Introducing Pretzel and his proud new owner

[cefire]

Our little Pretzel is a nine week old light cream male. We picked him up on Saturday and he seems to be doing very well. My name is Andrew and this is my fourth dog (the others live with my parents) but my first experience with a French Bulldog. I have done a lot of reading up on the breed but I hope to learn a lot from everyone here about how to best care for my little boy.

:)

[AlliKat]

Hi and Welcome!!

I am new to the board too - we are still waiting to pick up our Frenchie puppy (only a few more weeks) but already everyone has been very helpful!

Congrats on the new addition to your family and happy housetraining!

[gmacleod]

Hello and welcome to Bulldogworld :) Pretzel is a great name! LOL
I hope you enjoy the site.

[paulabeans]

Welcome to the board appicon I love the name Pretzel...it is so unique...I don't think I've ever heard that one before! So cute. Can't wait to see some pics!

Paula

[bulldoggin30]

Welcome to the board! Can't wait to see pics!

[SadPandas]

Welcome Andrew and Pretzel! Post pictures of that little guy when you can. Congratulations on having a Frenchie. I don't think they are like having any other dog. They are like little silly babies and you will have such an amazing time with him!!appicon

[cefire]

Unfortunately I believe that my little guy may have experienced a seizure tonight. He will be into the vet tomorrow morning so I hope I can get some kind of diagnosis on him. :(

[SadPandas]

Oh No!! :( What is with these little guys having so many problems lately? It seems like so many of the babies on this board are having hard times. I am so sorry for your Pretzel! He is so little! I really hope the vet can give you some answers. A lot of people here have had experience with seizures and hopefully you can get some advice.

Please let us know what your vet has to say and know we are thinking of you.

[cefire]

Our vet said that he thought the problem was most likely hydrocephalus or epilepsy. He recommended that we should take our breeder up on the one year guarantee but of course it is hard to give our little guy up even though we've only had him 4 days:( . Our breeder is very understanding though and is doing everything possible it seems to make sure everything turns out right.:)

[lanakack]

I hope everything works out okay. It is amazing how quickly we get attached to our little clowns. Shortly after I got my pup, ( he was 7 weeks) He started this weird head thing from side to side. The vet thought he had epilepsy. Fran advise me to see a vet familiar with frenchies, for that I'm very grateful, because I was considering giving my pup back. And oh it pulled at the heart strings. We saw a frenchie vet and it turned out to be something that was an absolute none issue, and has since gone away. Like you I was fortunate to have a breeder that was willing to help no matter what. I hope things work out for you and your pup, he is a cute:)
Lana and JJ

[Carolyn]

Andrew....I am so sorry to hear this sad news. I have had dealt with both epilepsy and hydrocepalus. My Lani (Boston) was a rescue and by the time she had her first seizure she was already an important part of our home. Ditto with the hydrocepalus...another Boston named Jill. My advice to you is to give this pup up as soon as possible and save yourself from a world of heartache. I know these pups grow on us the minute they are in our arms....but I think you deserve experiencing a healthy Frenchie. I pray that my thoughts do not seem insensitive.

[franp]

I have to echo Carolyn's post...Lana was VERY lucky that JJ was/ is ok...

There is a thread on here about someone with a dog that had hydrocephalus..the dog passed..

We get these wonderful creatures to bring joy to our lives.. not sadness.. and if we find out in the very beginning that there is something seriously wrong... and the Breeder is co-operative...then listen to your Vet..
If Pretzel is ok, he will go to a family that will love him.. and you will have a healthy dog.. that has not started life out this way..you will wonder and worry...EVERY day...

Carolyn is not being insensitive... she lived thru it... that is why there are health guarantees...

[citygirl]

Unfortunately I believe that my little guy may have experienced a seizure tonight. He will be into the vet tomorrow morning so I hope I can get some kind of diagnosis on him. :(

My pup, Madison, had seizures at nine weeks. I lived your pain and I am so sorry for both you and your pup. It's so upsetting to see your little baby seizing and to be so helpless.

I took Madison to a neurologist in town and she had an MRI and spinal tap the day after they started. Both were negative. They put her on phenobarbital for the next month and weaned her off over a two week period after that. She's now eight months old and hasn't had a seizure since. However, when I took her to be spayed and she had her presurgical blood tests, her liver enzymes were off the chart. We're still trying to nail down what's causing this, but the vets believe that there's a direct correlation between the seizures and the problems with her liver.

I was so in love with my pup having only had her for a week when the seizures started that I just couldn't send her back up to the breeder. However, I will say that the emotional and financial costs have been quite high -- but worth it. I wouldn't trade Madison for anything in the world. I sure hope things work out for you and your puppy!

[Carolyn]

Cindy.....I wouldn't have traded my Jill (hydrocephalic) for the world. However, I believe with all my heart that when she was first diagnosed (had MRI when she was a few months old) mother nature was warning me that this little pup was going to have multiple health issues....which was the case. Turns out that water on the brain was probably the least of her problems... she also had mammory cancer (two surgeries to get it all) and ultimately a heart based tumor. She went through many "heart tumor taps", chemo therapy and then surgery....which she did not survive. IF I had known what she was going to go through during her lifetime (she lived to be around 5 or 6) I would have wished that she had not survived birth. Jill remains embedded in my heart but as per my previous post....my best advice to someone who has only had his pup 4 days.....return the pup and enjoy a healthy, happy French Bulldog.

[el scrubbo]

Hope Pretzel is ok.

[citygirl]

Cindy.....I wouldn't have traded my Jill (hydrocephalic) for the world. However, I believe with all my heart that when she was first diagnosed (had MRI when she was a few months old) mother nature was warning me that this little pup was going to have multiple health issues....which was the case. Turns out that water on the brain was probably the least of her problems... she also had mammory cancer (two surgeries to get it all) and ultimately a heart based tumor. She went through many "heart tumor taps", chemo therapy and then surgery....which she did not survive. IF I had known what she was going to go through during her lifetime (she lived to be around 5 or 6) I would have wished that she had not survived birth. Jill remains embedded in my heart but as per my previous post....my best advice to someone who has only had his pup 4 days.....return the pup and enjoy a healthy, happy French Bulldog.

Carolyn --

I wasn't disagreeing with your suggestion, just putting my own story out there to let Pretzel's owner understand that he/she isn't alone in knowing the heartache and pain of having a puppy with seizures. I was lucky with Madison in that the seizures stopped almost immediately and never started again. However, here were are 6 months later and who knows what all of this liver business is going to mean eventually. Had I not had the means to take care of this puppy (and it has required a substantial financial commitment) I would've had no choice but to send the puppy back. Believe me, there have been days when I've thought to myself that it might've been the best thing to send her back to the breeder after her first week with me. Being the stubborn (and optimistic) person that I am, I opted to ride it out and keep her. That said, I would never want her to go through what it sounds like your dog did throughout the years. I hope that my choice to keep her works out for us both in the end. It's an extremely hard decision that Pretzel's owner faces. Mother nature sure can be cruel sometimes.

[Carolyn]

Cindy...I knew that you were not disagreeing and I can surely appreciate your stubborn/optomistic side when you decided to take on Madison as is. I think that those of us who have had pups with one issue after another....it leaves us with a much different perspective and softens our heart to the thought that maybe some pups should not be saved. :(

My best wishes go out to your Madison.

[lanakack]

Hello Andrew... I'm sure your head is spinning with so much info the vet gave you and things too consider. If you are seriously considering keeping your pup, please go to this web site first before you make your decision: canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com. This site will give you a very comprehensive, unbias view on what will be involved in caring for a dog that has seizures. Having accurate knowledge will empower you to make a decision you will be able to live with.
When I got JJ I had just lost my long time companion Archibald, a scottish terrier to cancer. So JJ was a way for me to heal from my loss. So to lose another dog in a month was nearly unbearable. After doing some research on this topic, for me I couldn't go thru another dog so soon with major health concerns. Not to mention the expense.
It's your choice, but you'll love another puppy and probably enjoy it more in the long run. Only my opinion
Lana and JJ

[cefire]

Hello all,

We finally decided that we would exchange the pup with a littermate. We took him back on Friday and our breeder took him in for testing on Saturday. So far nothing has been found and I hope I made the right decision, it was hard to give him up even though we only knew him for four days. Now we have his brother which we got today from the breeder. He seems healthy and happy so far (although is having a rough first night currently :( but I'm sure he will get used to our routine soon enough.

[lanakack]

Andrew my heart goes out to you, it had to be difficult. Don't second guess yourself. Give it a chance things will work out for all of you. Take some pictures so we all can see the new pup and does he have a name yet?
Let us know how you all are getting along.
Lana and JJ

[Carolyn]

Andrew.....I am sure this pup will grow on you quickly....as they all do. I do believe you made the right decision, as tough as it was.

[franp]

Andrew,
I applaud your courage...Don't let anyone make you feel guilty...You did IMO the right thing..And the breeder will also take care of Pretzel...
This new Pretzel will worm his way into your heart.. as well..