All About Frenchies and Brachycephalic Dogs

You may have noticed that French Bulldogs, Pugs, and Pekingese dogs have become much more popular in the past few years.  I admit, I’m a proud mom of an adopted Frenchie.  These dogs are amazing and so full of love, but they also have their own unique set of health issues.  Years of breeding to give these dogs the pushed-in profile that we love has led to problems with breathing, heatstroke, snoring, etc.   Their noses have become progressively smaller over the generations.  This means they can’t bring in enough air.  Their tracheas (windpipes) are narrower, which also decreases airflow.  Their difficulty breathing causes them to overheat and suffer from heatstroke (dogs cool themselves down by panting).  Their shortened backs lead to problems with disc disease.  Their large heads mean that they have to be born via C-section, rather than vaginally.  All of their wrinkles form a nice moist environment for skin disease to hide and flourish, and they also have a higher incidence of ear infections.

Even with all of these challenges, brachycephalic dogs can bring you years of happiness and love.  It is very important to establish a relationship with a veterinarian that you trust.  These dogs should not be exercised in the heat of the day – walking is best done in early morning or later at night.  Keep them lean to help prevent arthritis and decrease stress on their backs.    They should always have access to lots of fresh water and shade at all times of the day and night – even if it doesn’t feel hot to you.  And even if you can live without air conditioning, these dogs can’t.  Please make sure to leave your air conditioning on year-round.