possible PDA in Sebastian.
Submitted by Kim Sebastian O... on March 1, 2011 - 5:49pmJust took Sebastian in to my vet to look him over and she heard a "machinery" heart murmur in him. She is referring us to Michigan State's vet clinic on friday for echo to hopefully rule out a PDA (patent ductus arteriosis). My question is has anyone else's bully ever had anything like this and what kind of advice can you give me? We just adopted him and I'm already really attached to him
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Kim, Remy Le Beau, Lord Sebastian, and Sir Oliver
some links for you to read
http://www.google.com/search?q=patent+ductus+arteriosis+in+canines&ie=ut...
I had a male Bulldog born about 5 years ago that had a Grade 3 heart murmur detected at his 7 week Vet visit. PDA was 1 of the 3 heart issues he had. The Vet at Ohio State University said any one of the 3 could be considered fatal to him. Because of that, and his ever worsening condition I never placed him, but kept him for his life. He had a marked exercise intolerance and died at 14 months of age.
You said you are already attached to him - if you aren't wanting to return him to the breeder, see if they will give you a substantial refund or help to pay for surgery on him.
Thanks Robin
I had googled it and read some articles. My breeder won't take him back, but she said she would help pay for his echo. I haven't talked to her about the surgery yet because I don't. know what exactly the vet's at MSU will find. I've been in contact with her over this and she is anxiously waiting for friday to come so we can discuss our next steps. If the surgery is too expensive, I may have no option to put him down so that she can replace him another puppy from another litter. I'm hoping that won't be the case though. Thank goodness we just got our taxes back. Everything we were planning on doing with the money is on hold right now until we find out what Sebastian will need.
Kim, Remy Le Beau, Lord Sebastian, and Sir Oliver
Sure hope you get a more encouraging report
from your Friday Vet visit. A diagnosis like that is traumatic for all involved. Hope his breeder steps up to the plate and does right by you and the pup.
I've been on both sides of the issue in the past. Once as an adult show dog buyer where the dog developed a Heart murmur that worsened over time. That situation didn't turn out well, they wanted me to breed her. I refused, had her spayed and placed her in a pet home (with full disclosure of her condition to the new owners). The breeder I got her from has a hissy fit over what I'd done, but I felt it was the right thing to do. Another time as a show puppy buyer where the breeder took the pup back with no problem. She even went with me to the OSU Clinic to have the Echo done and paid for it too. The pup was eventually placed in a pet home and the new owners made fully aware of the pup's condition. Then there was the situation I mentioned above with a pup I'd bred.
To me these situations are all the more reason breeders need to have their dogs/bitches Health tested prior to breeding. It won't totally eliminate all problems. but can surely cut down on them. Everyone benefits then, ESPECIALLY the dogs!
my breeder is
standing by me with this. She offered to help pay for the echo and I have to call her after his appointment on friday and I'm sure we'll discuss other options then. I have no complaints with my breeder during this, she was upfront with me about everything and it was my choice to go through with the adoption after learning that he had a heart murmur. She also is not going to use the stud anymore because she has tracked it down to his line, not the dams side. She didn't block my breeding him on his AKC papers, but I had already told her that I wasn't going to. I have no intention of showing him, he was and is just a family dog with a side job possibly of becoming a therapy dog to visit hospitals and such when he's older.
Kim, Remy Le Beau, Lord Sebastian, and Sir Oliver
So you knew he had this issue
before you got him?
I knew he had a heart murmur
I knew he had a heart murmur but was told by her vet that she wasn't too worried about it and that in all likelyhood that he would outgrow it. My vet, however, said something totally different.
Kim, Remy Le Beau, Lord Sebastian, and Sir Oliver
what a difficult situation!
I believe you are WAYY deep in love with this little guy already, he is SO PRECIOUS! I sure hope you get some good news from the test.
It's good to hear the breeder is working with you, even though you knew about the murmur. If her vet led you to believe it wasn't life threatening, and it turns out to be something very serious, it is the breeder's responsibility to handle it. That was good to read that the breeder is not going to use the stud anymore.
Cathy and Audrey
ok
good to hear his breeder is working with you on this.
So often on this forum when these problems crop up pups are from people that don't have the best interests of the breed in mind and couldn't care less about a pup and the new owners. Sorry if my comments were taken wrong.
No worries
Your advice was well recieved and not taken wrong. I'm just not sure what to do at this point. I am really in love with him and vice versa. He already is such a "momma's boy". He definetly has bonded with me more than anyone else in the house. I would hate to lose him at this point, but financially not sure how much I can handle. Don't get me wrong, I knew all about the "extra" expenses that comes with bulldogs, just not prepared for this right from the beginning. My 14 year old son had brain surgery in June to remove a brain tumor so I'm dealing with his health issues on top of this now
Kim, Remy Le Beau, Lord Sebastian, and Sir Oliver
Oh man
I'm so sorry to hear about all that you are dealing with.
Whatever happens just know that we are here for your support one way or the other. Best wishes to you, your family and Sebastian. xoxo
That should
have said here to support you.
I understood what you meant
I understood what you meant LOL!!! I don't always tell people I just meet about my son because that's not who he is or who I am, just what we're dealing with right now. It just makes me wonder if it was destiny that I should adopt a dog with special needs because of my son. They can have battle scars together now. And the fact that I was planning on using Sebastian as a therapy dog was to pay it forward since Skyler (my son) had therapy dogs visit him quite a few times while he was still in the hospital. Now if Sebastian has to have surgery I can tell little kids that he had to have heart surgery when he was just a baby too!
Kim, Remy Le Beau, Lord Sebastian, and Sir Oliver
I understood what you meant
I understood what you meant LOL!!! I don't always tell people I just meet about my son because that's not who he is or who I am, just what we're dealing with right now. It just makes me wonder if it was destiny that I should adopt a dog with special needs because of my son. They can have battle scars together now. And the fact that I was planning on using Sebastian as a therapy dog was to pay it forward since Skyler (my son) had therapy dogs visit him quite a few times while he was still in the hospital. Now if Sebastian has to have surgery I can tell little kids that he had to have heart surgery when he was just a baby too!
Kim, Remy Le Beau, Lord Sebastian, and Sir Oliver
No worries
Your advice was well recieved and not taken wrong. I'm just not sure what to do at this point. I am really in love with him and vice versa. He already is such a "momma's boy". He definetly has bonded with me more than anyone else in the house. I would hate to lose him at this point, but financially not sure how much I can handle. Don't get me wrong, I knew all about the "extra" expenses that comes with bulldogs, just not prepared for this right from the beginning. My 14 year old son had brain surgery in June to remove a brain tumor so I'm dealing with his health issues on top of this now
Kim, Remy Le Beau, Lord Sebastian, and Sir Oliver
I would like to add
that I appluade the breeder for steping up...but IMO there should never be a door open to breed this dog. He should have been sold on a limited registration. I will not say a neuter contract because he may never be a canidate for surgery.
Puppies can outgrown this and since you are very happy and should be as he is adorabull and they all need loving homes I wouldn't get too over stressed about it. Best of luck with the specialist. and I'll be thinking good thoughts for a positive outcome.
I don;t have any info
But I am sending hugs your way. Hopefully things work out.
Lyn
Me too
I hope the vet is wrong. Hugs and prayers sent to you and Sebastian.
No info on this illness
But I wanted to let you know that you and your sweet little Sebastian are in my thoughts and prayers.
Monica, Maude and Gus
Sebastian...
All I can say is WOW! I can't believe the breeder won't take him back!!! If he went to the vet for a check up & shots before he left they would have known about the murmur. Either he never went to the vet OR they just didn't tell you.
I know you're attached but...this could cost you thousands of dollars and then you could still lose him at a very young age.
My suggestion would be to go ahead with the echo. If the result is poor you should get a letter from the vet, on their letterhead, that states the dog was "not fit for sale" and then take the breeder to court for your money back. I,personally, wouldn't want another puppy from this person.
Good luck!
Sue Beaupre
hope all turns out good
Hope they are able to figure it out and fix it and I also read you were saying if it was too much you would have to put her down, if it is treatable and money is the problem I highly recommend talking to your local rescue...I work with San Diego and Chicago Bulldog rescue and these are two rescues that will bend over backwards to save a bullie. They just recently had a HUGE operation to help a pup who was born with a genetic defect and the vet said that it would be impossible to fix but they took her to Ohio University and they were able to get all fixed up, she is now almost able to walk on her own and through all the donations the rescue was able to pay all of it and ford donated vehicles for transport...they really have the dogs futures in mind, they will sacrifice everything to give them a fair shot
"Rocco has a spastic wiggle...probally why is nickname is Milkshake"
thank you so much for that suggestion
I never knew that rescues did that kind of thing as well. I just thought they helped find new homes for bullies that had to be rehomed. I will check into finding one in my area and contacting them after he goes to MSU's vet clinic friday morning.
Kim, Remy Le Beau, Lord Sebastian, and Sir Oliver
I hope it is not too bad
I hope the surgery to close the PDA is as straightforward as in human babies. Often preemie babies have this at birth and the surgery simply closes it off.
All the best to you and your baby bully and your son as well.