Eye Ulcers and Frenchies

Ulcers.  Every Frenchie is going to get one at some point, and you may know when it happens, and you may not.

Frenchies are stoic little bulldog types, for the most part--though we know a few who enjoy expressing themselves via the dramatic arts--and some ulcers are just very shallow and heal on their own.  But a lot of ulcers will cause your frog to blink, or wink, or squint, or paw at his eye, and there may be some tears;  these are symptoms or signs that your dog should go to the vet PDQ.

Kyler (lower right) and foster brother Major waiting for a walk

Eye stuff is nothing to fool around with in bug-eyed breeds like mastiffs, boxers, pugs, Shih Tzus, King Charles spaniels, etc.   Don't wait to see if it gets better on its own.  Go in and get some pain killers and some anti-biotics and then be absolutely religious about applying the drops/ointment/pills your kindly vet gives you.  It is even possible the cone of shame will be necessary, in which case we suggest making life less miserable for your dog by offering plentiful tummy rubs while stickily murmuring honeyed words and providing a bottomless bowlful of beefs.  Or sardines.  Or chicken livers.  Whatever is the thing that makes your dog's life worth living while the cone is on. 

Bug-eyed dogs are not only likely to get ulcers, but once they get them, they are prone to slow healing.  At the point where the ulcer stops healing at an appreciable rate, the ulcer is termed an "indolent" ulcer.  And at that point, your vet may ask if you want to try plasma drops--the techs will draw some blood and process it until you get a little bottle of plasma, which you will then drop in your dog's eye--or she may send you to a canine opthalmologist who may have a number of tricks to pull out of his hat.

It can take months for an indolent ulcer to heal.  In the worst case, when an ulcer is very deep and there is an infection causing the eye to actually rupture, the eye may have to come out.  You'll see some dogs on our website with missing eyes from time to time, and ulcers are often the cause of that lost eye.

Young Kyler has an eye ulcer this week.  His foster mom swept him into the vet and he is getting treated, but keep a good thought for the poor guy.  His immune system was not the best when he got to us, so it may take a little while for him to be feeling like the kind of bang-up, sooper d, best quality, top drawer frog we like our dogs to be.