lens luxation and fibrocartilaginous embolism

karmapell

I am the foster mom of a 3 year old neutered male Bull Terrier mix. My foster, Nibbles, was surrendered to our rescue about a year and a half ago. Nibbles had been crated 24/7 most of his life due to eye issues. The rescue sent him to an eye specialist - the diagnosis was eye entropion and lens luxation in both eyes. Following surgery, Nibbles is completely blind in his right eye and has blurry long-distance vision in his left. He is blind within 16 inches of his face and now is taking medication for glaucoma - he is expected to lose his eyes within 3 years. In December, Nibbles experienced paralysis in his hindquarters and was diagnosed with fibrocartilaginous embolism of the L4 and L5 vertebrates - he is now 85% recovered. Nibbles gets along quite well using dog paths created by my personal dogs with whom he has good relationships. My question/s is/are this: does anyone have any experience with these conditions and can give me an idea what to anticipate - specifically in dealing with an ailing aging Bull Terrer? I am thinking of adopting Nibbles, but am concerned with the financial aspects of his deteriorating health.

BulliesofNC

Wow, nibbles has had some bad luck over the course of a short 3 year stent of his life. Being born with the genetic disorder within his eyes was bad enough but to compile it with a tramatic injury in December causing fibrocartilaginous embolism is saddening.

I commend you for the care and love you've provided Nibbles since you received him into your shelter.It's apparent he's going to need special care for the rest of his life.

I can't say I've experienced either of the two health issues with any of the Bull Terriers I've raised. Additionally, I have to admit that neither of the issues are a common health concern associated with the Bull Terrier breed. However, you did mention that Nibbles was a Bull Terrier Mix. With that said, noted health concerns within the other breeds he mixed with are unknown. As a Bull Terrier Rescue for the state of NC you'd be surprised by the volume of calls we get in regard to a Bull Terrier Mix or even full blooded Bull Terrier in need of rescue that aren't even a Bull Terrier. I'm beginning to think it's a technique people use now for production adoption purposes that seems to work better than calling the dog what it is a Pit Bull Mix. Regardless of what Nibbles true bloodlines are the poor guy has been dealt a hand with serious health concerns which will follow him for the rest of his life and as he gets older the condition of his health will naturally worsen. Based on his genetics and young age he may also develop other health issues when he gets older.

You're in a difficult situation where you've gotten attached to Nibbles, don't see anybody else willing to take on the burden and finances to raise him with true commitment. Unfortunitely there are thousands of other dogs and cats in shelters across the world in the same situations. Many of which are euthanized every year.

Again the medical ailments Nibbles is suffering from is not popular amongst the Bull Terrier breed and although you probably already know the answer to what to expect in the future in regard to Nibbles' financial dedication you may want to hear it from others. I would lying if I were to say I thought he would not be a financial commitment for many years. The ailments he's suffering from are those which most often come as dogs get older which indicates Nibbles may not have a normal immune system or possesses improper development. Either way his genetics are obviously weak which makes him susceptible to future ailments as he ages and weakens further as all animals do.  Nibbles is 3 years old right now. You are looking at him in his prime and most healthiest stage of life.

  

karmapell

Thank you for your honesty! What you are telling me is simply voicing and echoing my deepest fears. Please know that I have fostered many, many pits and pit mixes (of all ages, colors and sizes) and although Nibbles is a mix of some sort, his conformation, size, fur coloration, texture and personality (clown) have matched so many of the Bull Terrier traits, I have come to believe he is predominately Bull Terrier. And that is fine with me as he is such a truly wonderful dog - so much so that when the time comes, I shall adopt a Bull Terrier rescue in Nibbles memory.

My research on lens luxation led me to your website so I took the chance and contacted your forum. If perchance you can think of another breed or mix or gain further insight, please do not hesitate to email me. Any information will be most helpful to Nibbles and I.

Thank you again!

Debbie

philsergeant

I have no qualification or experience that would enable me to talk to the medical issues with proficiency. From a moral and emotional viewpoint however, I have experienced the coming and going of many loved dogs in our extended families, and know that often, Bull Terriers especially, and others too, can become a precious part of your life which often exceeds the meaning and value of even human family members or friends. This bond is mostly due to their huge magnification of returned love and obviously due to their total reliance on your love and sustenance provision. You surely sound like someone capable of delivering in the love and care department ( and that's going to be tough enough), but I'm sure we all fear that the medical costs could be most burdensome. I have never had much strong belief in the altruistic qualities of the veterinarian community.... ( Money, money, money); But believe that your only hope would be to find the rarest of creatures, a vet that would donate much of your needs in this special case. There's always the Powerball payout tomorrow of $130 million, but few of us can rely on that.... I pray you find a way to do this great deed!!

karmapell

Believe me philsergeant, if I win the lottery (or find other means), Nibbles and I shall celebrate his adoption and we shall deal with his genetic shortcomings come-what-may! 

philsergeant

Well then I pray that he brings you the special stroke of luck that you deserve.... Pick some numbers that relate to him in some way.... You never know!!!! =:)

Zerlett

Karmapell this is very common in miniature bull terriers. Mini's suffer from PLL in their breed, I wonder if there is a way for you to get in contact with some mini forums to talk about his issues, they probably have one on the yahoo groups.

BulliesofNC

I think what Danielle meant to say is that it is common for Mini's to be carriers of Primary Lens Luxation (PLL). Actually having PLL is not common but is a concern within the breed thus the reason for this form of testing within the breed to determine if they are carriers or not. On a positive, even those that have tested to be carriers have slim chances of actually getting it. Again, not a "very common" thing amongst the Mini BT breed but merely a concern.

On another note there are 4 different types of Lens Luxation. Primary Lens Luxation (PLL) is just one of them. Some of the other forms of Lens Luxation are more commonly found in Terrier mixed breeds as well.

Unfortunately between the Lens Luxation and the fibrocartilaginous embolism Nibbles is going to require frequent check ups and medications most likely for the rest of his life. That's sad especially for a dog that is still so young.

Zerlett

Miniature bull terriers are known to be carries and affected of PLL on a regular basis. If you frequent mini bull terrier breeders websites you will see that if they are a good breed will list their PLL results on their dogs.

http://www.ch-w.demon.co.uk/billy/pll.htm

In the UK the mini bull terrier's serious PLL problem was so bad the the Kennel Club allowed limited breeding of mini's to standards to try to help breed out the problem. Sadly, this proved to be ineffective. There is still dog's coming up affected all the time.

Zerlett

here is an article I found explaining that the breed of miniature bull terriers is still suffering a great deal from this condition and it's severity.

http://dier-miniaturebullterriers.com/pll

"Lens Luxation, a very serious Miniature Bull Terrier problem. There are
no tests to tell us who may become affected and who may be carriers. If
you have or want a Miniature Bull Terrier this is a real possibility."

BulliesofNC

Danielle, you're getting confused in the meaning behind PLL Carrier. Yes, all Mini BT breeders test for this an update which dogs are carriers. However, just because they're tested as a carrier does not mean they will ever develop it. MOST don't and that's well documented. To say Mini BT's "commonly" develop PLL is a misstatement. The concern for PLL within the Mini BT breed became a concern based on statistics of PLL cases within the breed. Even if a particular breed statistically showed a 1% chance of getting PLL this would be concerned high probability. The documentation with PLL in Mini BT's has only been addressed since 2009.

The OFA test gives owners one of three results for their Mini Bull: Clear, Carrier or Affected/At Risk. A dog with a result of Clear has two normal copies of the PLL gene and will never luxate. Carriers have one normal copy and one abnormal copy of the gene, and run a very low risk of luxating. Affected/At Risk dogs have two abnormal copies of the gene and will likely experience lens luxation at some point in their life.

Those Mini BT's that you see which are tested as clear or Carriers have little chances of getting PLL. Those that are tested as "Affected/At Risk" are the ones to watch out for and hope aren't being bred.

Please understand breeders of Mini BT's have only been conducting OFA tests for a few years now but those that are getting the tests on their BT's are not having issues with PLL nor are they saying it's a common problem.

That quote you have listed is from a website prior to 2009 when there was no such test. Just to provide you with a little more knowledge, there is a test now and it was created by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and named after them. If you've noted other breeders utilizing this test with the results depicted for their dogs you should realize the quoted statement you used is outdated and false.

Zerlett

When I frequent forms on mini's I often see affected dogs. Very often, sadly. I also see affected dog's being bred. Even more sad.

BulliesofNC

Zerlett Wrote:  "Karmapell this is very common in miniature bull terriers. Mini's suffer
from PLL in their breed, I wonder if there is a way for you to get in
contact with some mini forums to talk about his issues, they probably
have one on the yahoo groups."

Maybe you could provide some of the links for Karmapell to these Mini Forums you frequent. If there are many threads on this link that you're reading some of them may provide some valuable medical information that could help in aiding the current problem and preventing it from esculating. From your first post it didn't sound as though you frequented the Mini Forums. Maybe I'm reading it wrong.

In the event you happen to frequent the Mini forum again and there's any threads speaking about PLL from breeders please provide them with the knowledge on the OFA Test that's been around for the past 4 years that will identify those dogs that are affected with the PLL and spreading the problem. It appears there are many others that weren't familiar with the test.

On a good note, no reputable Mini Breeders who are OFA testing their dogs have major worries or concerns about PLL since they're now able to identify those affected or at risk from those that are carriers and clear.

Zerlett

http://www.bulliez.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?48-DNA-PLL-TEST-RESULTS

Zerlett

It's very sad this disease. This dog on this forum was diagnosed as a carrier and now is PLL in one eye.

http://www.bulliez.net/forum/showthread.php?13116-Peppermintt-DNA-carrier-said-PLL-has-an-eye

BulliesofNC

That is sad.

It's good to look back at those old posts from 3 years ago and be thankful things have changed for the better now that the potential problem has been identified in the breed and people are now performing appropriate testing via OFA. This may be why it's a little difficult finding recent new cases of PLL within Mini BT's and why I mention it not being a common problem with the breed.

But no matter what tests are available there will always be breeders out there that lack the knowledge or care to breed appropriately for health. With that said, we will continue to have dogs of all breeds born with medical issues.