English Bulldog Health: What a Comparison With Other Dogs Found
English Bulldogs had twice the odds of any diagnosis in a UK records study, with skin folds, cherry eye and breathing problems far more common.
Written by thecanineledger
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A 2022 study of UK vet records found that “English Bulldogs had 2.04 times the risk of diagnosis with at least one disorder during 2016 compared with dogs that are not English Bulldogs.” (O’Neill et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics 2022). That was despite the Bulldogs being younger: 2.65 years against 4.42 years.
While the breed did better than other dogs on a few problems, the authors’ conclusion is blunt. They write that “the health of English Bulldogs is substantially lower than dogs that are not English Bulldogs and that many predispositions in the breed are driven by the extreme conformation of these dogs.” Conformation means body shape.
1. The study
The dogs. Researchers used VetCompass, a database of anonymised UK primary-care records. From 905,544 dogs under care in 2016, they compared 2,662 English Bulldogs with 22,039 other dogs, taking account of age, sex and other factors.
Funding. The work was supported by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and a pet insurer.
2. Where Bulldogs did worse
English Bulldogs had higher odds of 24 of the 43 specific disorders compared. The highest:
| Disorder | What it is | Odds compared with other dogs |
|---|---|---|
| Skin fold dermatitis | Infection or soreness in the skin folds | 38.12 times |
| Cherry eye | A gland that pops out from the third eyelid | 26.79 times |
| Protruding lower jaw | An undershot jaw | 24.32 times |
| BOAS | Breathing obstruction from a flat face | 19.20 times |
| Interdigital cyst | A lump between the toes | 12.96 times |
Skin folds. Skin fold dermatitis was recorded in 6.7% of the Bulldogs, against 0.2% of other dogs.
→ Cherry Eye: Surgery Options and Recurrence · → Brachycephalic Airway Disease: Grading, Surgery, and What “Normal Snoring” Hides
Our note: The summary calls these odds ratios “times the risk”. For common problems, odds ratios and risk can differ a lot.
3. Where Bulldogs did better
They had lower odds of 6 of the 43 disorders, including retained baby teeth, fatty lumps and gum disease. As a group, dental problems had a quarter of the odds.
Our note: The study adjusted for age, but the Bulldogs were much younger. Age may still explain part of the lower dental figures.
4. Why the real gap may be bigger
The comparison group included other flat-faced breeds. The authors write that this “suggests that the true levels of predisposition to disorders linked to brachycephaly in the English Bulldog could be much higher than reported here.” Brachycephaly means a flat face.
Not all Bulldogs are alike. The study included both pedigree and non-pedigree dogs, likely “ranging from ultra-extreme to relatively moderate” in shape.
5. The authors’ view
The authors argue strongly for breeding toward a more moderate body shape. That is their opinion, not a finding, but it follows from their results.
Our note: The paper mentions countries where breeding English Bulldogs is banned. We didn’t check those laws.
6. If you have, or want, an English Bulldog
- Look for a more moderate shape: an open nose, a visible muzzle and fewer deep folds.
- Clean and check skin folds as your vet advises.
- Treat noisy breathing as a sign to ask about, not as normal for the breed.
Our note: These points are ours. It may be hard for a buyer to judge “a more moderate shape”.
→ Choosing a Breed or a Mix: The Health Data Breeders Don’t Lead With
7. What we could not verify
| Commonly said | What we found |
|---|---|
| “Bulldogs are healthy if they come from a good breeder” | Not tested. The study didn’t compare breeders. It did include dogs of moderate and extreme shape. |
| “Snoring is normal for Bulldogs” | No. BOAS had 19.20 times the odds of other dogs. |
| “Bulldogs have bad teeth” | Not in these records. They had lower odds of gum disease than other dogs. |
Sources
- O’Neill DG, Skipper A, Packer RMA, et al. English Bulldogs in the UK: a VetCompass study of their disorder predispositions and protections. Canine Med Genet 2022: VetCompass comparison, 2,662 English Bulldogs and 22,039 other dogs, 2016. Supported by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and a pet insurer
Always confirm with your vet before acting on anything on this page.