English Bulldog (short coat) : : Female (spayed) : : Baby : : Medium
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UPDATE*** 1/9/08 Emme has been diagnosed with spinal bifida and will never have control over her bowels and bladder. she will live her life in doggie diapers which doesn't seem to bother her at all. She is going to be in our rescue for a couple of months as she has severe skin infections on her backside from never being cleaned all those months in the puppymill. After she is fully recovered from that, she will be vaccinated and spayed. *******
Emme is new to our rescue and not yet ready for adoption. She is a special needs dog as she has no control over her bowels and "drops" her waste without even knowing that she is going. We are unsure what treatment is available for her, but will be taking her to the vet this week. Even if she has to live her life in doggie diapers, she is so worth it. She is happy and so so sweet!
Please NOTE: If the dog you are interested in is a puppy mill survivor we ask that you first read our page that explains more of what is involved in adopting a mill dog. Yes, we adopt out of state, however you MUST be willing to pick up your pet at the foster home. We do NOT ship any of our pets, please do not ask. If interested in adding this wonderful pet to your family please first review Adoption Information and procede to complete the online application. As our gift to you for adopting a rescued pet, all of NLOL's adoptable pets are sent home with a FREE 30 day Sheltercare insurance policy.
More about Emme
Special Needs: related term: spinal dysraphism What is spina bifida? Normally, the spinal cord is surrounded and protected by the vertebrae of the spinal column. In spina bifida, there is defective fusion of the vertebral arches during embryonic development, so that the vertebrae are incomplete. The abnormalities range from only nonfusion of a small part of one or a few vertebrae, to most of the vertebral arch being absent on several adjacent vertebrae with protrusion of the spinal cord and/or its lining (meninges) through the defect. In the first case the dog will have no medical problems, but with more severe defects there will be clinical signs associated with the area of the spinal cord that is affected. Spina bifida may occur anywhere in the spinal column but is seen most often in the lower back region (caudal lumbar spine). Both genetic and environmental factors (toxins, nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy) can produce spina bifida. How is spina bifida inherited? The condition is thought to be inherited, but the mode of inheritance has not been identified. What breeds are affected by spina bifida? English bulldog, other breeds sporadically For many breeds and many disorders, the studies to determine the mode of inheritance or the frequency in the breed have not been carried out, or are inconclusive. We have listed breeds for which there is a consensus among those investigating in this field and among veterinary practitioners, that the condition is significant in this breed. What does spina bifida mean to your dog & you? Most often, spina bifida occurs in the lower back region (caudal lumbar spine). The clinical signs vary with the extent of the defect. With a mild defect, you will likely never know there is an abnormality unless your dog has x-rays that show the area. When the spinal cord itself is affected, you will see signs in the hind end ranging from weakness and incoordination to paralysis and urinary and fecal incontinence. With a severe defect (absence of several adjacent vertebral arches with protrusion of spinal cord), signs are generally evident very early, when pups start to walk. How is spina bifida diagnosed? In severe cases in young pups, your veterinarian may recognize the condition on physical examination. Diagnosis is confirmed by x-ray. With a mild defect, your veterinarian may find this abnormality incidentally when an x-ray is performed. For the veterinarian: Absence of the vertebral arch or failure of fusion of dorsal spinous processes in one or more vertebrae may be evident on plain radiographs, and may be seen as an incidental finding. Neurological signs may or may not be present depending on the extent of the defect. Most commonly, spina bifida occurs in the caudal lumbar spine, with clinical signs consistent with a transverse myelopathy from L4 to S3 spinal cord segments. How is spina bifida treated? There is no effective treatment for dogs with spinal cord malformations. No treatment is necessary for dogs in whom spina bifida is discovered incidentally on radiographs. Reconstructive surgery may be helpful for mildly affected animals.
Other Pictures of Emme (click to see larger version):
