Frenchies are a Brachycephalic breed – a fancy word which basically means dogs  with short muzzles, flat faces and condensed breathing systems.

This is what’s responsible for the adorable snorting and snuffling sounds your Frenchie makes – but it’s also a serious matter for your dog’s health. They also combine to make anesthetic a serious matter for the breed. Anesthetic should only ever be administered for the most critical of procedures – no ‘putting under’ for simple nail clippings, please. Isoflourine is the most popular type of anesthesia, for various reasons, but this is a topic best discussed with your Veterinarian.

 

Heat Strokes

The shorter breathing system of the French Bulldog is also what puts them at such very strong risk for heat stroke. Shorter airways means less possibility of cooling the air which the dogs draws into its body.

Never, EVER underestimate your dog’s susceptibility

to heat stroke. Limit their exposure to temperatures

which you might personally find only mildly hot,

be conscious of your dog’s proximity to

hot pavement, NEVER leave your Frenchie in a

locked car in even warm weather, and always

allow them lots of access to fresh water, shade,

and cool areas to escape from heat. Be alert,

and be prepared with the things you need to save

your dog’s life. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                        

 

Elongated Soft Palate

One of the the most common forms of airway obstruction in Brachycephalic breeds is due to an elongated soft palate. The soft palate is an extension of the hard palate which forms the roof of the mouth. The purpose of the soft palate is to serve as a mobile flap preventing food and water from entering the nasal passages during swallowing. A soft palate that is elongated will either hang in front of the airway or will fall into the larynx during inhalation.

Dogs affected by chronic airway obstruction (CAO) tend to breathe rather noisily when excited. Mouth breathing, snoring and snorting are characteristics of this condition. These characteristics become even more pronounced when the dog is hot or during periods of exercise. The dogs frequently gag in an attempt to clear their airway and occasionally bring up foam and saliva while eating or drinking. The harder the dog breathes, the greater the swelling and elongation of the soft palate. Most often an elongated soft palate is difficult to positively confirm other than while the dog is under general anesthesia, surgical correction is usually done at the same time.

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Tracheal collapse

Tracheal collapse is the name given to a syndrome in which the rigid structure of the trachea becomes weakened. This weakened area collapses due to external and/or internal pressure created during activity, thus interfering with normal respiration. The weakened area becomes irritated. Since coughing and respiratory exertion can cause further irritation, clinical signs will worsen and the condition can become self perpetuating. Tracheal collapse may occur alone or in association with another airway disorder (most often chronic bronchitis).

A chronic “honking” cough can be an indication of this condition. In some cases the cough can become so severe that the animal behaves as though there is something caught in its throat. Other indications of this disorder include; breathing difficulty, tiring easily and exercise intolerance.

Mild cases often respond well to cough suppressants and stress reduction (reduce intense exercise and excitement). These dogs can live long and healthy lives. In more advanced cases surgical correction may be necessary. In cases of combination airway disorders, treatment of the contributing disorders may be necessary before treating the tracheal collapse.

 

 

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Stenotic Nares

Stenotic Nares are common in the French Bulldog breed. This is one of the many airway conditions which falls under “flat face” (brachycephalic syndrome). 

Stenotic Nares in bulldogs is defined as narrowed nostrils. This narrowing causes a restriction in the amount of air that can flow into the nostrils. The diagnosis of stenotic nares is usually made during the physical exam via a visual inspection.  Stenotic Nares can be surgically corrected in order to allow improved airflow through the nostrils. The procedure is performed by removing a wedge-shape piece of each nostril.

Stenotic Nares is more common in French bulldogs puppies then other bulldogs breeds. French Bulldog puppies with a mild case of stenotic nares will exhibit noisy breathing, especially with excitement, exercise, and stressful conditions, all of which increase the demand for oxygen. Most will snort when excited and snore when relaxed or asleep. Severely affected bulldogs will exhibit more pronounced airway noise, appear to tire easily with exercise, and may even collapse or faint after exercise. Symptoms can also include coughing, gagging, retching and vomiting.

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When it comes to brachycephalic airway syndrome, weight control is instrumental in proper bulldog care. Bulldogs with mild stenotic nares symptoms will often show improvement with controlled exercise practiced in combination with avoidance of hot or humid conditions and stress. For short term relief of airway inflammation or respiratory distress, anti-inflammatory medications, tranquilizers, cooling down and oxygen therapy can be helpful. It’s important to note, however, that medical management of this condition does not correct the underlying anatomical abnormalities, but merely lessens the symptoms. 

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Cherry Eye

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Cherry eye in french bulldogs is referred to medically as the prolapse or eversion of the gland of the nictitating membrane. Put simply, a fibrous membrane located in the lower inside corner of a dog’s eye becomes disconnected or the connecting material loses strength and allows the membrane to protrude from your dog’s eyelid. The protruding mass will remain in place until the condition is treated, giving the appearance of a cherry sticking out of the corner of your dog’s eye, hence the common referential name. What causes the connective tissue of the nictitating membrane to weaken or separate entirely is not well-known, although the condition is highly treatable by nearly any veterinarian. 

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Cherry eye is not lethal or fatal in French Bulldogs but it can cause an extreme amount of discomfort for your Frenchie. Often, dogs will claw at their eye with their dew claw, leading to corneal ulcers. Cherry eye almost always causes dry eyes and can be very itchy, causing inflammation and discomfort, and even severe pain for your dog. This is especially true in brachycephalic breeds like French Bulldogs, pugs, and Boston Terriers. The protruding eyes and shortened muzzles of these breeds naturally exposure them to more eye problems than other breeds. Like any French Bulldog eye problem, it is critical that you get your dog to a veterinarian as quickly as possible. Your vet will likely prescribe a round of ocular antibiotics, regular twice-daily under-eye massages, ophthalmic ointments, an eye lubricant specifically for canines, and some NSAIDs to help with pain.

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French Bulldog cherry eye symptoms are very obvious. Your Frenchie will paw and scratch at their eye. Their eye will appear dry, red, and irritated, too. Cherry can occur in one eye or in both eyes. Here are some very common cherry eye symptoms in French Bulldogs:

• Eye redness (conjunctivitis)

• Swelling around the eyes

• Excessive tear production – signs of eye drainage

• Abnormally dry eyes – insufficient tear production (yes, both too dry or too moist)

• Rubbing/pawing at the eyes

• Squinting

• Vision impairment

 

CAUSES:

 Cherry eye is most prevalent in younger French Bulldogs. Normally, cherry eye will occur in dogs under two years of age. Some veterinarians speculate that cherry eye is genetic but no proof of that claim exists.   Veterinarians do not agree entirely on what causes cherry eye in French Bulldogs. The condition is not fully understand, particularly the role of the nictitating membrane. That said, the condition is wholly treatable.

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SOLUTIONS:

Cherry eye can be corrected using both surgical and non-surgical methods. Simple massage techniques can relieve the protrusion but will require constant veterinary monitoring. Surgical solutions include an attachment procedure in which the fleshly membrane of the everted tissue is anchored back to more hardy tissues in the lower corner of the eye socket. We recommend keeping a bottle of canine-only eye lubricant in your dog’s medicine cabinet to help with dry eyes. Remember, always take your French Bulldog to a veterinarian if you see any sign of eye problems. Many eye problems in french bulldogs can cause blindness.

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Food Allergies & Skin Allergies

  In most cases GI problems in Frenchies are more likely to be due to parasites, viral, bacteria, indiscretion eating, etc. and your bulldog skin condition are more likely due to atopy (environmental allergens), fleas and bacteria. Proper wellness and diagnostic rule outs should be done before a hypoallergenic food trail begins. If your bulldog also has a skin allergy consistent with food allergies (i.e. itching year around rather than a seasonal spike) then food allergies should be higher on your rule out list. Milder forms of food allergy could present with only frequent rumbling and gas release (yes that kind of gas, the one everyone turns his nose away from), but your bully might also suffer from diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

In some cases food allergies could progress to something like IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease).

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Solutions:

Offering fresh, organic, unprocessed fruits and vegetables to your bully is great; remember to avoid onions and grapes (raisins). When food allergy is suspected, a minimum of 8 weeks hypoallergenic food trial is advised. Your compliance and strict dietary maintenance during the trial duration is critical. The hypoallergenic diet could be either a prescription novel protein, a prescription hydrolyzed protein diet or a home-cooked novel protein diet. If by the end of the trial duration you bully is greatly improved try to reintroduce your previous diet as a diagnostic challenge.

The GI problems (and itch if it’s also a skin allergy) will most likely start again within days to 2 weeks from the challenge start date. If the previous clinical problems re-emerge then you could be highly confident your bully has a food allergy.

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Many bully owners associate food allergy with grain when in fact it is usually due to the protein source found in meat. The most common allergens are chicken (60%), then beef and fish. Also on the frequent allergens list are corn, soy, wheat, and dairy.

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 If you have a food allergy concern and you believe your bully allergies are due to grains, then your grain free dietary trial should last at least ten weeks.

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Untreated gastrointestinal disease due to food allergy could eventually lead to 

IBD-inflammatory bile disease.

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Flank Alocepia-Seasonal Flank Baldness

One of our own Frenchies suffers from this after a long winter. Flank alopecia is associated with a shorter period of sunlight due to the changing of the seasons. The reduced sunlight exposure affects your Frenchie’s hair follicles, thus slowing or stopping your bulldog’s hair growth. This seasonal effect is thought to be influenced by melatonin and prolactin hormone production.

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Solutions:

Flank alopecia is more of a cosmetic skin condition and is not generally associated with a medical problem. Thus, a therapeutic action is necessary, but for owners of Frenchies who opt to treat this condition, I suggest exposure to light (similar to the type of light used for humans with seasonal mood disorders). If you are compelled to do something, you can give a melatonin supplementation ; it’s harmless. In general you can ignore it; it’s a cosmetic, not a medical problem. Most of the time, it will improve and the hair will grow with the changing of the season.