white puppies, may still have only a spot or two. These pups may take up to a year for all the pink to disappear.
The first 10 days seem to be spent growing sideways. Their whole bodies appear to grow out around their heads. Their eyes begin to open around 10 days- some premature puppies take longer.
Between two and three weeks, their ears drop down and open. Most bulldog puppies are up and walking by three weeks. The heavier ones may be laying there and may have to be hobbled to keep their legs under them. Some puppies aren't firmly up until six or seven weeks.
At six weeks of age, bulldog puppies usually look pretty gorgeous, nice short legs, nice wrinkled flat faces, nice even bites. Every one a show prospect !
By eight weeks, things begin to happen to them. Heads start growing long and narrow with noses moving out; legs take a spurt of growth and jaws are starting to move out. Eyelids that are going to have a haw to them start to sag. Ears should have picked themselves up during the seventh or eighth week. If not, they should be glued to give the cartilage a chance to build up. The pups should be showing a pear shaped body. Their shoulders should stand out wider than their hips.
During the second and third months, the pups grow overall, but seem to retain their proportions.
At four months, things may not look so good. The bottom jaw may jut out level, the wrinkles may be stretched out flat, the skull may be domed not flat, the bottom row of teeth may be placed in a horrible semi-circle. The pasterns on the front legs may have gone down and look at those rear legs- cowhocked !! Don't despair, wait until they are six months old. Meanwhile, glue that ear back that fell down while they are teething, and give them plenty of exercise.
Five months- the age of lengthening back. Those that are going to be long bodied put on the "growing back" act about now.
Six months-this is the age to buy a puppy if you are concerned with having a pretty good idea of what the bulldog puppy will look like when it is grown. There jaw should be pretty well turned up and buttoned up, there teeth in a nice straight row. Exercise should have brought those pasterns back up and straightened out those cowhocks. The domed head should have flattened and the whole head is growing broader and wider and suddenly you realize there " puppy baby face" is gone and you have a lovely "sour mug" looking at you. If they have been carrying there tail high, it should be now tucked down close to the body. Their body height seems to stabilize about this age.
Nine months- during the last three months, their body has seemed to deepen under their topline. Hips may grow too high at this point. They start growing sidewise again. Muscles start popping out and wrinkles have deepened.
From one to two years they are in the adolescent stage. The topline may go off, the chest may stay to narrow and shallow, and the head may appear too big for their body, or body too big for the head.
By three years you should have a finished bulldog . The late matures will have grown their massive necks and chests and their heads are finally stabilized.

Bulldog/English Bulldogs Information

2009-03-26T22:58:00.000-07:00

Bulldogs are known by many names, English Bulldogs, British Bulldog or Bulldog.
One of the most distinctive breeds in appearance, the Bulldog has changed dramatically over the years. Originally bred for bull- and bear-baiting, their origins have defined much of their appearance. Their strong jaws and short muzzle were perfect for hanging tenaciously onto a bull, and their front-heavy weight distribution and short back made it difficult for the bull to shake them. Although today's Bulldog retains many of those physical characteristics, the personality of the modern Bulldog is completely different. They are loving, gentle dogs who live for human attention but demand very little. Their docile, tolerant, and attentive nature makes them excellent with children, although older Bulldog puppies can be a little too playfully strong and clumsy for toddlers. As adults, they're more careful and passive about play, but they never completely grow up. It is a widely-held misconception that Bulldogs are not very intelligent. In general Bulldogs would rather have tummy rubs, rather than learning some obedience trick. However, if you can keep it fun, and willing to spend time they can learn very well. Their true intelligence, though, is more subtle. They are masters at figuring things out... most especially figuring out how to get their way. In fact, they often think 'no' means 'wait until I'm not looking' they are great at making you think they can't reach the table, or the bed... until you're not looking and if all else fails, they're masters of the guilt trip. They seem to know that the sad, pouty face and the carefully-placed sigh can get them most anything. They truly have a human-like quality, and their feelings are easily hurt. But they're quick to forgive, especially with a treat and a hug! The Bulldog is not a demanding breed by nature, but they do require a family to have a strong knowledge of the breed and its healthcare. If you aren't willing to commit to their proper care physically and emotionally, then a Bulldog isn't for you. The breed is essentially man-made, and they have been bred for specific physical traits. Unlike most breeds, where nature has shaped their physical characteristics to fit their function and their environment, Bulldogs aren't built for thriving in any natural environment. So before welcoming a Bulldog into your home, the first step is to become knowledgeable about the breed, and the second step is to find a vet that is experienced with Bulldogs. Bulldogs simply rely on you to keep them healthy, and to care of them in general. One critical note: Anesthetizing any dog has its risks, but with Bulldogs, it is more serious. Because of their unusual airways, the muscle relaxation that comes with anesthesia can easily cause their airway to collapse. Sadly, many Bullies have been lost in simple, non-emergency procedures that involved anesthesia. That is but one reason for finding a vet that is very experienced with the breed. It is also a reason that breeding is undertaken by only the most knowledgeable, experienced, and committed families... over 90 percent of litters are born via Caesarean section, and care of the newborn puppies is extremely difficult. Overall, the Bulldog can be a wonderful addition to your family, if you are willing to commit the time to learn about the breed and provide the proper health care. Equally importantly, they need your time, companionship, and love. In return, you will get unconditional affection (except for the occasional pouting) and a delightful, often comical friend.