This week's Dog World reports that the Kennel Club has approved the use of ramps in the Bulldog rings to assist with the judging of this blighted British breed.
The reasoning?
"As the Bulldog is one of the 14 Kennel Club high profile breeds, there is a particular emphasis on judges to look for any visible signs of exaggerations that may be causing the dogs pain or discomfort. It was agreed that the ramps allowed for a clearer examination of the dogs’ eyes and skin and would therefore assist judges in their assessment of the dogs.”Tsk. Why not just make 'em run 10 times round the ring without stopping and exclude the ones that keel over?
I went searching for an official view - but am afraid got sidetracked by this piece of advice on the Bulldog Breed Council's website:
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BREED COUNCIL ADVICE
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE SUMER TIME.
During hot weather make sure you folow these simple rules - it could save your bulldogs life.
DON'T take your dog outside during the day! Shut him in a room with a cool floor and draw the curtains to keep the sunlight out, if you do this early enough it will prevent the room from becoming warm as the sun comes into the room. Have an electric fan running in the room to keep the air circulating and make sure there is fresh water available at all times, put a dribble of apple cider vinegar in the water, it will kelp keep the phlegm levels down.
If he needs to go outside - GO WITH HIM, don't ket him lay out in the sun and bring him straight back in again when he's been tot the toilet. Spray him with cold water if necessary to keep his skin cool.
If you are not home DON'T let him have free access to the garden, he WILL sun bathe and you will not be there to see when he's been out for too long.
DON'T walk your dog in this weather, it's still very hot at 8 or 9pm, wait until its very late or walk very early in the morning - remember that tarmac also takes a while to cool off and even after the sun has gone down the roads can be very hot still.
DON'T force an overheating dog to drink water, offer water, but if refused don't force this issue. HE WILL DRINK IF HE WANTS TO - the worst thing you can do is force him to drink, he could vomit and choke. You can make some ice cubes with glucose powder in the water to feed to him so he takes in fluid without guzzling too much water at once.
MAKE sure NOW that you have in your cupboard a squizy Jiff lemon, use this FIRST if your dog is overheating, squirt it into the back of the dogs throat - it will break up the foam/phlegm in the throat. (Your dog will hate it but who cares)
LISTEN to your dog, panting is fine, this is the only way your dog can lose body heat, but listen for a roar - best described as sounding like an asthma attack. If your dog start to roar IMMEDIATELY stand him in cold water, dogs only sweat through the pads of their feet and standing him in cold water has the same effect as putting a cold flannel on your head when you are hot.
IF HE'S ALREADY TOO HOT - Keep him stook in a bath of cold water, pour water over his head and especially around his neck, you need to cool the bloom going to the brain, in several cases of o verheating there is a risk of brain damage from hot blood going to the brain. (Don't turn the hose pipe on him, it may panic him and make him worse).
Place ice under his tail (Just inside his bottom if you can), keep pouring cold water over him and KEEP CALM, if you panic your dog will panic - if you suffer from asthma you will understan what I mean.
Your dog will go very pale as the circulation system struggles to cope.
Keep going with the water - don't take him out of the bath unit the breathing has calmed down, talk calmly to your dog - you will be soaked, your bathroom will be soaked, but you will save his life!!!!!
Once the breathing is calmer, remove him from the bath but don't dry him, he will shape up your walls and over you WHO CARES!!!! He will still be very pale (Inside mouth, gums and inner eyes).
Don't let him wander, don't make a fuss of him, your fussing may panic him and it could start over again. Still don't force him to drink, but make up a rehydration mix and place it in a bowl for him to drink from if he wants to. You can make up your own rehydration mix.
• 500ml of water
• 2 1/2 teaspoons of glucose powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• a pinch of bicarbonate of soda
The mixture will keep in the fridge for 24 hours, or make into ice cubes to use as needed.
If you cannot calm the dog int he bath GO STRAIGHT TO THE VET!!! Soak a towel in cold water and lay the dog on top of it for the journey, take packets of frozen veggies and lay them on the back of his neck and on each side of his body. If the dog will lay upside down it will help him cool faster through his belly which has less fur on it but bakes sure that someone is with him to ensure he doesn't swallow his tongue!
If you have air conditioning in the car blast it full cold at the dog, this cool air will help start the cooling process. Remember if you have air conditioning you must keep your car windows SHUT.
IF YOU ARE AWAY FROM HOME: Find a river, pond, cow trough or knock a door, 7UP will do the same as lemon juice in an emergency. Get in the river with your dog if necessary (many bulldogs cannot swim). but don't take him out until the breathing is calmer, unless his is obviously passing out in which case risk a speeking ticket and get to the nearest vet.
BE SAFE!!!! Your bulldog won't mind if he doesn't get a walk for a few days!!!!Hat-tip to Joe Inglis at Vets Klinic in Swindon for this video.
I've never quite understood the appeal of owning a brachycephalic breed that you can't do anything with. It just has to sit around in the house so it doesn't over heat and collapse. Hardly a fun and exhilarating lifestyle for the poor dog is it.
ReplyDeleteWhat utter insanity to breed these suffering absurd broken freaks of nature. It's mind boggling to read the measures to care for them. The emperor is still clothed.
ReplyDeleteChrist on a bike....the grammar and spelling are appalling! I particularly hate it when I see 'Paninis' written anywhere too. Fortunately, not here though…. I just can't take advice from 'professionals/experts' seriously when they can't effin’ spell!
ReplyDelete'your dog will hate it but who cares' - well, clearly not you lot...
'Many Bulldogs can't swim'... Or breathe, or cool down, or run, or give birth naturally....Come on, don't miss out the essentials!
Any OCD sufferers shouldn't purchase a Bulldog as they may flip out when their bathroom gets soaked.....and then may not be able to save their Bulldog's life when he is in full blown heatstroke.
Of course, no sane, animal respecting person should purchase a Bulldog anyway. Stop encouraging these people because the animal is a physical wreck. Then you won't have to deal with any of that nonsense.
Of course, there will be cries of outrage. Not for the bad spelling or grammar, but because 'my Bulldog is fine'. 'Stop hating Bulldogs' etc. The usual mindless and defensive twaddle……
Where do we find the data for most visits to the vet by breed?
Insurance claims? They don't seem to want to impart that information though...funny that...
This would be hilarious if wasn't so sad and truly absurd.
Embrace Pet Insurance is an American site that does list problems, and their related costs, by breed. The bulldog doesn't come out looking at all healthy: http://www.embracepetinsurance.com/breed/english-bulldog-pet-insurance
DeletePulmonic Stenosis High $1,000 - $7,000
Gastric Dilatation
Volvulus (Bloat) High $1,500 - $7,500
Elbow Dysplasia High $1,500 - $4,000
Aortic Stenosis Medium $500 - $1,500
Colitis High $500 - $3,000
Entropion High $300 - $1,500
Deafness High $100 - $300
Fold Dermatitis Very High $300 - $2,500
I wish we had insurance figures like these for breeds in the UK.
Embrace Insurance seems like an excellent source of information about the specific health weaknesses of each breed.
DeleteIt starts with a positive introduction that outlines the reasons people do want to own these breed. I'm grateful for that... because otherwise I don't understand why anyone would want to own a Bulldog or another obviously deform & suffering breed. Then it goes on to what is basically a no BS list of the typical physical ailments of that breed. With no BS I mean details like this:
"While the Bulldog Club of America is usually a good place to find a responsible breeder, the traits that make a Bulldog a show ring success are the very ones that lead to many of the health problems common in the breed. Look for a breeder who abides by the club's Code of Ethics and seek out one whose dogs are active in agility, obedience and other sports that require athleticism and good health, and not just ribbons from the show ring."
They keep a sober tone, but they are clearly very aware of how it works. And this:
"Bulldogs' hips and spines are often malformed, as are their mouths. They suffer from a long list of respiratory ailments. Their many wrinkles and folds, and tightly curled tails, mean lots of skin infections. Cherry eye, inverted eyelids, cataracts and dry eye are just a few of the eye abnormalities that can affect the Bulldog.
Many conditions have no screening tests, even though they're known or believed to be genetic. These include seizure disorders, allergies and skin problems, several kinds of bladder stone, a long list of airway defects, birth defects, infertility and cancer, and more. Bulldogs are also at high risk for "bloat and torsion," where the stomach twists on itself, trapping air inside, and requiring immediate emergency surgery."
That is from the Bulldog insurance (and pet buyer's) guide: http://embracepetinsurance.com/dog-breeds/bulldog
Apparently there is one for each breed.
Thanks Fran and Mados, that's really useful and fascinating information. Just goes to show, the information is out there if you know where to look for it. Who do we lobby in the UK for this info? What about PetPlan?
DeleteAnyone thinking of getting a pedigree dog should have access to this data and advice. I don't really think we can trust breed clubs to be absolutely open about the health issues of their dogs - brachycephalic dogs in particular. They are clearly biased and after all, why would you be involved in breeding a dog of this exagerated nature if you really cared about the health and welfare of dogs?
In behaviour and training we are at the point where we don't even discuss 'dominance' anymore or use force or aversives to train our dogs. It's just not up for discussion anymore. Behavioural understanding based on science, peer reviewed literature and experience allows a progressive and creative approach - it's both an art and a science. We realise that if people continue along the old path of physical force and psychological pain, knowing that there is a better and kinder way to teach a dog, then it says more about the person as an individual than it does about their dog skills. It's then a question for psychologists to address.
I reckon it's the same for dog breeders....why continue along a path of destruction? There is no information shortage. The information is out there in an age where we have never had more access to infomation at our fingertips than we do now - as proven by Fran and Mados' response.
It is obvious from the tone and content of the advice on the Bulldog website that some dog breeders are really not the brightest and progressive of people. This is reflected in the health of the dogs unfortunately.
Christ on a bike....the grammar and spelling are appalling! I particularly hate it when I see 'Paninis' written anywhere too. Fortunately, not here though…. I just can't take advice from 'professionals/experts' seriously when they can't effin’ spell!
ReplyDelete'your dog will hate it but who cares' - well, clearly not you lot...
'Many Bulldogs can't swim'... Or breathe, or cool down, or run, or give birth naturally....Come on, don't miss out the essentials!
Any OCD sufferers shouldn't purchase a Bulldog as they may flip out when their bathroom gets soaked.....and then may not be able to save their Bulldog's life when he is in full blown heatstroke.
Of course, no sane, animal respecting person should purchase a Bulldog anyway. Stop encouraging these people because the animal is a physical wreck. Then you won't have to deal with any of that nonsense.
Of course, there will be cries of outrage. Not for the bad spelling or grammar, but because 'my Bulldog is fine'. 'Stop hating Bulldogs' etc. The usual mindless and defensive twaddle……
Where do we find the data for most visits to the vet by breed?
Insurance claims? They don't seem to want to impart that information though...funny that...
This would be hilarious if wasn't so sad and truly absurd.
If that's the symbol of your nation, it's amazing that you were able to take over such wide swathes of the tropics!
ReplyDelete'IF HE'S ALREADY TOO HOT - Keep him stook in a bath of cold water, pour water over his head and especially around his neck, you need to cool the bloom going to the brain, in several cases of o verheating there is a risk of brain damage from hot blood going to the brain. (Don't turn the hose pipe on him, it ma panic him and make him worse). '
ReplyDeleteIs this a case of two people divided by a common language or just crap writing?
The latter sadly, poor dogs, it's so cruel. When taking over such wide swathes of the tropics we clearly didn't have our bulldogs with us, the natives would have heard us coming from miles away!
DeleteCrap writing by crap breeders.....
DeleteWhere will this madness end? More band-aids when the only responsible thing to do is completely redefine the "breed" or get rid of it. I recently met a White Trash breeder of show ring champs in rural Florida who keeps her sickly crew in air-conditioned quarters and hires a local guy to come in and cover them with skin lotion. Hideous.
ReplyDeleteIt's absurd, the whole nonsense and the dogs suffer grossly because their breeders want the money and think it is acceptable to perpetrate such cruelty and disregard on their dogs.
DeleteA lot of the suggestions are applicable to all dogs - pedigree or not. In hot weather it is important to keep dogs cool and avoid walking them in the daytime. During the last heatwave, it was still 20C at 9pm which is why my dogs were walked around 10ish. Dogs love to sunbathe as much as they love to lie by an open fire and it does require the owner to move them on.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in this day of blame culture, sadly a lot of 'rules' need to be as ridiculous as this to avoid some silly b*gger claiming they weren't told. Again, all of this applies to all dogs regardless of their breed.
Perhaps you're reading far far too much into what appears to be OTT suggestions.
Greyhounds are also prone to overheating, due to having very little body fat. However, my Grey could still sunbathe, but had the sense to move when she became too warm.
DeleteI walked her first thing in the morning and last thing at night, so long as it had cooled down enough.
It would be interesting to do a comparison between brachycephalic breeds, sighthounds and dogs with a typical body fat percentage, to see how quickly they overheat and how long it takes them to recover. My bet is still on the brachychephalic breeds losing.
If you watch the video, he mentions that the only way dogs can cool themselves is through their pads and by panting. Brachycephalic breeds have lost the ability to pant effectively, thus eliminating the main way dogs have to regulate their body temperature.
I'm not clear what the ramp is for? Is it so the dogs can get onto a table, so they can be examined by a judge at face height? Like small/medium breeds would be examined on a table, but the dogs are so heavy that they can't be picked up and placed on the table by their owners?
DeleteI really don't get the appeal of bulldogs.
Fran is that really the case that greyhounds overheat because they have very little body fat? Sounds counter-intuitive.
DeleteJemima
for petes sake Jemima do we have to do all of your work for you a 5 second search turned up this:
Deletehttp://www.gcnm.org/heatnews.html lots more but you know how to work the world wide web I think
meanwhile this is good advice for any dog owner as dogs cannot "sweat".. no dogs can..ice on the bum, feet, and even the how do you say it? naughty bits will help any dogs in heat stoke
Didn't realise there was so much difference in heat tolerance between a greyhound and a Saluki; the latter being bred for the desert and presumably tolerant of heat. Nevertheless, I really don't think there are many greyhound owners who feel the need to keep their dogs in darkened rooms with an electric fan on during the average British summer.
DeleteI have a sighthound/GSD x who suffers from the heat more than my other dogs. But this doesn't mean he isn't walked in warm weather. It just means that in temperatures over 25C I would keep him mostly on lead rather than let him free-run. But it was 22C here this evening and I was out with him and the dogs for two hours - all off-lead.
I definitely don't keep my Greyhound in a darkened room with the fan on, which suggests bulldogs are even more prone to heatstroke. I draw the curtains if I go out, to prevent the room from warming up, because I'm not there to keep an eye on the temperature. When I'm in, all the doors and windows are open if it's hot, and she manages to keep herself cool, by moving to the shady patio if necessary.
DeleteSalukis are more tolerant of the heat than Greyhounds, as are Whippets (but less so than Saluikis). The reason usually cited for Greyhounds being heat-intolerant is their lack of bodyfat and thin coat, which provides them with no insulation from the heat. Neither does a breeze waft their short, close, coat and cause a cooling effect. However, the same could be said for Salukis, so I'm not sure what the scientific reason is. Sighthounds and lurchers dehydrate far faster than other dogs, because of their low bodyfat (fat stores moisture), so they will die in a hot car quicker than other dogs.
Yep, I have a Lurcher boy with a black coat and he obviously feels the heat a great deal more than my lighter coloured small terrier. However, I have never had to call him in from sunbathing ( which he loves! ), shut the curtains or stick a fan on to keep him cool. We still walk during the day, regardless of the heat. He copes perfectly fine and is able to take his time and chill in the shade if he wants to do so.
DeleteI know a lady on another site who owns French Bulldogs and she advises not to take them out in any weather above 70F. Just seems such a limited lifestyle for these kind of dogs. Who is to say "they won't miss a walk for a few days?". My two would be miserable without their daily walks which isn't just about exercising, but letting them have the opportunity to investigate new areas, new smells and socialize.
Louise
When Performance Sighthound Review was still publishing they did an article where Salukis and Greyhounds were run over identical distances and then their temperature was recorded. Greyhounds run 'hotter' than Salukis. This is due to a combination of factors: they are larger, and they have a lot of fast twitch muscle, so they produce a lot of heat, but don't have the proportional surface area to dump that heat.
DeleteSalukis are endurance runners, they are meant to maintain a fast pace over a long distance. Their entire physiology is designed to dump the heat they produce while running so they can run for a long time. Greyhounds are mostly sprinters. They produce more heat but they don't have the physiology to dump it fast enough. Over a short distance this doesn't matter much but over longer distances it becomes a problem. Dogs running OFC are well-conditioned, but if you see one go down with heatstroke it's often a Greyhound.
When I was involved in Greyhound rescue I saw an awful lot of retired dogs that were FAT. I don't mean racing weight plus enough weight to smooth the dog out a little, I mean a layer of fat. There is a reason that owners of rescue Greyhounds are warned not to take fat, out of shape dogs lure-coursing. Injuries and heatstroke.
The greyhounds have low body fat to deal with their metabolic burn rate. They don't overheat due to low body fat. My friend is involved in rescue in a state in the US that actively has greyhound racing. He states in response to my question why GHs are prone to overheating:
DeleteProbably because of the burn rate. HUge amounts of energy being produced in a short period of time.
It's probably why they have such sparse fur, low body fat, and thin skin: to help remove all that heat.
Awful, I can't even image owning a dog that can't actually 'dog.'
ReplyDeleteJust a future FYI Jemima; highlight the text you would like to copy and press the "CTRL" key and the "C" key at the same time on your keyboard. This will copy whatever you highlighted, even if you can't right-click, saving you having to type out everything in the future.
Thank you Tech-Anon. But am on a Mac and the text on the Bulldog Breed Council website won't highlight. Will it for you?
DeleteI'm on a Mac and I could copy and paste it into Word.
DeleteIf you're using Chrome, click on the three red bars next to the URL bar at the top. Then click on tools and then 'view source'. You can then copy the text from the html code you'll see.
DeleteI could C&P in Firefox, but it won't highlight in Safari.
DeleteAha... I was using Safari.
Deletecrazy why do they keep breeding a dog thats not even able to be a dog anymore.
ReplyDeleteBulldogs where once a working breed not a bunch of cripples
. The fastest breed of canine known to man, greyhounds should never be mistaken for a breed with extraordinary stamina, for they are not. Ideally, greyhounds should not be perceived as running partners, but rather companions for leisurely strolls in mild temperatures so you can show them off to envious admirers of these elegant dogs!
ReplyDeleteoh my maybe we should get rid of them too
Anon 22.02
DeleteAs a responsible owner we all take extra care of our dogs in the heat but fact is owners of "B" breeds need to be going to more and more extremes in order to ensure the dogs survival, surely you cannot think this is either right or fair to the animal, this is just one of a long list of ailments and conditions that they suffer on a daily basis for their entire lifetime :-(.
I am sure greyhound owners don't need to go to such lengths and constantly worry whether or not their dogs will survive the day out.
It seems perfectly sound and sensible advice to me for any bracycephalic breed. I dare say that this was written a few weeks ago when I wasnt taking even my ultra fit dogs for their 7 mile bike ride as it was too hot even at 6.00am.
ReplyDeleteShame you cant give praise to a club when all they are doing is to give good advice.
Carol
Oh dear Carol, you clearly miss the issue here.
Delete'Praise to a club when all they are doing is to give good advice'.
Don't you think that if the club was more responsible in their approach to supporting viable and biologically sound breeding practices, then they wouldn't have to waste time promoting how to cool a Bulldog down in temperatures that other healthy breeds find manageable?
Why should any breed need such advise no healthy dog should need hidden away from the sun or having fluid replacement on a mild summers day.
DeleteI think bracycephalic breeds are not good breeding sense to start with & how a bred can go for having a slightly shoot jaw to being as bad as they are now that their noses have disappeared is craziness. Noses are not a fashion accessory they are a very important body part for gods sake. Without oxygen a dog dies seems stupid to may with their oxygen delivery all for a look.
That same stupid mentality that bred the breed into its current shocking state I think Carol!!!!!
DeleteThese poor dogs are born to suffer on a daily basis for their entire life, there is nothing right or humane about that is there now..........
I`m not a bulldog fan and many are utterly horrific. That said,I've seen decent ones,ones with slight muzzles,longer legs and a leaner build. Ones I've seen do agility and run in 78 degree heat. Tweaking the build even slightly will create much better dogs.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I`m against the Rottweiler club wanting to lower the jump heights in obedience. Breeders are already wanting to breed the heaviest built and largest dogs possible,and lowering the athletic standard would be even more damaging to the breed.
Babying these dogs will not create healthier dogs,make the Bulldog function like any other.
That was already done with the GSD!
DeleteI could have sworn that in AKC/USDAA agility they lowered jump heights across the board years ago. Not because of lowering of athletic standards, but because they found that the excessive heights were contributing to early onset arthritis and other injuries.
Delete"Shame you cant give praise to a club when all they are doing is to give good advice."
ReplyDeleteSo if British American Tobacco or Philip Morris say "If you find you can't breath well anymore due to emphysema, it's best to keep an oxygen tank handy and to not move around too much, especially in warm weather", that's all good? We should "praise" them for giving good advice for managing the frightening, costly, life-shortening condition they are directly responsible for?
Nice analogy. It's utterly insane how people defend these breeding practices. Meanwhile, the animal is struggling to function normally.
DeleteBut that's OK because here's some advice from the breed club!
NIce video from the Vet in Swindon. I wonder what the more progressive Vets think about the brachycephalic breeds. For sure, there is a lot of money to be made out of these sick dogs but that Vet in the vid looked pretty sick himself having to deal with that poor dog.....
My next post (will get up over the weekend) is exactly that, as it happens - a vet who has spoken out very strongly about brachycephalic breeds.
DeleteJemima
Nice one Jemima - I'll look forward to reading that.
DeleteWe need Vets to speak out. They are qualified, experienced professionals at the coal face dealing with the consequences of bad breeding practices. Professionalism is what is lacking in dog breeding - in approach and regulation.
Did you ever get round to writing a review of 'Pukka's Promise'? I know you're stupidly busy but would love to hear your thoughts on arguably one of the most progressive books on dog ownership in decades.IMHO!
Thanks for the nudge, Ted... :-)
DeleteI've actually been SO busy that I haven't managed to read more than a few pages of Pukka's Promise. But I will, and will review it here.
Jemima
I can't ever imagine Ted Kerasote wearing a dress! :-)
DeleteLook forward to your thoughts.
Yes, I live in Malaysia so I often "need to cool the bloom going to the brain". I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself, Jemima! Priceless.
ReplyDeleteIncredible that the club didn't bother to check the document before publicising it, shambolic. Not, however, as shambolic, as continuing to breed dogs that clearly suffer hugely as the analogy above re smoking and the consequences thereof. Having personally experienced an illness that made breathing difficult for a short period, the terror that the dogs must experience, regardless of the weather conditions, daily is inhumane and cruel. I feel very angry with breeders who persist in producing less than healthy stock, in any breed.
DeleteGreyhounds that are still racing are no more prone to heatstroke than any other well conditioned canine athlete. http://www.gcnm.org/heatnews.html specifically points out that retired racing Greyhounds are no longer fit.
ReplyDelete"Subsequent to retirement, a greyhound’s training and conditioning are discontinued and it spends up to 22 hours a day in a crate, waiting for an adoptive home or for the “kill truck” to remove it from the premises and allow room for faster greyhounds. This inactivity makes a retired racing greyhound especially vulnerable to injury or death resulting from sudden increases in its activity."
"Heatstroke in Dogs: Pathophysiology and Predisposing Factors" (Auburn University) states:
"Racing greyhounds in the southern United States rarely
exhibit heatstroke, although rectal temperatures often
exceed 107.6°F (42°C) after a 400-m race.18 Similarly,
military working dogs work for hours in temperatures
exceeding 140°F (60°C) in desert conditions without
developing heatstroke. Athletes and working dogs are
well hydrated, acclimated, and prevented from overexertion
during activities by handlers."
http://www.campusveterinariosenweb.com/file.php/1/moddata/forum/14/59008/P_heat_stroke_V_25_06_410.pdf
It's not the low body fat that makes retired racers prone to heatstroke; it's being retired and no longer as fit as when they were racing.
Other working dogs have low body fat, why aren't they prone to heatstroke too?
Fitness does play a large part in how well a dog can withstand heatstroke, but lack of body fat does mean the dog will dehydrate faster.
DeleteWhen you say low body fat in working dogs, I'm not sure what percentage you are referring to, but my own sighthounds have less than 3% (I had them ultrasound scanned - it was a freebie Joe Inglis was doing a few years back - it was really a check for obese dogs).
Low body fat means sighthounds have to be given a special anaesthetic.
Body fat has less to do with the reason why greyhounds need special anesthetics than the difference in liver functions (source: Effects of phenobarbital on thiopental pharmacokinetics in greyhounds).
DeleteIn terms of the correlation between percent body fat and ease of dehydration, please state your sources of the published studies demonstrating this correlation.
My limited experience with greyhounds (we had one retired racer for 11 years) does not include any evidence of heat stroke issues. But then he stayed fit by running laps around a 4 acre field with our Border Collies and by chasing swooping barn swallows around the same field.
DeleteThe thing I find most troublesome about the BB is that, despite myriad problems, they seem to be gaining in popularity. I haven't checked UK data, but growing puppy registrations and rising popularity rank show up for both the US and Australia. In contrast, Finnish registrations went from 245 in 2010 to only 123 in 2012...so maybe the message is getting across in some places.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right Jennifer, I have definitely noticed more Bullodgs around in this area which is bizzare. However, not in the countryside but in the local city. They seem to be happy but then most of them have been quite young. Maybe because they are so compromised they make good pets for flat dwellers or small households because they are not so demanding because they can't demand anything. They are so endearing I can well understand why humans are drawn to their "vulnerability", it's just a pity that the humans who breed them are so disrespectful towards them and careless about the medical conditions inflicted upon the dogs.
ReplyDeleteWhy are bulldogs so popular? Because the breed feeds in to the modern human's needs quite nicely. They're "lazy" because they can't breathe, so they don't demand or even enjoy exercise.
ReplyDeleteThey also attract a lot of attention. Take a bulldog puppy, even an adult, out anywhere, and you'll be mobbed by people wanting to pet it. Thus feeding into the ever-hungry human ego.
They don't live long. Perfect for the pet owner with a short attention span.
They're expensive. Sounds counter-intuitive, but owning a bulldog says that one can afford to spend 2 or 3K on a dog, plus the upkeep (health problems, yearly dentals, central air conditioning). Conspicuous Consumption - overspending just because you can; like buying a giant gas-guzzling SUV in the 90s or a $1000 phone today.
Nice one Anon - you've tapped into the human psyche nicely there! Definitely a certain type of person goes for a dog as an accessory. People who are focused on how others perceive them usually......
DeleteShallow, egotistical usually.
I'm deaf. Can someone provide a transcript of the video for me? The "automatic transcription" by Google is awful and does not work. I don't even know why they bother to have it exist.
ReplyDelete