Breed Information
Breed Problems/Conditions
The French Bulldog, is on the whole, a fairly sound dog with a few structural problems that need to be noted and that breeders need to be aware of. Being a brachycephalic breed that is fairly short and compact with a screw tail, the “Frenchie” is prone to the associated problems these conformational characteristics will bring. These problems, which manifest to varying degrees, are:
- Birth defects: Cleft Palates/Hare Lips, Hemivertebrae
- Bone Disorders: Hip Dysplasia, Knees/Stifles, Back Problems, Spondalytis
- Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome
- Management of Brachycephalic Breeds in Hot Weather
- Care is needed with Anaesthetising or Sedation of Brachycephalic Breeds.
- For a detailed explanation of the above and other health information, the French Bulldog Club of England has an excellent article by Dr Karen Hedberg BVsc on their website.
Health Screening for French Bulldogs
There are two main areas of Health Testing in French Bulldogs. These are:
- X-Rays: Spine and Hips
- DNA: HC (hereditary cataract) HSF4 gene and DM (degenerative myelopathy
For further information, there are two very good articles on the French Bulldog Club of NSW website. under “Health Screening”