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!

[meig]

Can you explain to me about the Bulldog and the groomer? I have never heard anything about it so consider me one of those entirely clueless people. I know bulldogs have breathing issues, but is there some specific groomer=bad issue I don't know about?

[otterdoc]

It's not so much that it's the groomer's fault. This could have happened if the dog was boarding somewhere, or staying at the hospital

[midlifexis]

I think that this is among the things we did to the wolf is a wonderful example of our long relationship with nature.

[otterdoc]

This is a very good point. (Glad to see you're alive out there, too! :) )

We've basically bred for recessive traits to the point that the wolf or other early versions of Canis lupis familiaris have turned into 1 Kg yorkies, bulldogs, pugs, dachshunds, etc. I really don't think we've done these dogs any favors at all.

Owners frequently ask me, "Why does she do that?" in relation to some breed-specific problem. I tell them exactly what you've mentioned. I usually follow up with, "Did you research this breed before you bought your new puppy?" Better than 85% of the time, they say "No! I wish I'd known before I got her!"

Well, duh.

-M.

[midlifexis]

Yeah, I breathe still, just to spite people really.

Anyway, I do not understand sickly breeds much. Yes, some of them had
actual practical applications, two hundred years ago, but unless you
are going to hunt some rats to make a fetching purse, you do not need
them now.

I like a dog that's not too far removed from its origins. Wolf-like breeds, big solid working dogs in general. Sled-dogs, service dogs, that lot. Dogs with drive.

While huskies, malamutes, German shepherds and such are an obvious pick, I do find the Finnish Spitz something of a personal favorite. Not quite a wolf that one, but still a very well-rounded, healthy breed that has purpose and personality. They are a very common sight in the countryside here.

[otterdoc]

I'm really not too fond of the Spitz or Eskimos, though my experiences are often biased by the situation here in the hospital. I don't mind most northern breeds (Husky, Malamute, etc.), but some of them are a serious pain in the ass to work with. Drive, yes - and if people would train them well, it would be better.

Owner's fault, most of the time.

-M.

[ktiger]

Hey, wanted to ask you a few questions about the data systems that you use in your practice, what's the best way to get hold of you?

[otterdoc]

Feel free to email me if that works. Otterdoc at mac dot com.
You're also welcome to call if you'd prefer. Drop me an email and we can arrange a time. If you can email the questions, too, I can be sure to find out what I don't know off the top of my head. :)

-M.

[ldyjaydin]

Oh yeah, gotta love the Bulldogs that try to die from not breathing. Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever been graced with a bulldog doing it. I have had several pugs, a boston terrier and then a terrier mix who just gets himself way overworked. What really gets me about the Bulldog is that there head have been made so big, they can't even have a natural delivery! All of them have to be C-section. Anything bad happens to civilization, they are going to be the very first breed headed to extinction.

[otterdoc]

I think if you lose the ability to reproduce on your own, that's a clue from Mother Nature to accept your Darwin Award. Yeesh.

Be it pug, bulldog, boston, or pekingese, these are your friends:
Oxygen, Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate, Acepromazine, Torbutrol, and Furosemide.

I've only had to intubate a couple of these dogs over the years, thankfully. One did really well for about 12 hours. When the drugs wore off, he sat up, turned blue, and fell over again. Bummer.

-M.