pneumonia

Question
QUESTION: Hello. A year ago my brother and I purchased two bulldog puppies. We did extensive research about the breed to make sure it was the right dog for each of us, and to be sure that we could give them proper care. I already had a dog, and I still do; his name is Scrappy and he is not a bulldog. My brother found a breeder, registered with the AKC; we contacted him and went to his home to see the kennels, meet the parents, and to pick the puppies that we wanted. My brother and I were looking for puppies that we could make a part of our family, which is exactly what we did. We raised them, and at about 7 months, phoebe was taken to the vet to be spayed, she developed complications. The vet couldn't tell us what was wrong with her, but she was obviously in distress so we took her to another vet for a second opinion. He told us that she had lungs that were filled with fluid, that it looked like aspiration pneumonia, but he wasn't sure, and we had to put her down because their was really very very little that he could do for her....

WE WERE SOOO UPSET>!!!! she was our puppy.. We still had daisy. four months later we took daisy in to be spayed, (phoebe's sister), and she developed the same symptoms as phoebe. She was fine after the surgery, everything went well, then that night she spiked a fever of 108, labored breathing, lungs were filling with something, then she seemed to be getting better and then she died suddenly.

We are soooo upset and distressed. Scrappy wanders around the house looking for daisy; he even sleeps on her bed now. My fiance and I are just so upset; Daisy was our dog. She went everywhere with us; We did everything that we were supposed to do. My brother and his girlfriend are also very upset. I just don't know what to think.

what are the chances that both dogs would be healthy, and then die after the surgery, and die the exact same way. after some time passes, we would like to get another bulldog, but we are afraid to. how do we prevent this from happenening again? what happened? do i need to go back to the breeder? was it something in their genetics???

I just don't know what to do.. This whole thing just has me so upset and depressed... I am trying to understand what happened...



ANSWER: Hello Audra - Sounds like you were working with VETs that did not have much experience with the bullie breed:

I am so sorry for your loss of the two bulldogs!

For all Bulldog owners --- Please Note:

Surgery and Bullies:
Anesthesia.....

Just make sure who does the surgery has experience with putting English bullies under anesthesia.  

One critical note: All Bulldogs need a GOOD vet that KNOWS the Breed-

Surgery:
Anesthetizing any dog has its risks, but with Bulldogs, it is very serious.
Because of English Bulldogs unusual airways and difficulty breathing, the muscle relaxation that comes with anesthesia can easily cause English Bulldogs 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 Caesarian section, and care of the newborn puppies is extremely difficult.


Always look for a vet that has done surgery work on the bullie breed.


Marie Peppers LPN


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Do you know where I can find vets with this experience? or what kind of questions I can ask?

Answer
Hi - Ask the vets if they have experience working with bradochphalic dogs?  Bullies, Frenchies, English bullies, pugs - many of them have the soft palate and the brado facial features:
see here:
AGAIN, I am so sorry you lost your dogs under the vet's care.

http://www.bulldoginformation.com/elongated-soft-palate.html