For three decades, the Labrador retriever held the top spot as the American Kennel Club’s most popular dog breed in America, but the French bulldog knocked them off the pedestal in 2022 and remain the favored canine breed. The Frenchie’s charismatic personality, cute bat wing ears, and kissable, smushed face are irresistible, and people understandably love them. However, these pups are prone to many challenging health issues and require extra attention. Read our Westerville Veterinary Clinic team’s Frenchie fundamentals to learn how to provide the right care for your French bulldog.

Common French bulldog health problems

The French bulldog’s physical characteristics and purebred lineage make them prone to several health conditions, including:

  • Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) — Frenchies are a brachycephalic breed, which means their skull bones are shortened and their face looks smushed. This affects their nose and mouth anatomy and can cause physical breathing problems. Abnormalities may include narrowed nostrils, an elongated soft palate, tissue obstruction in the pharyngeal or laryngeal regions, laryngeal collapse, and narrowed trachea. Affected dogs breathe noisily and may tire easily when exercising. Surgery is the treatment of choice if the condition interferes with the Frenchie’s breathing.
  • Dental disease — Frenchies often have teeth that are crowded or rotated in abnormal positions, which can lead to tartar accumulation and make them more susceptible to periodontal disease.
  • Skin sensitivity — Skin problems are one of the most common issues in French bulldogs, who are prone to environmental and food allergies. The allergies can lead to itchy skin, secondary skin infections, and hot spots. 
  • Ear infections — Frenchies are also prone to yeast and bacterial ear infections, which can be secondary to underlying allergies or caused by the ear canal shape. 
  • Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) — French bulldogs have short legs and a long body. The conformation puts extra strain on their back and makes them more susceptible to damage. 
  • Obesity — Obesity is common in all U.S. pets, but Frenchies are at increased risk, because they have a small body frame and slower metabolism. Obesity predisposes pets to serious health issues such as arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and kidney disease.
  • Eye problems — Since French bulldogs have naturally protruding eyeballs, they are not only more vulnerable to eye injuries, but also predisposed to conditions such as juvenile cataracts, entropion, cherry eye, and dry eye.
  • Orthopedic developmental abnormalities — Frenchies are at increased risk for orthopedic developmental abnormalities, such as hip dysplasia and patella luxation.
  • Birthing complications — French bulldogs typically can’t give birth naturally because of their pelvis conformation and large head. Most female Frenchies require a C-section to deliver their puppies.
  • Heart defects — Chronically low oxygen caused by their brachycephalic conformation makes Frenchies more prone to heart base tumors. They are also at increased risk for pulmonic stenosis, an inherited congenital heart defect.

Care tips for French bulldogs

Since Frenchies are at increased risk for so many health problems, they require extra care and management to prevent potential issues. Here are our tips on caring appropriately for your French bulldog:

  • Maintain a healthy weight — Keep your Frenchie at a healthy weight by calculating their daily caloric requirements considering their age, weight, and activity level. Use this information to determine how much food they need, and accurately measure the amount on a weight scale to prevent overfeeding. In addition, limit treats to no more than 10% of their daily calories.
  • Spay or neuter your pet — Spaying or neutering your Frenchie helps prevent numerous health and behavioral issues, including birthing complications.
  • Exercise carefully — While Frenchies aren’t ideal jogging partners, they need daily exercise to stay fit and healthy. However, be careful on warm, humid days, because they are prone to hyperthermia and can easily overheat. 
  • Provide appropriate skin care — Frenchies have many skin folds that can easily become infected. After your pup eats, carefully wipe the folds on their face to remove any food or drool and dry the areas well. To help promote skin health, bathe your Frenchie every one to two months. We may recommend more frequent bathing if your pup has problematic skin.
  • Clean the ears — To help keep your Frenchie’s ears clean and infection free, clean them using a veterinary-approved canine ear cleaning solution. Ask our team how frequently your pup’s ears need cleaning.
  • Schedule regular wellness visits — Health conditions are easier to treat and manage when they are detected early. Schedule annual or bi-annual wellness visits, so we can ensure your Frenchie stays as healthy as possible.
  • Promote dental health — Brush your French bulldog’s teeth daily with a pet-specific toothpaste and schedule regular professional dental cleanings to prevent dental disease.

French bulldogs make excellent pets, but they require special care and management to prevent potential health problems. Contact our Westerville Veterinary Clinic team today to schedule your pup’s wellness exam.