Rocky’s Journey: From Chronic Discomfort to Complete Transformation

Rocky, a 6-year-old desexed English Bulldog, first came to Vet HQ Darlinghurst with a constellation of problems that were making life miserable for him and his family. He suffered from constant diarrhoea and faecal incontinence, having accidents inside that were straining his household, particularly with his owner’s girlfriend. His skin had a distinctive wet sock smell that filled the room. Rocky’s eyes were chronically irritated, red and uncomfortable.

As a brachycephalic breed, he also struggled with breathing issues that complicated every aspect of his care. Then, on top of everything else, Rocky ruptured both cruciate ligaments in his knees. He went from uncomfortable to almost completely non-weight-bearing lame, unable to walk without pain.

Dr Geoff Golovsky conducted comprehensive diagnostics to understand the full picture of Rocky’s health. Skin scrapes and stick tape tests revealed chronic skin allergies. Faecal analysis showed ongoing digestive dysfunction. Blood work assessed his overall health and confirmed he was significantly overweight at 29kg, which was exacerbating all his other conditions. X-rays of his stifles (knees) showed long-standing osteoarthritis with bilateral degenerative changes and what Dr Geoff identified as Cruciate / ACL ruptures.

In his experience, these partial ruptures always progress to complete rupture. Rocky also had entropion, where his eyelids rolled inward, causing constant irritation to his eyes. Additionally, chronic otitis (ear infections) was causing pain and contributing to his overall misery. This wasn’t one problem. It was a complex web of interconnected issues.

We developed an integrated treatment plan that addressed every aspect of Rocky’s health simultaneously. This wasn’t about treating symptoms in isolation. It was about understanding how his weight, diet, skin allergies, breathing difficulties, and orthopaedic issues all interacted with one another.

Our comprehensive plan included:

• Weight management program targeting 20% body weight reduction
• Complete diet change to Hills Metabolic for gastrointestinal control
• Monthly Cytopoint injections for skin allergies
• Multimodal ear medication regimen for chronic otitis
• Entropion surgery (eyelid lifts) to resolve eye irritation
• Bilateral TPLO surgeries staged 8 weeks apart
• In-house rehabilitation program with laser therapy and dry needling
• Tailored pain management protocol
• BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome) protocols throughout anaesthesia

The team coordinated care between Vet HQ Darlinghurst and Double Bay, ensuring Rocky received seamless, consistent treatment across both locations.

Rocky’s transformation happened in stages. First, we performed entropion surgery to lift his eyelids, immediately relieving the constant eye irritation. We started him on Hills Metabolic food, stopping all fresh food diets in favour of complete and balanced nutrition with research-backed outcomes. Within weeks, his chronic diarrhoea was under control. His first Cytopoint injection addressed the underlying allergic skin disease, and his itching dramatically improved. We incorporated multimodal ear medications that reversed the chronic damage from otitis.

For his knees, Dr Geoff performed two TPLO surgeries eight weeks apart at Vet HQ Double Bay. Each surgery was supported by our in-house anaesthetic team, which is experienced in safely managing brachycephalic breeds. Rocky received tailored pain protocols, laser therapy, dry needling to activate muscles, and a structured rehabilitation program. Our nurses provided one-on-one care, and multiple rechecks ensured his recovery stayed on track. This wasn’t a surgery-only service. It was complete, balanced care from beginning to end, all under one roof with familiar faces.

Rocky’s recovery exceeded expectations. His weight dropped from 29kg to 25kg, almost 20% of his body weight, which took enormous pressure off his joints and improved his breathing. His diarrhoea resolved completely on the new diet, and the accidents inside stopped. His skin condition improved so dramatically that after six months, he only needed Cytopoint intermittently rather than monthly. His ears returned to normal, free from the chronic pain and infection that had plagued him.

Both knees healed beautifully from the TPLO surgeries. Rocky regained mobility and was able to walk, even run, without pain. His owner couldn’t believe the difference. “It’s like I have a brand-new dog,” he shared during one of Rocky’s rechecks. “I can’t believe I went through this for so long until I found Vet HQ.”

Rocky’s transformation was complete. He was comfortable, mobile, and happy for the first time in years. His weight loss improved his breathing and took pressure off his joints. His skin and ears were healthy. His eyes were comfortable. And both knees were strong and pain-free, allowing him to move freely and enjoy life again.

His owner couldn’t stop praising the comprehensive care Rocky received. “It’s like I have a brand-new dog,” he shared during one of Rocky’s rechecks. “I can’t believe I went through this for so long until I found Vet HQ.” The seamless coordination between both clinics made all the difference: “I was local to Vet HQ Darlo, and the transition for surgery at Double Bay was seamless. The teams work so well together, it was like one big happy family to work with, and most importantly, Rocky was at home and not stressed in either hospital.”

Rocky’s case illustrates how multimodal care, delivered by a single dedicated team across two locations, can significantly improve the quality of life for even the most complex patients. At Vet HQ, we don’t just treat individual problems; we address the root causes. We treat the whole dog, and we work together to ensure holistic complete care.

Book a comprehensive health assessment at Vet HQ Darlinghurst or Double Bay if your English Bulldog or brachycephalic breed needs advanced care. Call Darlinghurst on (02) 9358 2566 or Double Bay on (02) 9326 1255.