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Top 10 Health Concerns for French Bulldogs

And What You Can Do to Prevent Them!

By Megan YoonPublished 5 years ago 10 min read
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My adorable frenchie, Cookie~

When it comes to frenchies, many people underestimate the amount of health problems that this breed of dog is prone to. In this post, I would like to highlight the top ten health concerns of french bulldogs and what you, as their owner, can do to help limit your dog's risk.

1. Joint Issues

Probably one of the most common health concerns a frenchie will face is hip and joint issues, particularly hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia occurs when the ball joint comes out of the socket in the hip, causing discomfort, lameness, and pain. This is a condition that is usually seen in older frenchies, however it is very important that you understand how to prevent this from occurring. Hip dysplasia is the result of an injury to the hip. The kind of injury that normally occurs can be something as simple as jumping off of the couch, or jumping into a vehicle.

Frenchies should not be allowed to jump off and onto elevated objects. Make sure that you have a set of stairs for your frenchie to use to access the couch, and if you are taking your frenchie on a drive, make sure to pick up your frenchie to place them into the vehicle if you don't have a vehicle ramp.

Additionally you may give your frenchie supplements that help with hip and joints. These can be found as powdered supplements that you add to wet food, as soft chews, or even as treats. A product that I recommend for frenchie hip and joint health are Greenies Dental Chews in the Hip & Joint formula, petite size. These are about $30 for a bag of 45 chews, and you only need to give your frenchie one per day.

2. Breathing Issues

Frenchies are a type of dog known as a brachycephalic dog. Brachycephalic simply means "flat-faced," resulting in a shorter snout than other dogs. Because frenchies have short snouts, they are commonly plagued with breathing issues ranging from mild wheezing/snorting to a condition known as brachycephalic respiratory syndrome. This condition can cause wheezing, gagging, vomiting, and even death.

As a rule-of-thumb, you should know that frenchies are not the type of dog that likes physical exercise. This is because they have a harder time breathing than a non-brachycephalic dog. Overexertion can result in collapsedue to lack of oxygen. So how can you prevent your frenchie from experiencing breathing difficulty? The best thing you can do is limit the amount of physical exertion on your frenchie. Whether that means shorter walks or making your frenchie lay down after vigorous play, it's important that they don't become overexerted.

On a side-note, keep the air in your home clean. Frenchies are extra sensitive to toxins and allergens in the air, which can contribute to wheezing and other breathing ailments.

3. Environmental Allergies

Frenchies are a breed of dog that suffer from a lot of allergies. Most frenchies will exhibit allergic reactions through their skin, where a rash will form. These allergic reactions can be caused by many sources, but most commonly it is things like grass, pollen, and in fact, you.

If you're like most people, you probably use good-smelling detergents on your clothes and linens. Did you know that frenchies have sensitive skin? If you give your frenchie blankets, or dress them up in clothes that you've washed with fragranced detergent, chances are that your frenchie is going to have an allergic reaction. It's best to not wash any of your frenchie's things with detergent that has a fragrance. Additionally, if washing your frenchie's things with bleach, make sure to run them on another cycle with just plain water to really get rid of any traces of it.

When it comes to other allergens, such as grass and pollen, the best thing you can do is limit your frenchie's exposure to it. When taking your frenchie outside, have them wear a shirt to protect their belly from grass. After bringing them back indoors, make sure to wipe them off with some hypoallergenic wipes made for dogs to remove any allergens that may be on the surface of their fur and skin. Get a weather app on your phone that tracks the amount of pollen in the air and when pollen is particularly high, don't take your frenchie outside. To reduce the amount of pollen (or even other pet dander) exposure inside, consider getting an air purifier to help remove even more allergens.

As a last resort, make sure to have some children's benadryl on-hand. This can be given to your frenchie according to their weight. Make sure that if you are going to give your frenchie any kind of medication, that you have talked it over with your veterinarian first. Frenchies, just like people, are individuals and what works for one frenchie may not work for another frenchie.

4. Food Allergies

Just as with environmental allergies, frenchies are also prone to food allergies. Frenchies usually have dry skin, and as a result should not be fed dry kibble regularly. Frenchies can sometimes have sensitivities to the wheat found in dry kibble. It is important to always start out slow when introducing a new food into your frenchie's diet. It is okay to try out new foods, but start with one kind or brand that you'd like to try, and keep using it for several weeks before trying something new. Keep an eye out for vomiting, diarrhea, nausea or rash as these could be signs of an allergic reaction to the food.

As an example, my frenchie Cookie kept breaking out into a horrible rash every time I would feed him food with fish meal in it, a common ingredient in dog food. We came to the conclusion that cookie was allergic to fish meal after taking him off of the food and watching his rash clear up almost instantly.

5. Hot & Cold Sensitivity

As mentioned above, frenchies have shorter snouts than other dogs. As a result, frenchies are more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. It is never okay to leave your frenchie outside when the temperature is above 80 degrees Fahrenheit and when it is below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Because frenchies have shorter snouts, the air that travels through them travels to their lungs and vital organs at a faster pace. This can result in heat exhaustion or hypothermia in your frenchie if they are left outside for prolonged periods of time in undesirable temperatures.

To reduce your frenchies risk of getting too hot or too cold, make sure that you never leave your frenchie unattended outside for more than 30 minutes. Additionally, when you are taking your frenchie outside, make sure that you provide plenty of shade or a cool breeze if it's hot, or appropriate clothing such as a sweater or coat if it's cold.

6. Skin Sensitivity

If you don't already know by now, frenchies are prone to a plethora of skin issues. However, there is really only two main issues that your frenchie will most likely experience: general sensitivities, and fungal infections, which we will cover below.

General skin sensitivities in frenchies are usually due to the foods they eat, the environment they live in, and their personal hygiene. It is not uncommon for your frenchie to develop a rash out of nowhere. Each frenchie is different when it comes to how sensitive their skin is. Some frenchies can tolerate things better than others.

Keep an eye out for skin irritations. These could be due to allergies or minor cuts or injuries. If you notice that your frenchie has a case of sensitive skin, keep the area clean. Get some unscented hypoallergenic wipes made especially for dogs and wipe the area daily. Apply coconut oil to overly chapped areas where your dog has licked.

7. Skin Infections

If your frenchie's skin irritation gets out of hand, you may be looking at either a bacterial or a fungal infection. Neither one of these conditions is fun to deal with but if it happens to your frenchie, it's important to know what to do and how to handle it.

Before you decide to treat anything on your own, make sure that you give your veterinarian a visit to make sure of what you're dealing with. Bacterial and fungal infections are treated differently and your problem will only get worse with the incorrect treatment. Your veterinarian will be able to diagnose what is wrong with your frenchie and will know the right medication(s) and/or treatments for your frenchie's condition.

Skin infections, whether bacterial or fungal, can be present anywhere on their body. Most commonly you will see these types of infections in the folds of their faces, and on their bellies and armpits. A common skin condition is a condition called seborrhea, which can cause an oily and [very] stinky substance to emit from your frenchies skin. It is very unpleasant to deal with.

Two products that we use with our frenchie is:

  1. An antiparasitic & antiseborrheic shampoo formulated with colloidal oatmeal, and,
  2. Antiseptic wipes for the face folds.

Our favorites are from Chewy.com.

8. Dental Issues

Although it may not look like it, frenchies actually do have teeth! And just like any dog with teeth, they are prone to dental problems, too. I've heard many people say that they never even think about brushing or cleaning their dog's teeth. It is something that can be easily forgotten, but can also cause serious, even life-threatening issues down the road if gotten out-of-hand.

The easiest way to ensure that your frenchie has healthy and clean teeth is to pay a visit to your veterinarian for a regular check-up. Your vet will be able to tell if and when your frenchie will need a dental cleaning. They may also help you find over-the-counter or even prescription products to clean your frenchie's teeth at home.

Our favorite product to use (in conjunction with regular veterinarian visits) is the Greenies Dental Chews, which we've mentioned above. Not only do they help keep our frenchie's teeth clean, but they are also formulated with a hip and joint supplement to help nourish his joints and prevent future hip and joint problems. Dental gels and even toothbrushes are also popular methods of cleaning dog teeth.

9. Ear Infections

Frenchies have big, adorable ears. While they are very cute to look at, frenchies ears stay open all the time, and are constantly exposed to dirt. It's crucial that early on you treat your frenchie's ears with an ear rinse made for dogs. Ear rinses are a great way to clear out any unwanted build-up in your frenchie's ear canal.

When a frenchie doesn't have clean ears, it can lead to build-up, causing infection. This infection can cause inflammation and even permanent deafness in prolonged and severe cases. We use an ear wash from a company called VetOne which can be purchased from Chewy.com for about $9. We use it about once a week in our frenchie's ears to help keep nasty infections away.

Additionally, when bathing your frenchie make sure to place cotton balls in their ears. They probably won't like it, but it will keep unwanted moisture from entering their ear canal, which can also bring on infection. If your frenchie already has an ear infection, make sure to visit your veterinarian to pick up some medicated ear rinse for your frenchie.

10. Eye Issues

Frenchies also have big, bulging, and [oddly] adorable eyes. Their eyes are also prone to infection. With their brachycephalic faces playing a key role in their misfortune, frenchies have a tendency to run into things face-first. Make sure that you don't have any sharp objects lying around at their eye-level to prevent any unwanted accidents.

Frenchies, as mentioned above, also suffer from allergies causing minor eye irritations. However, if allergies are severe enough and go long enough, an eye infection can ensue. Make sure to use eye drops that are made for dogs regularly on your frenchie. We use Veterycin Eye Wash weekly with our frenchie. You can find it on Chewy.com as well.

Afterthoughts

As you can see, frenchies can have a lot of health concerns. However, that doesn't mean that your frenchie has to suffer through them! Frenchies are loving dogs who are generally really healthy with the help of their owners and their veterinarians. Remember that it's easier to prevent a health condition before it starts, than to treat it after!

-Megan & Cookie (the frenchie)

You can learn more about my frenchie, Cookie on his instagram page! His username is @the__real__cookie and he loves making new friends!

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