As per the American Kennel Club’s breed standards, Frenchies have a decent lifespan, which is 10-12 years. A UK Medical Study conducted on 2,228 Frenchies under medical care in the United Kingdom deduced that around 72.4% (1,612) had a minimum of a single recorded health issue. The common problems included skin issues in 17.9% of the study group, ear infections in 14%, diarrhea in 7.5%, and conjunctivitis in 3.2%.
Because of their brachycephalic features — the flat face and short snout — French Bulldogs are prone to several health problems, with respiratory distress among the most significant. The breathing issues may aggravate upon exposure to extremely humid and hot conditions or after a rigorous exercise session.
Like most other brachycephalic breeds, the Frenchie is also at an increased risk of brachycephalic airway respiratory syndrome. Common symptoms include noisy and labored breathing, mostly with their mouth open, alongside high-pitched wheezing, snoring, and choking. They may even collapse in severe cases, needing immediate medical attention.
Because of their flat face, the Frenchies are prone to conjunctivitis. They even suffer from other eye ailments like entropion, juvenile cataract, and cherry eye.
Frenchies have a lot of skin folds, so skin allergies like hives, as well as several autoimmune skin disorders, are also quite common.
As they have a narrow ear canal, French Bulldogs might have several ear infections. Some of these may be triggered by allergies.
They even suffer from mobility issues and could develop problems like intervertebral disc disease and congenital hemivertebrae that may lead to paralysis in extreme cases.
Frenchies are sensitive to parasites, bacteria like E. coli, and viruses, all of which can lead to stomach upset and diarrhea. It is vital to monitor what your Frenchie is eating to make sure it is following a healthy and balanced diet, as this helps avoid stomach issues to a certain extent.
Breeders mostly do a 4-panel DNA health test on the parents. Before purchasing a Frenchie puppy, it is always essential to know if the parents have gone through the 4-panel test. It costs around $130, and the reports come in two weeks. The four conditions examined in this test include Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), Juvenile Hereditary Cataract (JHC), Canine Multifocal Retinopathy 1 (CMR1), and Hyperuricosuria (HUU).
