I would like to take a moment this morning to discuss something very important. As you know we lost Elvis quite tragically on his way to his new foster home. It has made me realize the importance of talking to each of you about the bulldogs unique needs. A fat bulldog is not a cute a bulldog. A fat bulldog is ticking time bomb whose life expectancy has been cut short not by months but years. It is vital that you work with your vet to find the proper weight for your bullie and that you maintain him/her at that weight. Bulldogs like humans, come in many shapes and sizes. There are some who are thicker boned that can carry extra pounds, some that are lean and need to be trim. The rule of thumb is if you cannot feel their ribs (notice I did not say see them, just feel them) or see a waist; your dog is most likely obese. For every 1 pound they need to lose it is roughly the equivalent of 7-10 pounds in human weight. Imagine this. If your bulldog is 5 pounds overweight. Using the higher end of the scale, that means he/she is roughly 50 pounds over weight (the average size of a 5 year old). They are carrying this on their body each day. Pick up a 5 year old child and carry him for an hour, two, three...I think you see my point. All this extra weight is putting pressure on their organs, and compromising and already comprised palate and windpipe. This can lead to easier and faster swelling of these organs under certain circumstances. Rapid swelling can cut off the air supply in minutes and cause death. Secondly we need to talk about brachycaphalic and what this means. The term literally means shortened head. These dogs have been bred through hundreds of years to have a certain appearance. This appearance, while we humans may love it, has come at quite the price to them. Their faces are squished but their insides are the normal size. Because of this you have very little room inside. Again in an event of an allergic reaction, a nervous reaction etc....it is much easier and quicker for their breathing to become compromised. When you add extra weight to a dog who already has compromised breathing, as we have tragically seen, it can spiral out of control very fast. Education of the bulldog breed is the #1 absolute thing you need before becoming a bulldog owner. This breed is not for everyone. They cost money to maintain, they take time and love and their health needs MUST be addressed. If you are a current bulldog owner I beseech you to please take a look at your dogs current weight. I have done a lot of research on this issue and I cannot stress enough how quickly and fast your dog can spiral into a life threatening reaction and there is nothing that can be done once the cascade starts. Elvis did not pass away in vain. If I can convince just one of you to talk to your vet and make sure that you have your dog on the proper food and that his/her airway has been thoroughly examined, then this sweet boy has saved a life. Please, dont get caught up in the idea that your bulldog has to have a certain look. What they need more than anything is an owner who is willing to give them every chance possible to live as along a life as they can. That starts with maintaining a healthy weight, feeding them quality food and addressing any breathing issues (providing surgeries where needed) to ensure they have many years of happiness and joy with you. -- BR
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 13:35:18 +0000
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