Editor’s Note: There are times when the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital Emergency and Critical Care must turn away patients because it has reached capacity with critical cases. Louie and Auggie are examples of cases that required a long-term stay.
It’s bad enough when one of your companion animals is sick. But two at the same time, well that’s not good.
Louie and Auggie returned to their home recently after being boarded while their owners were out of town. Each started to have the same symptoms – a history of regurgitation for 24 hours and significantly elevated respiratory rates – prompting their owners to seek medical care.
Louie and Auggie were brought to the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital emergency room where the Frenchie and English Bulldog were stabilized with sedatives. X-Rays confirmed that the dogs each had aspiration pneumonia, an inhalation of GI contents after vomiting or regurgitating.
“This is unfortunately a very common condition in all brachycephalic breeds, especially so for French Bulldogs,” said Dr. Jared McGinley, emergency and critical care resident. “Louie and Auggie are predisposed to regurgitation and gastroesophageal reflux disorders because of the way their chests are put together.
“That makes them more likely to inhale and aspirate the material.”
During their stay at the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital, Louie required supplemental oxygen in the O2 kennel because of a low blood oxygen content. Auggie was stable with room air and went home after two days in the ICU. The two were reunited the next day when Louie was discharged.
McGinley believes that being boarded was enough of a disruption to Louie and Auggie’s daily routine that they felt unwell when they returned home, leading to their visit and subsequent stay in the Hixson-Lied ICU.
He says owners of Frenchie’s and English Bulldogs should be on the lookout for their dogs breathing efforts, especially if they are having GI upset.
“Dogs that collapse or exhibit blue or gray gums should be evaluated immediately, as this indicates a more severe need for supplemental oxygen,” McGinley said. “Any dog that is vomiting or regurgitating is at risk of aspiration, but it is relatively infrequent in the absence of neurologic disease and in a non-brachycephalic dog.”
March 2026