French Bulldogs: The Goofy Potatoes We Love (and the Medical Reality No One Talks About)

By: Teleah Grand DVM, CVA, CVFT, CVCH, CVTP (and… Frenchie mom)

A Frenchie Owner Confession

French Bulldogs were just ranked the #1 most popular dog breed by the American Kennel Club.

Which means two things:

1. Everyone wants one
2. Veterinarians are about to see even more of them

And I get it.

I am absolutely a Frenchie person.

I’ve shared my life with four of them, and I completely understand why they top the list. They are funny, affectionate, wildly entertaining little dogs with personalities that make you forgive… pretty much everything.

They are, quite honestly, fantastic pets. Especially if you love couch potatoes.

But as a veterinarian, I also see the other side.

Because popularity doesn’t always serve the breed well.

As demand increases, we start to see more dogs bred for appearance instead of health; and more families unprepared for the medical realities that come with them.

And this is where things start to matter.

Because behind all that personality and charm are some very real, and very common, medical issues.

The Big 4 Frenchie Problems

If you own a Frenchie, these are the four things you need to understand:

And unfortunately…

Most Frenchies don’t pick just one.

BOAS: Why They Sound Like Tiny Vacuum Cleaners

This is what BOAS can sound like:

French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed, meaning their anatomy is… compact.

Very compact.

Many have:

Which explains why they sound like a vacuum trying to eat a sock.

BOAS surgery can be life-changing, widening the nostrils, shortening the palate, potentially removing everted laryngeal saccules… improving airflow.

But this is airway surgery.

Who does the surgery matters!

Whenever possible, it should be performed by a board-certified surgeon or an experienced airway surgeon.

I’ve had two Frenchies, Birdie and Minnow, go through this procedure.

It made a dramatic difference in both of their lives.

IVDD: The Spine Problem No One Talks About Enough

French Bulldogs are predisposed to vertebral malformations.

Which means increased risk of intervertebral disc rupture.

In Texas, surgery is typically $15,000–$20,000.

Unfortunately,  Frenchie’s have higher complication rates.

If your dog suddenly can’t use their back legs:

Not urgent care.
Not a basic ER.
A specialty hospital.

Allergies: The One You’ll Deal With the Most

French Bulldogs are allergy champions.

Let me say this clearly:

Your dog should not stink. EVER. (Okay… Unless they just rolled in something digusting (and they will) or had a run-in with a skunk.  In that case… fair)

If they smell like Fritos, something is wrong.

That’s inflammation. And probably Infection.

Birdie’s early warning sign?

She starts butt dancing.

Yes. Butt dancing.

It’s both hilarious and medically useful.  We know when she is itchy…  And it’s not because she is trying out for Dancing with the Stars.

Digestive Disease: The One That Sneaks Up on You

French Bulldogs are also incredibly prone to IBD and chronic GI issues.

These are the dogs that:

This is not random.

This is a pattern.

Why Frenchies Are “Hot” (And Why It Matters)

Here’s where everything connects.

From a TCVM perspective, many Frenchies run hot.

Heat = inflammation
Yin deficiency = loss of moisture, elasticity, resilience

That same internal imbalance shows up in different places:

This is why it feels like Frenchies have “everything.”

They don’t.

They have one pattern showing up in multiple systems.

So, What Can You Actually Do?

Western medicine will tell you:

You can’t prevent these issues. You can only treat the symptoms.

And that’s partially true. The exception is BOAS.  Use western surgery to cure that.

With Allergies? IVDD? Gut disease?  You can influence how severe they become. But there is no “cure”.

This is where TCVM shines.

We focus on:

Through: Will this prevent everything?

No.

Will it matter?

Absolutely.

Practical Frenchie Survival Guide

Here’s where you actually have control:

For the spine:

For the “hot dog”:

Please see my blog “Hot Dogs and What to Do About Them”

Because small problems are much easier to manage than emergencies.

Insurance Is Not Optional (Unless You’re Rich)

Frenchies don’t have small problems.

They have big, expensive problems.

If you don’t have $15–20K sitting around (And, most of us, including me, don’t):

get insurance.  I’ve got it on two of mine.  They’ve already covered enough medical claims to cover the premium until they are about 7 years old.  It was worth it. (yes, BOAS surgery was covered in both cases)

Where to find Frenchies: Breeders vs Greeders

If someone is breeding for:

…they are not breeding for health.

Find breeders who prioritize:

Or better yet…

Rescue (Highly Recommended)

Many Frenchies end up in rescue because of medical needs.

Minnow is one of them. We rescued Minnow from Rescue Row.

Minnow has opinions… and, apparently, fans…  Minnow also believes she is perfect and spends her time twirling like a caffeinated ballerina.

Follow her twirling, spinning, snoring and general chaos adventures on Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@minnowserveslip?lang=en

Minnow has already required $12,000 in surgery for her cleft palate and lip. (Insurance does not cover preexisting or congenital abnormalities.  So, we just bit the bullet and invested in her)

She is worth every penny….

Adoption vs Marketing

Not everything labeled “rehoming” or “adoption” is actually a rescue organization.

Some sellers use those words as marketing language, when what they are really doing is selling puppies for profit.

A true French Bulldog rescue is typically a non-profit organization whose goal is placement, not profit.

If you’re looking to adopt, seek out legitimate rescue groups.

And be cautious of anyone “rehoming” multiple puppies.

That’s not rehoming. That’s selling.

A couple of good Texas rescues and beyond are:

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Rescue Row where I adopted Minnow from: Rescue Row

Birdie: Real-Life Example

Birdie is our stoic girl.  She, also, has opinions.  Which include glaring at us from across the room on the “Chair of Despair”™ when we dare trim her nails or put cream in her folds….

She has allergies + mild cervical disc disease.

She is managed. Very managed.  She has had two mild episodes of neck pain, treated with acupuncture and herbs.  She has seasonal allergies and an occasional ear infection.  We use western therapy for infections and try and prevent allergies with food and herbs.

Not perfect.  But I see Frenchie’s who are on pills, creams, shampoos, every day and still are itchy, stinky little potatoes.

That’s the goal.  Not perfection.  But definitely not on pills every day just to make her comfortable.