Thoughts about Orion....

[Libra926]

Many of you know Orion thru her videos. My question is...Have any of you ever thought while watching her...she may have an enlongated palette? When she was checked at birth, the Dr said she was fine. When we had her spayed...the Dr said she was fine. She doesn't sound fine. She snores louder than a drunk trucker. She throws up phlegm almost after each meal..and she sounds like a very loud snoring bulldog, when she is actually wide awake. What are your thoughts? I'm wondering if you think it might be worth taking her in to have her examined. Her daddy, Chesty, had this procedure done a few years ago.

[kazzy220]

I have absolutely NO experience of this .... I always thought that an elongated palate meant that food was often re-directed and coming out of their nose, and gagging on their food and water. BUT like I said, I have NO experience with this.

I know Orion does make the cute little noises .. and I sincerely believe from what I see on video that she does have the strongest and most defined little character you could get and that's what a lot of the noises are because the noises she makes are totally reflected in those defiant little eyes of hers. Now whether the noises she makes are louder than most other bulldogs .. maybe. It could be that she has a small trachea too .... Maggie has one the size of a pencil apparently and I am fully confident that her snoring is one day going to vibrate our bed out of the room and into the hallway.

Apart from that, with no experience, I am of very little help. If you feel comfortable with your "stand-in" vet then maybe call and talk to them, or wait until your regular vet comes back and talk to her.

[bfletch13]

I'm no expert but from the videos I've seen
it does sound like there is something wrong.

[Libra926]

@kazzy220....I was just told a few weeks ago that Dr. Fraker has decided to be a stay at home mom. She has moved to Cape Cod. I'm so very sad about this. And I learned it on facebook!

[kazzy220]

@Libra926 Well on the plus side the replacement vet told you that Vegas was fat ..... ... and you invented the famous Vegas stew ... so maybe it's worth going back to that vet and talking to him/her. This vet seems to tell it as it is ... and it would put your mind at rest.

Most bulldogs are just plain noisy... Daddy is behind me in a chair about 6 feet away and you'd think he was taking his last breath with the noises that are coming out of the chair. Maggie is upstairs in bed with the hubby and yet if I were to turn the tv off I could probably still hear the rumbling. Bulldogs don't know the meaning of quiet .. even when it comes to breathing.

[Libra926]

@kazzy220
so I googled elongated soft palate and this is the article I found. Sounds like O.
Elongated Soft Palate in Brachycephalic Dog Breeds

[TessaAndSamson]

Well she is pretty loud, which is why I always comment on her noises. I think it's cute which is why I point it out but now that you mention it, if I were you I would have it looked at especially with Chesty having had that problem. I remember that video you have of him on the skateboard at your house and you said that that was before he had his surgery so that is why he was so noisy. For all those reasons if I were you I would have it checked out. I know Samson is not that loud at all but I mean he is the one and only bully I have ever had so I don't know what other people see. Hopefully she is just a noisy girl which really works with her personality anyway

[TessaAndSamson]

Oh and I would especially check it out now that you mention her throwing up phlem, I don't ever remember you mentioning that before.

[Libra926]

@TessaAndSamson
Almost after every meal she throws up phlegm. Not only once, but mutiple times.

[kazzy220]

I'm with Tessa .... I know you really liked your old vet, but this new vet recognised something in Vegas that the old vet didn't mention - weight. So maybe go and get Orion get checked out. Don't you have Orion on insurance now? You have record of the vet saying there was no evidence before, so this should now be covered. I believe Trupanion covers congenital/hereditary after 30 days so Orion should be covered for this. (typing this without checking so may want to look at the policy/website first)

Bulldogs can be noisy .....but it is going to put your mind at rest to get a yes or a no answer. However, don't assume for one minute it's going to take away the famous Orion Bully-tude!!!

[TessaAndSamson]

Oh poor baby girl. Yeah my vote is have it checked out knowing all that now and just putting it all together.

[reallyrob]

You know, it could also be stenotic nares. When Bertie had her nares opend, it made a huge difference...it took about a week and she sounded so much better.