Published: 04 May 2018 | Last Updated: 04 May 2018 11:32:18

The top health issues in French Bulldogs have been revealed as a result of Britain’s largest ever study into the breed, conducted by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and supported by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust. The study found that French Bulldogs are predisposed to a range of health conditions, including breathing problems, skin fold dermatitis, cherry eye, eye ulcers, patellar luxation and demodectic mange. Male French Bulldogs also appeared to be less healthy than females. The research documents the meteoric rise in popularity of the French Bulldog over the past decade and predicts they will soon become the most popular breed in the UK. This research provides a framework to identify the most important health priorities for French Bulldogs and will enhance the health and welfare of the breed.

Dr. Dan O'Neill, Senior Lecturer at RVC and the lead author, said: “French Bulldogs are a relatively new arrival to the list of common UK breeds, so there has been very little previous research on them in the UK. Our study - the biggest on French Bulldogs in the UK - provides owners and vets with information on the issues that they could expect and should look out for in French Bulldogs. It may also assist potential new owners to decide whether a French Bulldog is even the right breed for them.”

The full paper is freely available Open Access at https://cgejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40575-018-0057-9   O'NEILL, D. G., BARAL, L., CHURCH, D. B., BRODBELT, D. C. & PACKER, R. M. A. 2018. Demography and disorders of the French Bulldog population under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, 5, 3.