French Bulldogs and Emergency Care

Pet Emergencies

Toxic plants

TRAVELING WITH YOUR FRENCH BULLDOG

So you've decided to take a road trip and bring your best friend with you? Your dog will love you for it, however there are some very important guidelines you should follow to ensure a safe trip for you and your friend.

Riding in the Car:

French Bulldogs that enjoy car travel should be confined to a carrier or you may use a restraining harness (available at most pet-supply stores). Your friend should always be kept safely inside the car. Pets who are allowed to stick their heads out the window can be injured by airborne debris or become ill from having cold air forced into their lungs. Never transport a pet in the back of an open pickup truck.

Stop frequently to allow your pet to drink, exercise, and eliminate. Never permit your pet to leave the car without a collar, ID tag, and leash.

Never leave your pet unattended in a parked car. On warm days, the temperature in your car can rise to 120 in a matter of minutes, even with the windows opened slightly. Furthermore, an animal left alone in a car is an invitation to pet thieves.

In addition, to keep your French Bulldog safe, there are several other items that should be included in your French Bulldog's travel bag:

FRENCH BULLDOG MEDICINE CHEST

A good Digital Thermometer.

Clear Eyes, for irritated eyes

Aspirin. For minor aches and pains. Most French Bulldogs can tolerate aspirin but do not give any other human pain reliever such as Tylenol or Advil. Buffered aspirin such as Bufferin is better than plain aspirin and Ascriptin is better than Bufferin. Remember that the dosage for aspirin, like most pain relief medication, is based primarily on body weight. A French Bulldog should never be given more than half of one tablet at a time or more frequently than every twelve hours. Some French Bulldogs are allergic to aspirin, so use with care.

Benadryl. Either capsule or liquid. Use this if the dog is stung by a bee or other insect, and for minor allergies.

Dosage: Benadryl = 1 mg per 1lb of dog weight up to 50 mg

Bag Balm. A good all purpose ointment for minor skin afflictions.

Also good for cleaning ears. Do not put in his eyes.

PeptoBismol. For minor stomach upset and diarrhea.

Dosage: Pepto Bismol = 1 tsp per 20lbs of dog weight every 4 hours (tends to be

more effective for diarrhea in dogs than strict anti diarrhea medications)

Kaopectate. For minor diarrhea.

Dosage: Kaopectate = 1 tsp for each 20lbs of dog every 4 hours

Desitin Use for minor skin irritations,and minor sunburn

Cough medicine (Triaminic) - Use to control cough and as expectorant

Dosage: Triaminic = 1 tsp per 20lbs of dog weight every 4-6 hours (short-term use only)

Anticoagulant (styptic powder) - Use to stop bleeding caused by cutting into the quick when trimming nails

Antibiotic ointment

Hydrogen peroxide - Use to induce vomiting or as a general antiseptic cleanser

Dosage: 1 tsp per 10lbs of dog weight, repeat once in 15 minutes if necessary (to induce vomiting)

Ophthalmic ointment (non-steroid)

Medicated powder such as Gold Bond

3 cc/ml Syringes without needles, for ORAL liquid medicines or treatments.

Q-tips. Use for applying medication and cleaning ears.

Cotton balls. Use for applying medication, for cleaning and to keep ears dry while bathing.

Soft bristle or rubber brush

shampoo - mild, no tears

Dog nail clippers or an electric grinder

PROBLEMS AND TREATMENTS

The second best medical advice any one can give you is,Find a veterinarian who knows and likes French Bulldogs. This is one of the reasons why it's a good idea to join your local French Bulldog Meet up Group. The members can usually refer you to a veterinarian who is familiar with French Bulldogs and who likes them. Believe it or not - some veterinarians don't like French Bulldogs, and no matter how good a veterinarian is, he's not a good one for your French Bulldog.

The very best advice is to know your French Bulldog. Check the entire dog daily. Know if he isn't eating, if he isn't playing, if he doesn't seem quite right. Know immediately if something is wrong so you can take appropriate action.

There are several minor ailments you can treat at home. Remember that if a home remedy doesn't cure the problem in two days, it's time to take the dog to the veterinarian. Do not keep trying various methods of home medication.

LIQUID MEDICATIONS

The easiest way to give a liquid medication is with a syringe. You can get them from your veterinarian or most drug stores. You want at least a 3cc size. Discard the needle. Pull the proper amount of liquid into the syringe, open the dog's mouth and shoot the liquid onto the back of his tongue.

PILLS AND CAPSULES

Open the dog's mouth, push the pill or capsule as far down his throat as possible, then hold his mouth shut and stroke his throat until he swallows. This has been known to work. Or wrap the pill or capsule in a bit of ground beef, lunchmeat or Velveeta cheese and feed it to the dog.

This usually works.

VOMITING

For minor upset stomach Pepto Bismol or a similar medicine works best. Dose is according to the dog's weight. If there is hard vomiting or if the upset lasts more than 24 hours, take the dog to your veterinarian.

DIARREA

Kaopectate is most usually prescribed for minor diarrhea. Dose amount depends on the dog's weight. If the diarrhea continues longer than 24 hours or if there is Blood or Mucus in the stool, take the dog to the veterinarian.

HOT SPOTS

These are red, weepy, itchy spots. No one seems to really know what causes them. It could be fleas, food, allergies, etc. Clean the area thoroughly. You can wash with shampoo, rinse and dry. Or clean with Baby Wipes with lanolin and aloe. Or wash with Bigeloil. Then apply a medications such as Panalog, Bag Balm, Sulfadene, Schreiner's Healing Liniment (from a feed store) or 1% cortisone cream (you may need to get this from your own doctor). Clean and apply medication daily. You should see improvement by the second day, if not, take the dog to the veterinarian.

FUNGUS SPOTS

These are somewhat like hot spots, but they are not weepy. Be sure you clean away all the scabby material. Wash the area and treat with Panalog, Keflex, or any good anti-fungal ointment. You can use Demorex shampoo or a sulfur based soap for the washing.

EYES

Dust, wind, pollen, the things that make your eyes burn and water have the same effect on your French Bulldog. You can rinse the eyes out with a solution such as Clear Eyes. If the eyes are badly irritated, use a contact lens ointment such as Bausch and Lomb Duolube. For any other eye ailment, take the dog to your veterinarian.

TEMPERATURE

You take his temperature just as you take a small baby's - rectally. Use a good digital thermometer, lubricate generously with Vaseline, insert gently, hold onto the thermometer dogs have been known to suck them in!, wait until it beeps, pull out and read. Normal temperature for most dogs is from 100.5 to 101.

CANINE ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION

Remember that you should only perform artificial respiration if your French Bulldog has stopped breathing. To do this look at your French Bulldog's gums. If they are pink, you can be relatively certain that oxygen is present in the bloodstream. If the gums appear blue or white, he is not getting enough oxygen and artificial respiration may be needed.

To give your French Bulldog artificial respiration, follow these steps:

1. Lay your French Bulldog on his side and make sure there is no debris in his nose and mouth.

2. Gently pull his tongue forward.

3. Close his mouth and adjust his head so that his neck and head are in a straight line.

4. Place your mouth over his nose and blow - you should see his chest expand.

5. Remove your mouth. Your French Bulldog's lungs should deflate.

Repeat this process 10 to 20 times per minute until he begins breathing on his own.

Get emergency veterinary assistance as soon as you can!

INSECT STINGS AND BITES

French Bulldogs are very inquistive and they tend shove thier faces into the things they investigate. This leaves them susceptible to a bee or wasp sting. A single bee sting is generally not too serious (aside from the pain it will cause), but being stung multiple times can be deadly. However if the single sting is in the mouth or around the nose, there is much more danger.

Knowing what to do if your French Bulldog is stung by a bee or wasp is very important.

Also in the southeastern United States, fire ants can pose a similar risk. If your French Bulldog disturbs a colony of these ants, it is possible that she will suffer a large number of bites to the face. The danger of swelling and airway obstruction is very real.

What do I do immediately?

If it is a bee sting and the stinger is visible, remove it carefully with a tweezers. If you notice the bulb (venom sac) still attached, be careful not to put pressure on it as you may force more venom into your French Bulldog.

Many vets recommend applying a paste of baking soda and water to the sting and surrounding area.

Use an ice pack to relieve swelling and pain.

Give an oral or injectable antihistamine (as directed by your vet). Many owners have benadryl tablets on hand for these emergencies. The benadryl dosage is 1 mg per 1lb of dog weight up to 50mg. Standard caplets of benadryl are 25mg. Read the label carefully to be sure.

Keep an eye on your French Bulldog. If the swelling becomes extreme within 10 minutes or so, or if your French Bulldog is having problems swallowing and/or breathing, get to the vet immediately.