My big girl still isn't walking - Help!

sleet

New member
Oct 23, 2011
38
4
Salt Lake City, Utah
Bulldog(s) Names
Dulcinea (Rosie)
I have a senior (age can't be determined because she is nearly toothless - vet guesses 4 to 7 years old), that was dumped at a shelter after being used as a breeder her entire life. She was spade, had cherry eye and enthropic eye surgery and several growths removed a week before I picked her up.

I have had her 2+ weeks now and she still isn't able to walk for more than 2 or 3 steps. Her back legs look like they are useless - except every once in a while she will stand for a moment to drink or eat. The incision has not healed and the stitches are still in her (going on 3 weeks now). I'm very concerned - I love her dearly, but want to do the best thing for her. She lived on concrete in a puppy mill and I was severely abused. I was hoping that she can't walk because her nails were over an inch long when she was surrendered and curled around into her little pads. I'm hoping someone can give me some advice as to what I should do for her. I'm new to bulldogs and have lots to learn, but not to dogs. My heart wants to keep trying but my head says I'm trying to keep her going for myself and not for her. She weights 50 lbs. and has to be carried out to the bathroom - something I just can't do. My son does the dirty work for me, but I can't count on him being here all the time. Yesterday was the first sign of any kind of turn around. She actually engaged my 4 year old boxer in play and crawled to me for her daily sponge bath. Any advice would be very appreciated. Thanks,
 

BabyDuke

New member
Community Veteran
Mar 25, 2011
1,251
150
Philadelphia PA
Bulldog(s) Names
Duke
oh God Bless you for taking her... I don't have any suggestions , Duke is my first dog but I know you will get answers here from the pros!! your post made me cry but its so nice she has found her forever home with you !!
 

cali baker

Worlds Greatest Chef
Feb 25, 2011
8,925
851
The Crown City (Pasadena)
Country
United States
Bulldog(s) Names
Tate Rory & Finn Paddington
Your post breaks my heart. Your big girl has gone thru so much in her life. What has the vet said about her legs and her ability to become mobile? Did they do xrays on her to see if there's anything broken? I don't have experience in this area, i'm just wondering if maybe a specialist, like an orthopedist can take a look at her? Your a great bully mom to give her so much love. The fact that she played a little w/your boxer is a great sign tho.
This will likely take a long recovery time :hug:.
 

cowsmom

..........
Apr 27, 2011
6,996
384
Virginia
Country
usa
Bulldog(s) Names
Sarah aka cow
I'm no expert but have read of these dogs in the foster adopt section. They have usually been in crates their whole lives to produce puppies. I've seen them in baby strollers to help them to get around. Maybe get one to help with getting her around. Also Sarah was very weak when we got her but over time she has become strong so I'm thinking that with more time some more function in the legs may come back. I would get her looked at to make sure nothing else is going on. Bless you for taking her n I would not give up just yet. She has fought this long
 
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Suzy2

New member
Apr 24, 2011
201
15
Accrington Northern England
Bulldog(s) Names
Dexter & Winston
Aaaaawwww bless her and well done you for taking her on :)I guess her immune system is quite low and that is perhaps why her stitches arn't healing. Try her with a teaspoonful of MANUKA Honey, every couple days, will kick start her immune system and also help her blood sugars, to give a little more energy. Good sign that she wants to play though :)
 

JAKEISGREAT

.................
Mar 25, 2011
14,802
1,155
Southern California
Bulldog(s) Names
Jake
Oh I am heartbroken for what this poor girl has lived through. While the medical things are beyond me..I do know you can purchase a lift for her. It goes around her middle and with her front legs and your arms..you can get her outside to go potty. We've had to use this numerous times through many senior dogs. It's available most anywhere..big pet stores..we got ours from Dr. Fosters online. It's sheep skinned lined with straps that are for you to hold. I used it on a 110 pound Dobie and a 100 lb rottie..other than that..I understand the quality of life issues you are facing. I might struggle through it to give her surgical areas time to heal and regain some strength. I bet she is loving life right now..even though it's hard to imagine. Thankfully..you came into her life.
 

Vicaroo1000

"Slug Assassin" and PBS Gardening Dweeb
Jun 23, 2011
5,775
389
Mukilteo, Washington State
Bulldog(s) Names
Beefeater's Buxom Beatrice and Lord Harrington's Bodacious Beauregaard
I can't even post about this without wanting to spit venom....what this poor girl has gone thru....just makes me sick. Physically ill. I want to puke. Her former humans need to die of a long, arduous battle with some slow-killing type cancer. I know. I said it. It just makes me furious....
 

bulldog family

New member
Aug 14, 2010
1,264
100
Bulldog(s) Names
Norman, LeRoy and China
Why does she still have stitches in 3 weeks later? I would go get those removed and have them x-ray her legs and hips.

I applaude you for taking on such a sad case. Now she can have the love she deserves. You are her angel!!!
 

Sherry

New member
Jan 15, 2011
5,183
477
Denver PA
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USA
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Jack , Dolly, Grizz, Peggy Sue, and Scrimps
[MENTION=3513]sleet[/MENTION] bare with me here. I would try a little plain yogurt on her food, and perhaps a vitamin and some glucosamine / chondroitin to loosen up her joints and get her old immune system kicking again. Perhaps take those stitches out and apply some liquid skin. You can get all these things at your local Walmart and pet store. If she had a good day yesterday, tomorrow could be even better. Give her lots of gentle hugs and kisses from us.
 
OP
sleet

sleet

New member
Oct 23, 2011
38
4
Salt Lake City, Utah
Bulldog(s) Names
Dulcinea (Rosie)
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  • Thread starter
  • #10
Why does she still have stitches in 3 weeks later? I would go get those removed and have them x-ray her legs and hips.

I applaude you for taking on such a sad case. Now she can have the love she deserves. You are her angel!!!
We (the Rescue and I are waiting to hear back from the vet that did the surgery for an opinion. I don't know. I was told not to bathe her until the stitches came out - so I have been giving her daily sponge baths to try and urge the stitches loose, but that's not working. Thanks for your comments. :)
 
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sleet

sleet

New member
Oct 23, 2011
38
4
Salt Lake City, Utah
Bulldog(s) Names
Dulcinea (Rosie)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
@sleet bare with me here. I would try a little plain yogurt on her food, and perhaps a vitamin and some glucosamine / chondroitin to loosen up her joints and get her old immune system kicking again. Perhaps take those stitches out and apply some liquid skin. You can get all these things at your local Walmart and pet store. If she had a good day yesterday, tomorrow could be even better. Give her lots of gentle hugs and kisses from us.

I have been giving her glucosamine chondroitin MSM with Joint Lubricant (Advanced Double Dose) plus Cosequin DS (Maximum Joint Supplement for Dogs), and a buffered baby aspirin @ 12 hrs. for pain, feeding the best dry and canned foods (she only has 2 1/2 teeth). I will try some yogurt for their probiotics thought - thanks good suggestion. Maybe I just haven't given her enough time.

The day is over and no info from the vet yet. Her incision is still not healed. I could remove the stitches, but I don't want to open the incision. Will keep you posted.
 
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sleet

sleet

New member
Oct 23, 2011
38
4
Salt Lake City, Utah
Bulldog(s) Names
Dulcinea (Rosie)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #12
Thanks for your thoughts. It's unbelievable what people will do for money. My vet (not the rescue's vet) told me that she should never have been bred in the first place. She has several congenital problems and whoever made their money abusing my sweet girl has not only hurt her, but has put out puppies into the bulldog gene pool at large that will only cause more heartbreak for those who have bought her puppies. People pay lots of money for these genetic wrecks, and then go on breeding them to make their money back or for an experience for their kid, blah blah, blah! Anyway thanks for voicing your anger and mine. It breaks my heart that these jerks put the entire breed at risk!
 

kazzy220

..........
Jul 31, 2010
8,556
441
Grafton, OHIO
Country
England
Bulldog(s) Names
Maggie (My Angel Baby 5/31/2012). Daddy (2 years). Linus (1year). Bella (4 years)
[MENTION=3513]sleet[/MENTION] Our foster, Tinkerbell, came to us after years of neglect and had very bad muscle atrophy in her hind legs. The vet said that her joints and bones were fine, but with work then the muscle strength would come back in those hind legs and she would be ok. For the first 3+ weeks it was like having a drunken bully because she would just stagger, but her detemination to play with our youngest bulldog, Daddy, was so great that gradually that strength started to come back. Tinkerbell will be 11 in February. If Tinks can do it then so can your baby.

First priority right now is to get those stitches healed enough that you feel happy to encourage activity. Once that is the case then here is my advice ... I know she has to be carried out to the bathroom but you need to encourage her to walk as much as possible. She's not used to it. She's not expecting to do it. She's never had to do it. NOW she's going to have to be forced to do it. After saying that, you do need to take into account those stitches and if walking right now could possibly cause them to come open then all these plans may need to take second place for now.

Please don't give up ... two weeks with the amount of activity she's been getting must be like running a race after spending 8 years being caged in a place where there has probably been no room to turn around. So every day she gets up and moves a little further, means that her own little private race gets to be a little longer each time.

Also never doubt her quality of life ... look at the place that she has been rescued from and then look around the room where she is now. Think about how many kisses and hugs she got before in that place, and then count how many times she gets kissed and hugged now. Do that and you'll never question her quality of life with you as her Momma.
 
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sleet

sleet

New member
Oct 23, 2011
38
4
Salt Lake City, Utah
Bulldog(s) Names
Dulcinea (Rosie)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #14
@sleet Our foster, Tinkerbell, came to us after years of neglect and had very bad muscle atrophy in her hind legs. The vet said that her joints and bones were fine, but with work then the muscle strength would come back in those hind legs and she would be ok. For the first 3+ weeks it was like having a drunken bully because she would just stagger, but her detemination to play with our youngest bulldog, Daddy, was so great that gradually that strength started to come back. Tinkerbell will be 11 in February. If Tinks can do it then so can your baby.

First priority right now is to get those stitches healed enough that you feel happy to encourage activity. Once that is the case then here is my advice ... I know she has to be carried out to the bathroom but you need to encourage her to walk as much as possible. She's not used to it. She's not expecting to do it. She's never had to do it. NOW she's going to have to be forced to do it. After saying that, you do need to take into account those stitches and if walking right now could possibly cause them to come open then all these plans may need to take second place for now.

Please don't give up ... two weeks with the amount of activity she's been getting must be like running a race after spending 8 years being caged in a place where there has probably been no room to turn around. So every day she gets up and moves a little further, means that her own little private race gets to be a little longer each time.

Also never doubt her quality of life ... look at the place that she has been rescued from and then look around the room where she is now. Think about how many kisses and hugs she got before in that place, and then count how many times she gets kissed and hugged now. Do that and you'll never question her quality of life with you as her Momma.

Thank you for your encouragement and first hand knowledge. I was was rushing to judgment and feeling that I wasn't doing enough or that it was cruel to keep her alive for my benefit. After reading your post - I feel like there is hope and that things will improve, I just need to be patient.

I believe you are right about making her use her muscles and you explained it in a way I not only understand, but that makes sense. I'm grateful for you taking the time to answer my post, and I'm grateful for this forum to help newbie bully owners. Thanks, hugs and kisses.
 

cowsmom

..........
Apr 27, 2011
6,996
384
Virginia
Country
usa
Bulldog(s) Names
Sarah aka cow
[MENTION=3513]sleet[/MENTION] i will add one thing. sarah had a torn acl when we got her that was just left and was repaired by us. she still has a bad limp but i have used joint meds for years for her but she really started improving when i started using wild alaskin salmon oil in her food. or fish oil basically. i use the spray on kind but some just feed the pills that humans use. maybe use both for her right now. i did stop giving her joint meds as the salmon oil seemed to work better and both are expensive but in your case both would probably be better for now. am i reading right that you are giving 2 joint meds? i dont know there is any benefit to giving 2 joint meds. the first one with the msm added should be just fine. maybe replace one joint med with the fish oil and see what happens. and bless you for taking her. just my 1/2 a cent. :D
 

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