There are 3 types of French Bulldog Paralysis you should know:
One of the worst mistakes a French Bulldog owner would make is ignoring signs of dog paralysis earlier in their development until it becomes an emergency. Sometimes, it may be due to the fact that the Frenchie Mom or Dad actually does not know the signs or symptoms of paralysis in dogs. So, let’s look at a few things you can look out for to ascertain whether your Frenchie pet might have an impending case of Paralysis.
It goes without saying that some of these symptoms are things you may never know about if you didn’t engage in periodic check-up on your Frenchie. For instance, when you are playing with your French Bulldog, chances are you may easily identify a pain point. That said, we believe that prevention is better than cure. Hence, if you knew what causes Paralysis in French Bulldogs, you may stand a better chance of ensuring that it didn’t happen to your Frenchie in the first place.
Paralysis in French Bulldogs may be caused by some obvious factors, such as when your Frenchie was involved in an accident and his bones were fractured making him unable to walk. Other times, however, some causes of paralysis in dogs may not be physical, such as when it occurred suddenly, like Allison’s case above, she woke up one morning and met her Frenchie completely paralyzed.Let’s look at some medical and environmental causes of French Bulldog Paralysis.
This might be a shocker to you; like, how could Tick bites paralyze a dog? Unfortunately, research shows that Tick Bites are one of the most common and indeed the leading cause of Paralysis in dogs.
One of the harmful substances that Ticks inject in Dogs through bites is called Neurotoxins. Neurotoxins are an extensive class of exogenous chemical neurological insults that can adversely affect functions in both developing and mature nervous tissues. When ticks bite your Frenchie, they inject this harmful chemical into the bloodstream of the dog causing neuron paralysis, which affects communications between the brain and the nervous system of the dog. Neuron paralysis is responsible for most sudden paralysis in dogs, and when left unattended to the paralysis may spread and become fatal.
So, you have to make it a point of duty to keep your dog safe from ticks. Look out for signs that show your dog is being bitten by a tick. Such signs as loss of coordination and vomiting. If you noticed a sudden change in their tone and quality of bark, this is a good sign that your Frenchie has been bitten by a tick. It may interest you to read this article where we addressed wholesomely, the issue of French Bulldogs and Ticks, to get a better insight because symptoms of Tick Bites don’t usually manifest immediately, in most cases it may take up to 6 – 9 months after the bite to start dealing with your dog. Stay safe!
The second cause of French Bulldog paralysis on our list is Congenital diseases. Congenital diseases are dog health problems such as:
This occurs when the cushioning of intervertebral discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column become ruptured or burst into the spinal cord space. IVDD mainly affects not only French Bulldogs but all chondrodystrophic breeds, i.e, all breeds with abnormally short legs. When IVDD occurs, the discs press on the nerves that run through the spinal cord, making it difficult for the dog to walk properly.
In the same vein, Degenerative Myelopathy, a.k.a. DM also attacks the nerves of your dog. The difference is that DM is common among older dogs and it is something that is rather developed progressively, over time rather than suddenly. It may lead to paralysis especially of the hind legs.
Lastly, among the congenital diseases that cause paralysis in dogs; when a small portion of a spinal disc breaks off of your dog’s spinal column and blocks blood flow to a portion of his body, this gives rise to the type of paralysis called Fibrocartilaginous Embolism. Fibrocartilaginous Embolism is usually not as serious as the rest. It’s always a painless and temporary paralysis that corrects itself within a couple of weeks to its occurrence.
There are multiple kinds of bacterial infections. Most common among bacterial infections capable of causing French Bulldog paralysis when they spread to the brain are Meningitis, Distemper, Rabies, among others.
If a Tumor develops in your dog’s spine, it can lead to paralysis. These Tumors are generally malignant and can have a life-threatening impact. Just like Tick Bites, Malignant Tumors are even slower and progressive in development, resulting in more gradual symptoms rather than sudden paralysis. So, if you take care to monitor these causes and prevent them early enough, your Frenchie Bulldog may never be paralyzed. However, if your French Bulldog is paralyzed, there are a number of Treatment Options you can adopt.
Once your pet is paralyzed, the first thing you have to do is to carry out a diagnosis to understand the cause of the paralysis before you can settle for a specific treatment option. Consult a veterinarian to look into the cause of the condition. It all depends on the result of the preliminary tests conducted, you may go for further tests such as Lab test, X-Rays, CT scans, MRIs, and biopsies.
Depending on the diagnosed cause of the dog’s paralysis, usually there are about 5 typical treatment options, they include:
The answer is YES! you can manage your Dog’s paralysis at home. If your French bulldog is paralyzed, it’s not the END of his life, you can still help him live a happy life. Sometimes, your Vet may be able to help you work out a plan of how you can manage your french bulldog’s paralysis at home. Here are some of the things you can do:
Note that what you do to manage your Frenchie’s paralysis at home should be strictly guided by your Specialized Vet’s instructions. Dogs can often survive paralysis with proper care. Paralysis may be gradual or sudden. It is important that you pay close attention to monitor your Frenchie’s actions and inactions, as well as treat your friend’s health as an utmost priority in order to be able to detect and prevent incidents of French Bulldog paralysis. However, where it does occur, diagnose the cause, and adopt a treatment. Also, don’t lose hope but continue to take good care of your best friend at home.
My name is Susie McManigal. I am very blessed to be able to raise AKC Registered English & French Bulldogs. I have been breeding Bulldog Puppies for 15 years, and can honestly say that I have loved every minute of it. My dogs are not just a job, they are my life. I love each and every one of them dearly!
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