frenchbulldog.org

French bulldog health

Image by Conson via Flickr

The French bulldog breed is prone to several conditions and congenital diseases the most common of these being problems relating to breathing due to the squatness of their face. The French bulldog is also particularly prone to a condition called Von Williebrands disease which is a disease similar to haemophilia in humans. Many breeders of the French bulldog now routinely perform tests for this particular disease.

One of the most common defects found in the French bulldog is elongated soft palate or cleft palate, cleft palate is considered to be something which is almost impossible to correct in the French bulldog and so puppies born with this defect are generally put down at birth.

The elongated soft palate can cause problems such as mild laboured breathing difficulties to the more serious condition in which the dog can pass out during moderate exercise. One serious problem for both dog and owner due to a soft elongated palate is the regurgitation of food, a dog with this condition will vomit up food or phlegm during exercise or after eating.

Before buying a puppy always ask the breeder if the parents have this problem or have been operated on for this problem. Another problem of the French bulldog is due to the compacted airways of the breed is their inability to regulate successfully their temperature, while most other breeds suffer to some degree from the heat to the frenchie it can be fatal.

Therefore it is essential that they are protected from extreme to temperatures at all times and that they have access to cool water and shade. The frenchie is also prone to back problems, some of which are spinal diseases. This is probably down to the fact that the dogs were chosen from dwarf breeds and some breeders feel that only dogs that have had spinal x rays should be used to breed from.

The breathing system of the French bulldog

The French bulldog has a flat face, short muzzle and a condensed breathing system; it is this breathing system that gives the breed its commonly known snuffles, sniffles and snorting noises. It is this system which also makes the French bulldog a bad candidate for anaesthesia; this is one aspect that should be talked about with your vet before any surgery is undertaken.

Heatstroke

The shorter breathing system of the French bulldog puts them at greater risk of heatstroke than many other breeds, the frenchie has less chance of cooling the air that it takes into the body which can then result in them becoming overheated. Great care should be taken on warm days to ensure that your frenchie has somewhere cool to lie down and that cool fresh water is available to them at all times. It can never be stressed enough that great care with a very watchful eye should be taken to cool your dog down should they start to pant a lot and their inner ears suddenly redden.