05/12/2026
I wanted to take a moment to explain what happened to Stella, as many have reached out and asked. My hope is that by sharing her story, it can also help bring awareness to this condition.
Stella was a French Bulldog, a breed that is unfortunately predisposed to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). This condition affects the discs in the spine and can lead to pain, nerve damage, and in severe cases, paralysis.
Thursday night, I noticed Stella was walking abnormally and seemed uncomfortable, so I took her immediately to the emergency hospital where a neurologist was available. While undergoing testing over the next few hours, her condition progressed rapidly and she became paralyzed. She was taken straight to MRI, which confirmed a ruptured disc, and she went into emergency surgery.
Initially, she did well after surgery, but she never regained feeling in her back legs. Within 24 hours, her condition began to decline. The paralysis started to move up her spine, and we were told that if it continued, it would eventually affect her ability to breathe.
Stella developed a rare and devastating complication called myelomalacia. This occurs in a small percentage of IVDD cases and causes progressive destruction of the spinal cord. Sadly, there is no treatment once it begins to progress, and the outcome is always fatal.
As her condition worsened, I made the decision to let her go peacefully rather than allow her to suffer. It was the hardest decision I have ever had to make.
Stella was only a little over a year old and brought so much love, joy, and laughter into our lives in such a short time. She was deeply loved and fought so hard.
I also want to share this because responsible breeding is so incredibly important. Please make sure you ask about genetic testing, health clearances, and bloodlines before supporting a breeder. French Bulldogs are an amazing breed, but they are also prone to serious health issues.
When breeders do not follow proper testing and ethical practices, it contributes to the suffering of these dogs—and they do not deserve that. Supporting responsible, health-focused breeding helps protect the future of this breed and the well-being of the dogs we love so much.
I share this not only to honor Stella, but to help others understand how quickly this condition can progress, even when everything is done right. Hug your babies a little tighter tonight.