several congenital diseases and conditions that French Bulldogs are prone to, although they are still considered among the healthiest of the Bull Breeds. Frenchies can suffer from Von Willebrand’s disease (VWD), a bleeding syndrome similar to Hemophilia in humans which can impede their clotting. In conjunction to this, French Bulldogs may also suffer from thyroid condition. Many breeders follow a program of testing younger dogs for VWD, and only testing for thyroid at that time if the VWD factor is low. In this program, the breeder tests thyroid again just prior to using the dog for breeding. Other breeders test both VWD and Thyroid at the same time.

French Bulldogs suffer from Brachycephalic syndrome, which is what creates the charming flat faced appearance of the Frenchie. As a result, one of the most common defects in French Bulldogs is elongated soft palate or cleft palate. Puppies affected with Cleft palate are generally put down at birth, as it is generally considered to be an almost impossible condition to correct. Elongated soft palate can manifest as anything from a mild condition causing labored breathing to severe condition that can cause the affected dog to pass out from moderate exercise.

French Bulldogs can also suffer from a condition called megaesophagus, a term which collectively describes several esophageal disorders and malformations in any combination from single-to-double or multiple. One of the most disgusting possibilities in a dog affected with megaesophagus is passive regurgitation, in which the affected dog vomits up food or phlegm after eating or exercise. A frequent and sometimes lethal complication of passive regurgitation is aspiration pneumonia.
Another result of the compacted air way of the French Bulldog is their inability to effectively regulate temperature. While a regular canine may suffer to some degree from the heat, to a Frenchie it may be lethal. It is imperative that they be protected from temperature extremes at all times, and that they always have access to fresh water and shade.

French Bulldogs can also suffer from an assortment of back and spinal diseases, most of which are probably related to the fact that they were selectively chosen from the dwarf examples of the Bulldog Breed. This condition is also referred to as chondrodysplasia. Some breeders feel that only dogs that have been X-rayed and checked for spinal anomalies should be bred from, but this is a difficult position to take sides on. While it is true that no dog affected with a spinal disease should be bred from , there is a great deal of variance in the appearance of a French Bulldog’s spine as compared to, for example, a Labrador Retriever. If possible, such decisions should be left to either a Vet or breeder who has seen quite a few Bulldog Breed Spinal Xrays, to avoid eliminating dogs unnecessarily.

In North America, French bulldogs frequently require Caesarean section to give birth. As well, many North American French Bulldog stud dogs are incapable of naturally breeding, requiring breeders to undertake artificial insemination of bitches. French Bulldog bitches can also suffer from erratic or ’silent’ heats.

Those considering the purchase of a French Bulldog would be well advised to ask what disorders breeders are testing for, and beware of any breeder who cavalierly states that “They don’t have any of those problems in *their* lines.” Reputable breeders are struggling to produce dogs that are as healthy as possible, and while these tests are expensive for the breeder to do, they can help to save the puppy purchaser hundreds or even thousands of dollars in potential vet bills.

source : wikipedia

One Response to “French Bulldog health”

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   November 21, 2006 at 8:32 pm

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