What to Do and Not Do When Your Bulldog Turns Blue and Drops

By Kathy Jacobsen

Fantasies Bulldogs

It’s sad, that every article I write now a days, is in response to a lack of knowledge about the physiology of this breed we are breeding and the correct life saving responses required in certain dire situations. Each and every bulldog breeder should be imparting this information to their puppy people whether show or pet. It would save a lot of heartache in the long run.

1. Ascertain why the dog has turned blue
• Is it extremely hot and he has been panting incessantly for an extended period of time – maybe a clog of mucus has dried into a plug in his throat.
• Is he/she overexcited and been panting incessantly. Maybe he/she has vomited and it is stuck in his throat blocking his/her airway
• Did he vomit and aspirate thus further blocking and burning the trachea.
• If you bait your dog in the ring or handling class – did you throw him/her a larger piece of bait that is now stuck in his/her throat, causing a blockage to the airway?
2. These 4 scenarios can put your Bulldog into a life threatening situation. Remember, because of the brachycephalic construction of the bulldog head the trachea is extremely short and vulnerable for blockages to occur.
• Referencing the first 2 bullets above , incessant panting can cause swelling of the tracheal tissue and the throat tissue. Even a Bulldog with an excellent throat can experience a drying effect which will cause any mucous in the airway and throat to dry out and cause a blockage.
• Referencing the next bullet above – Vomit contains hydrochloric acid from the stomach. While the lining of the stomach can tolerate this chemical, the sensitive tissues of the throat and trachea cannot. A small amount of vomitus in the throat or the trachea can cause burning and swelling of these sensitive tissues – thus causing a blockage of the airway and suffocation.
• Referencing the Final Bullet above

1. We all know how a bulldog can stall expulsion of vomitus and then try to take a small breath – now you have aspiration and or complete tracheal blockage because the bait is trapped and holding the epiglottis down so it cannot perform it’s normal function. Thus causing a lack of oxygen and possibly some aspiration. Both of which will lead to apoxia (lack of oxygen) and or pneumonia. If not treated right away the end result could be death –

2. if there is enough vomitus inhaled – the tissue in the lungs will burn and swell, retain fluid and the dog can literally drown in their own secretions.

The above is a depiction of the larynx (throat) and pharynx (airway) of a brachycephalic head. Note how the trachea and esophagus cross and the only thing that is preventing the dog from breathing in food and getting air in his stomach is a little flap of tissue called the epiglottis. If the dog vomits and the vomitus stops in the cross road and the epiglottis has not seated itself back in place to protect the airway or trachea and the dog takes a breath – you then have aspiration.

If the dog vomits and it clears the epiglottis but stalls in the oral pharynx, blocking the epiglottis from opening so the dog can breath – you have a medical emergency. The dog like the human can not go for long periods of time without oxygen. If the epiglottis is blocked and no air can access the trachea and the lungs the dog will turn blue.

What to Do:

• If there is a Veterinarian or other Medical/Veterinary personnel amongst the exhibitors (if at a show) or standing around where you are – get out of the way and let them work on the dog. They are trained to respond to emergency situations. Any delay can be life threatening to the animal!

Follow these simple guidelines:

• For Airway Obstruction –
• If not – Clear the Obstruction
• learn the Heimlich maneuver for dogs. It is available all over the internet and easy to do.

• Perform Heimlich

When the dog starts to come back

• Apply an ice collar to control swelling
• Aspiration can be deadly at best and result in acute pneumonia.

1. The dog will, minimally, need oxygen to help overcome the anoxia he/she experienced during the episode.

• Antibiotics can be administered by a Veterinarian or Emergency Clinic as a precautionary measure – to prevent aspiration pneumonia.

• If the issue is heat exhaustion –

• Pedialyte, fluids. Water – use a syringe, turkey baster whatever is available to get fluids into the animal quickly. Temperature of the fluids should be tepid – feeding ice cold fluids can cause cramping and bloat. The objective is to rehydrate the animal -

1. Submerge in a tepid to gradually cold water bath, or spray with a hose. This will help get the dogs temperature down.

2. Place on a cooling mat and put a cooling collar on to reduce the swelling and to cool the great vessels. This will protect the brain from frying.

3. Take the dog immediately to your Veterinarian or an Emergency Clinic.

What Not to Do

• Pretend you know what to do – this wastes valuable time and causes delay in helping the animal. Get out of the way if there are Medical or Veterinary personnel around who can help.
• Patting the dog on the side and telling him he will be ok – DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR THE DOG WHO IS IN TROUBLE – you cannot dislodge a foreign body in a dog by gently patting him on the side – get out of the way.

Awareness can save your Bully’s life:

a. If your bully exhibits a breathing issue, tongue turns ashen or blue on any degree of exertion – recognize the fact that you have a bully who has a potential throat problem – in the form of an elongated soft palate or blown vocal folds. Your bully needs to be seen by a Veterinarian and properly diagnosed. Ignore a palate issue and you open the potential for your Bully to experience one of the above mentioned scenario’s. Ignore it long enough and you can kiss your bulldog goodbye – they will drop like a fly and die or die at a much younger age than they should.

b. If you have a bully who makes a lot of noise, in the form of clicking, rasping, gurgling, vomiting for no reason at all, while panting during minimal or extended exertion, Recognize that THIS IS NOT NORMAL for the breed. The simple fact is that you may have a bully who has a potential throat problem in the form of an elongated soft palate or blown vocal folds. The Bulldog needs to be looked at by a veterinarian and and correctly diagnosed with a possible surgical repair being required. Ignore a palate issue and you open the potential for your Bully to experience one of the above mentioned scenario’s. Ignore it long enough and you can kiss your bulldog goodbye – they will drop like a fly and die or die at a much younger age than they should.

c. Do not walk your bully in the extreme heat of the day.

d. Make sure you have a cooling collar available and a cooling mat or cool water. If the dog overheats – it’s just as dangerous as if they aspirate. Dogs do not sweat the same as people – they sweat thru the mouth which for the amount of body mass on a dog – the mouth is a poor outlet for heat expulsion.

e. IF your bully is panting excessively a little lemon juice will help liquefy any secretions that have started to harden in the throat.

i. – give him/her small amounts of ice – not water. While the ice is cold – it cannot be consumed quickly – most dogs will lick it – which will limit the amount they consume but the coolness will soothe their throats. Remember too much Cold water in this situation can cause your dog to vomit or bloat.

f. Use a cooling collar – ice filled or gel filled –Keeping the great veins in the neck and abdomen cool will keep the brain and organs cool, which will help keep the animal cool.

g.
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