You may have seen in the media lately that the French Bulldog is set to overtake the Labrador as Britain’s most popular dog breed. The Kennel Club has published figures that French Bulldog puppy registrations went from 670 registered in 2007, to 21,470 registered in 2017, to keep up with demand. This popularity can also be seen within our own practice, with Beth and Bekky owning French Bulldogs, Rosco and Sydney.
These little dogs have tons of character and personality and make great family pets, however, as a result of breeding for the “flat face” appearance they can sadly be susceptible to health problems. Other breeds which can be described as “flat faced” include English Bulldogs, Pugs, Shihtzus, Chihuahuas and Pekignese.
Not every dog will have problems (and the problems can range massively from simply snoring loudly when asleep to collapsing from respiratory distress on a hot day), but it is something to consider when owning or choosing these types of dog. It’s also important to remember it’s not just respiratory problems we see, but also eye, digestive and skin disorders. Happily in the vast majority of these cases we can treat these problems and if you are worried about your French Bulldog we would always encourage you to visit your vet and discuss options.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding this issue one of our vets or nurses would be more than happy to have a chat with you and give you as much advice as possible.