I lost both of my bulldogs this summer, and had been considering another dog. My fiancee and I talked to several breeders, and spent the last couple of months looking at pups. Sadly, my favorite breed seems to have all their worst traits deliberately exaggerated by selective breeding even worse than I remembered. Some of these dogs were as wide at the shoulders as they were tall. As it turned out, a rescue in our state had taken in an 18 month to two year old bully mix. She's had at least one litter. The rescue did a phenomenal job getting her back to health, and in a couple of short months, she was ready for adoption. Here are some before photos:




She now looks like this:


Her back half is still very thin and hair is sparse. The rescue was feeding Purina Pro Plan for sensitive stomach & skin. I wasn't impressed by the ingredient panel, so am weaning her off to Orijen 6 fish (since it's salmon based) and raw rabbit. I have an appointment to get an allergy panel done, because she is still quite itchy, and I spend half of my day redirecting her when she chews on herself. I've applied Sulfodene 3 way ointment to the inflamed areas, as well as giving her Ultra Oil which seems to help.

I'm using a slow feed bowl, because this dog eats faster than anything I've ever seen. However, she's learned to put her foot in the bowl so the food doesn't slide around so much and she can get bigger bites. So now, I'm scattering the kibble across the floor and then spreading the raw rabbit across her bowl. This is working, but I'm wondering if dogs that have been starved ever learn that food is no longer scarce and can be eaten somewhat leisurely. I hope to eventually wean her off onto a raw diet, which I'd prefer not to spread over my floor.

Finally, any supplements, products, or thoughts on a dog with this kind of start in life? I'll save her behavioral stuff for the proper subforum, but I'd suspect they are pretty typical for neglected rescues. (for example, she doesn't know what a toy is). Thanks, and I look forward to showing much prettier pictures of this little girl as time goes on.

 Quote: Chip Bridges

I lost both of my bulldogs this summer, and had been considering another dog. My fiancee and I talked to several breeders, and spent the last couple of months looking at pups. Sadly, my favorite breed seems to have all their worst traits deliberately exaggerated by selective breeding even worse than I remembered. Some of these dogs were as wide at the shoulders as they were tall. As it turned out, a rescue in our state had taken in an 18 month to two year old bully mix. She's had at least one litter. The rescue did a phenomenal job getting her back to health, and in a couple of short months, she was ready for adoption. Here are some before photos:




She now looks like this:


Her back half is still very thin and hair is sparse. The rescue was feeding Purina Pro Plan for sensitive stomach & skin. I wasn't impressed by the ingredient panel, so am weaning her off to Orijen 6 fish (since it's salmon based) and raw rabbit. I have an appointment to get an allergy panel done, because she is still quite itchy, and I spend half of my day redirecting her when she chews on herself. I've applied Sulfodene 3 way ointment to the inflamed areas, as well as giving her Ultra Oil which seems to help.

I'm using a slow feed bowl, because this dog eats faster than anything I've ever seen. However, she's learned to put her foot in the bowl so the food doesn't slide around so much and she can get bigger bites. So now, I'm scattering the kibble across the floor and then spreading the raw rabbit across her bowl. This is working, but I'm wondering if dogs that have been starved ever learn that food is no longer scarce and can be eaten somewhat leisurely. I hope to eventually wean her off onto a raw diet, which I'd prefer not to spread over my floor.

Finally, any supplements, products, or thoughts on a dog with this kind of start in life? I'll save her behavioral stuff for the proper subforum, but I'd suspect they are pretty typical for neglected rescues. (for example, she doesn't know what a toy is). Thanks, and I look forward to showing much prettier pictures of this little girl as time goes on.

BLESS you & your fiancée for taking this precious girl into your hearts & home, Chip !!!

I will speak to her Itchiness:

One of my rescue Dobies developed an extremely severe Environmental allergy to local wild grasses -- The stuff is a year-round problem where we live & it's virtually uncontrollable here...

Long-story-short:

I have an excellent Vet whom I trust totally, so after a few tries of "this, that & the other" we put Adobe on the non-steroid APOQUEL during the 1st quarter of 2017 -- She has never had even one side-effect or problem of any kind with her Daily Dosage of 1/2 pill Morning & Evening ... Unlike other treatments which basically did NO good at all, the APOQUEL worked Miraculously from her very FIRST dose !!!

This drug is a Kinase Inhibitor that, in layman's terms, blocks the body's message telling the brain to "scratch this itch" -- Thus the dog experiences INSTANT relief & respite ... As with all Medical discoveries, not everyone believes APOQUEL is harmless if used for years, but my own Vet has had a number of her Patients on it long-term without ANY adverse Reactions

So it might be something I would seriously discuss with your dog's Vet -- I feed Adobe a plain & simple kibble diet of "Nature's Recipe SALMON, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin" and she's thriving on it ... I feed my male rescue "Nature's Recipe Lamb & Rice" on which he is also thriving.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING and Best of Luck with your dog's improving health, Chip !!!

I'm so sorry that you lost both your dogs this year, the shock and pain of losing them both in a short space of time is devastating.

Like Candi, I want to thank you for rescuing this darling girl, giving her a new life, and sorting out her horrendous condition, she looks like a very sweet girl, and God bless you both for your compassion and kindness.

I'm really looking forward to watching her blossom into the girl she deserves to be, I have huge respect for people who take these wretched and sad dogs, put the work in, and turn their lives sround.

Thank you both.

Have they done any blood work to look for any health issues to account for the weight loss?

Thanks, everyone! I think we all got very lucky here! She's the most submissive thing I've ever seen, but SO sweet and good with dogs, cats, and people.

 Quote: Bob Scott

Have they done any blood work to look for any health issues to account for the weight loss?

She has her first appointment with our vet a week from today, but her weight loss is (was) from starvation by the previous owner. She's slowly filling out now.

Chip, first of all, my sincere condolences on losing both of your dogs over the summer. I can't imagine the pain of going through something like that.

As to your search for a new pup, I sympathize. It's sad how breeders are exaggerating the features of certain breeds to a point that the dogs not only look ridiculous but oftentimes cannot move, breathe, see, or otherwise function in a normal way. I watched the National Dog Show on TV yesterday and found myself shaking my head in disbelief at the appearance of some of the dogs.

Congratulations to you on your new family member! The before pictures are heartbreaking, but I know she will thrive under your loving care. There are others on the board in a better position to give you specific nutritional advice, but I do know it takes time. It sounds like she has already made great strides, and I have no doubt she will look like a different dog in six months. It sounds like she was lucky enough to be taken in by a wonderful rescue and now has a great new forever home with you and your fiancee. I'm looking forward to hearing more about her as she settles in and you get to know each other.

 Quote: Chip Bridges

Thanks, everyone! I think we all got very lucky here! She's the most submissive thing I've ever seen, but SO sweet and good with dogs, cats, and people.

 Quote: Bob Scott

Have they done any blood work to look for any health issues to account for the weight loss?

She has her first appointment with our vet a week from today, but her weight loss is (was) from starvation by the previous owner. She's slowly filling out now.

Good to hear!

I had an 80 lb GSD that was diagnosed with EPI at 9 yrs old but not until he lost 17 - 18 lbs.

There was no gaining weight till the EPI was discovered.

So sorry for your loses, Chip. I lost 3 dogs this year and it had left me reeling...

As long as she is slowly filling out, I think the food you are feeding her is good - starved dogs and those that have been in shelters often bolt their food - they have had to in the past as they never knew when the next meal was going to be, or they had to compete with other dogs for food. Typically, once they settle in, and understand that food will be plentiful, most dogs will slow down eating. Not all, but most figure it out.

Did the rescue say what caused the hair loss? Did they say it was Demodex mange or allergies, or ??? There are different things that you can due, based on what the assumed cause is.

Legendary Canine has an amazing healing shampoo bar and a spray that is called Wound and Hot Spot spray. Both have been helpful in stopping the itchies for Drift, and may be an option for you. http://leerburg.com/legendaryspray.php and http://leerburg.com/shampoobars.php

I would add a good canine based probiotic to her diet as well so that she gets as much nutrition as possible out of her food - it will also help boost the immune system which can help with the itchies. Vitamin C may be a good addition as well, but add this slowly as it can cause diarrhea.

By the way, I may have missed it, but what's her name?

I'm so happy for both of you, Chip (and so sad about your recent losses).

I hope you'll post back about the vet visit and what the vet says about the itchiness.

And you might want to mention the body geography of the itch.

 Quote: Kelly

By the way, I may have missed it, but what's her name?

The shelter called her Eleanor, and I think it's going to stick.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I'm so happy for both of you, Chip (and so sad about your recent losses).

I hope you'll post back about the vet visit and what the vet says about the itchiness.

And you might want to mention the body geography of the itch.

Thank you, and sorry for your losses as well. They were amazing dogs, and even with this new girl, I still mourn them every day.

They presumed flea and food allergies, and said she was caked in flea dirt upon arrival. She mostly itches the typical spots, feet and above her tail. I think her diet is working, but I'm having to keep a sharp eye on customers trying to give her treats.