Hello and some questions
Submitted by Sams74 on January 22, 2012 - 12:59pmHi-
I am new to this site but have already found the advice and suggestions very helpful! I have a bulldog named Molly who is about 7.5 months old. I have a couple questions, but wanted to give you guys a little history first. So far Molly has had a couple health issues, including mange and giardia. Luckily those were easily cleared up with medicine and have not reoccured. The most sick she has been was when she had pneumonia. What started out as a little cough became so much worse very quickly. Molly had to spend 5 days in a hospital, and needed a full day of oxygen while there. She spent about 6 weeks on antibiotics and after several chest x-rays (I lost count), her lungs finally cleared up about a month ago. I have learned my lesson that any cough needs to be immediately addressed when dealing with bulldogs!
Okay so on to my question. Molly eats very fast and she always has. I have tried to slow her down using lots of strategies. Currently, I split each meal into several parts and give her a few minute break in between. Sometimes I even use the cookie sheet method or hand feed. Molly will often regurgitate a piece of food shortly after eating. I never actually see it come out because she will quickly swallow it again but she will gag. This may happen once or twice after eating and it seems to be just a piece of kibble never her entire meal that comes back up. Has anyone ever experienced this? She didn't do it when she was younger, so I'm wondering if is because her body is growing/changing. I am also wondering if it could be acid reflux or just a bulldog thing? She does not seem bothered by it, but I am paranoid about any type of gagging, choking, coughing because that's what it looked like when she was sick with pneumonia (only it was obviously way more persistent and frequent then). Any input, advice, suggestions would be great! Oh also Molly was spayed a few weeks ago and the vet didn't mention anything about noticing abnormalities in her pallate or esophogas but then again I didn't specifically ask him to look. Thanks and sorry it's so long!
Hello Sam, Hello Molly !
Welcome :) pop on over to the regular forum when you have a chance, and introduce yourselves :) we love seeing lots of pictures too !
Now to answer your questions - I'm not real experienced in the medical issues that she has been having, but I'm sure someone on here will reply as soon as they see it :)
Good luck
Gizmo
Last steps taken May 26, 2014 -- Been rolling along ever since . . . .
Hi!My bulldog had the exact
Hi!
My bulldog had the exact same problem, she would eat so quickly that she would gag! I got her raised dishes which helped but what I found most helpful was a weighted, stainless steel ball that I purchased from PetSmart (I have also seen them at Walmart). You place it in the dish with the food and the dog has to push it around to get to the food and therefore they are forced to slow down. It worked famously and now I do not have to put it in the dish and she doesn't eat so quickly anymore. Much less worry for me, without all the gagging! :)
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3519706
I actually ordered one from
I actually ordered one from petsmart on Friday along with a raised set of bowls and im waiting for them to come! I guess I'm on the right track! She usually gags after she eats because I think it comes back up, but she's also choked twice-once she cleared on her own and the other she ended up vomiting-and it was very scary to watch. Hopefully, the ball will work! Thanks!
Great! Hopefully it works for
Great! Hopefully it works for you, as well as it did for us :) I know that sometimes when my pup is playing with her friends and is very excited, running, sprinting, chasing, wrestling, etc she will sometimes throw up. I believe that within all of the excitement of play she can't regulate her breathing and ends up swallowing a lot of air into her belly, it gets all filled up and then she throws up and then back to playing like the crazy pup she is. It used to worry me but now I know it's not a big deal, I calm her while she throws up and then once she's normal again, off she goes! Being a first time bully owner as well, I have found that over the last year you learn what is normal for your dog (and the special breed they are) and when you should and should not panic!
you're on the right track
One school of thought, which I followed, is that bulldogs hsould have raised food bowls. I got a set at Petsmart that has three heights, Kippah is on the middle height right now and she is 6 months old....I am also told it helps with gas, and heck, anything that says it helps with gas is alright in my book!
WELCOME,.......now the rules say you must post LOTS of pictures
Loves and Smooches, Kippa and Mama (Annette)
Thanks! You guys are already
Thanks! You guys are already so helpful. Not only am I am a first time bulldog owner but this is my first dog ever! I have spent a lot of time panicking and worrying so I'm glad to hear it's semi-normal! I ordered the bowls from Petsmart (went with the 12 inch height). I will let you know how it goes. Thanks again!