Scheme launched to improve health of french bulldogs, pugs and bulldogs

February 5, 2019, University of Cambridge

A new screening scheme aims to provide breeders of French bulldogs, pugs and bulldogs with more information about the health of their dogs, helping them reduce the risk of breeding puppies with potentially serious breathing problems.

Developed by the University of Cambridge and funded by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, the new Respiratory Function Grading Scheme assesses dogs for the presence and severity of a breathing problem known as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). The scheme is currently available for the pug, French bulldog and bulldog, and has the potential to improve the health and welfare of these breeds for generations to come.

Dogs with a flat, wide shaped head are said to be brachycephalic ('brachy' meaning short, and 'cephalic', meaning head). The soft tissue in the nose and throat of some brachycephalic dogs may be excessive for the airways, partially obstructing the airway and making it difficult for them to breathe normally and causing heavy panting or noisy breathing. This condition is known as BOAS and is a progressive disorder that can impair a dog's ability to exercise, play, eat and sleep.

The assessment, which can now be carried out by a number of specially trained assessors located across the U.K. involves listening to the dog's airway both before and after an exercise tolerance test. Assessors then use a pre-defined protocol to grade the dog from zero to three. Dogs graded as zero are free of respiratory signs of BOAS, while dogs graded as three will show severe respiratory signs of BOAS, indicating that further veterinary examination is advised. The scheme issues guidance that dogs graded three should not be bred from.

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Caring bulldog fosters litter of kittens

Bulldogs aren’t exactly known for their friendliness. But this one melted hearts after becoming close to a litter of newborn kittens.

Hammie decided to foster the young cats after their mother was brought to his home in Lincoln, Nebraska, by owner Michelle Parden.

She admitted she hadn’t expected her pet bulldog to grow so close to the animals.

‘It was just the cutest thing,’ Parden told Good Morning America.

‘I couldn’t believe he loved them so much. He was so motherly and gentle with them.’

The spookily named Goblin, Frankenstein, Elvia, Zombie, Batman and Pumpkin were born on Halloween.

Continued

Bulldog stabbed 500 times by rogue porcupine

The encounter left her with 500 quills stuck in her face, mouth and paws. 

Sticky situation: Bella Mae comes off second best in her fight (PICTURE: bbc.co.uk)

‘It was devastating,’ said her owner, Allison Noles. ‘These animals are our kids and when you see them hurt, you can’t imagine the intense pain she had to be in. It affected our whole family.’ 

Bella Mae was taken to the Norman Animal Emergency Centre, Oklahoma, to have the needle-like spines, which can be fatal, removed. 

She was put under general anaesthetic and it took a vet and two nurses two hours to remove them. 

The dog quickly became an internet star as well-wishers left messages on the centre’s Facebook page, where pictures of her being treated were posted. 

She is now at home on painkillers but rogue quills are still turning up. 

Vets say dry conditions in the US have led to wild animals venturing into backyards more often as they forage for food and places to cool down. 

Porcupines are rodents and not naturally aggressive but will defend themselves when threatened. 

The animals have more than 30,000 stiff quills on their back, sides and  tail, which grow back when lost in self-defence.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/stories/907560-bulldog-stabbed-500-times-by-rogue-porcupine#ixzz22yDA24uz

Bulldog adopts 6 wild boar piglets in Germany

By DAVID RISING | Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — Forget the three little pigs hiding from the big bad wolf. These six little pigs have found a new friend in a maternal French bulldog named Baby.

 

The Lehnitz animal sanctuary outside Berlin said Baby took straight to the wild boar piglets when they were brought in Saturday, three days old and shivering from cold.

 

Sanctuary worker Norbert Damm said Wednesday that, as soon as the furry striped piglets were brought in, Baby ran over and started snuggling them and keeping them warm, even though they're almost her size.

The 8-year-old bulldog has stayed right by their side since then, making sure they're OK, Damm said.

"She thinks they're her own babies," Damm said.

 

It isn't the first time Baby's taken to new guests at the sanctuary — she's also raised raccoons, cats and many other animals, Damm said.

 

"She's an uber-mother," he said.

 

The piglets' own mother was likely killed by a hunter and the litter of three males and three females was found abandoned in a forest.

 

At the time they were found they weighed in at under a kilogram (two pounds) each but are being bottle-fed at the sanctuary and are growing well, Damm said.

 

He said they can't be released into the wild because they have no fear of humans, but it should be possible to set them free in a nature reserve in about three months, once they can feed themselves.

 

Wild boars are common in Germany, even in big cities, and herds have been growing as expanding commercial crops have provided them with more food.

 

Recent estimates have put the boar population at more than 10,000 in Berlin alone, where they live in extensive wooded areas and often venture into backyards and sports fields, tearing up turf to look for food.

 

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