Dr. Margaret - The Frenchie Vet

09/07/2024

Hopefully you are all surviving this heat wave!

Keep your Frenchies cool and safe!

29/06/2024

Your Frenchies life could depend on you being prepared!

13/05/2024

Last week, Quasimodo got his angel wings.

He’d been fighting congestive heart failure for over a year and while we knew the day would come sooner rather than later, it still feels far too soon.

I’ve felt a spectrum of emotions this week. Incredible sadness that I wont get to see him again. Gratitude that we got so many good years with him. Guilt for all the times that I wasn’t the best dog mom. Happiness from remembering all of his best moments.

He brought so much joy to so many lives. The world feels a little empty without him, but every moment we got with him was worth the heartache now.

Miss you buddy. I hope we meet again someday.

If you feel so inclined, you can make a donation in Quasi’s name to , the rescue who saved him and brought him into my life.

I’ll get back to regular posting soon. I appreciate your grace during this difficult time ❤️

28/03/2024

It’s my Birthday Week! 🥳

So I’m doing my first ever giveaway!
You’ll get free access to to my upcoming course “The Frenchie Parent’s Guide to Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)”
1 copy for you and 1 copy for a Frenchie Friend that you tag in the comments!

Here’s how to win!
1️⃣ Make sure you are following this account .frenchie.vet

2️⃣ Tag 1 Frenchie friend in the comments (they’ll win a copy of the course too!)

3️⃣ Get extra entries by tagging multiple friends! One friend per comment!

4️⃣ Tell your Frenchie friend to tag you back to double your chances of winning!

2 commenters will win the course for themselves and for the friend they tagged!

Giveaway ends March 29th @ 8PM EST

If you don’t win you can still get the course for 60% during my Birthday Pre-Sale Event from March 29th-31st! You have to be on the VIP email list to get access though. DM IVDD to get added to the list!
Per Instagram rules, this promotion is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram, Inc. By entering, entrants confirm that they are 13+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram’s terms of use.

16/03/2024

Who you gonna call?

The last thing you want to be doing when you’re worried your Frenchie ate something toxic is searching the internet or asking for advice from unqualified strangers on Facebook.

ASPCA Animal Poison Control and Pet Poison Helpline are both amazing resources for determining if you need to be worried about something your Frenchie ate. They both provide great follow up care for veterinary teams if hospitalization and additional treatments are needed.

Facebook isn’t always the most regulated place, but this Poison Help group only allows comments from credentialed individuals. They generally respond quickly and can give you an idea of whether toxicity is an issue.

They have professionals from all over the world so they can help no matter where you live!

You can also use their ID to discuss with ASPCA or Pet Poison Helpline.

12/03/2024

Have you asked these questions?

Make sure to save this post so you can easily access it at your next veterinary appointment!

Your veterinarian and staff can be a great resource for collecting local knowledge about emergency and specialty services in your area especially if you are in a larger city with many clinics available. Staffing, open hours, pricing, quality, equipment availability, etc can vary quite a bit from hospital to hospital and talking to your veterinarian before an emergency is a great way to be prepared.

It’s also a great idea to figure out your veterinarian’s comfort with brachycephalic pets, surgery, alternative treatments, internal medicine, etc. The fact that we expect veterinarians to offer routine wellness care, perform leg amputations, manage diabetes, and treat allergies all in the same day is quite astonishing. One veterinarian may love surgery, but dislike dermatology and that’s okay. Asking about strengths can help you build a solid team to treat your Frenchies specific issues!

Last but not least, I’d love to send you a copy of my free guide that includes a ton of the products I keep on hand for my Frenchies to deal with minor illnesses.
It’s always a great idea to chat with your vet about products that wouldn’t be recommended for your Frenchie specifically, especially if they have other health issues.

DM “Cabinet” and I’ll send you a link to my guide!

14/02/2024

These acronyms are two of the biggest issues within the Frenchie breed and as an owner you should be aware of them and know the symptoms of both.

My first mini-course, coming in March, is going to be all about IVDD. Basic anatomy, symptoms, prevention, diagnosis, integrative treatment, and recovery will all be covered in detail. You’ll leave with a detailed plan of action and be prepared for an emergency situation. If your Frenchie is already dealing with IVDD, I’ll walk you through everything that you need to know, plus teach you a ton of at home care and management tips! IVDD is scary, but you don’t need to feel helpless or alone.

Let me know what you want to learn about IVDD in the comments.

22/12/2023

Don’t wait till there’s a problem…

Every Frenchie owner should be prepared to treat minor painful episodes at home. But you need to do it safely and not create bigger issues.
I honestly can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen dogs for minor injuries, but their owner wasn’t prepared for an emergency and instead gave human medication. I cannot stress this enough, DO NOT give your Frenchie human pain medications unless specifically directed by your personal veterinarian. 9 times out of 10 it is not a safe choice and you’re going to end up spending more money on labwork and stomach acid blockers. Doggy Aspirin (aka human aspirin) is also not safe and should be avoided.

Rest is truly one of the most underrated treatments for mild injuries. A crate is a wonderful tool for forcing rest, especially if your Frenchies “off” button is broken like my Frenchies’ is 😝

A PEMF device and CBD are great products to have on hand. They are safe for most dogs, though as always I’d recommend speaking to your personal vet especially if they are on other medications.

I repeat, OTC human medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, and Tylenol should never be given to your frenchie.
If you think your Frenchie needs more pain relief than CBD can provide you should see an emergency veterinarian. Always make sure to keep in contact with your vet if you are worried and have your Frenchie evaluated if they aren’t feeling better within 12-24 hours. If your Frenchie is exhibiting signs of IVDD, never delay seeking a hands on exam!

20/11/2023

Allergies are just part of life right?

I still remember the first time that my acupuncturist told me “Allergies aren’t normal, they’re an over-reaction.” I was still in my teens at that point, but I had been suffering with severe allergies for a long time. After several months of intensive acupuncture and herbal medicine, my allergies seemingly disappeared. Nearly 20 years later, I still almost never use anti-histamine despite living in some very pollen filled places in CA.
All of this to say, if you haven’t considered looking into Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine(TCVM) for your Frenchies allergies, you should.

Most of the TCVM patterns around allergies involve heat and damp which I think we can readily see in most Frenchies. If your Frenchie has red skin, red ears, red eyes, or a bright red tongue, you’ve already seen signs of heat. If your Frenchie has ear infections with moist discharge, paw that get a wet build up, or skin that get infected and gets a moist coating, you’ve observed damp. Damp can also be related to mucoid diarrhea.
Severe scratching is known as wind in TCVM.
Blood deficiency can occur when there is prolonged wind, it evaporates the fluids and causes dryness. This can appear as dandruff, a tongue with lots of deep cracks, or very dry paw pads.
Yin can be compared to the body’s cooling system, without A/C in the summer, your body is going to have too much heat.
I love how intuitive TCVM is. It’s all about taking the time to observe what’s right in front of you.

If your Frenchie has allergies, spend some time thinking about the signs that you see.

Make sure you follow to learn about how you can incorporate foods into your Frenchies diet to combat these patterns. frenchie.vet

14/11/2023

I wish I could say that if you do X,Y, and Z, you’d be able to prevent your Frenchie from getting IVDD, but that simply not the case. Genetics play a huge role and what we know about their genes is rapidly changing.

What I do know is that there are things you can do as a Frenchie parent to help decrease their risk. And the great things is, they are all very simple.

1️⃣ Maintain a healthy weight. You’re probably over me saying this by now, but it’s a huge factor. Reducing pressure on the spine is a key component of health. If your vet tells you that your Frenchie needs to lose a pound or 2, please listen to them. It could save you thousands of dollars.

2️⃣ Exercise! I love that my Frenchies enjoy doing absolutely nothing and would happily sleep on the couch all day, but that isn’t what is best for them. Low impact activity like walking, short rounds of jogging, and fetch are great options. I do tend to avoid playing Tug of War due to concern for neck injury.

3️⃣ Use ramps or stairs to help your Frenchie access furniture. This can take some training and encouragement, but it’s worth it.

4️⃣ Feeding supplements that support the joints are key. A high quality fish oil containing DHA and EPA is a must. Omega-3 fatty acids decrease the amount of inflammation in the body. Glucosamine also acts as an anti-inflammatory in the body and is used to build new cartilage. Chondroitin inhibits the destruction and promotes the production of cartilage. Green Lipped Mussel contains Glycosaminoglycans (GAGS) which are also a component of cartilage and joint fluid. It can help to increase the flexibility and strength of the cartilage preventing injury.

☀️ Follow for more information on Frenchie IVDD

02/11/2023

Every Frenchie owner should know about the symptoms of IVDD.
They can progress slowly or quickly from mild symptoms to major symptoms. Timely intervention can make a huge difference in recovery.
Has your Frenchie has had IVDD, what symptoms did you notice first?

27/10/2023

A little bit about me ❤️

21/10/2023

IVDD is a condition that every Frenchie owner should be aware of. French Bulldogs are prone to IVDD due to abnormal spinal anatomy and genetic predisposition.

The spinal column is made up of bony vertebrae separated by jelly-filled discs. The discs can become weak and rupture, causing the vertebrae to compress the nerves that run through the spine. This compression can lead to pain, swelling, and paralysis.

19/10/2023

🦠 Obesity is a disease?
Yep, and IMO, the most detrimental, yet preventable, disease there is, especially for frenchies.
Weight management is so important for lifelong health and statistically a dog that is a healthy weight will live 2 years longer than a dog that is overweight.
And if that isn’t convincing enough, just remember that surgery for IVDD typically costs $10k+ 💰💵💸

Pet Nutrition Alliance makes calorie calculations incredibly easy and is a great place to start.
It’s also important not to cut calories too fast, a slow and steady decrease allows the metabolism to adjust.
Make sure you use a diet formulated for weight loss. Feeding significantly less than the recommended amount on the bag can result in a deficit of essential nutrients.

And don’t forget about the treats! They can pack a huge calorie punch in a very small package. My preference is for low sugar fruits and veggies or single ingredient freeze dried treats.

If you need help with figuring out how much to feed your Frenchie, don’t be afraid to send me a message ❤️

15/10/2023

What people are saying about The Frenchie Vet!
I’d love to work with you and your pup!
☀️DM “Health” to get on the waitlist to join my community of Frenchie lovers!

12/10/2023

I know, I know.. it’s all over the internet, you’ve done it before, maybe your vet even recommended it once upon a time.
But here’s the thing, we know better now, so we can do better for our pets.
The risk of giving hydrogen peroxide just isn’t worth it when we have drugs that are safer, work faster, and are more effective at causing vomiting.
Make sure you know where your closest emergency vets are located and save their phone numbers.
While you’re at it - save these phone numbers too
☠️ ASPCA Poison Control - (888) 426-4435
🤮 Pet Poison Helpline - (855) 764-7661

☀️Your source for safe, Frenchie knowledge
🌟DM “Health” to get on our Frenchie Health: From Nose to Tail Course waitlist!

09/10/2023

Don’t wait to get these products till an emergency happens, have them on hand so you can keep your bestie safe.

01/09/2023

This 2023 study, “Effect of tofu supplementation on endogenous estrogen levels and urinary incontinence in female spayed dogs: A randomized, controlled clinical study,” by Dr. Smith and Dr. Ma showed that feeding 2oz of firm tofu twice daily to an average sized dog (~45lbs) resulted in increased levels of circulating levels of estrogen and 11 of 13 owners reported a decrease in the amount of urinary dribbling. While it may not be enough to completely fix the issue it could be a great option for mild cases or as an addition to other treatments. If you try this on your own dog, I’d love to hear about your results! - Dr. Margaret

Smith, Marc, and Aituan Ma. “Effect of tofu supplementation on endogenous estrogen levels and urinary incontinence in female spayed dogs: A randomized, controlled clinical study.” American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, 2023, https://doi.org/10.59565/001c.84479.

16/08/2023