We adopted our bulldog, Hooch, in November. He had been seized by animal control in West Virginia due to neglect (severe allergies that caused skin infections, nails overgrown and 20 lbs underweight) and placed in a kill shelter. A volunteer there contacted bulldog rescue in NJ thankfully. He has always been a very sedate dog. He has come a long way in his fears (used to be afraid of inanimate objects outside such as statues, lawn decorations, etc.), but was always friendly with people. After trying many other things and seeing a dermatologist, we found only Temaril P (which has prednisone) would help his severe environmental allergies, but after 3 months he developed a fearful aggression on it, mostly with people coming into our home and even went after our cat who had NEVER had ANY issue with at all. So he had to come off the temaril.
All during this time, it was rare to see true "excitement" from him...just once in a while he would play with toys (took some time and urging from us). He went to basic training at PetSmart and passed with flying colors. No interest in the other dogs. Always liked nylabones though.
We now have had to switch to a holistic approach and raw food (about a month ago) since conventional medicine had nothing else to offer. Yes, his allergies have gotten worse, but are slowly improving. During the time off the Temaril he's gotten lethargic and now never plays (as I said, he was always low energy, but now only interested in food and sleep and a car ride). I wonder if the prednisone was giving him the energy he DID have? His last blood work was fine (thyroid is ok too), but we are having blood work done again this week to be sure the holistic supplements and raw protocol haven't affected anything for some reason. I thought this would give him MORE energy. I'm just worried that he may never be a truly HAPPY dog...due to his treatment in the past, despite all the love he gets now.
We have had a trainer work one on one with us when the aggression issue first came up and will call her back in if necessary. We may also consult with a veterinary behaviorist.
You didn't give us his age? Bulldogs are not usually high energy anyway, and if he is older, that may account for some of his lack of interest in playing. His background would also factor in heavily, I would think.
Michele,
We adopted our black lab,Casey,from the county shelter in March, 2007. She had been picked up as a stray. When we saw her, she was quietly lying in her cage while the other dogs were barking loudly.
I fell in love with her immediately. When we brought her home she seemed like the perfect dog. We soon found out, however, that she was afraid of everything and everyone. After more than a year she still will not approach my husband unless he is sitting down. She will not let anyone pet her except myself and my kids. With everyone else, she will not get within 5 feet of them. She gets excited when she sees me but the rest of the time she also seem "joyless". I don't think that will ever change. I keep telling myself that if we hadn't taken her home she might still be existing in that small cage. (The shelter doesn't euthanize animals unless they are sick or aggressive.) I really do love her but I wish she were a happy-go-lucky dog. She does LOVE to camp, however. I am thankful for that. Unfortunately, with rescue dogs we can't find out about their past and we also can't change it. We just have to love them and try to give them a good life. Just remember, you did a great thing by rescuing your dog and he will always be thankful for that.
Eileen
If you are having blood work done, you might have them run a baseline cortisol at the same time. Addison's disease can present with some of the signs you give, and he has been on prednisone. Just a good thing to rule out.
Doug, DVM
Doug & Sandy
Megan (14 yr old Golden)
99 Pace Arrow 37S
2001 Honda CRV
Joy wrote: You didn't give us his age? Bulldogs are not usually high energy anyway, and if he is older, that may account for some of his lack of interest in playing. His background would also factor in heavily, I would think.
He is only about 3. Yes, most bullies are low energy, but he really takes it to an extreme.
dturm wrote: If you are having blood work done, you might have them run a baseline cortisol at the same time. Addison's disease can present with some of the signs you give, and he has been on prednisone. Just a good thing to rule out.
Doug, DVM
Thanks, Dr. Doug. Wouldn't he have increased thirst with Addison's or not always? SInce being on raw he drinks much less water actually (as expected).
sweetcasey wrote: Michele,
We adopted our black lab,Casey,from the county shelter in March, 2007. She had been picked up as a stray. When we saw her, she was quietly lying in her cage while the other dogs were barking loudly.
I fell in love with her immediately. When we brought her home she seemed like the perfect dog. We soon found out, however, that she was afraid of everything and everyone. After more than a year she still will not approach my husband unless he is sitting down. She will not let anyone pet her except myself and my kids. With everyone else, she will not get within 5 feet of them. She gets excited when she sees me but the rest of the time she also seem "joyless". I don't think that will ever change. I keep telling myself that if we hadn't taken her home she might still be existing in that small cage. (The shelter doesn't euthanize animals unless they are sick or aggressive.) I really do love her but I wish she were a happy-go-lucky dog. She does LOVE to camp, however. I am thankful for that. Unfortunately, with rescue dogs we can't find out about their past and we also can't change it. We just have to love them and try to give them a good life. Just remember, you did a great thing by rescuing your dog and he will always be thankful for that.
Eileen
Thank you. I know, it may just be "the way he is"...one thing I fear is that his only camping trip may have made his issues worse as the aggression to people coming in the house started after we got back home from our trip with him. Maybe it was too soon to take him away.
Did the dermatologist not mention doing allergy testing/desensitization shots? Having been there/done that, it's absolutely what I'd be pursuing for a dog with more than mild seasonal allergies.
Another thing to consider is at what point did the increased lethargy start? Heat and humidity are very hard on bulldogs and other short-nosed breeds, so is it possible that's playing a part?
Me and the DH
Two boys and two dogs (and two cats who prefer to stay home)
2008 Forest River Georgetown 350DS (bunkhouse model)
2001 Honda CR-V
We adopted a minature sheltie, "Ginger" from the vet's assistant. The vet had a client who brought her in to have her euthanized because she was "agressive". WHATEVER! That little dog was scared of her own shadow. Turns out that the 1st owner and wife would leave for months and leave Ginger alone in their house with pee pads all over with lots of food and water - and all the lights turned off! Then, when she'd mess up their carpet they'd get mad and beat her...THAT'S why she probably tried to bite him. Anyway, the doc wouldn't euthanize her, but said he'd take her, the owner said fine, then came back and got her. Did this twice. The last time the vet said that if he released her he couldn't take her back. Idiot came back a day later to get her back and the vet said NO! (Yeah!) Well, the assistant took Ginger and had her about a year (daughter's dog) and they released her to me (I had been looking for a sheltie rescue.) Sweetest little thing you'd ever want to have. BUT, she was afraid of everything - didn't want to go outside to do her business - but I trained her to do that. Didn't like anyone with a ball cap on (my son, who loved her dearly) and also men in general. She did like my husband somewhat. But she COWERED everytime I tried to pet her. Sometimes she would pee on the floor if you reached down to pet her...joyless is the best description for her. Long story short, the assistant's daughter returned home from out of country school and was wishing for her back and I was wishing I hadn't taken her - sorry to say, but she was way too much trouble, even though I still love her. So she's back with her 'real' mommy and very happy, peeing inside again.
I learned something from all this - I love shelties and will have another one (have had 3 now) but I want a dog with some life in him/her. My husband likes to play rough with our dogs (chase, etc.) and couldn't with Ginger. We felt like we had an invalid and that's not what we wanted in a new dog, no matter how sweet she was. However, that being said - if something happened to an animal of ours that we'd had for years, we'd take care of it even though it may be an invalid.
Bill & Linda
Ladymc & Shuttlebird
2008 Silver Dodge Diesel Dually 3500 - "The Silver Bullet"
Towing 1998 35 ft. Newmar 5th wheel
20K Husky Hitch & Blue Ox Bedsaver
Handheld Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS AND Sat. in dash mounted GPS in the truck
READY TO ROLL!
Pawz4me wrote: Did the dermatologist not mention doing allergy testing/desensitization shots? Having been there/done that, it's absolutely what I'd be pursuing for a dog with more than mild seasonal allergies.
Another thing to consider is at what point did the increased lethargy start? Heat and humidity are very hard on bulldogs and other short-nosed breeds, so is it possible that's playing a part?
He was on the shots for 7 mths and we saw no difference and the holistic vet advised stopping. We were warned that in a dog with sooo many allergens our chances of success were small. He is in central AC all day. THank you.
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