Bulldog Puppy With Fecal Incontinence After Tail Docking: Can It Be Fixed?
How lucky this little man is to have landed with you. The nerves that control the anus and tail run very close together at the base of the spine, so injury in that area can affect bowel control. Whether it improves depends on how badly the nerves were damaged. Nerves that were bruised or stretched can recover partly or fully over weeks to months, while nerves that were cut or badly damaged are less likely to.
It’s also worth knowing that English Bulldogs can be born with malformations of the lower spine and tail, such as spina bifida, which can cause the same signs. Ask your vet whether a full neurologic exam, X-rays or a referral to a veterinary neurologist would help clarify the cause and the outlook. Some dogs with lasting sphincter weakness are candidates for specialized surgery, but many are managed well at home.
Practical help includes a regular schedule with trips out soon after meals, a highly digestible diet your vet recommends, keeping his rear clean and dry, and washable bedding. Watch for urine dribbling or weak back legs, and tell your vet if you see them. See our guide to bowel incontinence in dogs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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