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“Breeding French Bulldogs needs to be unlawful.”
I’ve seen this assertion numerous occasions on social media and in varied information articles over the previous couple of years. It’s an unpopular opinion amongst many Frenchie homeowners and positively a controversial subject, particularly given this breed’s present hovering reputation. In any case, French Bulldogs maintain the #1 spot as the most well-liked breed in the US and #2 in the UK.
Nonetheless, numerous veterinarians will inform you that Frenchies are, in a nutshell, genetic disasters. I’ve been researching and writing about French Bulldogs for over a decade and should agree. These lovely, hilarious, and constant little pups make improbable household pets, however at what value to the canine themselves? I lately got here throughout this put up on LinkedIn that speaks volumes from an ER vet’s perspective.
After studying this put up, I felt compelled to contact the creator, Gunila Pedersen, Cand.Med.Vet, MRCVS, to debate the subject of French Bulldog well being and study extra about her experiences with this breed. Dr. Pedersen is a small animal emergency veterinarian who works night time shifts at Northlands Veterinary Hospital in Kettering, England, United Kingdom. I’ve included extra of her brutally trustworthy however poignant observations from our dialog on this article.
By day, Pedersen hosts The Overwhelmed Vet Podcast and is a licensed life coach, serving to fellow veterinarians overcome skilled burnout. Pedersen, herself, burnt out after proudly owning her personal veterinary clinic in Spain for 10 years however managed to seek out her approach again to working towards veterinary drugs by means of self-help and receiving teaching. “I needed to be a vet since I used to be 4 years outdated and now take pleasure in it to its fullest,” she says.
Why Are French Bulldogs So Well-liked?
First, it’s useful to know why Frenchies have turn into one of many hottest canine breeds. Certain, there’s the numerous development issue. French Bulldog celeb homeowners abound — Girl Gaga, Reese Witherspoon, Megan Thee Stallion, 2 Chainz, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Martha Stewart — the record goes on and on. In our celebrity-driven, online-influencer world, this is smart. Many of those celebrities share their Frenchies of their social posts and music movies.
You additionally actually can’t low cost their many optimistic attributes. Who can resist these lovely flat faces and bat ears? French Bulldogs have a loving, playful, and pleasant temperament and get alongside extraordinarily properly with youngsters. They’re additionally low upkeep when it comes to grooming and train wants. Plus, their small measurement makes them adaptable to these residing in flats and concrete areas. However are these traits price breeding a canine who has a excessive likelihood of struggling extreme well being issues?
Causes Not To Get A French Bulldog
The explanations? Consultants make it clear. It’s all in regards to the high quality of life for these valuable pups. Regardless of their hovering reputation and undoubtedly loveable nature, many veterinarians are on board with the negatives of French Bulldogs, however not from a behavioral standpoint. These vets, like Dr. Pedersen, witness firsthand how these little guys undergo from many extreme well being issues on a frequent foundation. What are essentially the most troubling issues?
Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome & Respiratory Points
As Dr. Pedersen shared in her LinkedIn put up, respiration issues are horrific in lots of Frenchies. Brachycephalic airway syndrome (BOAS) is a direct results of breeding these canine to have the cuteness issue of a smushed-in face. Due to their abnormally formed skulls and faces, Frenchies and different brachycephalic breeds face a number of respiration and different related issues. Sadly, 50% of French Bulldogs have “clinically important indicators” of BOAS, in keeping with the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Affiliation.
I requested Dr. Pedersen to share the worst respiration impairments she sees most frequently in Frenchies. “It’s troublesome to say which is the worst I see most as a result of it’s a mixture of all of them that make the signs so extreme,” she explains. “I’d say the shortness of their face. It makes the taste bud (which maintains its authentic size) flap into their larynx, successfully inflicting them to really feel like they’re being tortured by waterboarding 24/7.”
Dr. Pedersen explains that this impairment additionally forces them to inhale meals. “The larynx is incapable of separating air and meals, and this causes aspiration pneumonia. Due to this, they battle to breathe much more, panting and gasping, which makes their throat swell up. That’s after they come to me, mainly purple and panicking.” One other drawback that stems from BOAS is that Frenchies can overheat simply and are vulnerable to warmth stroke.
Spinal Issues
Frenchies are considered one of a number of breeds identified to undergo from chondrodystrophy (CDDY), a genetic situation that impacts cartilage and bone development, leading to shortened limbs and a predisposition to untimely degeneration of intervertebral discs. This dysfunction results in persistent intervertebral disc illness (IVDD). In actual fact, one giant research discovered that French Bulldogs had been among the many high 5 breeds with the best charges of IVDD.
Dr. Pederson says spinal points are the second commonest factor she sees Frenchies for within the emergency room. “They’re vulnerable to collapsed intervertebral discs, which then press on the spinal twine, inflicting both acute, excessive ache or sudden paralysis of the hind legs,” she shares. “The canine I wrote about on LinkedIn, along with not having the ability to breathe, additionally walked very stiffly on very straight hindlegs, and once we X-rayed his lungs, we by the way discovered deformed vertebrae and ribs.”
She provides that these instances can happen in very younger Frenchies. Until the signs aren’t very extreme and canine can get better with crate relaxation, they want a referral to a specialised middle and have spinal surgical procedure. “This implies 1000’s of kilos [dollars], and for many homeowners, it’s solely doable if they’ve high-range pet insurance coverage that may and can cowl the surgical procedure. If you happen to ever see Frenchies on the street, it’s possible you’ll discover what number of of them stroll ‘humorous,’ dragging a leg or limping.”
Breeding & Birthing Issues
One other frequent motive Dr. Pedersen sees French Bulldogs in her ER is for cesarean sections (C-sections). If you happen to’re not a breeder, you possible wouldn’t know that most Frenchies have severe issues mating and birthing naturally.
As a consequence of selective breeding practices, French Bulldogs incessantly require synthetic insemination as a result of their slender hips make pure mating troublesome. These long-time breeding practices have additionally resulted in giant heads and slim hips, which prevents dams [females] from giving delivery naturally; as a substitute, they should endure C-sections for each litter, exposing the moms to invasive surgical procedure every time. Moreover, their compromised airways result in the next threat of problems throughout anesthesia in comparison with different canine breeds.
These are solely a handful of well being issues. Frenchies additionally incessantly undergo from mind tumors, dental illness and dental growth issues, persistent allergy symptoms, ear infections, gastrointestinal (GI) points, eye problems, and extra. All of those situations are genetically inherited. Make sure to learn our article about essentially the most frequent French Bulldog well being points to study extra about this breed’s challenges.
@amirthevet Replying to @user6672817269818 my Sincere opinion on french bulldogs #frenchbulldog #frenchie #studying #canine ♬ authentic sound - Amir Anwary
Amir Anwary, aka Amir the Vet on TikTok, is a practicing veterinarian in South Africa
Other French Bulldog Negatives
They’re Expensive
The average price of a high-quality Frenchie from a reputable breeder is around $5,300, starting around $3,000. (If you see French Bulldog puppies for sale for under $2,000, that could be a major red flag.) Frenchies with serious health problems could end up costing tens of thousands of dollars during your pup’s lifetime on top of general expenses.Irresponsible Breeding Is Rampant
If you’re looking for an inexpensive Frenchie, it’s not worth the risk. Unfortunately, the popularity of French Bulldogs has attracted many inexperienced breeders, often called backyard breeders, who are primarily focused on making a quick profit by breeding their dogs and selling the puppies without proper knowledge of what they’re doing. Additionally, some dishonest dealers source puppies from low-welfare puppy farms and misrepresent them as healthy animals. Another concerning issue is the illegal importation of puppies from other countries. These practices can pose serious risks and result in puppies that are not healthy. See my information below about ethical breeders.
Where Are Frenchies Banned?
The ethical concerns over French Bulldogs’ health welfare have led to legal bans (unfortunately, not in most of the world). But a few countries and cities are leading the way. Norway, in particular, has largely banned the breeding of Bulldogs (including Frenchies) and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (another brachycephalic breed), calling their breeding a violation of the Norwegian Animal Welfare Act. In the U.K., similar restrictions have been proposed for years, but no progress has yet to be made. In late 2024, Ojai, California, became the first U.S. city to prohibit the breeding of French Bulldogs and other breathing-impaired breeds (BIBs). Both the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) have urged more careful breeding practices for brachycephalic dogs and emphasized the need to educate pet owners about the associated health risks.If you ask my opinion, I would ban brachycephalic breeds. I cannot see the reason behind bringing suffering animals into the world when there are so many other, more normal-looking and non-suffering animals that need a home. Imagine if we did that to children with IVF. I think that trying to get Frenchies to a normal suffering-less state would take way too long; there are too many grey areas, and it’s impossible to control unethical breeders anyway. – Dr. Gunila Pedersen
Can You Find An Ethically Bred French Bulldog?
Breed-Specific Health Screenings For Frenchies
Below are the Canine Health Information Center’s (CHIC) registry required and recommended exams that responsible breeders will conduct on the Frenchies they are mating. Be sure to request these results from any breeder you’re considering.- Hip Dysplasia: (OFA Evaluation, OVC Evaluation, or PennHIP Evaluation)
- Eye Examination: (by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist- Annual recertification recommended)
- Patellar Luxation: OFA Evaluation
- Cardiac Evaluation: Congenital Cardiac Exam (Echocardiagrams recommended but not required) or Advanced Cardiac Exam (Echocardiograms recommended but not required)
- Autoimmune Thyroiditis: (optional) OFA evaluation (from an approved laboratory)
- Juvenile Cataracts: (optional) Juvenile Cataracts DNA Test (from an approved laboratory)
OFA testing results show that of the French Bulldogs who underwent health screenings, nearly 61% tested positive for chondrodystrophy, and 33.5% of Frenchies had significant signs of BOAS. Other notable disorders include hip dysplasia (over 33%) and dental problems (over 17%).
What’s The Reality Of Owning A French Bulldog? (Video)
Here’s one case of an owner who got her Frenchie from an AKC Breeder of Merit, a title given to breeders the club believes have gone “above and beyond on health issues, temperament, and genetic screening.” PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) features this heart-breaking video of Heather Hanna, one owner who’s struggled to care for her Frenchie Arnie. Hanna’s story was also featured in an article by National Geographic. As she told National Geographic, “I would recommend choosing another non-flat-faced breed or, even better, adopt a mutt from the shelter—one with a proper nose and a bit of a tail. I will never, ever, ever intentionally acquire another Frenchie.”Already Own A French Bulldog?
I’m sure you’re head over heels for your little Frenchie and don’t want them to suffer from severe health issues, but the reality is that this breed often does. Given the inordinate number of health problems Frenchies face during their lifetime, it’s wise to consider getting pet insurance.Pet insurance makes emergency treatment for breathing issues, surgery for spinal problems, and everything in between much more affordable. By covering a large portion of your vet bills for unexpected, non-pre-existing conditions, an insurance policy gives you the immense benefit of never having to decide between your wallet and your pup’s health care. See my colleague’s expert article on the best pet insurance providers to learn more.
Why Trust Canine Journal?
Sally has over 20 years of experience in human health sciences communications, including more than 10 years as an expert on pet health conditions and treatment. She’s part of a team of dedicated canine professionals and long-time dog owners at Canine Journal. We test and research the best pet products, not only for our own pups but for all of our readers.
