With their squished-in faces, large bat-like ears, and short stubby legs, Frenchies are a beauty to behold.
Unfortunately, Frenchies are also prone to various health concerns besides their adorable looks.
Want to know more?
Read on.
Common French Bulldog Health Problems
Compared to other breeds, French Bulldog health problems are more common, including respiratory, eye, skeletal, skin, and ear problems.
The following are some of the most common health issues that your Frenchie may suffer from:
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome
French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic dog breed. This means that they have a flat or short-facial structure. While this facial structure gives them a unique, cute look, it also makes them prone to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome.
Brachycephalic airway syndrome is a respiratory issue caused by a flat facial structure, which results in the compression of the tissues in the back of the nose and throat. Narrowed nostrils, elongated soft palate, and constrained trachea characterize this condition.
Symptoms of brachycephalic airway syndrome include
- Difficulties in breathing
- Snoring,
- Retching
- Vomiting
- Regurgitation.
- Heat intolerance.
Patella luxation
Frenchies, just like other small-breed dogs, are genetically predisposed to a condition called patella luxation. This happens when the kneecap temporarily slips out of its normal position in the femur, causing pain.
Symptoms of patella luxation include:
- Sudden lameness
- Occasional skipping
- Abnormal hindlimb movement
- Sudden hindlimb lameness
If left untreated, this condition can lead to osteoarthritis resulting from repeated damage to the patella.
Heat stroke
Unlike humans, who cool their sweat, dogs do so by panting. When dogs pant, moisture evaporates from their mouth and respiratory tract, helping them stay cool.
However, due to their flat facial structures, Frenchies have difficulties breathing and regulating their body temperatures. This makes them susceptible to overheating and heat stress, which, if left unhandled, can lead to heat stroke.
Look out for the following signs that may point to heat stroke:
- Excessive panting
- Vomiting
- Convulsions
- Blue or red gums
- Diarrhea
- Signs of discomfort.
It’s thus crucial to ensure that your Frenchie remains cool by providing shade or keeping it in an air-conditioned place.
Intervertebral disc disease
Frenchies have short, stocky legs that predispose them to intervertebral disc disease. This occurs when the discs that provide cushioning between the backbones become damaged or brittle.
This causes them to bulge, herniate, slip, or burst into the spinal cord space, resulting in pressure on the spinal cord, which causes pain, nerve damage, and paralysis.
Maintaining a healthy weight for your Frenchie and preventing it from jumping up and down can help avoid this condition.
Symptoms of intervertebral disc disease include:
- Unwillingness to jump
- Sudden paralysis
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Pain and weakness in the hind legs
- Arched or hunched posture
Hemivertebrae
This congenital spinal condition occurs when the spine’s vertebrae are deformed and develop abnormally. This results in twisting and compression of the spinal cord. This condition is most common in dogs with a corkscrew tail appearance.
While hemivertebrae does have any symptoms for mild cases, more severe cases are symptomized by:
- Weakness in the hind limbs
- Inability to control bowel and urinary movements
Skin allergies
Frenchies are genetically prone to allergies resulting from both food and environmental factors. Dust, pollen, and mites are common triggers for allergic reactions in Frenchies. Fleas, ticks, and other external parasites also contribute to allergies. Your French Bulldog can also be sensitized to foods like wheat and dairy.
Symptoms of allergies in Frenchies include:
- Paw licking
- Excessive itching
- Skin reddening
- Sneezing
- Ear infections
- Diarrhea, vomiting, and loose or bloody stools
- Lethargy
- Watery eyes
Ear infections and deafness
Frenchies have very large ears, making it easy for dirt and debris to get in and accumulate. This increases their likelihood of getting skin infections. They are also prone to allergies, which also contribute to ear infections.
Watch out for bad odor, redness, black or yellow discharge, head scratching and shaking, and thickened ear canals.
If left untreated, ear infections can lead to serious complications, including neurological issues, balance problems, pain, face paralysis, partial deafness, or even complete loss of hearing.
It’s important to keep a close eye on your Frenchy’s ears, regularly clean them, and be on the lookout for any signs of infection to prevent ear issues.
Hip and elbow dysplasia
Frenchies are prone to skeletal disorders, including hip and elbow dysplasia. Hip dysplasia occurs when the ball and socket in the hip joint do not fit or develop properly. Instead of sliding smoothly, they rub and grind, resulting in deterioration over time and eventual loss of joint function.
Symptoms of hip dysplasia include pain, difficulty walking, stiffness or limping, swaying gait, decreased motion, decreased activity, and loss of thigh muscle mass. If left untreated, hip dysplasia can lead to osteoarthritis.
Elbow dysplasia, on the other hand, occurs when the elbow joint develops abnormally, causing irregular weight distribution. Symptoms of this condition include legs that rotate inward with elbows outward, stiff elbow joints, and a cracking sound when the joint moves.
Eye problems
Due to their flat facial structures, French bulldogs have large eyes that seem to bulge out. This makes them prone to various eye infections, including cherry eyes, cataracts, dry eyes, corneal ulcers, and entropion.
Cherry eye is a condition in which the gland inside the third eyelid in dogs protrudes, forming a large, red, cherry-like lump.
Dry eyes occur when the eyes don’t produce enough tears, causing dryness and the cornea’s inflammation. Symptoms include redness, squinty eyes, yellow or green discharge, and continuous blinking.
Corneal ulcers are open wounds in the cornea that result from dry eyes, injury or trauma to the eyes, and chemical burns. Symptoms include yellow or green discharge, squinting, red, swollen, or cloudy eyes.
Entropion is a hereditary abnormality that occurs when the eyelid rolls inward, causing the eyelid’s hair to rub against the cornea. This condition causes pain, corneal ulcers, and corneal erosions if untreated.
Skin fold dermatitis
Due to their facial wrinkles and skin folds, Frenchies are prone to a skin condition called skin fold dermatitis. These folds provide a perfect breeding place for bacteria and yeast, which cause skin infections.
Skin fold dermatitis is symptomized by excessive scratching and itching around the folded areas, soreness, skin redness, foul smell, and yellow or white discharge on the dog’s body.
Tracheal collapse
This chronic and progressive respiratory condition happens when the cartilage rings of the trachea weaken and collapse. This results in the airway narrowing, making breathing difficult for dogs.
Tracheal collapse is often caused by chronic heart disease, respiratory disease, or cushions disease. Some of the symptoms of this condition include:
- Wheezing
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent, harsh, dry cough commonly referred to as goose honking
- Bluish tinge to the gums
- Fainting
Cleft palate
An abnormal opening in the roof of the mouth marks this genetic disorder. This usually occurs when the two sides of a dog’s palate fail to join and fuse during embryonic development, resulting in an opening between the mouth and nasal passages. This condition can be easily corrected via surgery.
Symptoms of cleft palate include:
- Aspiration pneumonia
- Coughing
- Weight loss
- Stunted growth
- Runny nose
- Difficulty sucking or nursing for puppies.
Final Thoughts
Frenchies are charming, affectionate, loving, and smart dogs that make excellent family pets. However, they are also prone to numerous health problems, which can negatively impact their lifespan.
Although this does not mean that your Frenchie will be affected, it’s thus crucial to be aware of these issues to take necessary precautions. With proper care, you can still enjoy a long and healthy life with your Frenchie.