The Bulldog has as an ancestor the Dogue of Tibet, which gave rise to the Dogue of Macedonia, which was imported into England by the Phoenicians. Despite its name, this breed originates from England, and was very popular among workers in the interior of the country, in particular artisans in the lace industry, who wanted to create a miniature version of the English Bulldog, also called “Toy Bulldog”. Due to the industrial revolution, craftsmen moved to France, and brought their dogs with them, which became popular and received the name French Bulldog (or French Bulldog).
New crosses with undetermined breeds contributed to form the current French Bulldog, some experts claim that these dogs were crossed with Pug and Terrier. The breed’s standard was definitively set around 1900. After World War I, the breed’s popularity declined for the next fifty years. The enormous popularity of the Boston Terrier (another small brachycephalic breed) and problems with farrowing naturally contributed to this decline; and it would be years before safe veterinary caesarean sections were routinely performed. A small number of French Bulldog breeders in America and Europe maintained the breed’s existence, and by 1940 the breed was considered rare with only 100 animals registered.
The 1980s saw a rapid increase in registrations and the popularity of these little dogs skyrocketed. This high popularity can be frightening for those who love the breed and who constantly battle against the unscrupulous breeding of some breeders who are not concerned with minimizing the health problems to which French Bulldogs are subject.
The most common diseases of the French Bulldog
Let’s briefly address the most common health problems of Bulldogs, in particular the French Bulldog.
allergies
Similar to humans, all dog breeds are susceptible to allergies, and the French Bulldog is genetically more susceptible to chronic allergies, including food and environmental allergies.
Cutaneous dermatitis
The lovely wrinkles or folds of skin on the face can cause one of the breed’s most common problems, skin fold dermatitis. As the name suggests, this form of dermatitis can occur on other areas of the skin, including the armpits, neck, and vulva.
pyoderma
Bacterial skin infections, also known as pyoderma, is another common skin problem for bulldogs, also stemming from their skin folds; and it usually happens when a cut or scrape becomes infected. Fortunately, they are easily treated with topical or oral antibiotics.
external otitis
Bulldogs have smaller ear canals, and these narrow canals mean they don’t allow the animal to naturally clean their ears, causing their canals to remain warm and moist. This provides an environment that promotes the growth of yeast and bacteria, leading to ear infections or otitis externa.
Conjunctivitis and corneal ulcer
Conjunctivitis can be caused by allergies or a condition known as dry eye. Additionally, a French bulldog’s large, prominent eyes mean their eyes are more prone to scratches and ulcers.
branchycephalic syndrome
Every bulldog suffers some degree of Upper Airway Obstruction Syndrome, because due to its short snout (brachycephalic) the soft palate is too long, causing airway obstruction; in addition to your narrow or stenotic nostrils, resulting in a poor ability to breathe through your nose.
Heatstroke
Heatstroke (also known as heatstroke) occurs when the body temperature increases significantly due to environmental influences, and the body’s mechanisms responsible for normalizing it are unable to regulate it. Did you know that flat-faced dogs, including the French bulldog, are twice as likely to suffer from heatstroke? Their long soft palate and stenotic nostrils make breathing difficult for these brachycephalics, affecting their ability to cool themselves. This results in rapid overheating and heat stress, potentially culminating in heat stroke.
patellar dislocation
Like many small dog breeds, bulldogs have a genetic predisposition to patellar luxation. This occurs when the kneecap or patella is displaced from the patellar groove in front of the knee joint.
hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is another common genetic condition in the breed and results in incorrect development of the hip joint. Environmental and management factors contribute to the progression of the disease, such as: obesity, exaggerated exercises and smooth floors.
Intervertebral disc disease
Intervertebral disc disease (also known as herniated disc) is a condition that occurs when the discs between the vertebrae acutely or progressively protrude into the spinal cord space, causing compression and pain, and may progress to paresis or paralysis.
