We brought home a French Bulldog puppy three weeks ago and the vet thinks she has spina bifida. She drags her back legs a little and she leaks urine without seeming to know it, so there is always a damp patch where she has been lying. The breeder has offered to take her back. My children have already named her. I do not know whether keeping her is kind to her or selfish of us, and I would rather hear it straight than be told what I want to hear.
You asked for it straight, so here it is. Keeping her is not selfish. It is a commitment, which is a different thing, and whether it is the right commitment depends on what you can actually sustain rather than on how much you love her. Let me tell you what the work really is, and then you can decide with your eyes open.
The leaking is the part that shapes your days. A dog who does not feel her bladder filling does not empty it fully, and urine that sits is urine that gets infected, so the urinary side needs genuine attention rather than hoping. Your veterinarian may teach you to express her bladder, and if they offer, learn it properly. Expect to be dealing with infections from time to time rather than never, and expect your vet to want urine samples more often than for an ordinary dog. That is not a failure when it happens, it is the condition.
The second job is skin, and it is the one owners underestimate. Urine against skin burns it, and a Bulldog has folds and creases that hold moisture even when nothing is wrong. Keeping her clean and dry where she lies, changing bedding often, and keeping those areas properly cared for is a daily habit, not a weekly one. Done well it is unremarkable. Neglected for a fortnight it becomes a sore, miserable dog.
The back legs may or may not change as she grows, and I would not let anyone promise you either way. What I would say is that dogs are remarkably untroubled by bodies that do not work properly. She does not know she is different and she will not spend a minute grieving it. That is worth remembering on the days you are grieving it on her behalf.
So: talk to your veterinarian honestly about cost, about your household and about who does this work on a bad week. If the answer is that you can, she will have a good life, and the children naming her was never the problem. If the answer is that you cannot, taking her back to a breeder who can place her properly is also a decent choice and not a betrayal. Either way, decide it as a plan rather than drifting into it.
Spina Bifida in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs / CAUSE:
Spina bifida is a congenital condition where there’s an incomplete closure of the spinal column during embryonic development, leading to defects in the spinal cord and its protective covering. In the case of bulldogs with spina bifida, this condition manifests as missing parts of the vertebrae, particularly in the vertebral arches.
The vertebral arches normally encase and protect the spinal cord, providing it with a bony shield. However, in bulldogs with spina bifida, this protective structure is incomplete or missing, leaving portions of the spinal cord exposed. This makes the bulldog’s spinal cord vulnerable to injury, as it lacks the usual bony protection.
The exposed portions of the spinal cord may protrude outward in severe cases, increasing their susceptibility to injury.
However, it’s important to note that not all bulldogs with spina bifida necessarily exhibit symptoms. Some may be asymptomatic, meaning they don’t show any obvious signs of the condition despite having the underlying anatomical abnormality.
SPINA BIFIDA RADIOGRAPH INTERPURATION
The large, thick arrows show the normal vertebrae with their spinous process. The narrow arrow shows the missing spinous process consistent with bulldog Spina Bifida
When the defect includes multiple vertebrae the nonprotected exposed and protruding spinal cord is likely to cause neurological injuries.
Spina Bifida in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs PRESENTATION:
Bulldogs with spina bifida who exhibit clinical signs often present with a variety of neurological issues, particularly affecting the lower back and hindquarters. Some of the common neurological problems associated with spina bifida in bulldogs include:
- Urinary incontinence: Due to dysfunction in the nerves controlling the bladder, affected bulldogs may have difficulty controlling urination, leading to involuntary leakage of urine.
- Fecal incontinence: Similarly, dysfunction in the nerves controlling the bowel can result in the inability to control bowel movements, leading to fecal incontinence.
- Persistent urinary tract infections (UTIs): The combination of urinary and fecal incontinence can predispose bulldogs to UTIs. Fecal contaminants and residual urine in the bladder can create an environment conducive to bacterial growth, leading to recurrent infections.
- Hind legs weakness: Bulldogs with spina bifida may exhibit mild weakness in the hind legs due to neurological deficits affecting muscle function and coordination.
- Paraplegia or paralysis: In severe cases, bulldogs may experience partial or complete paralysis of the hindquarters due to the extent of spinal cord involvement.
- Ataxia: Bulldogs may display incoordination and an unsteady gait due to impaired nerve function affecting balance and coordination.
- Loss of pain sensation in the hind section: Severe cases of spina bifida can result in the loss of sensation in the hindquarters, making affected bulldogs unaware of pain or discomfort in that region.
bulldogs with spina bifida often require special attention and care
The two jobs that decide how this goes
Most of what determines the quality of life of a Bulldog with spina bifida is not done by a veterinarian. It is done by an owner, at home, every day, and it comes down to two things: urine that gets emptied properly, and skin that stays clean and dry.
On the urinary side, a bladder that never empties completely is a bladder that gets infected, and the dog who cannot feel it filling will not tell you anything is wrong. If your veterinarian offers to show you how to express her, take the lesson, ask them to watch you do it, and ask them how often. That one skill, done properly, prevents more trouble than anything I could sell you.
On the skin side: urine against skin burns it, and this breed holds moisture in its folds even on a healthy dog. Dry bedding changed often, the affected areas kept clean and properly cared for, and a habit rather than an occasional effort. Owners who do this well have dogs with unremarkable skin. Owners who let it slide for a fortnight end up with a sore dog and a course of antibiotics, which was avoidable.
The thing I want to leave you with is that neither job is complicated. They are both just relentless, and relentless is harder than complicated. Build them into the day like feeding, not like a chore you remember when you see a problem.
Spina Bifida in Bulldogs & French Bulldog PREVENTION & CARE:
There are no known effective treatments for English bulldogs and French bulldog puppies with spina bifida. Unfortunately, some severe bulldog and French bulldog Spina Bifida are euthanized due to poor quality of life and care requirements.
Management of these neurological symptoms often involves a combination of
- supportive care
- physical therapy
- medications to manage urinary and fecal incontinence
- close monitoring for the development of complications such as urinary tract infections.
There is ongoing research and trial, one of which is stem cell therapy that in the future might provide therapeutic relief for those poor puppies.
Daily hygine care of the perianal and vaginal area is critical
Bulldogs and French bulldogs suffering from medical problems related to spina bifida usually require daily, lifelong support & care.
BULLDOG SPINA BIFIDA SKIN FOLD ANTISEPTIC WIPES:
Daily wiping of the vaginal folds, and anal and perianal regions with antiseptic wipes like
BULLDOG SPINA BIFIDA UTI PREVENTION:
Supplements to prevent multidrug-resistant bacteria (biofilm), like
BULLDOG SPINA BIFIDA IMMUNE & ANTI-INFLAMMATION:
Supplements to enhance the immune system and reduce inflammation, like
SPINA BIFIDA MUST DO
- TRANSPORTATION: a frame with wheels or a wagon to transport your bulldog
- PHYSIOTHERAPY: physiotherapy to maintain hind legs muscle tone.
- HYGIENE: Hygiene Management to prevent recurrent urinary tract infection
- DIAPER CHANGE: timely diaper change to avoid skin soiling wounds and UTI
What a supplement can honestly do here, and what it cannot
This is one of the few pages on my site where I am going to tell you my own products have a real and ongoing job, so I want to be precise about what that job is. Nothing closes the gap in the spine. There is no supplement, no diet and no topical that repairs a congenital defect, and the legs are the legs.
What is genuinely in play is everything downstream of it. A urinary tract under constant strain, skin living against moisture it was never designed for, and a dog whose movement puts uneven load through her joints for a whole lifetime. Those are exactly the things long term support is for. Urinary support and immune support may help keep a difficult system in better order between veterinary visits. Fish oil may help the skin and the joints doing extra work. The antiseptic skin and fold care is used alongside whatever your veterinarian prescribes when there is an active problem, not instead of it, which is how I would want any topical used.
And the caution that goes with it, because recurring infection is part of this condition. A dog with spina bifida will see a veterinarian more often than most, and will be on prescription medication from time to time. Every bottle you give her should be known to whoever is treating her. Not described from memory at the desk. Brought in.
Spina Bifida in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs TIPS & WARNINGS:
Below is a selective spina bifida shortlist courtesy of Dr. Kraemer
SPINA BIFIDA LOCATION TIP
Spina bifida in bulldogs can occur anywhere in the spinal column but is seen most often in the lower back region.
most bulldogs with spina bifida present with lower back vertebral defects involving the lumbar and/or Sacral vertebra.
BULLDOG SPINA BIFIDA GROUP AGE TIP
Clinical problems exhibited by spina bifida usually begin early in life, often when your bulldog puppy starts walking.
BULLDOG SPINA BIFIDA GENETIC LINK TIP:
We believe that there is a genetic link that undines spina bifida in bulldogs,
In addition, it is speculated that external environmental toxins during pregnancy, in-utero stress, nutritional imbalance, and other deficits could trigger bulldog spina bifida
SPINA BIFIDA BREEDS TIP
English and French bulldogs are one of the most common breeds that suffer from Spina Bifida
SPINA BIFIDA SYMPTOMS FREE TIP
Bulldogs with only minimal vertebral involvement might never exhibit clinical problems and are sometimes diagnosed during random radiographs.
SPINA BIFIDA DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING TIP
Radiograph images of bulldogs with spina bifida usually lack vertebral arches or/and dorsal spinous processes of a single or multi-vertebra that failed to fuse. In some cases, spina bifida in
BULLDOG SPINA BIFIDA PAIN SENSATION WARNING:
Bulldogs suffering from an advanced case of spina bifida might not have a good pain sensation in their back parts and will show no distress from painful stimuli to that area.
Let me be clear about the limit first. Nothing here closes a gap in the spine or changes what the back legs can do. A congenital defect is not something a chew repairs, and I would not want you reading this page with any other impression.
What is genuinely in play is everything downstream. A urinary tract working under constant strain, skin living against moisture it was never built for, and joints carrying uneven load for a whole lifetime. That is long term management, it is mostly done at home, and it is the one situation where I would say without hedging that having the right things in the cupboard makes the week easier.
Urinary and immune support may help keep a difficult system in better order between visits to your veterinarian. Fish oil may help skin and joints that are doing extra work. The antiseptic skin and fold care is different in kind: topicals like these are used alongside what your veterinarian prescribes when there is an active problem, not in place of it, and that is exactly how I would want them used here.
Start with the incontinence and urinary care range. Then tell your veterinarian what she is on, and keep telling them, because a dog with this condition will be seeing them more often than most.
See the incontinence and urinary care range →
To be clear: nothing here treats or corrects spina bifida. Diagnosis, medication and any surgical decision belong with your veterinarian. This page is educational only and is not a substitute for veterinary examination, diagnosis or treatment.
Can she have a normal life?
Many do, and a mild version often causes no trouble at all. Where it does cause trouble, the honest answer is that she can have a good life rather than an ordinary one, and the difference between those two is mostly the daily care she gets at home. I have known dogs with this condition who were the happiest in the household. I have also known owners who were not told what the work involved and found themselves overwhelmed, which is why this page is blunt about it.
My vet mentioned expressing her bladder. Is that something I can learn?
Yes, and if they offer to teach you, take the lesson and ask them to watch you do it until you are confident. A bladder that never empties properly is the root of most of the trouble in this condition. This is the single most useful practical skill an owner of an affected dog can have, and it is worth asking for a second demonstration rather than guessing.
She keeps getting urinary infections. Are we doing something wrong?
Probably not. Recurring infection is part of this condition rather than a sign of neglect, because urine that sits is urine that gets infected. What matters is that each episode is properly diagnosed rather than treated by guesswork, so expect your veterinarian to want samples. If the pattern is getting worse, that is a conversation to have with them rather than a reason to add something from a shelf.
Should the parents be bred again?
That is a conversation for your veterinarian and the breeder, and I would have it plainly. There is a genetic element to this, so repeating the same mating is not a neutral decision. Anyone breeding Bulldogs seriously would want to know this had happened, and a good breeder will treat that information as useful rather than as an accusation.
The skin where she lies is getting sore. What should I be doing?
Get a veterinarian to look at it rather than working from a page on the internet, because broken, infected skin needs treating properly. Alongside whatever they prescribe, the things that actually change it are dry bedding changed often, keeping those areas clean and dry as a daily habit, and dealing with the urine at source. Skin problems in this condition are usually a symptom of moisture management rather than a skin disease in their own right.
Is there an operation that fixes it?
Surgery is discussed in some cases and it is firmly a specialist conversation, not something to decide from reading. What it might offer, and whether it is appropriate at all, depends entirely on the individual dog. Ask your veterinarian whether referral to a surgical specialist is worth it in her case, and go in expecting a careful answer rather than a simple yes or no.
More Help from Dr. Kraemer
Most of the day to day work in this condition is urinary care and skin care, so these are the pages that carry the detail.
- Urinary incontinence in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs
- Urinary tract infection in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs
- Skin fold dermatitis in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs
- Topical therapy and prevention for Bulldogs and French Bulldogs
- Prevention and wellness guide for the Bulldog puppy
- Orthopedics and neurology in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs
If you have a question about your own dog, the Exam Room Q and A is where owners send them.
References
- Congenital and Inherited Disorders of the Nervous System in Dogs, Merck Veterinary Manual
- Disorders of Micturition in Dogs and Cats, Merck Veterinary Manual
- Infectious Diseases of the Urinary System in Small Animals, Merck Veterinary Manual
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