Health Links & Resources for French Bulldogs
OFA French Bulldog Page
This link will take you to important French Bulldog specific Health information, such as recommended health tests, breed statistics, disease information, and screens relevant to the French Bulldog.
Guide to OFA Tests for French Bulldogs
Want to get started but you're not sure how? We created this blog to help guide you through the process, what to expect, and links to resoruces that can helpresources you make the best decision for YOU and your Frenchie.
OFA Health Videos
Dr. Jared Bell is the reining authority on hereditary genetics in small animals. This 3 hour lecture given to the French Bulldog Club of America (FBDCA) at their National Specialty in 2022 covers an incredible amount of useful and insightful information. Slide Decks Part 1 and Part 2 are also available.
Trust, but Verify
According to the FBDCA, an ethical breeder will have their OFA test results available for inspection, and as of 2024, any breeder on their referral page must submit all required tests to OFA and all those tests must be verifiable in their public database. Use this link to verify public OFA health tests.
Breathing Issues: RFG/BOAS
Breathing Issues: RFG/BOAS
The number one cause of death in French Bulldogs, sadly, is respiratory failure. What can you do about it as a breeder? Familiarize yourself with tests now available in the USA, developed in Cambridge by Dr. Jane Ladlow.
Hip Health
Breathing Issues: RFG/BOAS
Hip dysplaysia doesn't HAVE to be prevalent in French Bulldogs, and research from OFA shows that purposeful pairings between individuals with normal hips, with depth and breadth of pedigree, increases the likelihood of normal offspring.
Showing Some Spine
Where does our breed fit in when it comes to spine health? There are a lot of opinions, especially when it comes to anomalies and the likelihood of developing IVDD, something that is not yet officially reported on OFA's website, however they DO have slide decks and lectures that discuss this topic. View this blog to learn more.
Patellar Luxation
What is Patellar Luxation?
The patella, or kneecap, is part of the stifle joint (knee). In patellar luxation, the kneecap luxates, or pops out of place, either in a medial or lateral position.
OFA Applications
OFA Health Clinics
Link to OFA Applications. Browze this list to locate the health registry relevant to French Bulldogs (Hips, Eyes, Heart, Patellas, Trachea, Spine, and many more.
OFA Health Clinics
IVDD - Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center
OFA Health Clinics
Want to find an upcoming OFA health Clinic? Try this link first...
IVDD - Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center
IVDD - Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center
IVDD - Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center
This heartbreaking condition is something all of us in this breed wish we understood better. While many ethical breeders are submitting their spine tests to OFA for their pilot study for French Bulldogs, little is available for those who need answers now. This article is a starting point, for what it is worth.
Additional French Bulldog Health resources
About BOAS
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge Veterinary School
Learn more about BOAS straight from the source, Cambridge Veterinary School.
Respiratory Grade Functioning: OFA
Ready to learn more about OFA's Respiratory Function Grading evaluation? Here's your link to the source.
French Bulldog EYE Exams (CAER)
There's more to eye health than a cheek swab for juvenile hereditary cataracts, and sometimes there are far more serious, highly hereditary genetic diseases you can avoid IF you sreen your French Bulldog BEFORE breeding. It is fast and relatively easy once you locate a participating canine eye examiners. CAER (OFA eye exams)
https://ofa.org/diseases/eye-disease
Patella Luxation - American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Patellar luxation is one of the most common orthopedic conditions in dogs, diagnosed in 7% of puppies. Want to learn more about patella luxtion? This link to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons will give you a deep dive into this disease.
Hip Dysplasia - American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) is a condition that begins in dogs as they grow and results in instability or a loose fit (laxity) of the hip joint.
Want to learn more about hip dysplasia? This link to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons will give you a deep dive into this disease.
Lymphoma - University of Pennsylvania PennVet Ryan Hospital
Lymphosarcoma (lymphoma) is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in dogs. It is a cancer of a type of immune system cells (lymphocyte) and lymphoid tissues (present in many places in the body, including the lymph nodes, spleen, gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow). Lymphoma typically afflicts middle-aged to older dogs, though dogs of any age can be affected.
Want to learn more? Use this link to view PennVet's Canine Lymphoma page.
Contact Us
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