French Bulldog Health: Strengths, Weaknesses, and What the Records Show
French Bulldogs had higher odds of 20 common disorders and lower odds of 11 in a UK records study. Breathing, ears and skin folds led the list of problems.
Written by thecanineledger
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A 2021 study of UK vet records compared French Bulldogs with all other dogs. Its plain-English summary says “This study suggests that the health of French Bulldogs is very different, and largely much poorer, that the health of the wider non-French Bulldog population.” (O’Neill et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics 2021).
While that verdict is clear, the same study found some problems that were less common in French Bulldogs. This page sets out both, and why the comparison needs care.
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 2,781 French Bulldogs with 21,850 other dogs.
Younger dogs. “French Bulldogs were younger (1.51 years versus 4.48 years) and lighter (12.45 kg versus 13.80 kg) than non-French Bulldogs.” The analysis took account of age, sex, neutering, weight, insurance and practice group.
Funding. The work was supported by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and a pet insurer.
2. Where French Bulldogs did worse
They had higher odds of 20 of the 43 specific disorders compared. The highest:
| Disorder | What it is | Odds compared with other dogs |
|---|---|---|
| Stenotic nares | Narrowed nostrils | 42.14 times |
| BOAS | Breathing obstruction from a flat face | 30.89 times |
| Aural discharge | Ear discharge | 14.40 times |
| Skin fold dermatitis | Infection or soreness in skin folds | 11.18 times |
| Dystocia | Difficulty giving birth | 9.13 times |
The authors write that “Many of these predispositions are closely associated with the conformational extremes that define the French Bulldog breed.” Conformation means body shape.
→ Brachycephalic Airway Disease: Grading, Surgery, and What “Normal Snoring” Hides · → Ear Infections: Why They Keep Coming Back
Our note: The summary calls these “relative risk”, but they are odds ratios. The two can differ for common problems.
3. Where they did better
They had lower odds of 11 of the 43 disorders. These included undesirable behaviour, wounds after surgery, retained baby teeth, lameness and obesity.
The authors say these findings add “some novel nuance to the overall picture of health in the breed”.
Our note: The French Bulldogs were much younger than the comparison dogs. Even after adjustment, youth may explain part of the lower odds of lameness and obesity.
4. Breeding
Dystocia, or difficulty giving birth, had over 9 times the odds. That matters most to breeders and to the dogs they breed from.
Our note: The study doesn’t report caesarean rates.
5. If you have, or want, a French Bulldog
- Look for open nostrils and a visible muzzle.
- Treat snoring and noisy breathing as signs to ask about, not as normal.
- Check the ears and skin folds often.
- Ask a breeder whether the parents have had airway surgery or breathing assessments.
Our note: These points are ours. It may be hard for a buyer to judge nostril width.
→ Choosing a Breed or a Mix: The Health Data Breeders Don’t Lead With · → English Bulldog Health: What a Comparison With Other Dogs Found
6. What we could not verify
| Commonly said | What we found |
|---|---|
| “French Bulldogs are healthy if well bred” | Not tested. The study didn’t compare breeders. |
| “Snoring is normal for Frenchies” | No. BOAS had 30.89 times the odds of other dogs. |
| “French Bulldogs have no health strengths” | No. They had lower odds of 11 common disorders, though age may explain some of this. |
Sources
- O’Neill DG, Packer RMA, Francis P, et al. French Bulldogs differ to other dogs in the UK in propensity for many common disorders: a VetCompass study. Canine Med Genet 2021: VetCompass comparison, 2,781 French Bulldogs and 21,850 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.