REDDMOLOSSER DOGS - BORDEAUX HEALTH ISSUES

THERE MAY BE TIMES WHEN OUR FOUR-LEGGED COMPANIONS NEED OUR HELP, THIS TENDS TO BE THE TIME WHEN WE FEEL MOST HELPLESS BELOW IS A LIST OF MOST COMMON ILLNESSESS, CAUSES AND POSSIBLE CURES FOR THE AILMENTS IN THE BORDEAUX BREED. HOWEVER THIS IS NOT A DEFINITIVE LIST. IF EVER YOU ARE IN DOUBT PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT A VETERINARY SURGEON.... A VETS FEE IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR PEACE OF MIND

This is one of the true emergencies in veterinary medicine

Gastric Dilation (bloat) with Volvulus (torsion), or GDV.

Simply put, bloat describes a stomach which has become abnormally enlarged or distended. The stomach is filled with gas, food, liquid, or a combination of both. Torsion is the abnormal positioning of the stomach which is caused by the stomach's rotation about its axis, i.e. twisting of the stomach. Bloat usually leads to torsion, although torsion can occur without bloat. Depending on how quickly the problem is dealt with, GDV may result in a stomach that is rotated by anywhere from 90° to 360°. Severe torsion usually means the displacement of both the stomach and the spleen (they exchange positions). The speed at which the stomach empties itself, as well as the stomach's digestive contraction pace, are thought to play a role in the development of GDV.

GDV most commonly occurs in large, deep-chested breeds, but has also been reported in Bassets, Dachshunds and cats.
It is of major importance that you make sure that your veterinarian is familiarized with the proper procedures before his/her skills are needed, never be shy to enquire. If your veterinarian is not receptive to or is offended by your queries, then it may perhaps be time for you to find a more responsive veterinarian.

Early signs of bloat may include

restlessness
excessive drooling
pain in the abdomen
retching
and/or non-productive attempts to vomit.
The dog may vomit foamy mucous, or a mucousy foam may be evident around the lips.

A more advanced sign of bloat is characterized by

enlarged abdomen Some people have reported early detection by observing abnormal behavior, such as not wanting to move around; or laying down in a curled up position, etc. when the dog would normally run around and play. During this early phase, stomach enlargement may not be visually evident yet. Bloat can usually be detected when you make the dog stand up and gently feel his/her abdomen. The abdomen should feel soft and tapered inward when the dog is relaxed. If the abdomen feels hard, or sounds hollow (like a drum) when you tap it gently with your hand, then your dog is probably bloating or even torsioning.
pale gum colour

If you're not sure, get the dog in to the veterinarian (or at least call) right away just in case--it's better to be safe than sorry.

Prevention

There are no sure-fire ways to prevent or predict GDV. Below is a list of suggestions :
Feed 2 or 3 smaller meals daily (as opposed to 1 large meal) ensuring the food/water bowls are raised to minimse the intake of air when eating/drinking.
Any changes in the diet should be made gradually, over a period of a week.
Vigorous exercise, excitement and stress should be avoided from 1 hour before to 2 hours after meals.
Excessive drinking should also be avoided.
Avoid feeding food that are known to cause flatulence (gas), e.g. soy, beans, peas, onions, etc.
Some veterinarians advocate the feeding of large pieces of fresh/raw fruits and vegetables (e.g. apples, oranges, carrots) 3 to 4 times a week. The reason is that commercial dog food lacks the appropriate amount of roughage that a dog needs in order for the stomach to function properly.
Some people give their dogs over-the-counter anti-flatulent just before or after they put their dogs through stressful situations.
On dogs known to be highly susceptible to GDV (e.g. ones that have already bloated before) discuss the use of medicinal prevention with your veterinarian.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is the number one cause of hind limb lameness in dogs and results in an arthritic condition of the hip joint which is initially caused by a (laxity) looseness in the hip joint itself. This joint is a ball and socket joint in which the head of the thigh bone (femur) fits into a cup-like depression (acetabulum) in the pelvis. The looseness is associated with the tissues which surround and hold the joint in place; tendons, ligaments, connective tissue, and muscle, and this laxity leads to bony abnormalities of the ball and socket. While the looseness of the joint is not believed to change much with time, the presence of joint instability causes abnomal wear and tear on the cartilage lining of the joint with subsequent development of arthritis as the dog ages.

Diagnosis is made from radiographs of the hip joint (from the pelvis to the kneecap) and does require sedation or anesthesia. Positioning of the dog is critical for proper evaluation. The radiographs are evaluated by veterinary radiologists specially trained for this task. The dogs are graded as excellent, good, fair, borderline, or mildly, moderately, or severely dysplastic.

Hip dysplasia is thought to be genetically determined in part, but the mode of inheritance has not been established, since multiple genes and environmental factors such as nutrition and rapid growth may play a role in its development.

Elbow Dysplasia

(As Above But In The Elbow) This condition may be due to different growth rates of the three bones making up the elbow. In affected dogs, the joint is lax or loose and, in mildly affected dogs, leads to painful arthritis. Severely affected dogs can develop Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD), fragmented medial coronoid processes and united anconeal processes resulting from the stress in the joint. Elbow Dysplasia is less common in Dogue de Bordeaux.

Through selective breeding strategies, veterinarians and breeders are attempting to eliminate Canine Hip/Elbow Dysplasia. Adult dogs can be x-rayed and hip/elbow scored using the KC/BVA hip scoring scheme.

Panosteitis (Pano)

Known commonly as "long bone disease," or "pano.") Usually seen between the ages of five to 12 months. Pano is caused by excessive bone production on the long bones. The growth of your dog is so fast that the tendons and ligaments-as for all large breeds-have to take a great strain. Normally, a dog affected by this condition will grow out of the problem, but it is painful.

Diet is thought to be a contributing factor in the development of Pano. High protein puppy diets may make the puppy grow too fast and increase the chance of the pup experiencing Pano which is also sometimes described as "growing pains." Pano can also show up in any leg and may come and go without warning. Puppies usually completely outgrow Pano by the age of 18 months and it rarely goes beyond two years. Exercise or more specifically too much exercise can increase pain felt by your dog if it is suffering with the ailment. It is therefore of paramount importance that when taking your pup/dog for a walk pace yourself, increase time and distance slowly as the pup/dog matures.