Bulldogs World

Bulldog friends:

We rescued our bulldog Bart in July, 2009.  At that time he was barely able to walk more than a few yards at a time due to a myriad of orthopedic challenges.  In an attempt to increase his mobility Dr. Davyd Pelsue of the Sierra Veterinary Specialists in Reno, Nevada, performed TPLO surgery on both rear knees; one on February 1, 2020 and one on July 12, 2010.  This resulted in marginal improvement but combined with arthritic joints in his front legs, he continued to have great difficulty walking. 

Bart weighs between 62 and 64 pounds, is fed Science Diet PD Canine J/D, and receives a Dasuquinn tablet twice a day with meals, and 50 mg Tramadol as needed, usually 2 or 3 times daily.  We have tried various other prescriptions including Rimadyl, Cephalexin, Amantadine, and Adequan injections in an attempt to lessen pain and increase mobility.  Bart  received accupuncture from Dr. Wendy Robinson, Truckee, California, which gave him considerable comfort but not improvement in mobility.  (Probably unrelated to this issue, Dr. Kirsten Steele or Eye Care for Animals in Reno, Nevada, performed Entropion surgery on Bart on November 8, 2011 and Dr. Brian Buckton of Burton Creek Veterinary in Tahoe City, California,  extracted one Premolar and four Incisors on March 13th, 2012). 

Beginning in mid-April Bart began to exhibit minor instability in his attempts to walk and on increasing occasions he would collapse onto his chest or side as if his front legs would no longer support him.  He almost looked like a drunk staggering until he fell to the floor.  These incidents increased in frequency and intensity in the next few days.  By the third week in April Bart was unable to raise up on his rear legs without considerable assistance and limited his mobility to a few feet at a time, choosing to spend all waking hours lying on a dog bed.  His appetite was sporadic and we had to carry food and water to his immediate vicinity for him to partake of either.  Bart needed to be assisted or carried outside to relieve himself.  On April 24th he was taken to Sierra Veterinary Specialists where Dr. Pelsue did an extensive blood workup and took Thorax and Abdomen x-rays which were read by Dr. Marcie Halliday.

Results proved inconclusive and Bart was presenting increasing symptoms of anemia in addition to his total refusal to move.  On April 26th Bart underwent an Ultrasound and Echocardiogram administered by Dr. Stacy Hosking of Nevada Veterinary Cardiology and an Ultrasound of the Abdomen administered by Dr. John Crumley of Baring Boulevard Veterinary Hospital.  Drs. Pelsue, Hosking, Schrader and Crumley consulted with each other and could not identify a specific reason for Bart's declining mobility and of greater concern to me, his rapidly increasing symptoms of anemia. 

Have any of you bulldog owners and experts experienced anything similar to Bart's rapid decline?  Can you share any of your experiences or thoughts with us?  We are probably going to put Bart through a CT Scan and a bone marrow aspiration as we continue to seek a cause for both the decrease in mobility and the increase in anemia related symptoms.  We would greatly appreciate any information or suggestions that you could share at this time.

Thanks for your time and concern,

John & Pat Neary

P.O. Box 64, Tahoe City, CA  96145