French Bulldog — questions to ask before paying a deposit
A responsible breeder will have these readily available. Deflection is a red flag.
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
The shortened muzzle packs a normal amount of soft tissue into a much smaller airway, obstructing airflow. It shows as noisy breathing, snoring and poor heat tolerance, and can worsen with age or weight gain; severely affected dogs need surgery to breathe adequately. A VetCompass study of over 2,700 French Bulldogs found the breed 30.9 times more likely than other dogs to be diagnosed with BOAS, and 42 times more likely to have narrowed nostrils (stenotic nares).
Ask to see: The Kennel Club/University of Cambridge Respiratory Function Grading Scheme (RFGS) result (grade 0-3) on both parents, performed by an accredited assessor.
RVC VetCompass - French Bulldogs differ to other dogs in the UK in propensity for many common disorders (O'Neill et al.) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8675495/) · The Kennel Club - Respiratory Function Grading Scheme (https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/rfgs)
Vertebral malformation (hemivertebrae) and intervertebral disc diseasecan shorten life or cause chronic pain
The gene(s) that produce the breed's screw (kinked) tail also cause malformed, wedge-shaped vertebrae elsewhere in the spine, most often in the chest. This can destabilise the spine and compress the spinal cord, causing pain, incoordination or hind-limb paralysis. Radiographic hemivertebrae have been found in up to 94% of French Bulldogs, including many with no clinical signs, and the resulting spinal instability is linked to later disc herniation.
Ask to see: There is no blood or DNA test. Ask whether the parents have had spinal radiographs (or MRI, if surgery was ever considered) and what the finding was.
UFAW - French Bulldog: Hemivertebrae (https://www.ufaw.org.uk/dogs/french-bulldog-hemivertebrae) · Veterinary Record - Epidemiological study of congenital vertebral malformations in French bulldogs, English bulldogs and pugs (Lackmann et al. 2022) (https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vetr.509)
Dystocia (difficult birth) requiring caesarean deliverycan shorten life or cause chronic pain
The breed's narrow pelvis and the puppies' relatively large heads make natural whelping difficult and risky for the dam. An RVC VetCompass study found French Bulldog bitches 15.9 times more likely to suffer dystocia than crossbred bitches, and a large share of litters are delivered by planned caesarean rather than naturally.
Ask to see: No laboratory test exists. Ask the breeder for the dam's whelping history (natural versus caesarean) and whether a vet was involved in planning the birth.
RVC VetCompass - French bulldogs more prone to birthing problems than other breeds (https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/news/french-bulldogs-more-prone-to-birthing-problems-than-other-breeds)
Corneal ulceration (exposure-related)
Prominent, shallow-set eyes leave more of the cornea exposed and reduce corneal sensation, so minor irritation is more likely to progress to an ulcer. The same RVC VetCompass study that examined BOAS also found French Bulldogs at increased risk of eye ulcers compared with other dogs.
Ask to see: No genetic test exists. Ask whether either parent has a history of recurrent eye ulcers, and check the annual ophthalmic exam record if one exists.
RVC VetCompass - French Bulldogs differ to other dogs in the UK in propensity for many common disorders (O'Neill et al.) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8675495/)
Patellar luxation
The kneecap slips out of its groove, causing intermittent skipping or lameness. The same RVC VetCompass study found French Bulldogs at increased risk relative to other dogs, and a patella exam is part of the breed's recommended OFA/CHIC panel.
Ask to see: OFA (or equivalent vet) patellar luxation examination, graded 0-4, on both parents.
RVC VetCompass - French Bulldogs differ to other dogs in the UK in propensity for many common disorders (O'Neill et al.) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8675495/) · OFA - Patellar Luxation (https://ofa.org/diseases/patellar-luxation/)
Juvenile hereditary cataracts (HSF4)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
An early-onset, autosomal recessive cataract that starts before one year old and can progress to blindness by two to three years of age. Screening for it is one of the tests the parent club recommends for a CHIC number in the breed.
Ask to see: DNA test for the HSF4 mutation on both parents (reported on OFA as CATARACTS (CAT): HSF4-1), alongside an annual ACVO ophthalmologist exam.
OFA - CHIC Program (https://ofa.org/chic-programs/) · French Bull Dog Club of America - Health Registries and Vertical Pedigrees (https://frenchbulldogclub.org/health/testingregistries/)