Expert: English Bulldogs ( Marie ) e-mail me at mpmaltese@gmail.com - 10/2/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I have a 6 month old female bulldog.  She caught pneumonia at 3 months and hasn't fully recovered.  We have taken her to many different vets and even a specialist.  They all have various diagnosis (heart murmur, asthma, small trachea).  She has pneumonia again.  The specialist is concerned she hasn't grown out being constantly sick and is suggesting putting her to sleep.
Does the small trachea cause pneumonia?

ANSWER: Hi Mario - I would be glad to help you with Home-cooking and supplements to help your bullie.
We would need to keep his weight down and give him some vitamins and supplements.
Let me know if you want to try a Holistic approach to this problem?
Keep him on the antibiotics right now, with your vet's help.


About the small trachea ( hypoplastic )

Nearly all Bulldogs have a smaller diameter trachea (windpipe) than other dogs.
The hypoplastic trachea is excessively narrowed even to the point of collapsing.  
It is often no wider in diameter than a pencil in a full grown dog.  
This creates the problem of creating additional negative pressure from the trachea making dogs more prone to aspiration (inhaling food into the lungs).  
Aspiration then causes pneumonia which the smaller trachea then makes more difficult to clear.  No specific treatment exists for hypoplastic tracheas.  
All of these conditions are complicated by a dog that is too heavy!
DON'T LET YOUR DOG GET TOO HEAVY.

Let me know if you want to try the Natural route for this bullid kid?


Marie Peppers LPN MA
mtnmom@gci.net
My bullie page
http://www.apluspetcare.com/untitled4.html

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We give her Nutro Natural Choice Large Puppy Breed food.
We give her 1.5 cups in the morning and 1.5 cups in the afternoon.
She is 25lbs and not heavy compared to her brother who is 30lbs.
Yes, I would like to try the natural route.

Mario

Answer
Yes- Lets try to help this bullie girl!  Continue with any antibiotics the vet has ordered for this gal.  Let's slowly change her food to a better quality with less grains.
Please get her onto the Innova puppy food  or Wellness Pup food;
Please mix the Nutro and the NEW food at a 50:50 mix for 3 weeks.
After that, go to the new quality food - Innova or Wellness ****

Please wet any dry dog food so she doesn't aspirate on it.  Wet the dry food and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving this dry kibble to your gal.
Raise up her feeding dishes to arm pit level.  Again, this helps so she doesn't take in too much air or choke. Raised feeding stations can be purchased at any pet store.

Next, Please call the NuVET folks today and order the NuVET Plus supplement powder-
Give her 1 teaspoon of NuVET mixed into some wet dog food ( Innova canned EVO brand) or you can use low fat cottage cheese.  I love the Innova EVO canned NO grain dog food - She will love it too.
NuVET 1 teaspoon in the Am and then 1/2 teaspoon in the PM

Call 1-800-474-7044  Tell them Pet Nurse Marie sent you for the NuVET Powder.
NuVET will help to Build up her immune system so she can fight off infections.
NuVET will reduce the inflammation in her airway.
Here is the site for your review:  http://www.nuvet.com/81098

Also, I would like to see your gal get 500 mg of ESTER C per day - Ester C is easy on the belly and will help to fight off infections.
ESTER C is sold for people but dogs can take it, too.

Next, give her a dash of garlic ( 1/8 of a teaspoon ) per day - mixed into her food.
PURE garlic powder can be purchased at any food store.  VERY small amounts of Garlic is safe.
NO more than 1/8 of a teaspoon per day :
HELPS to fight off invaders - bacteria, virus, parasites.

OK, let's start with the food change: Raised Feeding Station: NuVET Plus : Vitamin C ; and Garlic.


Keep me posted at my private e-mail here:
mtnmom@gci.net

Marie Peppers LPN MA