French bulldog health problems

Despite their small size, French bulldogs are playful canine companions who enjoy adventuring with their humans!

Since they’re so clever, French bulldogs are usually great to train – as long as you find the right reward to overcome the little stubborn streak some are known to have. Many French bulldogs also have a fun-loving nature and adore staying active; yet it’s important not to exercise them in hot weather, due to the risk of breathing problems.

Their short, smooth coat means the French bulldog only needs to be brushed a couple of times a week. However, it’s essential to clean the skin folds on your French bulldog’s face, to prevent them from getting skin infections.

Explore our French bulldog breed guide for more information about this friendly breed!

Potential health conditions linked to the French bulldog breed

Please remember that while the following health concerns are frequently seen in the French bulldog breed, each dog is a unique individual. So, your canine companion isn’t necessarily going to suffer from any of the health conditions commonly experienced by French bulldogs. But, if you’re considering pet insurance, you could read our guide to insuring your French bulldog for more information.  

Always speak to your vet if you’re concerned about your dog’s health.   

Don’t forget to visit our dog first aid guides to discover the basics of canine first aid.

BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome)

BOAS, or ‘Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome’, is the term used to describe a range of features, seen in flat-faced breeds, that impact on an animal’s ability to breathe. As a flat-faced dog breed, your French bulldog could end up suffering from BOAS.

Sadly, there are many issues that cause BOAS in flat-faced breeds, including:

• Narrow nostrils – breathing is harder for your French bulldog because less air is able to pass through their nose.
• Narrow windpipe – makes breathing very difficult for your French bulldog due to the lack of space available for air to pass through.
• Obstructions of the nose and throat – the same amount of tissue seen in a dog with a longer nose is compacted into the smaller space of your dog’s short muzzle.

Here are just a few of the symptoms associated with BOAS in French bulldogs:

• Snoring.
• Noisy breathing, meaning they often make snorting or snuffling sounds.
• Excessive panting, even at rest.
• Reluctance to exercise.
• Vomiting, due to breathing difficulties.

Additionally, dogs who are flat-faced and have BOAS are at an increased risk of heatstroke.

It’s vital to take your French bulldog to a vet immediately if they’re struggling to breathe or showing signs of heatstroke.

To diagnose BOAS in your French bulldog, a vet will ask about their symptoms, perform a physical examination, and may assess your French bulldog’s breathing rate following a short walk. If your French bulldog needs further tests, they might see a specialist vet who can carry out an endoscopy (using a camera to check their airways) or MRI under anaesthetic.

The treatment options for BOAS include surgery, ensuring your French bulldog maintains a healthy weight (since being overweight can worsen their symptoms), and keeping them cool during hot weather.

Skin allergies and infections

For French bulldogs, the most common type of dermatitis is ‘skin fold dermatitis’ – which usually occurs between the wrinkles of their face. The folds of a French bulldog’s face provide the ideal environment for bacteria to grow, which can lead to a foul smell, pain, and itchiness, along with redness and inflammation.

To treat skin fold dermatitis, a vet is likely to recommend cleaning your French bulldog’s face folds regularly, as well as prescribing anti-microbial shampoo and/or anti-inflammatory medication.

While skin fold dermatitis is one of the most frequently seen types of skin condition in French bulldogs, atopic dermatitis is common in this breed, too. Atopic dermatitis, also known as ‘atopy’, describes a range of skin allergies frequently seen in dogs. These conditions can sometimes lead to skin infections.

Dogs with atopic dermatitis are likely to scratch, chew, and/or lick the parts of their body that are itchy, inflamed, or irritated, which could include their:

• Face.
• Ears.
• Armpits (axillae).
• Tummy (abdomen).
• Paws.

Vets can diagnose atopic dermatitis by evaluating your French bulldog’s medical history and symptoms, alongside performing a thorough assessment of your dog’s skin.

Just like human allergies, such as hayfever, that require ongoing treatment to manage symptoms, canine atopic dermatitis will probably need to be treated throughout your dog’s life, too.

It can take some trial and error to work out which treatments (or combination of treatments) will work best to ease your dog’s symptoms – for example, medication and/or soothing shampoos. Though, thankfully, the majority of atopic dermatitis cases can be managed effectively to make sure your French bulldog is able to enjoy life to the full.

Dental disease

Some dog breeds, including the French bulldog, are prone to dental disease.

Most dogs have their full set of 42 permanent adult teeth by the age of around six months, so dental disease could start to develop at any time after this.

Pet parents may prevent dental disease by following vet advice to brush their dog’s teeth, provide dental-care toys, and offer dry dog biscuits as part of a balanced diet. However, certain dog breeds, like French bulldogs (as a flat-faced breed with a shorter muzzle), are at higher risk of dental disease due to the shape of their mouth.

Signs of canine dental disease can be easily missed, since some dogs won’t display symptoms – so, it’s essential to take your French bulldog to a vet for regular dental check-ups. For dogs who are suffering from dental disease and do show symptoms, you might notice:

• Bad breath.
• Tartar build-up around their teeth.
• Red, inflamed, or bleeding gums.
• Excessive drooling.
• Repeatedly head shaking or rubbing their face.

In more advanced dental conditions, like periodontal disease (a bacterial infection of the gums and teeth caused by the build-up of plaque), you may notice additional symptoms, including:

• Difficulty eating and/or lack of appetite.
• Swelling around their face.
• Behavioural changes, e.g. refusing to play or irritability.
• Loose teeth.
• Tooth loss.

A vet can diagnose dental disease by examining your French bulldog’s mouth. Sometimes, vets recommend dental x-rays (under general anaesthetic) to assess the health of your French bulldog’s teeth in more detail.

Usually, canine dental disease is treated by a vet through a scale and polish performed under general anaesthetic. Following a dental procedure, your vet may prescribe pain-relieving medication and/or antibiotics, alongside a long-term aftercare plan for your French bulldog.

Eye ulcers

An eye ulcer, or ‘corneal ulcer’, is a wound on the front of your French bulldog’s eye. Eye ulcers can vary greatly in severity, though they often appear suddenly and might get worse over a short space of time. 

Although eye ulcers can have many different causes, ranging from injury to infection, the shape of a dog’s face can increase their risk. For example, eye ulcers are commonly seen in flat-faced breeds, like the French bulldog.

Symptoms including a runny eye, holding their eye closed, and cloudiness of the eye could suggest your French bulldog is suffering from an eye ulcer.

Along with a physical examination of your French bulldog’s eye, a vet may use an orange dye to check the size and severity of an eye ulcer.

To treat a canine eye ulcer, your vet could prescribe eye drops and pain relief, as well as providing support through frequent check-ups, until your French bulldog’s eye has healed. If, however, your French bulldog has a deep corneal ulcer or their eye fails to heal after a course of treatment, they might need surgery to treat it.

Luxating patellas

Despite its complicated name, a ‘luxating patella’ is the veterinary description for a dog’s kneecap slipping out of place.

There are four grades of severity for patellar luxation. A grade one patellar luxation describes a kneecap that almost instantly pops back into place – whereas grade four is when a kneecap can’t fit back into place (which is rare).

Symptoms of a patellar luxation in French bulldogs can include a ‘skipping’ lameness and/or ‘bow-legged’ appearance.

Treatments for patellar luxation depend on the grade, though treating low-grade patellar luxation could involve anti-inflammatory medication, adjusting exercise routines, and physiotherapy. High-grade patellar luxation in a French bulldog usually requires surgery.