Words & Breath

[otterdoc]

One of my two best friends from undergraduate school has recently returned to school to pursue an utterly new/different degree course. Zoology just isn't cutting it for her longterm, so she's thrown herself wholeheartedly into English/Writing with a probable minor in Spanish. I'm tickled pink that she's really grabbed ahold of something that she

Comments

[sighthoundlady]

Today was “special” bulldog day for us too. He had a number of problems including pyoderma, chronic gastritis and just general foulness. It was awesome when we took xrays and couldn’t find one normal looking vertebrae in his entire spine. What a mess. I loved him of course because I’m a huge sucker for brachycephalic breeds.

[otterdoc]

I love 'em when they belong to someone else and the other associate is the vet seeing the appointment. ;)

I actually really do like pugs as a breed, but I'd never own one because of all those brachycephalic problems. Not to mention the lack of a neck.

I just feel so bad for bulldogs. Can't breathe, can't walk, can't see, itch, smell bad... what a life. :P

-M.

[sighthoundlady]

When the Nurse came back to give me the stats on the Bulldog, you would have thought there was this horrible disgusting monster in the room. I thought he was adorable but me and the client were the only ones in the hospital who thought so. Aww, look at those deformed vertebrae, isn’t that cute! Hah!

[mach]

Okay, I'm a big proponent of mutts for this reason. What idiot breeder thought it'd be a good idea to develop a type of dog that's this genetically screwed up?

Our family has had German Sheps for years. After seeing the three we had all come down with spine and hip issues, I made sure my puppy was a nice mix!

[otterdoc]

Hybrid vigor is a good thing. :D

-M.

[keovi]

Although if you're breeding pugs with Bostons, you probably aren't improving breathing a whole lot :P Admittedly, I think some of the coloring results look nice!

[otterdoc]

Whew, yeah, that'll learn me to make an unqualified statement. :D

-M.

[keovi]

I did a lot of research before getting my little demonpug, and thankfully, things have gone well with her so far, with the exception of a penchant for chocolate. She's even SKINNY and EXTREMELY active, which is odd for her ilk.

Actually, the only problem I've had with her was the fault of a doctor who worked at the clinic I did kennel work for. Nasal bordetella accidentally given IM /= happy pug. e_e That was a harrowing night!

[otterdoc]

Ohhh, christ, I -dread- those kind of things happening. I utterly flip out when my techs prep vaccines and leave the needles on nasal bordetellas. They get written up for that, even though I check every single vaccine I'm about to give so I'm sure what I'm doing is correct.
Glad she did okay. Some of the IN Bordetella vaccines can cause hepatic failure.

( I secretly think pugs are pretty cool, though I'd still never own one. :) )

-M.