French Bulldog Health Problems

French Bulldog Health Problems – The Full Shebang and Everything You Wanted to Know Plus More

Before you read: This list is not exhaustive. An exhaustive list of french bulldog health problems would be a list of all known canis lupis familiaris illnesses because french bulldogs are still dogs, and are thus prone to essentially all possible canine ailments. That said, what you read below is based on my research into the most commonly represented ailments in french bulldogs.

Readers have been asking for this post for a couple of years now. I’m finally getting around to compiling this list of common french bulldog health problems. When I set out to write this post, I didn’t expect to run into so much new information on my favorite breed. I thought I was pretty informed, but the more you learn, the less you know!

Anyway, this is probably going to be a pretty long post. There are so many little ancillary topics on french bulldog health issues. It’s going to take a lot to cover it and even then, I still don’t think I will hit all the bases. Further, a lot of these health problems aren’t specific to french bulldogs. Almost all canines can suffer from most of these problems. That said, there are a few that are very specific to french bulldogs thanks to genetics and bad breeding practices over the last century. So, let’s get started.

Which French Bulldog Health Problems Are Most Common?

I guess this is really the reason a lot of you are here. There are several health issues that are very common in french bulldogs. Foremost, French Bulldogs will require care for various health issues that we associate with any breed. These include cherry eye, skin anomalies, tummy bugs (gastrointestinal parasites) et cetera. Further french bulldogs will also require the same preventative care for diseases such as heartworm, parvovirus, and more. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find concrete statistical data on the prevalence of common non-fatal health issues in french bulldogs, specifically. This website has a ton of information on mortality rates and health problems in french bulldogs, and their sources come straight from the OMIA database (highly reliable).

Some interesting points from this particular source (above, OMIA): french bulldogs are just inside the upper quarter percentile in terms of lifespan, relative to other pooches, so that’s great. The most common causes of death in french bulldogs are cancer, neurological disorders, and old-age. Old-age being in the top three causes of death is a big deal. Old-age isn’t even in the top 10 (statistical) causes of death in humans! So, for our favorite breed, that’s a really good thing. French bulldogs the world over are living long, healthy, and disease-free lives. Let’s look at some of the more common (but not immediately fatal) medical conditions in french bulldogs.

Brachycephalic Respiratory Syndrome (AKA Smushy Face Syndrome)

The easiest way to summarize this wordy health issue is “frenchie has problems breathing.” Brachycephalic syndrome is really an inclusive term covering 2-3 distinct physical ailments that comprise the overall syndrome and symptoms. First, there are the stenotic nares, which just means a frenchie’s nostrils can be too narrow to take in enough air over the duration of a breath. Stenotic nares are sometimes also associated with excessively thick folds in the area between a french bulldog’s eyes and nose. The excess skin puts downward pressure on the nose, pushing the nares inward. Second, there’s the shortened/constrained post-nasal airways, often including tracheal stenosis (constricted trachea). Finally, there’s the possibility of an elongated soft palate. Each of these physical abnormalities can all be considered a derivative issue of brachycephalic syndrome. However, each of these issues do not indicate that a french bulldog has each of the others, nor does it indicate diagnosis of brachycephalic syndrome.  Whole-body barometric plethysmography (I know, mouthful…) is the most common procedure used to characterize and diagnose Brachycephalic syndrome in frenchies. It is a non-invasive means of diagnosis and thus less stressful. Treatment of brachycephalic syndrome can include several procedures. Most commonly, a very quick laser-based surgery is performed on the nostrils/nares to remove excess tissue from the nostrils in order to open up the airways, letting in more air with each breath. An elongated soft palate procedure is much more involved and includes shortening in the soft palate by removing tissue at the back of the upper palate. The recovery is very painful and requires around-the-clock care and attention during recovery. Soft palate surgery is occasionally accompanied by tube feeding and intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration until the dog can feed itself again.

Hansen Type I Intervertebral Disc Herniation (otherwise known as Intervertebral Disc Disease, or IVDD)

This mouthful of a medical term is best summarized as the protrusion of one (or more) of four specific vertebrae in a french bulldog’s spine. This study from France (what a coincidence!) indicated that the most commonly affected vertebrae were the C3-C4 vertebrae. IVDH tends to affect Frenchies at a younger age than previously believed. The study showed the “median ages for cervical and thoracolumbar IVDH were 4.2 and 4 years, respectively.” Treatment can be as simple as medication to control pain and inflammation. If medication does not improve the quality of life, often surgery is performed to improve the condition of the spine. A dorsolateral hemilaminectomy is performed to decompress the spine at the site of the herniation. Alternatively, a cervical ventral slot can be introduced into the spinal column to decompress the herniation. Symptoms include limping, whimpering, signs of significant pain, sitting flat on the butt for extended periods of time, suddenly no longer walking or moving freely, and other signs of sudden inertia. After the onset of symptoms, there’s typically a window of 12-24 hours to commence surgery before it’s too late to correct permanent nerve and neurological issues. IVDH is often painful and can result in serious neurological problems, including brain tumors. Not to mention the condition is chronically painful and often results in an inability to move or walk without significant pain. Watch this YouTube video to learn about a specific french bulldog who had IVDD surgery. French bulldogs who have been designated as prone to this disease (i.e. doctor says your frenchie has a bad back) should avoid excessive exercise.

Deafness in French Bulldogs

French bulldogs with white (not cream/tan) fur, or mostly white fur, carry the genetic predisposition for deafness and it is hereditary. Note that having white fur does not automatically mean that a frenchie is deaf. A french bulldog can inherit the gene unilaterally (one parent) or bilaterally (both parents), and the latter of the two usually results in greater behavioral issues down the line. A BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response) test is the standard battery for determining deafness in french bulldogs. This test can be performed at roughly six weeks of age or older. The BAER test monitors activity in the brain, looking for responses to auditory cues and stimulation of the inner ear sensory nerve. While deafness in french bulldogs has been identified as a congenital condition, the mode of inheritance is still not fully understood. The inheritance of the genetic mutation that causes deafness (unilateral or bilateral) does not adhere to a specific pattern of inheritance as with other congenital conditions. Various studies have been issued to establish a correlation between fur color and the genetic mutation, but conclusive information is still lacking.

Deafness is not the end of the world. Often, a french bulldog only becomes deaf in one ear. With proper training, these frenchies lead full, happy lives. Even bilaterally deaf french bulldogs can still be trained using touch, site, and physical sense (tremulous force/vibrations) to lead happy, healthy lives. The most important thing to do is have your french bulldog’s hearing tested by a veterinarian. Just call the breeder and ask for a recommendation, or call the veterinary clinics in town and ask if they can administer a BAER test.

Hip Dysplasia in French Bulldogs

This one a lot of you are probably familiar with; it’s probably the second most recognized medical issue in french bulldogs next to brachycephalic airway syndrome. Hip dysplasia is a bone and cartilage condition where the round “ball” shaped end of a french bulldog’s femur meets their pelvic socket on either side of their body; or both, in severe cases. The ball-shaped area at the end of the femur becomes displaced when the cartilage in the pelvic socket is thinned, worn, or malformed. This displacement can be both lateral or medial. The femur can be severely dislodged or only slightly so, but enough to cause visible symptoms. Hip dysplasia is easily identifiable from the outward symptoms such as lameness in one leg or both, limping, difficulty standing from a laying position, and so on. Hip dysplasia can manifest in many breeds, as well as many other animals. Hip dysplasia itself can even be a side affect of another issue such as severe osteoporosis, malformed cartilage, malformed bone growths and calcium deposits, or even malformed bone structures, in general.

There are a couple of procedures that aren’t very invasive which can totally correct or at least provide greater mobility to french bulldogs with hip dysplalsia. These procedures include reducing bone at the end of the femur to allow for a better fit into the pelvic socket or vice-versa, deepening or widening the pelvic socket to allow the femur to be seated correctly. Both procedures are non-life-threatening but do require anesthesia, so be sure to discuss appropriate anesthetics with your veterinarian.

Cherry Eye

We wrote a whole post on cherry eye in french bulldogs here.

Tracheal Stenosis

Tracheal stenosis (laryngotracheal stenosis) in canines is the abnormal narrowing of the trachea, larynx, carina, or the bronchial tubes of the upper respiratory system. This condition is loosely tied to other respiratory issues present in french bulldogs and other brachycephalic breeds. This condition is typically what is referred to when you hear that french bulldogs can have compromised respiratory systems. Note that tracheal stenosis is a general medical designation and that all dogs with brachycephaly have at least an insignificant to mild case of tracheal stenosis as a result of their generally compact body sizes.

Tracheal stenosis has a general mode of inheritance and will persist in all brachycephalic breeds. Interestingly, tracheal stenosis can be induced by intubation (usage of a breathing tube while under anesthesia) and is one of the common concerns to discuss with your veterinarian when considering surgery for any reason. Usage of incorrectly sized or textured tubing for intubation can result in acute onset tracheal stenosis (although normally temporary and treated with anti-inflammatory drugs) when the tubing is removed after waking from anesthesia.

Heat Stress

Heat stress (non-fever hyperthermia; hyper not hypo-) is a condition especially fatal to french bulldogs. French bulldogs’ have a very playful temperament that can often mislead their owners. French bulldogs will happily play for as long as someone is willing to play with them. Outside, on a hot day, excessive playtime can quickly turn fatal. French bulldogs are generally good at warning their owners to their ailments but the signs are not always acutely evident. Heat stress can come on quickly and is especially dangerous to french bulldogs since their heat-dissipation mechanisms aren’t as effective as other canines. Their playfulness leads to their compact, dense bodies retaining (and generating) heat without effective means of quickly dissipating that heat in order to cool themselves. Excessive panting, lethargy, rapid or irregular heart rate, reddened gums, uncoordinated movement (ataxia), and unconsciousness are all symptoms of hyperthermia. We’ve written extensively on the importance of keeping your french bulldogs cool! Provide lots of cool water, a kiddie pool for taking a quick dip, ample areas of shade, and even a small box fan to circulate some air if you’re gonna be outside for an extended period of time.

Elongated Soft Palate

This is another condition contributing to brachycephalic airway syndrome. French bulldogs, pugs, boston terriers, english bulldogs, and other smushed-face breeds are all susceptible to an elongated soft palate. Years of breeding to make the head more compact and dense has lead to compacted airways and shifting cranial structures, but the soft tissues have not caught up. For french bulldogs, this means that the tissue towards the back of their upper soft palate extends into the sinus cavity at the back of their mouth. This can cause multiple issues with breathing and is often evidenced by excessive mouth breathing and panting, snorting, and persistent gagging. Regular (daily) foamy vomiting is a common symptom of a french bulldog suffering from an elongated palate.

This condition is treatable by an operation but is often extremely painful and recovery will require constant care and attention. Frequently liquid foods are necessary as the operation will leave the frenchie unwilling or unable to eat for up to two weeks. Water must often be given via tube (or a huge syringe or turkey baster) as the dog will likely avoid lapping.

Laryngeal Collapse

See Tracheal Stenosis.

Hemivertebrae

Hemivertebrae are abnormally shaped vertebrae in the spine of a french bulldog. French bulldogs are probably the most affected breed. This condition is the diagnosis of one or more vertebrae of an abnormal shape or misalignment leading to persistent spinal cord compression. Deformity of the spinal column can lead to bundles of nerves or tissues becoming squashed and often leads to severe pain for the french bulldog. Symptoms include frequent whimpering and trembling, wobbliness in the gait of the frenchie (ataxia), incontinence (loss of urinary control), and general trouble walking. Abnormally shaped or misaligned vertebrae can be operated on but the operation is often very expensive and recovery requires around-the-clock care.

All of that said, a french bulldog can have a misshapen vertebra and live a completely normal life. The issue is not always the shape of the vertebra as it is what that malformed shape ends up pressing on (nerves, for example) nearby.

Patellar Luxation

Patellar luxation is probably less common in french bulldogs than other small breeds because of the general shape and movement of their legs. French bulldogs tend to run without bending their “wrists” or “knee” joints in a large range of motion. Nevertheless, as a small breed, french bulldogs are still prone to this condition.

Patellar luxation occurs when the dog’s kneecap (patella) is dislocated from its normal anatomic position in the groove of the thigh bone (femur). When the kneecap is dislocated from the groove of the thigh bone, it can only be returned to its normal position once the quadriceps muscles in the hind legs of the animal relax and lengthen. It is for this reason that most dogs with the condition will hold up their hind legs for a few minutes.

A dislocated kneecap is one of the most prevalent knee joint abnormalities in dogs. The condition is most common in toy and miniature dog breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier, Pomeranian, Pekingese, Chihuahua, and Boston Terrier. Female dogs are 1 1/2 times more likely to acquire the condition.

Allergic Skin Disease

Allergic skin disease is really a general term used to describe a couple of allergy-specific french bulldog health problems. Allergic skin disease is over-represented in french bulldogs, so you may commonly run into one of these. Fortunately, these aren’t as series as a lot of the other things in this list. There are three specific types of allergic skin disease found in french bulldogs: flea allergies, food allergies, and atopy (environmental allergies affecting the skin).

Flea allergies are generally easy to treat and treatment involves staying up to date on your french bulldog’s flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives. Food allergies are a little more tricky, but generally involves a reductive approach (providing a simple diet to determine the cause) in the form of a hypoallergenic food trial. Generally, chicken is not a good protein source for french bulldogs. Chicken is generally bad for all bulldog breeds, given that roughly 60% of them are allergic to chicken. Further, french bulldogs can often be allergic to corn, soy, wheat, and dairy. As always, we recommend a high quality, organic, whole-food, human-grade diet for your french bulldog.

And then there’s environmental allergens (cleaning products, pollen, mold, dust, and contact allergens). This one is the biggest headache because removing or altering elements of your french bulldog’s day-to-day environment is generally difficult, if not impossible for most frenchie parents. Alas, you can attempt a few things to really reduce the number of environmental allergens your french bulldog is exposed to on a daily basis. Invest in a couple of air purifiers for your home, ensure your vacuum cleaner is HEPA-rated and vacuum your carpets regularly, take off your shoes and don’t wear them around the house, remove indoor plants temporarily, and switch to a hypoallergenic laundry detergent. Launder your linens, your french bulldog’s beds and linens, and your furniture covers (if removable). Then monitor the result. If your french bulldog’s symptoms are reduced or gone, you know that the root cause is something in your house. Start reversing the procedures above, monitoring all the while, until you suspect you have sussed out the cause. Conversely, you can pay for an allergy test, but they can be pricey.

Demodectic mange

This is a skin condition caused by an overpopulation and sensitivity to the Demodex mite, a tiny genus of mite that lives on a dogs’ skin. French bulldogs are most prone to this ailment in puppyhood, and it often clears up on its own as their immune system develops.

In cases where treatment is necessary, localized cases are often treated with an ointment (rotenone-based insecticide ointment) is used. In extreme cases, the only FDA-approved treatment veterinarians can offer as a service in the U.S.A. is Amitraz, a “parasiticidal dip”, e.g. a submersion treatment applied over several sessions until the mites are no longer present. If the case of mange is bad enough to cause lesions or other sores, antibiotics and topical ointments are often provided as secondary treatment measures.

Entropion

This condition is common in all bully breeds but less so in French Bulldogs than, say, English bullies. This condition is an abnormality of the eyelid, that results in the outermost eyelid (the one with fur on it) rolling inward, leading to that fur irritating your french bulldog’s eyeballs.

If untreated, entropion can lead to serious infections of the eyes, which are very, very painful and very costly to treat and heal. The general treatment for entropion is surgical correction which includes removing a small sliver of the outer eyelid, and then pulling the “rolled” or curling section of the eyelid outward and inserting stitches to encourage the eyelid to heal in the correct orientation. This is a fairly minor procedure but does require anesthesia, so be sure to discuss appropriate anesthesia for french bulldogs with your vet if you find yourself having to treat this condition.

Distichiasis

Distichiasis in french bulldogs is similar in nature to entropion. With distichiasis, eyelashes from irregularly placed follicles begin to grow in a direction or area that can lead to those hairs irritating the eyeball. Symptoms include regularly “pawing” at their eyes, persistent “weepy” eyes, and persistent squinting. Untreated, distichiasis can lead to corneal ulcers.

Typical treatment of diastichiasis includes examination and determination of the general rigidness of the lashes. If the irregularly growing hairs are soft and generally non-problematic, your veterinarian may only provide some eye drops for your french bulldog. These will typically include an eye drop treatment for irritation and another for lubricity of the lashes and the eye.

In cases of more rigid and more frequent hairs growing irregularly from the portion of the eyelid near the cornea, treatment options typically include manual removal (think “plucking with tweezers”), surgical removal, and in persistent cases, splitting the eyelid and cauterizing or removing the rogue follicles to prevent recurrence.

Cataracts‘

Cataracts are common in all dogs but especially so in brachycephalic breeds such as the french bulldog, pugs, boston terriers, et cetera. That said, french bulldogs are the least likely to develop cataracts of the breeds in the brachycephalic spectrum. A cataract is any opacity that develops in the inter-ocular lens (behind the cornea and pupil). Any opacity, no matter how large or small, is considered a cataract. Cataracts are visually evident due to the cloudy spots that become visible in a dog’s eye. That cloudy spot is the cataract. It is important to understand that no cataract can be reversed; once the lens is cloudy, it stays that way unless cataract surgery is performed to remove it.

Cataracts have a mode of inheritance but are not genetically common in french bulldogs. French bulldogs who develop cataracts typically develop them as a result of canine diabetes. Roughly 75% of dogs with diabetes will develop cataracts in the first nine months of being diabetic.

Cataract surgery is the only known method of reversing (removing, really) cataracts in canines. The surgery is incredibly expensive, requires a veterinary ophthalmologist (not too many of those floating around), and has a fairly rigorous post-surgery recovery regimen. There’s a modicum of cases where cataracts are inoperable, but the general cataract surgery is very common in canine treatment modalities. Development of a cataract does not mean your french bulldog is diabetic, as cataracts can develop due to ocular trauma, as well. Further, a veterinary ophthalmologist may decide that a cataract does not warrant surgery, as a cataract does not always mean a loss of functional vision.

Preventative measures include supplementation using Vitamins A, C, and E, as well as regular eye exams. Preventing the underlying causes of cataracts is even more effective. Preventing diabetes is the best mode of defense. Ensure your french bulldog is not getting an excess of carbohydrates in their diet. French bulldogs can become obese and develop diabetes, just like other canines. French bulldogs might be even more prone to becoming obese due to their seemingly insatiable appetites! So, ensure you’re feeding the correct amount of carbs (don’t deprive your french bulldog of carbohydrates), don’t over do it. Provide milberries and some cruciferous (not all greens are appropriate for frenchies) green veggies in your french bulldogs’ diet along the vitamins mention above.

Von Willebrand’s Disease (VWD)

I almost omitted Von Willebrand’s Disease (do you say it with the “German W”, like Von Villebrand? Someone let me know in the comments) from this list because it is far less common in french bulldogs than other breeds such as Chesapeake Retrievers, Dobermans, and Scottish terriers. Of all the possible french bulldog health problems, this one is probably the least represented in the breed. Still yet, french bulldogs can be carriers for the disease and it can be incredibly detrimental if your french bulldog undergoes surgery or is injured before you realize they have the disease.

Von Willebrand’s Disease (henceforth VWD) is the lack of a specific protein, called the ‘Von Willebrand factor’, or VWf, that aids blood platelets in clotting and sealing broken blood vessels. A deficiency of this protein means your french bulldog’s wounds won’t seal and clot properly.

Diagnosis of VWD includes a buccal mucosal screening test (fancy word for oral saliva test) to determine if further laboratory blood testing is warranted. Your vet may choose to perform the test with a couple of weeks in between lab work in order to verify a persistent deficiency.

If your french bulldog is diagnosed with VWD, the following medications must be avoided entirely, as they are vasodilators (enlarge blood vessels) or blood-thinners (anticoagulants, anti-platelet substances), which can result in bleeding from the orifices:

Aspirin, Antihistamines, Phenylbutazone, Sulfa-based antibiotics, Ibuprofen, Estrogens, Ampicillin/Amoxicillin, Penicillin, Phenothiazine, tranquilizers, Heparin, Theophylline

French bulldogs with VWD should not engage in rough play with other dogs, or with their owners. Even minor injuries to their joints or body can become problematic. Soft foods and treats may be appropriate if dry kibble causes excessive bleeding of the gums. Hard bones and other hard chewable treats and toys should be avoided. Dog’s with VWD have a tendency to develop a hypothyroid condition. Annual thyroid tests should be performed every year on affected animals. If a dog develops hypothyroidism, life-long oral medication can help control the condition.

Healthiest of All the Bully Breeds

Now that you’re worried sick that your french bulldog has one of these terrible ailments, let me lay some comforting truth on you. In spite of all the health conditions listed above, French Bulldogs are still considered to be the healthiest of all bulldog breeds. Compared to English, American, Dorset, and Boxers, french bulldogs are generally the healthiest and under-represent a majority of the common genetic and non-genetic ailments and illnesses commonly attributed to bullies. If you’re buying a french bulldog instead of adopting, always ask the breeder to produce certification that the pup’s parents have been screened for at least IVDD, and if you plan on breeding that pup, then they should also have a lot more documentation to prove the health of their sires and dams. It might behoove you to ask the breeder about luxating patella, stenotic nares, diabetes, and elongated soft palate, as well. Anyone can check the health of their french bulldog’s parents on the CHIC or Canine Health Information Center health registry (there may be fees associated with this check).

Whew! If you’re still here, I owe you a beer! Hopefully this information on french bulldog health problems is helpful to those of you owned by Frenchies. Don’t worry, don’t sweat it, and give your frenchies a nice belly-scritchin’ for me.