How and Why Did My Bulldog Pass Away?

Answer for How and Why Did My Bulldog Pass Away

Dear KC, my sincere condolences Thank you for sharing this unfortunate tragedy with our community. I appreciate your kind words. Rest assured, your personal information is never disclosed.

How and Why Did My English Bulldog Pass Away? RECORD REVIEW

Regrettably, examining the records is unlikely to provide substantial insight. The record represents a subjective recollection of the event by the record keeper, lacking the objectivity of an independent video that comprehensively captures every aspect of the occurrence.

Paradoxically, it is highly probable that the root cause of the incident is absent from the record.

Frequently, doctors and their surgical teams may lack familiarity with breed-specific medical nuances, customized anesthetic protocols, monitoring needs, and the intricacies of recovery and extubation for special needs. As a result, they may not be cognizant of potential issues or the true cause-and-effect relationship.

 " What the eye doesn't SEE and the mind doesn't KNOW, doesn't EXIST"

Why Did My Bulldog Die? RISK/REWARD

BULLDOG SURGICAL BENEFITS:

You should have a serious discussion with your vet about the surgical benefits and follow that with a risk-reward assessment.

BULLDOG ANESTHETIC AGE RISKS:

The age of your English bulldog or French bulldog is a crucial factor to consider and should be integrated into the discussion and risk-reward assessment.

For instance, in the case of a non-painful tumor with slow metastasis, if the likelihood of your bulldog passing away due to old age is higher than the tumor posing an immediate threat, opting for surgical intervention with its associated risks and complications might be less sensible.

In such scenarios, choosing nonsurgical medical palliative therapy could be a more fitting alternative.

How and Why Did My French Bulldog Die? DIAGNOSTIC PREPARATIONS

I require a pre-op blood screen and ECG.

In some cases, such as bulldogs with elongated palates, I also require radiographs.

A senior bulldog should have an extended blood panel that includes

• thyroid levels
• heartworm
• urine analysis
• blood pressure.

Depending on the surgical procedure, there are times that we will also recommend additional testing, such as pre-op

• Ultrasound
• Cytology
• Contrast
• CT,
• MRI
• etc.

Answer for How and Why Did My Bulldog Pass Away BRACHYCEPHALIC SYNDROME

I always screen for stenotic nares, elongated soft palate,  laryngeal issues, and other brachycephalic syndrome (BOAS) airway conditions.

WARNING: Bulldog elongated soft palate must be repaired before or at the same time as the elective surgery

How and Why Did My Bulldog Pass Away? ANESTHETIC PROTOCOLS & MEDICAL TEAM:

I designed a comprehensive customized bulldog anesthetic protocol for the brachycephalic breeds

• Eng Bulldogs
• French Bulldogs
•  Pugs,
•  Boston Terriers

Many vets are not aware of the breed's special needs and anesthetic safety requirements. It is programmed into an Excel sheet to reduce human error.

The medical team should be familiar with the bulldog breed and trained with all the anesthetic and recovery aspects.

Answer for How and Why Did My English Bulldog Pass Away? CAUSE:

I suspect that most English bulldogs and French bulldog anesthetic death are MULTIFACTORIAL 

BULLDOG PRE-OP HEALTH SCREEN:

inadequate screening (exam, labs, ECG, imaging) of the bulldog patient.

BULLDOG BOAS:

inadequate screening for bulldog brachycephalic airway syndrome (most commonly bulldog elongated soft palate)

BULLDOG ANESTHETIC PROTOCOL:

lack of knowledge of  the bulldog breed pre-op and induction ideal drug preparation and anesthetic idiosyncratic needs

BULLDOG ANESTHETIC MONITORING:

Inadequate monitoring of the bulldog patient during all the anesthetic phases

BULLDOG EXTUBATION:

Premature extubation of the bulldog patient.

BULLDOG ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA:

Incidental inhalation of foreign material due to BCAS, inadequate anesthetic protocol, premature extubating, etc.

Bulldog Anesthetic Death MOST COMMON CAUSE:

I believe the most common cause of both English bulldog and French Bulldog anesthetic deaths is

• EARLY EXTUBATION
• ELONGATED SOFT PALATE: untreated bulldog BOAS

Answer for How and Why Did My French Bulldog Pass Away?  COMMON RISKS:

From the limited information provided, I can't give you a definitive answer. At times, an autopsy exam can help, but here is a short list of some of the most common tragic reasons:

BULLDOG BREED & RISK

English bulldogs and French bulldogs have a high anesthetic risk, so complications are more likely.

BULLDOG AGE & RISK:

Most times, older bulldogs are at higher risk than younger bulldogs.

In my practice, I often see the worst cases—bulldogs and French bulldogs of all ages—that other veterinarians will refuse to touch, or rather refer to me.

My team and I always discuss with the owners the inherent risks, the surgical merits, the pre-surgical screening test, and planning for potential complications.

Regretfully, I get calls and emails similar to yours every week. My response might not make your suffering go away; sometimes an autopsy can determine the cause of death; other times, there might not be a definitive answer. By sharing this sad event with us, I hope that it will help others.

Your Q and my A could help save the life of other bulldogs, which hopefully serve as a memorial to your beloved pet.

English Bulldog Pass Away FINAL THOUGHTS:

BULLDOG PREVENTION & WELLNESS 

My Vet4Bulldog mission is to empower bulldog owners by teaching prevention and wellness. With prevention, we can avoid many of the risks and complications associated with English bulldog and French bulldog anesthesia, as well as many other common medical problems.

PREVENTION, WELLNESS & KNOWLEDGE help to minimize most risks associated with the bulldog breed and maximize rewards

My sincere sympathy and sadness

Dr. Kraemer

Vet4Bulldog

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