Fleas and ticks in particularly are not tolerated that well by Frenchies. French Bulldogs are prone to fleas just like any other dog, so it’s really important that you invest in a quality flea and tick collars and other effective products to ease this burden.

Are French Bulldogs prone to fleas? Just like any other breed of dog, French Bulldogs do get fleas and ticks. However, providing you follow a regular flea and tick treatment, including specialist collars, you can reduce the chance of your French Bulldog getting fleas.

In this guide I will explain how Frenchies can get fleas, what the bites look like, how you can use an effective flea treatment, and other ways to reduce the chances of flea and ticks on your beloved pooch.

If you want to know how to get rid of fleas on a French Bulldog read on! 

Do French Bulldogs get fleas?

Frenchies have very sensitive fur lines, which can be aggravated by the constant scratching caused by fleas and ticks. These parasitic insects can cause potentially deadly health concerns for Frenchies, therefore, efforts should be applied and maintained to control and prevent such issues.

A Frenchie with fleas isn’t uncommon and won’t always be completely unavoidable; virtually any animal is susceptible to fleas and ticks.

However, Frenchies are more susceptible due in part to their short height. That means their bellies are lower to the ground so fleas and ticks can come off plants onto them a lot easier.

Frenchies are also sensitive when it comes to potential health concerns, which means skin irritation may be more pronounced in Frenchies than other canine types.

Fleas and ticks, like most insects, thrive in warm and humid conditions. Although this is bad news during the spring and summer months, it is possible that infestations may be absent in the cooler months.

Regardless of the time of year, it is best to keep your Frenchie as free from fleas and ticks as possible. This is achieved through adequate treatment procedures in conjunction with prolonged preventative measures.

How to tell if your Frenchie has fleas

It’s not always that obvious that your French Bulldog has fleas. Yes, you might see one hopping onto you from your dog, and suddenly freak out. But it’s often the things you don’t see that are more important and can help you prevent things sooner.

You need to check for:

• Flea eggs: they look like small oval white grains of rice, but much smaller.
• Flea larvae: they look like small tiny worms, between 2 and 5mm long.
• Flea pupae: they look like adult fleas but a lot smaller.
• Adult fleas: fleas will be around 3mm in length.
• Flea fecal matter: this is the small black flecks you might find in your dog’s hair.

Why fleas can be dangerous

Fleas and ticks can result in the following health problems for your Frenchie:

• Mild to severe itching.
• Skin problems and infections.
• Anaemia in more serious cases.
• Can also transmit tapeworm.

Fleas can also transmit disease to humans (read more on petsandparasites.org).

The best French Bulldog flea treatment options 

What are the best processes for French Bulldog flea and tick treatment? French Bulldogs should be treated for fleas and ticks by a variety of treatment types, including medicated shampoos, quality flea, and tick collars, and oral or topical medications. Here’s what I recommend.

The basics of French Bulldog flea and tick treatment

The most crucial aspect of eradicating fleas and ticks from your Frenchie is to begin the process by treating your Frenchie’s surrounding environment. This includes the entirety of your home as well as the yard or garden.

Particular attention should be given to the areas inside the home where your Frenchie sleeps and spends the longest amount of time. Since fleas and ticks start out as exterior pests, adequate treatment of your lawn should be done first.

Due to the wide area of coverage, granules for fleas and ticks are a great product to address the lawn easily and effectively. Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Lawns (view on Amazon) triggers fleas and ticks with granules that are spread over the lawn with attractants to lure the parasites to the poison.

For the interior of the home, a product that is generally safe to both humans and animals is essential, therefore, always look for a flea and tick killer that uses pyrethroids, which are easily tolerated by the sensitive systems of both people and pets.

BASF 671858 PT Ultracide Pressurized Flea Insecticide (view on Amazon) is an aerosol that can be applied directly to carpets and pet bedding to kill fleas and ticks instantly.

With this in mind, it may also be beneficial to utilize flea treatment products with an active residual for continued eradication, this service is likely best suited for a pest control professional.

Once control of the surrounding environment is achieved, you will want to treat and prevent flea and tick infestations and flea bites on your Frenchie. A powerful, yet gentle flea and tick shampoo is perhaps the best method for removing the parasites from your dog.

We use a shampoo called Antiparasitic and Antiseborrheic Medicated Dog Shampoo (view on Amazon) is a pH balanced, medicated shampoo that utilizes a strong flea and tick-killing chemical with gentle and non-irritating cleansers to help ease further coat irritation.

If your French Bulldogs has fleas persistently, wash them once to twice times a week with this shampoo to maintain the killing action until resolved.

Further protection should be added with a quality flea and tick collar, such as PetArmor Plus (view on Amazon), which comes in one universal size and utilizes safe, yet effective pyrethroids to kill and repel fleas and ticks.

This is the grey skinny collar you will often see our Frenchie Claude wearing in our YouTube videos and photos – it keeps our Frenchie free of fleas all year round despite all those forest walks.

Medications are also preferable since this can address the entire system to increase repellent properties for prolonged periods of time.

The best flea and tick medicine for French Bulldogs

Sometimes topical treatments are not always enough to prevent your Frenchie from becoming infested with fleas. This is particularly relevant in areas where fleas and ticks are rampant.

Oral medication and topical ointments may be essential to help eliminate the problem fully. These options are also attractive due to the prolonged repelling attributes of having flea and tick repellent in your dog’s system.

It should be noted that veterinarians can prescribe oral flea and tick medications that seek to expand the preventative repellent throughout a dog’s entire anatomy. Consult with a veterinarian for considerations of this type of flea and tick medication.

Most over-the-counter flea and tick medications are meant to be applied topically directly to a dog’s skin. The medication then expands throughout the skin to build up effective levels on the surface of the skin, which is where fleas and ticks land and crawl.

There are quite a few topical medications on the market, however, Frontline Plus (view on Amazon) s the premiere flea and tick medication available for purchase. The medication is applied directly to one spot on the surface of the dog’s skin and continues to kill and repel fleas and ticks for up to 30 days.

All you need to do is slightly part the hair on the back of your Frenchie’s neck, squeeze the flea treatment on and you’re good to go.

This product is also well-tolerated by nearly all dog breeds and there are no adverse side effects to contend with, which may be likely with oral medications.

French Bulldog flea bites and how to treat

Whilst those are the best ways to prevent fleas on a French Bulldog, what happens when your dog has already been bitten? Here’s how you can treat flea bites on a Frenchie.

How to treat flea bites on a Frenchie

The main cause of incessant scratching from your Frenchie is most likely due to flea and tick bites. Fleas constantly bite and draw blood multiple times throughout the day, whereas ticks latch onto the skin and draw blood for weeks at a time.

The first step in treating flea bites on your Frenchie is to locate the fleas on the skin. This can be done by combing the fur with a flea and tick comb, such as a Flea Comb (view on Amazon), which utilizes two double-hinged combs to spot and remove fleas during the combing process.

Once the fleas are spotted and removed with a comb, you will want to treat the bites, which will likely be red and inflamed. Consider using home remedies to ease the inflammation from the bites.

Tea tree oil, aloe vera, and vinegar are great substances to apply to French Bulldog flea bites. These remedies will help ease the irritation and pain while other treatments and preventative measures are working.

Treating flea bites on your Frenchie is recommended, however, measures to remove and repel fleas are the main tools in your arsenal to eliminate the problem.

A good rule of thumb to remember would be treating flea bites as soon you dry your Frenchie from a medicated bath.

Conclusion

French Bulldogs are a wonderful breed of dog that brings consistent enjoyment to their owners. With this in mind, Frenchies are highly susceptible to health concerns due to fleas and ticks.

With proper treatments and medications, these parasites can be eliminated. Measures should be taken to treat the entirety of your surroundings in addition to your Frenchie.

About the author

This blog post was contributed to us by Mike Henderson at CityPests.com. Mike is a pest control expert based out of New York, United States.

One of the most interesting comments from Mike which you can find on his website was:

“Not all dogs will be suitable for wearing a flea collar. For example, if your dog is elderly, pregnant or nursing puppies then you would need to use alternative methods. If you have a puppy it is not recommended that they wear a flea collar until they are over the age of 6 months. If you have children in the house or are pregnant yourself, then again, I would advise against using flea collars altogether as a form of treatment, or at the very least only purchase a natural flea collar made without using chemical pesticides.”

 For more information on pest control and helpful tips like this, in particular which flea collars Mike recommends, please visit the City Pests dog flea collars page which has lots of useful information for dog owners.

The post French Bulldogs & Fleas + Best Flea & Tick Treatment appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

I am not a breeder, so anything you read in here comes from the angle of a loving owner of Frenchies. It’s all my personal opinion, research, and experience.

What are dew claws?

The standard number of claws on a dog will be five each on the front paws, and four each on the rear paws. That extra fifth one you see just a little bit up from your pup’s front paws, is called the dew claw.

Do French Bulldogs have dew claws? Frenchies do have dew claws on their front legs, which is the fifth claw just up from their paws. What is less common is for some Frenchies to have dew claws on the rear leg, or even a double dew claw… but this is rare, and nothing to be concerned about.

The purpose of dew claws is kind of like we have thumbs. They certainly “look” similar when you take their paw in your hand (see the example I show below in this photo of my Frenchie’s front dew claw).

Just like all dogs, your Frenchie’s dew claws will grow up a little bit higher than the rest of his paw. They are positioned on the inside of the leg, and in Frenchies this usually means a few centimetres up from the rest of the paw.

They are called a dew claws in animals because they were said to brush dew from grass as the animals walks about. In dogs they don’t touch the ground when he is standing up but will make contact when he runs about.

Dew claws should be firmly attached to your Frenchie’s front leg. You can feel the attachment and should be able to detect a bone connecting it to the rest of the leg.

However, the rarer dew claws that grow on the rear leg of a Frenchie, or in cases of double dew claws, tend to be only attached to the leg with skin, so can be moved around more freely.

What are Frenchie dew claws for?

When your French Bulldog runs, his legs and paws will bend, with the front dew claws making contact with the ground. The dew claws offer stability and traction and can help your Frenchie to move and run faster.

Did You Know? We tracked our own French Bulldog Claude running as fast as 17 miles per hour. We think that makes him the quickest Frenchie in the world – can yours run faster? If you think he can, check out this blog post and league table.

Frenchies can also use their dew claws like we do our own thumbs. For example, they can use them to grip onto a toy, food, or for balance in tricky situations.

Do French Bulldogs have their dew claws removed?

So, this is where I have a very different opinion to some (but not all) breeders. There are some breeders who will remove their French Bulldog’s dew claws. They have the opinion that it improves the look of their dogs and puppies for shows and high-end breeding competitions.

Let me just state though; it’s just some breeders who do this, and not all.

If you check out the website of the American Kennel Club who set the standard for what defines a French Bulldog, they say this:

“The French Bulldog has the appearance of an active, intelligent, muscular dog of heavy bone, smooth coat, compactly built, and of medium or small structure. Expression alert, curious, and interested. Any alteration other than removal of dew claws is considered mutilation and is a disqualification.”

What they are saying there is that, actually, they don’t believe this to be a problem.

I think differently though.

Whilst French Bulldog dew claw removal for cosmetic reasons is rare and only practised by a few breeders, I can’t help but think it must be painful. It has to be completely unnecessary; unless for medical reasons surely?

For example, some Frenchies will continue to catch and injure their dew claws. For this reason alone, it can be beneficial to have them removed.

What age to remove dew claws from a French Bulldog?

If breeders do decide that their Frenchie’s look better without the dew claws and want to remove them for cosmetic and show purposes, it needs to be done at a very young age.

It’s not often that dew claw removal is practised, but when it is, veterinarians recommend it happens when a puppy is under 5 days old. The dew claw area will also need to be anesthetized before the quick procedure.

Is it illegal to remove your dog’s dew claws for show purposes? 

Whilst researching this guide I was shocked to find that it isn’t actually an illegal practice in the UK or United States for cosmetic or breeding reasons.

For example, in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, it’s currently not illegal under the Animal Welfare act. You can read more on the UK’s Kennel Club website.

French Bulldog dew claw injury

Injury and discomfort to your Frenchie is the case where dew claw removal definitely does need to be considered. Some owners might see their Frenchie’s dew claw falling out, ingrown, or torn, or injured due to constant catching and snagging – it’s bound to be very painful. We can all agree on that.

Older French Bulldogs can also get diseased dew claws, with cancerous tumors being reported in area. It’s rare but can happen as they age.

In addition to existing injuries or disease, some vets will also recommend cutting them out if they hang loose from the paw and are more likely to catch. Vets will often combine a spay or neuter procedure with dew claw removal – so the dog is under anaesthetic for both surgeries making it quicker and easier.

However, according to vet statistics, dew claw injuries are very rare in Frenchies. They are not reported on the top 31 health issues in this breed, so to remove that when young as a preventative measure, does seem a little debatable in my opinion.

As an owner, I would recommend that you keep an eye on your Frenchie dew claws rather than removing them and keep them trimmed to stop risk of injury.

One of the first signs that your Frenchie has a dew claw problem will be licking of the area. French Bulldogs lick dew claws when they get too long or have developed an irritation. Licking of dew claws can also be a sign of an infection or allergy, possibly skin-related.

How to clean your Frenchie’s dew claws

The way you maintain your French Bulldog’s dew claws is just the same as you do with the rest of their claws. With more active dogs, you probably don’t need to do much because by running around and playing, they will keep them short with no need for trimming.

With older Frenchies, the dew claws and rest of their nails can get longer due to inactivity. Ingrown dew claws wont’ be uncommon in their later years.

In cases like this, you should trim their nails yourself or visit a dog groomer or vet who can do it for you. Here’s a video showing you how.

How to treat a broken dew claw

If your Frenchie has a dew claw injury, you might be able to treat it yourself. I would always recommend you talk with your vet first though, but if you are DIY inclined, here’s a possibility I found on PetHelpful.com:

1. Carefully remove the snagged piece of nail claw, possibly using human nail clippers. But, please be careful not to cut the quick. This will be very painful to your dog, so only cut the dead part of the nail cuticle.
2. Stem any bleeding using a styptic pencil or powder (here’s an Amazon one) which will act to cauterize the wound. If you don’t have these, some owners report that regular flour or corn starch also works well when compressed to the area.
3. Clean and disinfect the wound in warm water, and then use a dog-friendly antiseptic. Here’s an antiseptic gel for dogs I found on Amazon.
4. Bandage the paw area, using plasters or first aid tape to keep it in place. Admittedly, this isn’t going to stay on for long unless you have a very placid dog, or you do a good job of bandaging. The bandage should be changed every day, and the wound cleaned again.

Conclusion

Hopefully I’ve given you all you needed to know, and we all now understand whether Frenchies have dew claws, why they have them, and whether they can be removed.

I had no idea about all of this before the research; just like you, I am a Frenchie owner, and research and write these blog posts to learn more about our boy, Claude.

I hope you enjoy what you read, and you can go meet us on our YouTube channel.

You might also like…

If you enjoyed this short read, you might also like some of my quick Frenchie guides. Here are some of the latest I’ve published, and most popular:

• All you need to know about your Frenchie’s tear stains
• Why your female Frenchie could be having a false pregnancy
• The 11 things French Bulldogs are most scared of
• This is why your Frenchie keeps rubbing his private parts

The post French Bulldog Dew Claws: Removal, Injury, Treatment & Licking appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

In this guide I am going to share with you what we’ve learned over the last few years. Whilst our own boy Claude doesn’t get tear stains often, but when he does, we will give him a helping hand and clean them up.

Read on to find out why your French Bulldog has tear stains, when it could be an infection, and how to clean and remove them safely.

What you will need for cleaning

Before you read too deep, here are the products we use for cleaning our Frenchie’s tear stains. If you scroll down, you can see how we do it.

• Dog-friendly eye wipes (Amazon)
• Dog-friendly facial cleanser (Amazon)

Why does my French Bulldog have tear stains?

French Bulldog eye stains are predominantly due to the way in which our dogs have been bred. Your Frenchie has a flat muzzles and eyes that sit further forward in the skull. Because of this breeding, the development of the tear ducts is often affected, leading to tear stains and infections.

In simplistic terms, the tear ducts become crooked or narrow which is where the problem starts. The size and position of your Frenchie’s eyes also mean they need to produce more tears to avoid dry eye syndrome.

In light of this, Frenchie’s tend to be much more prone to tear staining than other breeds, especially Frenchies with lighter colored fur – where it is also a lot more noticeable.

Why can the tear stains look red?

French Bulldog’s have red tear stains. It’s way more noticeable on lighter colored Frenchies and can freak owners out – don’t worry, it’s not blood!

The main culprit for red tears stains in all dogs is an organic compound called porphyrin. Porphyrin is found in your dog’s saliva, urine, and tears and when it comes into contact with light-colored fur, it will typically stain the area brown, red, or pink.

If your dog has a habit of chewing or licking a leg or some other area of the body, you’ll likely see this area stained over time as well.

Should you worry about your Frenchie’s eye stains?

In the majority of cases tear stains are simply unsightly and nothing more than a cosmetic issue. However, I am not your vet, so if your Frenchie has excessive tear stains coupled with what appear to be obvious eye discomfort, I recommend you contact your vet.

Our Frenchie has tear stains quite irregularly, we might clean them up once every two months. We’ve found that regularly cleaning the face with a damp cloth or vet recommended wipes can help to reduce any discoloration of the fur.

This is also essential to help keep the folds around your dog’s face clean. If you clean a French Bulldog’s tear stains regularly you can help to reduce the risk of bacterial infections, which can further irritate the eyes and cause further problems.

That said, excessive tears can sometimes be indicative of a more serious medical issue. If your Frenchie’s eyes seem excessively moist or irritated for days at a time and if your Frenchie is showing any signs of discomfort, it would be worth taking them to the vet for a checkup.

Excessive tear production and irritated eyes can be symptomatic of blocked tear ducts, malformed eyelashes, eye infections, allergies, or foreign bodies that have become trapped in the eye.

You might be interested in reading these other blog posts I’ve written, as it could be one or both of the problems shown below:

• What cherry eye looks like
• Reasons for a red eye

If you scroll further down the page, you can read more information on the potential causes of a French Bulldog tear infection and when you might need to seek veterinary treatment.

How to clean French Bulldog tear stains

Before attempting to remove any tear stains your Frenchie already has, it’s a good idea to find the root cause. You’ll save yourself a lot of time, energy, and money by dealing with the underlying issue first. That’s why I recommend you talk with a vet in case you have any doubts on the cause.

Our Frenchie doesn’t have any eye problems, so we know that his tear stains are simply down to his genetics and can be easily cleaned.

When it comes to cleaning Frenchie tear stains, the best thing you can do is clean their face once a day. You can do this with a warm, damp cloth or with a vet recommended wipe. It’s essential to make sure that once you’re done cleaning that you also dry the skin.

Moisture trapped between the face folds can develop into a bacterial infection (skin fold moist dermatitis), which will only exasperate the issue.

Here’s how we do it:

1. Use a damp and clean cloth or a vet-recommend doggy face wipe. You can see which dog-friendly wipes we use on Amazon.
2. Wipe down and away from the eye, without getting the wipe into your Frenchie’s eye.
3. Make sure you also use this opportunity to get into and under the folds on your dog’s face.
4. If there are still marks, you can get rid of tear stains on your Frenchie’s fur by using a cleaning solution. Check out this dog facial cleanser on Amazon.
5. Use a clean and dry cloth to dry in between the face folds so no moisture is left behind.

If your Frenchie needs regular cleaning, you can get rid of the tear stains at home by cleaning their face up to once a day.

Disclaimer: Please always check with your vet before you use any commercial cleaning product on your Frenchie. They will advise you what’s best for your individual dog and check for any treatable problems such as infections and blockages.

Aside from keeping the skin dry, it’s essential to keep any hair under the eyes short. Doing this will help to make cleaning and general maintenance easier.

How to prevent and reduce French Bulldog tear stains

There are also some steps you can take to reduce French Bulldog tear stains from happening on the first place… or at least reduce their regularity.

Whilst it’s not always possible to prevent eye infections altogether, there are a few things you can do to try and prevent them from happening in your Frenchie. Some of the best things you can do for your dog include:

• Cleaning your Frenchie’s face once or twice a day with a damp cloth or a vet-recommended wipe. Ensuring the folds stay clean and dry will go a long way to preventing infections.
• Keep the hair around the eyes short.
• Invest in a good pair of doggy goggles to help protect their eyes from trauma and foreign bodies if you live in dusty conditions – here are dog goggles on Amazon.

No matter how mild, it’s vital that eye injuries and infections are treated as soon as you notice something is wrong. Ignoring the issue could result in long-term damage, such as scarring, vision impairment, or even blindness.

Apart from the grooming tips above, there are other ways in which you can get rid of your French Bulldog’s tear stains which are not so obvious, but vets recommend. These include:

1. Use steel or ceramic food dishes

It’s worth looking at your dog’s food and water dishes. Veterinarians recommended replacing any plastic feeding dishes with either stainless steel or ceramic. We use steel ones at home, and you can buy similar dishes on Amazon.

Plastic dishes tend to harbor bacteria and are much harder to sterilize. Many dogs will also suffer from plastic allergies which can result in eye stains.

Ceramic bowls tend to be more hygienic, but if you notice any cracks or chips, it’s best to get them replaced straight away. Even small cracks can harbor bacteria which can be very difficult to sterilize.

It’s also recommended that owners clean their dog’s feeding dishes every day or every other day. Doing this will help to prevent bacteria buildup.

Many owners also swear by looking at water quality. If you can, try giving your Frenchie access to unlimited, filtered water.

2. Nutrition and stress

Vets also recommend reducing stress and improving nutrition. Before making any significant adjustments to your Frenchie’s diet, it’s a good idea to have a word with your veterinarian. They should be able to give you advice based on your Frenchie’s lifestyle, age, health, and current diet.

Another way you can help your Frenchie is by gently massaging the skin just below the tear ducts. Doing this daily can help to loosen any clogging of the tear ducts.

3. Change their water quality

Tear stains can also be produced when Frenchie’s drink water that is high in minerals.

An American Kennel Club spokesperson recommends the following:

“After traveling a couple of times with my own dogs without their normal water and pouring for them from my own bottled water, I’ve noticed that they will develop staining pretty quickly in response to excess minerals. Use purified, distilled, or reverse-osmosis water sources.”

4. Look into food additives

Some owners will supplement their dog’s food with food additives. The same spokesperson on the American Kennel Club website said the following:

“Two things that have worked for me are adding one teaspoon of either organic apple-cider vinegar or buttermilk powder to meals. I-Stain, a probiotic enzyme, is another product with reportedly good results.”

Other reasons for French Bulldog tear stain infections

Earlier I mentioned that there could be other reasons why your Frenchie has tear stains. Below are a number of reasons why there could be over-production of tears, poor tear drainage, or possible tear stain infections.

Age (puppy tear stains)

While you’re Frenchie is still a puppy, you can expect to see a lot of extra moisture around the eyes. Typically, this is the result of them still growing and of development of the facial structure.

It’s also not uncommon to see your Frenchie showing signs of excessive tears while teething. However, once they reach maturity at two years of age, you should see this start to taper off.

That said, even if excessive tearing is common in puppies, it’s still a good idea to speak to a veterinarian about any concerns.

There’s a chance that the symptoms you are seeing are indicative of an allergy or irritation, especially if your puppy shows any discomfort or signs of swelling around the face.

Breeding

Although it’s not uncommon to see tears stains in many different breeds, Frenchie’s are particularly prone owing to how they have been bred. With their large, protruding eyes and short snouts, they are more prone to malformed tear ducts.

In addition to this, the size and positioning of their eyes mean they need to produce more tears to avoid dry eyes.

Blocked tear ducts

Many flat-faced dogs, including Frenchies, have trouble with their eyes draining correctly. Owing to how the face is structured, tears often won’t drain through the tear ducts as they do with other dogs. Instead, the tears will roll directly onto the face.

Some Frenchies will also have malformed tear ducts where the entrance has never opened up during development. If this is the case, there’s a possibility that your vet will be able to open the tear duct with surgery.

There is also a chance that the blocked tear duct is the result of a chronic eye infection or allergy. If this is the case, your vet should be able to provide some relief by flushing the tear ducts.

Foreign bodies

If your Frenchie has managed to get something caught in their eyes, such as sand, grass, or dirt, this may result in excessive tearing.

Aside from this, you may also see signs of eyelid spasms, light sensitivity, involuntary blinking, swelling, reduced vision, and general eye irritation.

If you suspect that your Frenchie has something in their eye, you will need to take your Frenchie to the vet as soon as possible for treatment. Possible solutions may include flushing the eye or removing the foreign body while your Frenchie is sedated.

Distichiasis

Distichiasis is a common condition that results in abnormal eyelash growth (view the definition on VCA Hospitals website). When this happens, eyelashes can rub against the cornea and irritate the eyes in general.

As a result, your Frenchie will typically produce more tears as the body attempts to flush out the “foreign body”.

If you suspect your Frenchie has this condition, it’s best to get them checked out by a vet as soon as possible. If left untreated, distichiasis can cause scarring, which will further exasperate tear production and tear staining.

Scarring

Where your Frenchie has had an eye injury or a chronic eye infection, it can eventually lead to scarring of the inner eye. Distichiasis can also result in this if left untreated.

The scarring can either hinder or block normal tear drainage, resulting in increased tear staining.

Allergies and infections

Allergic reactions and eye infections are two other common causes of excessive tear production in dogs.

When looking at allergies, which could include hay fever, food allergies, or a reaction to plastic, here are the symptoms to keep an eye out for:

• Swelling of the face, eyelids, and lips.
• Red and inflamed skin.
• Itchiness.
• Sneezing.
• Hives.
• Ear infections.
• Excessive licking.
• Irritated eyes.
• Vomiting and diarrhea.

When it comes to eye infections, whether it be conjunctivitis, an inflamed cornea, or uveitis, here are some of the symptoms to look out for:

• Red and irritated eyes.
• Swelling around the eyes.
• Squinting.
• Frequent blinking.
• Keeping eyes shut.
• Excessive, thick, and/or smelly tear production.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Pawing at the face and eye.

Eye infections

French Bulldogs are unfortunately prone to several eye problems, which includes dry eye, cherry eye, corneal ulcers, general eye injuries, and eye infections.

Owing to the positioning of Frenchie’s eyes and their flattened muzzles, their eyes are less protected than other breeds. As a result, they are more prone to a variety of eye injuries and infections.

Some of the most common causes of eye infections in Frenchie’s includes:

• Fungus.
• Viruses (herpes, canine influenza, hepatitis, etc).
• Bacteria (Lyme disease, leptospirosis, canine brucellosis, etc).
• Irritants.
• Foreign bodies.
• Parasites.
• Damage to the cornea.
• Eye trauma.

Eye infections can also be symptomatic of more serious medical conditions, such as:

• Tumors.
• Cherry eye.
• Eyelid abnormalities.
• Poisoning.
• Tear duct problems.
• Glaucoma.

When to call a vet

Excessive tear production and tear staining are not unusual in Frenchies and are usually nothing serious. However, if you notice any combination of the symptoms listed below, you should get your Frenchie seen to by a vet as soon as possible:

• Sudden onset of excessive tear production or tear staining in adult Frenchies.
• Eyelid spasms and involuntary blinking.
• Light sensitivity.
• Reduced vision.
• Swelling of the face, eyelids, and lips.
• Red and inflamed skin.
• Itchiness.
• Sneezing.
• Hives.
• Ear infections.
• Excessive licking.
• Red and irritated eyes.
• Vomiting and diarrhea.
• Squinting.
• Keeping eyes shut.
• Excessive, smelly tear production.
• Pawing at the face and eye.

Eye infections, chronic allergies, and clogged tear ducts can all lead to more complicated health conditions with time if left untreated. In light of this, it’s essential that you get your Frenchie the right treatment if you notice anything off.

What other Frenchie owners say

I wanted to also see what other people say about cleaning and reducing their Frenchie’s tear stains. I found some comments on social media which I found very interesting; see what you think.

“I found that since we started putting a small amount of apple cider vinegar in our dog’s water and a bit in his food it has made a massive difference. The tear stains have reduced significantly.”

“We have a white French Bulldog and struggle with red tears stains too. There was just one thing that worked for us, and that’s been a change in food. We swapped to a fish variety of kibble and have seen a big reduction in eye stains this year.”

“If your Frenchie has constant teary eyes, check at their skin that’s around each nail and on the inside of his paws. You need to look out for any redness and sores. If you see any, treat with antiseptic Sudocrem, and then wipe the paws with fragrance free water wipes. I say this because it could be an environmental issue that causes tear stains and allergies.”

“We switched from giving our Frenchie tap water to filtered water and it’s made an amazing different to the tear stains. I don’t know how it helps but it does and we’ve noticed a huge change in our white Frenchie’s eye stains.”

“Wipe the eyes with cool boiled water with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda in it. It has a whitening effect and is also antiseptic. It won’t cure tear stains overnight though, as you need to do it daily. If your dog will tolerate it, you could make it into a paste as smear it on the stains rubbing into the fur which will speed up the process. I have used it this way to remove green duck poo stains prior to bathing our dog.”

“Clean your Frenchie’s face every day with warm water. Focus on the folds especially as you must keep them very clean otherwise your dog can develop frequent tear stain infections.”

“I am using charcoal face wipes on our Frenchie with good results (he is fawn not white though). It’s a wipe with charcoal and bamboo. I also recommend you keep their wrinkles dry as possible too.”

“I’ve done more nutritional training than a standard vet and believe the most likely cause of tear stains is grain in the food. It’s commonly found in dog food, bread, and pasta. You should try a complete diet change.”

Conclusion

In almost all cases, tear stains are nothing to be concerned about. As I’ve mentioned, we clean our Frenchie’s eye stains once or twice a month, and that’s it.

However, as with anything of this nature, you should always seek professional advice if in any doubt about the health of your dog.

The post French Bulldog Tear Stains: How to Clean & Get Rid of Stains Easily appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

We first noticed it happening on December the 23^rd when we were sat in our lounge watching TV. Claude normally comes in and jumps up to sit between us. Instead he just sat on the rug looking at us sadly.

If your French Bulldog won’t jump up, I have a possible reason for it, based on what we learned over winter.

Why our Frenchie stopped jumping up

Because he wasn’t jumping up on the couch as usual, I went to pick him up, and this is where I knew something was immediately wrong. Claude let up a yelp and went to bite me.

Claude has never bitten anyone before, so it was clear he has some sort of issue. This breed can pull their back muscles and suffer with back problems. But weirdly it didn’t seem to be the top of his back that was hurting him…

It happened when I picked him up with one hand underneath his rib cage (see how to pick a Frenchie up in the video below).

More trouble trying to climb up the stairs

Later that day we went upstairs which is normally Claude’s cue to follow us up. He finds climbing stairs very easy, so this was another big signal that something was wrong. I went to pick him up again and the yelping and whinging started again.

It was time to take him to the vet.

What the vet said and did

Our vet checked Claude over completely. She did this by pressing on his back lightly, pulling at his arms, and seeing if he was in any discomfort.

He didn’t react in anyway, which made the not jumping up and yelping issue even weirder.

She decided to do some tests with a treat, where she held a treat over his nose, and moved it back, forward and from side to side to see what reaction she would get from him.

What she soon found was that he was finding it hard to look up, but down wasn’t a problem. Her diagnosis was that it was a classic case of French Bulldog pulled back muscles.

This made perfect sense, because on the way to the vet appointment he had no problem in walking down some steps downwards my car but could not climb steps. Down was no problem, up was a big problem.

She prescribed Claude some special dog pain killers and sent us on our way. We were under strict instructions to not exercise him at all and keep his movement to a minimum.

Other reasons for not jumping up

Before I explain how it went for us, I wanted to share some other reasons our vet said a French Bulldog won’t jump up. She went through a range of possibilities before ending up with the pulled back muscle diagnosis.

1. Anal gland problem

The first thing she checked was whether his anal glands were ok. When Frenchie’s won’t jump up, it’s because they think it’s going to hurt. Infected anal glands can cause pain.

I’ve always be very reticent to express Claude’s anal glands (here’s why), but was prepared to let the vet check out all possibilities.

She did actually believe he had a small infection, so did express them in front of me (not a nice thing to see – watch video below).

2. Major or minor back trauma

French Bulldogs are extremely prone to back problems (here’s what else they can suffer with) so if they won’t jump up, it most likely going to be a back issue.

We initially thought Claude wasn’t jumping up on the couch due to a possible back strain or jarred bone.

Our vet said that if our Frenchie started walking funny like he was drunk, for us to come in immediately as that would be a sign of a spinal problem – which would be extremely serious.

Other possibilities could have included either a herniated disc or strain.

3. Leg injury

Claude showed no sign of a leg injury, but this is another reason why Frenchies will stop jumping up on beds and couches. I’ve written more about what to look for when your dog has a limping back leg elsewhere on the website.

What happened after the vets…

The first week or not being able to jump up

We followed the vet’s advice and didn’t walk Claude at all, giving him one pain killer a day and seeing how he got on.

For the first week, he would not jump up on our couch, bed, or climb stairs at all. However, he was quite happy to go downstairs with no problem.

After about 8 days, we felt that his pulled muscle was probably recovered based on how he was behaving around the house. It was time for a lead walk at the park… I wanted to keep him on his lead to avoid any over-exertion.

He seemed himself, so I decided that the next day I would be letting him off the lead and monitoring how he got on.

The second week of not jumping up on the couch

By week two, Claude appeared to be fully recovered. He was back to his old self in the way he wanted to play, running at the park with his doggy friends, and his usual exercise routine.

However, our French Bulldog would still not jump up, despite appearing to be fully recovered?

What was going on?

It was time to go to the vet again and see what she thought.

Claude’s muscle memory

Our vet did the treat test again, and he was able to look up this time. So we knew that his pulled muscle was completely fine. So, why was our Frenchie not jumping up anymore?

The vet had a simple explanation…

Because Claude now associated jumping up and climbing upstairs with a painful reaction, his muscle memory was stopping him from doing it. He simply thought it was going to hurt him.

We were going to have to re-train Claude on how to climb upstairs and how to jump up on the couch and bed again. We’d also have to show him how to climb through the dog flap in our back door, as he’d stopped doing that as well!

Re-training our Frenchie to jump up on the couch

If you’ve read my guide on how to stop a Frenchie from jumping up at you, you will know how reward and repetition works really well with training.

Whilst I trained Claude not to jump up at us and other people, I wanted him to get back to his old self with okay behaviours – we don’t mind him jumping up on our couch and are fine if he wants to walk upstairs in our house.

Frenchies can jump as high as 40 centimetres off the ground so there was no reason now why he shouldn’t be able to jump up on the couch.

With a mix of treats left on the couch, and me lifting him up and down, he soon got back into the swing of things until he could do it all by himself.

The stairs needed a little more work, so I placed treats on every third step, and then lifted him onto the first step myself. After a few attempts he learned that jumping up was no longer problematic for him – and he’s now back to his old self!

Conclusion

If your Frenchie won’t jump up on the bed or couch anymore, or has problems climbing stairs then go to your vets immediately. Whilst Claude’s issue was relatively minor and easy to heal, it caused him a lot of pain, and a lot of worry for us.

Your vet will be able to manipulate your Frenchie’s back and legs and should be able to diagnose any problem quickly.

The post Our French Bulldog Won’t Jump Up on the Couch appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

In this short guide, I want to explain how often we bathe Claude, the types of cleaning products we use, and why the answer isn’t as clear cut as some other websites might make it… but first, the main question over bathing times.

How often should you bathe a French Bulldog? Ideally you should bathe a French Bulldog no more than 5 times a year to avoid drying out their natural skin oils. However, this is very impractical in most cases, so the rule of thumb is to bathe them when they are smelly and very dirty but using the right cleaning products.

So, why isn’t the answer completely clear?

Well, let me give you a personal example. We live in the UK and it’s wet a lot of the time. We take Claude for his walks every day, and for half of the year that means a lot of mud.

He loves to cool down in muddy waters as you can see in this photo and will always get mud caked up his legs and under his belly.

Now, do we then want that muddy Frenchie in our living space and on our bed? No, of course not, so we do have to bathe our French Bulldog more often than we would ideally like.

And I am sure that will be the same for you.

So, how often do we bathe our French Bulldog in reality? Well, for us, probably a couple of times a month.

The rest of the time we will use towels and a brush to get rid of the mud once it’s dried, and occasionally use something called a dry shampoo spray.

You spray it on their coat, then wipe them down with a towel – meaning no bath or shower needed. You can see the dry shampoo we use on Amazon.

Why you should try to keep baths to a minimum

Earlier I mentioned that the more often you bathe a French Bulldog puppy, the more likely you are to dry out their skin’s natural oils. But what does this mean exactly?

Well, Frenchies have oils in their skins, just like all dogs do. It keeps their coat healthy, and their skin healthy too.

However, because French Bulldogs have short coats, it’s very easy for those natural oils to be stripped away by bathing and cleaning products.

So, that’s why it’s best to try to limit how often you bathe your French Bulldog.

But, as we know, that’s really not as practical as it sounds.

What products are best for bathing your Frenchie?

With that in mind, we know that the reality is you will be bathing your Frenchie more often than 5 times a year. So, what cleaning products should you use that will help to not just keep their natural oils in check, but also alleviate any itchiness or allergies?

Shampoo

Firstly, let’s look at the shampoo I recommend. It needs to be something that ticks these boxes:

• PH balanced.
• Hypoallergenic.
• De-odorizing.
• Anti-itch formula.
• Anti-dandruff formula.

And I found a shampoo that is said to deliver on all of these points. It’s called EarthBath on Amazon. It isn’t just great for dogs, but also is cruelty-free when made – so even more reasons for a dog lover to buy it.

I don’t recommend you use human shampoo on a Frenchie. It can contain PH levels that can be harmful for dogs and can severely irritate their eyes.

Post-bathe oils

After the bath, you might want to consider using a coconut-based cream and oil. It’s great for soothing French Bulldog skin which has got dry and itchy… if like us, you are bathing your Frenchie more often than you really want to, it’s a great way to help get his skin back into tip-top condition.

Coconut oil can help to improve your Frenchie’s skin as it will put moisture and healthy fats back into the skin’s lipid layer. It’s even said that coconut oil can help stop infections such as yeast or fungal based ones.

I’ve found one on Amazon, which has great reviews.

How often to bathe a French bulldog with allergies?

But what about Frenchies who do have allergies? Well, at this point I would defer you to your vet. We’re lucky in that our own boy Claude appears to be allergy-free.

I would recommend you speak with your vet and see what they say about bathing a French Bulldog with pre-existing skin allergies. 

How to bathe your French Bulldog

I’ve not gone into too much detail here on the actual bathing process itself.

What I recommend you do instead is read my guide to washing a Frenchie, which also includes a video of us bathing Claude using a similar shampoo to the one I recommended earlier.

Conclusion

To conclude, how often you bathe your Frenchie is all down to an as and when basis. If your French Bulldog is covered in mud and stinks, he needs a bath – no argument.

However, with lighter dirt, just brush it off, and possibly use the dry shampoo product I mentioned earlier.

The less often you bathe your French Bulldog with water and cleaning products, the less their natural oils, skin, and coat will suffer.

You might also like…

A Frenchie’s bum is a completely different situation altogether, as they can’t clean it themselves. If you want a giggle, you can see some photos of me wiping Claude’s bum, and the reasons why and how I do it so often.

The post How Often Should You Bathe a French Bulldog? appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

In this guide I am going to explain all I can about French Bulldogs and tail pockets. It will include how to tell whether your French Bulldog has a tail pocket, how you keep it clean to stop infection, what infection symptoms are, and when a surgical route might be needed.

What is a tail pocket on a French Bulldog?

A tail pocket is simply the small indentation or fold of skin underneath your French Bulldog’s tail, caused by wrinkles of excess skin. Wrinkly breeds such as bulldogs are more likely to get them.

Because of their awkward location, tail pockets can often go unnoticed by pet owners until infection has already set in, so how can you find out whether your dog has got a tail pocket or not?

How to tell if your Frenchie has a tail pocket

Tail pockets are located underneath the base of the tail, where there is a wrinkle of skin that acts, as its name implies like a pocket. These can be easily found in adult Frenchies, but in puppies can be harder to find.

You should place your fingers under the base of your Frenchie’s tail. If you find a space there, that’s probably a tail pocket.

Tail pockets are often not visible when the dog is first born. Your Frenchie might not develop a tail pocket at around 6 months or over, once they begin to properly grow into their wrinkles.

Even then, your French Bulldog may not have a proper or pronounced tail pocket until they have become a fully-grown adult dog.

If you have previously checked for a tail pocket before your dog became fully grown, it is important that you check again once they have.

Do all French Bulldogs have a tail pocket?

Not all French Bulldogs have tail pockets. They are not a universal trait, but in Frenchies it’s more common to have one than to not have one.

Whether or not a dog has a tail pocket can vary on a dog to dog basis, with some having very pronounced ones while others do not have one at all. As mentioned above, if you want to know whether your Frenchie has a tail pocket then you will only be able to properly find out once yours in fully grown.

If you are looking for a French Bulldog without a tail pocket, your best bet is to buy a fully-grown dog which you will be able to conclusively say doesn’t have a tail pocket. Puppies cannot be conclusively ruled out as not having a tail pocket, especially under the age of six months old.

If your dog does have a tail pocket, however, you shouldn’t worry. Keeping them clean and clear of infection is actually easier than you may think.

French Bulldog tail pocket cleaning guide

Because of a Frenchie’s stout stature, they are not going to be able to reach their hindquarters, let alone properly clean underneath their own tail. Frenchies are renowned for not being able to clean themselves properly.

This can mean that dirt, dead skin and other grime that may collect in the tail pocket will go uncleaned, which can build up and result in a nasty infection and possibly even bleeding.

This means that it is often down to the owner to make sure that the tail pocket is cleaned out regularly to prevent discomfort and pain for your Frenchie.

How to clean a French Bulldog tail pocket

And here’s how you can clean it for them.

1. Using water and mild soap, lift the tail up and clean out around the base of the tail and into the tail pocket using a damp cloth, or dog-friendly cleaning wipes.
2. Once the tail pocket has been properly cleaned out, rinse it out and then blot it dry, with any remaining excess moisture getting trapped there potentially causing its own infections.

Dog-friendly cleaning wipes are very easy to find, with Amazon offering several well-rated products – here are a couple of options we’ve used in the past.

Dechra 100 Count MalAcetic Wet Wipes

These wipes not only keep your French Bulldog’s wrinkles clean and clear of grime, but they also provide quick relief for hot spots, fungal and bacterial conditions and any other skin irritation that may be bothering your pet. In other words, they work great for tail pocket cleaning.

Suitable for both cats and dogs, they are made in the USA and helps stop your pets from scratching irritated areas.

Pogi’s Hypoallergenic Grooming Wipes

Available in Green Tea Leaf and Unscented packs, these wet wipes are completely free of parabens, alcohol and harsh chemicals, made of 100% sustainably harvested bamboo fibre. The conditioning ingredients include Aloe Vera, Vitamin E and Hawaiian Awpuhi.

Quilted for your dog’s comfort, these large wipes make it easy to keep your dog’s wrinkles and other areas clean and soothed, deodorising, as well as giving their fur a healthy shine.

How often should you clean a French Bulldog tail pocket?

Checking and cleaning a French Bulldog’s tail pocket should become a regular habit, usually only needing to be done about once a week.

If your Frenchie has a deeper and more pronounced tail pocket they may need to be cleaned more regularly.

French Bulldog tail pocket problems

Tail pockets can easily become infected. Some French Bulldog owners will even notice bleeding from the area. If you notice your French Bulldog’s tail pocket bleeding, then it’s likely an advanced infection.

While your Frenchie having a tail pocket is not in itself a problem, leaving it unchecked for a long period of time can lead to different infections, chafing and sores that can cause your dog discomfort and pain.

Because of the fold of skin easily collecting moisture as well as general dirt and grime, yeast infections can easily occur.

French Bulldog tail pocket infection symptoms

And here’s what to look out for if you suspect an infection.

• Discomfort: Your Frenchie will soon let you know that is feeling uncomfortable or is even in pain because of an infection, trying to scratch, lick or bite the infected area and being sensitive to people touching their hind legs and tail. You know your dog better than anyone, so if they are acting out of the ordinary there may very well be an underlying reason.
• Redness: Like all infections, the infected area of the skin will often go red, either from the infection itself or from the attempts to scratch or rub at it. This may be harder to see at first in dogs with thicker fur.
• Smell: Especially prominent in yeast infections, built up moisture infections often create a bad smell. This can also be caused by your Frenchie’s anal glands becoming blocked (here’s what an anal gland problem looks like). This smell can be rather foul and is a very easy to spot clue that something isn’t right with your dog.
• Sensitivity: The infected tail pocket area is very sore and painful for your Frenchie, so they will naturally become much more sensitive to people touching that particular area. If your dog is usually fine with you touching their tail or hindquarters but is suddenly disliking it, this could be because they have discomfort in that area.
• Pus: Infections can often cause coloured pus and discharge around the tail, coloured anything from yellow and white to even green.

If you have noticed any of these tail pocket infection symptoms, it is recommended that you take your dog to see the vet, who will be able to identify any problem, prescribe any medications and recommend a cleaning regime to prevent further complications.

French Bulldog tail pocket surgery

French Bulldog tails can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with the more well-known tight bun tails being very prone to infections. This is because the tightness of the tail doesn’t allow for the folds to get any air circulation, meaning that any moisture collected in between them can lead to yeast infections.

This can also mean regular French Bulldog tail pocket infections, with the tail sitting tightly against the skin folds and causing the same problem.

While most Frenchies can have infections prevented by regular cleaning, sometimes the tail is too tight to clean, or the tightness itself can cause the dog pain. When this happens, vets will sometimes recommend have their tail removed altogether.

While tail docking for aesthetic or fashionable reasons is still quite controversial, being a banned practice in the UK, docking for medical reasons is sometimes necessary; while it can be distressing for the dog to begin with, the removal of the tail can help prevent recurring infections and pain that can cause your dog to suffer in the long term.

To remove the tail, tail pocket surgery is required. After some tests to see whether or not they are healthy enough to undergo the surgery, your Frenchie will be put under anaesthetic before the surgery begins.

The surgeon will then remove their tail, separating it from the rest of the spinal column before they are sewn back up and woken up for recovery to begin.

This procedure usually requires an overnight stay at the vets, but this is typical procedure for all minor and major operations.

Once the surgery is completed and your Frenchie is up and about, your vet will be able to talk you through the after-operation care, as well as prescribing any medication, antibiotics or anti-inflammatories.

If your vet has recommended for your dog’s tail to be amputated, do not hesitate to get a second opinion if you are worried. Your vet will also be able to inform you about the ins and outs of the surgery, how long it will take, the recovery time and how much it will cost.

Conclusion

French Bulldog tail pockets are a lot like belly buttons. being that they can collect up a lot of grime without you noticing. This can include dead skin, dust, dirt from walks and even water from washes and swimming when out and about.

Because of its awkward placement, some dog owners don’t even know that their Frenchie has a tail pocket but left uncleaned or with water or excess moisture, over time they can be prone to infections which can cause discomfort and even pain for your dog.

The post French Bulldog Tail Pocket: Cleaning, Infections, & Problems appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

Do French Bulldogs give birth naturally? Your French Bulldog could give birth naturally but a natural labor is very rare, accounting for only 20% of all Frenchie pregnancies. There are risks with natural births including the puppies getting stuck in the birth canal. Consult with a veterinary professional for advice on natural births and labor. 

In this guide I am going to go into more detail on natural births, what the French Bulldog labor and delivery looks like, plus show you a video of a Frenchie delivering their puppies. 

Why Frenchies don’t tend to give birth naturally

Frenchies tend to need artificial insemination to mate. It’s due to their narrow hips which makes mounting difficult. This same physical trait is also one of the main reasons why natural births are so rare.

French Bulldogs have narrow hips and large heads. This means puppies are at risk of getting stuck in the birth canal (dystocia). This can lead to very difficult labor, with the possibility of death not just to the puppies, but also the mother.

If you are thinking about breeding your Frenchie, please do consult with your vet. They will be able to give you advice on how likely it is that your French Bulldog can give breed and give birth naturally, and then create a pregnancy plan. It will be highly likely that they will recommend you get a C-section booked. 

Video of a French Bulldog giving birth naturally

If you decide to opt for a natural labor you will find this video of a pregnant French bulldog giving birth really fascinating. Like I’ve said though, it’s quite unusual as only around 80% of Frenchies will have a natural birth.

You can see the puppies being delivered with the help of the Frenchie’s owner. The female Frenchie cleans the puppies straight after labor and then even plays with them after giving birth towards the end of the video. 

French Bulldog labor: what to expect

If you’re not opting for a C-section and have chosen the natural labor route after consultation with your vet, here’s what to expect.

French bulldog labor signs

• Your Frenchie will act restless (pacing around and digging)
• Your Frenchie will want to start nesting.
• Your Frenchie’s temperature will start to drop.

French bulldog labor temperature

One of the most common signs of labor will be a drop in temperature. You can expect a drop of around one and a half degrees from 38.5°C to 37°C.

Vets say you should take your Frenchie’s temperature a couple of times a day in the week leading up to the due date. You will need a rectal thermometer to do this.

French bulldog labor and delivery

I can’t stress this enough, but please have a vet on standby.

Before labor you will see a lot of panting, walking around, and the restless behavior. Once labor starts, your Frenchie will shake and tremble, lie down, and then start to push. If she is pushing for 20 minutes and you can’t see the puppy’s head yet, you should call your vet as there could be labor complications.

You will need to help clean the puppies, cut umbilical cords and then tie them up. You will also need to clean the area up with paper towels.

After labor, your Frenchie will clean the puppies, and they should eventually start to feed from her.

Do I recommend your French Bulldog giving birth naturally?

I am not a breeder and I am not a vet. In fact, I have ethical questions myself over Frenchie breeding and how these dogs have developed over the years. That’s a discussion for another time though, so let’s just deal with some practical advice first.

According to the Royal Veterinary College (view website) Frenchies are almost 16 times likely to have a difficult pregnancy and natural birth than other dogs. That can suffer complications such as dystocia when the puppy’s shoulders get stuck in the body, which can mean a slow labor or birth.

As a result, French Bulldogs are 2.4 times as likely than a standard breed to require a C-section. Many of these will have to be emergency operations when an owner opted for a natural French Bulldog birth.

This is why it’s very rare for French Bulldogs to give birth naturally, and the majority of breeders will opt for an expensive, yet necessary C-section.

The potential health complications and risks are something that you should consider seriously. There’s a very informative article on the Today’s Veterinary Practice website which goes into more detail on the research and studies behind French Bulldog’s giving birth naturally. Here’s quote from that article:

“According to the first paper, 3.7% of female dogs suffer from dystocia. In addition to French Bulldogs, other pure breeds, such as Boston terriers, chihuahuas and pugs, are also at risk of suffering birthing problems. Compared to crossbred female dogs, Boston terriers are 12.9 times more likely to face birthing issues, pugs 11.3 times more likely, and chihuahuas 10.4 times more likely.” 

How long does it take for a French Bulldog to give birth?

All dogs are different and so the time it takes a Frenchie to give birth will vary drastically. Having spoken with our local vet, he said the majority of dogs will give birth (from the point the puppies start to deliver) between 20 minutes and a couple of hours. 

In the video of a French Bulldog birth I show on this page, the entire delivery took around 10 minutes. However, I would imagine this is quite a rare scenario given how difficult French Bulldog labor can be. 

Conclusion 

Whilst it’s very uncommon for Frenchies to go into labor naturally, it can and does happen in around 1 out of 5 pregnancies.

Do I recommend you proceed with a natural birth? No, but then I am not a breeder myself, but can only go on the guidelines I have seen published by professional vets.

You might also like…

Now you know a little bit more about French Bulldog labor and birth, you might want to check out these other articles I wrote on similar topics.

• How to tell if your Frenchie is pregnant
• How long Frenchies are pregnant for
• How to calculate your Frenchie’s due date

The post Can My French Bulldog Give Birth Naturally? (Labor Signs + Video) appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

All you need to do is use the date picker to select the date at which you believed your female Frenchie mated and became pregnant, and the pregnancy calculator will do the rest for you.

How the due date was calculated

To find out what a French Bulldog’s due date is I took the average gestation period of 63 days and then added that to the mating date you entered. Frenchies will be pregnant for anywhere between 58 and 68 days on average, so 63 days falls in the middle. You can read more about the gestation periods here.

It will help you to get prepared for whelping, or in a more likely scenario booking in the C-section for your Frenchie – here’s how much a C-section could cost you.

If you do think your Frenchie is pregnant and you have now calculated the gestation period and due dates, please do seek the support of a professional vet. Your Frenchie will need a lot of care and attention during this time.

You might also be interested in this guide I created which could help you figure out if your Frenchie is indeed pregnant. Signs can include:

• Change in appetite.
• Enlarged nipples.
• Lethargy and tiredness.
• Increased belly size.

Conclusion

I hope you’ve found my Frenchie gestation calculator helpful. I cannot stress enough how prepared you will need to be for the date. If you are going to be helping with the whelping and think a natural birth could happen, here are some things you will need:

• Whelping box to have the puppies safely delivered in in a warm area.
• Line the whelping box with newspaper.
• Have clean towels and fabric to clean the newly born Frenchie puppies with.
• A thermometer to make sure your Frenchie’s temperature is correct before birth.
• New and clean pair of scissors to cut the umbilical cords.
• Use unwaxed dental floss to then tie the umbilical cords up.
• Iodine to clean the puppies’ abdomens after the cord is cut and dab on the end of the cut umbilical cord.
• Access to a vet in case there is an emergency or you need to switch to a C-section.

The post French Bulldog Pregnancy Calculator (Calculate the Due Date) appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

How do you pick up a French Bulldog?

Watch the video below to see how I do it.

Step by step guide to picking up your Frenchie

If you can’t watch the video or listen to what I am saying, here are some quick text-based instructions and photos to give you guidance instead.

1. Give your Frenchie a verbal cue

By using a verbal cue every time, you can get your Frenchie used to being held and picked up. Something as simply as “up” or “lift” works very well.

By always doing this when you are just about to pick them up, it means they won’t be surprised and should over time become more accustomed to what’s just about to happen.

2. Place one up under and between the front legs

Using your stronger arm, place it under your Frenchie’s body and then through his two front legs so your hand is held on his chest, just under the neck.

3. Use your other arm under the back legs and backside

Now with your remaining arm, go under the Frenchies lifting the back legs up and tucking your arm under the legs and backside.

4. Lift gently and slowly

When you’re happy that your Frenchie is being held properly and securely, you can start the lift.

The method outlined above is perfect for dogs that weigh 25 pounds and under. That’s most Frenchies…

In my video I also show another method you can use for holding them, but that method does mean their legs are trapped at the front. I don’t like that holding method as believe it’s not as safe, should the dog jump and need to land safely on his feet.

Do French Bulldogs like to be picked up? French Bulldogs love attention and cuddles, so most will not mind being picked up. However, each dog is different and the best way to make them comfortable with being held is practice and giving them a verbal cue before the lift.

How NOT to pick up or hold a Frenchie

Now you’ve seen how to properly hold a French Bulldog I wanted to share a few ways you should not do it.

Don’t pick them up by their scruffs

This is a common mistake with people who own smaller dogs. They think that because a dog’s mother picks their puppies up by the scruff of the neck, then it’s ok for us to do it.

This isn’t the case with adult dogs. It can really hurt them to picked up in this way, so please don’t do it.

Don’t pick them up by their legs

Similarly, I’ve seen many people pick their dogs up by placing their hands under the legs and hoisting them up by their armpits.

This and pulling up by the legs can also be very painful for a dog. It can lead to dislocations, strains, and ligament damage.

Don’t pick them up by their tails

This is a picking up method that no sane adult would do, but it something kids can do with smaller dogs. Keep an eye on your children and teach them how to hold a French Bulldog properly when you first get a puppy.

Being picked up by the tail can lead to intense pain due to muscle and nerve damage. Tail dislocations and injuries can even lead to a loss of movement and inability to go the toilet.

Don’t pick them up by their collars

Again, this is mainly a mistake that young kids will make. Not only can it temporarily cut off the air supply and strangle the dog, it could also lead to damage to their trachea.

Conclusion

Holding your Frenchie incorrectly can be potentially risky. By starting to practice and giving your dog a warning that you’re just about to do it, you can reduce the chances of them struggling and possibly falling, leading to an injury.

The post How to Pick Up a French Bulldog Properly & Hold Them Safely appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

Unlike us, dogs can’t tell us that they are sad and depressed. This is particularly true with Frenchies who don’t have the range of facial expression other breeds do.

But before I explain how tell if your French Bulldog is depressed and what could be causing the depression, just a quick caveat; long-term canine depression is very unusual.

With most Frenchies you will find times when they are depressed, but in the majority of cases it will be a short-term thing typically due to an environmental or routine change.

Longer term depression in Frenchies can arise from a major life change. For example, perhaps their companion dog died, they have had a nasty injury, have moved home, or experienced some form of trauma.

Sometimes it can actually be due to a medical issue so if you find that nothing seems to be solving their sadness, it’s probably worth visiting the vet for a professional check-up.

How to tell if your French Bulldog is depressed

It’s usually very easy for us to tell if Claude our Frenchie is sad. He won’t be his normal self, isn’t pleased to see us, and won’t be as active as he usually is. These aren’t the only signs of French Bulldog depression though. Here are all the signs of depression and sadness you need to look out for.

1. Will hide, cower, and be fearful of you

French bulldog depression will often manifest itself with hiding behavior. It’s a classic response to your dog or puppy being confused, stressed out, or going through a life-changing situation that it is not comfortable with.

The reason your French Bulldog hides can be down to a range of issues, many of which I will explain further down in the guide when I look at the causes of depression. However, simple reasons can be a change in what they are used to. Think of home moves, new people, or changes to their routine.

Frenchies will seek out small and dark places to hide in when they are sad, depressed, frightened, or stressed.

2. Won’t be pleased to see you

This is how we tell that our own French Bulldog is sad, and it’s very common too. Frenchies are social companion dogs. If you leave them alone for just a couple of hours, they can suffer with separation anxiety.

When we’ve had to leave Claude at home by himself for two or three hours (sometimes it’s unavoidable) he will shun us when we come back through the door.

Thankfully your French Bulldog’s sad face won’t last for long.

With a little bit of coaxing and love they will soon be back to their normal selves. I often think Claude’s just trying to punish us for leaving him alone for two hours… yours might do the same too!

Handy Hint: To find out more about separation anxiety in Frenchies and how it can make them sad or depressed, read this guide.

3. Will show more whites in the eyes

Dog experts call this “whale eye”. It refers to when your dog will look at you, but with its head bowed or to one side, but still with the eyes fixed on you but with one key difference; you can see the whites of the eyes in a crescent shape showing.

This whale eye behaviour is a classic sign of a dog being stressed, fearful, anxious, or depressed. But don’t rush into thinking it means your French Bulldog is sad.

Dogs of a brachycephalic breed such as Frenchies always have a little bit of white showing in their eyes. So, just because your French Bulldog is showing white half-moon shapes in their eyes doesn’t mean they’re depressed or sad.

With this sign of depression, I’d only use it as a signal if you’re ticking off other things from this list.

4. Will have a change in appetite

One of the biggest ways to tell if your French bulldog is depressed will be a loss of appetite. But, just like humans, sometimes dogs can even more when they are feeling sad and down.

However, most of the time, a sad French Bulldog will lose their appetite. This can be a sign of increased stress levels.

Just like one of the previous points where I mentioned Claude would ignore us, he will also skip a meal if he’s feeling sad. Thankfully, this has only ever lasted for half a day at most with our Frenchie, but it should be closely monitored.

If your Frenchie goes 24 hours without eating, then it’s a huge sign they are depressed. This will usually be due to a medical complaint, so you should consult with your vet if it goes on for too long.

5. Will lick themselves more than usual

One of the lesser known signs of depression in a French Bulldog is excessive licking. It will often be mis-interpreted as them licking a wound or cleaning themselves. However, it’s something you need to watch for though, as licking themselves more than usual could mean your Frenchie is sad.

Why is licking excessively a sign of stress, depression, or sadness though?

It’s two-fold. Firstly, a dog will lick more in order to sooth itself. I believe this is a hereditary thing from when their mother would lick and wash them in a litter. What better way to feel happier than putting yourself in a comfortable mental zone?

The second reason why excessive licking could mean your Frenchie is depressed is medical. Dogs that scratch, itch, and lick more than usual could have a skin problem.

Handy Hint: To find out what skin problems Frenchies suffer with and what signs to look out for, read this guide.

I found this quote from Dr Anita Patel, a leading veterinary dermatologist which sums it up very well.

“Dermatological problems can affect a dog’s wellbeing. What we now know is that skin issues can be one of the biggest causes of depression for dogs. And like people, when a dog is depressed, they lose interest in the things they usually love. Frequently itching, scratching, nibbling or licking themselves could be a strong sign of a skin condition.”

6. Will have changes in their sleeping patterns

If your French Bulldog seems depressed and isn’t sleeping as they usually do, then they could be sad and unhappy. Most sad dogs will tend to sleep more than usual and won’t seem interested in anything other than their bed.

In rarer cases of French Bulldog depression, it could actually go in completely the opposite direction, with them not sleeping at all.

We had this with Claude once when he had a gastro-intestinal problem. He was unable to sleep and was very depressed until the infection passed.

In the graph below you can see what a typical sleeping pattern can look like when your Frenchie is not sad or down in the dumps.

Handy Hint: I’ve published a Frenchie sleeping schedule which is very typical for a healthy and happy dog. You can read how many of sleep is normal here. 

7. Will start yawning and panting

This is another lesser known sign your French bulldog is depressed is yawning. Scientists believe there is a lot of foundation in it (read more on PsychologyToday.com).

“Direct observations of canine behavior have shown that dogs that are under stress are more likely to yawn. In dog obedience classes, for example, I have often seen a dog yawn immediately after its master scolded it for something or gave it a very harsh correction.”

Another sign of stress and sadness is excessive panting. Dogs will often pant when they are scared – if you have a dog that hates loud noises such as fireworks, you might have seen this in action. 

8. Will urinate or defecate indoors

Dogs can also respond to stress by urinating inside of the house. This one can come out of nowhere even with previously very well trained Frenchies.

French Bulldog acting depressed will often combine in by soiling the floor inside of the house.

Dog behavioural specialists say this is very common after a house move, or high times of anxiety when a dog will mark its territory – or even be afraid to go outdoors.

9. Will exhibit destructive behavior

Whilst it’s perfectly normal for Frenchies to chew on things (here’s how you can stop chewing), destructive behavior can ramp up significantly when they are unhappy.

It will often be your Frenchie’s way of getting your attention – it could be that they want you to understand that they are sad and depressed. In many cases though, it will be down to fear and anxiety.

Destructive behavior will often be combined with a lack of obedience and not responding to commands.

Digging is a classic sign too. Often Frenchies will dig holes in the garden because they literally want to escape and get to another place.

Handy Hint: Here’s information on how you can stop your dog from digging up the garden or yard and what could be causing it.

10. Will lose interest in toys and play

Very depressed and sad French Bulldogs will stop doing the things that they love. This can be going for walks, being at your side, and even losing interest their toys.

Withdrawn behaviour and a lack of interest in playtime (here’s how Frenchies love to play) is a sure-fire sign that your French Bulldog is sad.

Handy Hint: You might find that your Frenchie cheers up by being stimulated by some new toys. I’ve put together a list of the best French Bulldog toys that our happy boy loves to play with.

11. Will start whining and howling

This sign of depression will often manifest itself with your Frenchie whinging and howling when you’re actually in the house with them.

Dogs don’t have many ways of communicating well with their human owners, so often a vocal sign will be there way of telling you there’s something wrong with them.

12. Won’t respond to love and affection

A French Bulldog who doesn’t want love and affection is very unusual. This breed is renowned for wanting cuddles and love… so if they don’t, it’s a sign that something is not right.

Why is your French bulldog sad in this scenario? Well, like most of the signals on this list, there could be an underlying health issue bring them down.

13. Will growl and be aggressive

And the most obvious is saved for last.

Frenchies that are sick or scared can become aggressive. It makes sense; dogs who are stressed can become fearful, and not want anybody near them.

Handy Hint: If your Frenchie is biting for non-stress related reasons then there are ways in which you can train them to stop. See this guide to preventing biting behavior.

Why French Bulldogs get depressed 

I touched on some reasons why your Frenchie could be sad earlier, but let’s expand on those a little so you can possibly get to the bottom of the depression a little better.

If your French Bulldog seems depressed it could be down to a number of reasons. Here are some of the most common reasons why your dog could be sad.

Change in routine or their environment

Frenchies are very sensitive to change.

I know one owner whose puppy had a long period of depression after a house move. It took their dog a month to get used to the change of surroundings not too soon after it had settled into a new home shortly after being taken away from the mother.

Many dog owners report depression in their pups after a new baby is born and brought into the family home. Others talk about their dog being sad if they have had to spend more time than usual out of the home perhaps with a new job.

Traumatic incident or injury

French Bulldogs can also act depressed after a stressful incident or an injury. Injuries that involve going to a vet could put your dog well out of its comfort zone. It could also be be the sign of a high fever or high temperature (here’s what to check for).

Having to be prodded, poked, and injected will often raise anxiety levels for a long time after the injury has been treated. 

Loss of a companion or owner

If you have two Frenchies and one dies, then it’s very likely that the surviving dog will go through a period of mourning and sadness.

The same sadness will manifest itself in Frenchies whose owners have passed away. It can be very challenging to take on the dog who has lost their owner.

Whilst you can’t really give a dog grief counselling, there are things you can do to lift their depression. You can read how to help them out further down the page.

Loneliness 

French Bulldogs are companion animals.

If you can’t give them that then I don’t suggest you get one for a moment. They need to be in a pack; whether that’s with you all day, or another dog. I recommend two Frenchies being better than one for this very reason. 

Fear and stress

One Frenchie owner I spoke to told me how her dog became depressed after new neighbors moved in who had a dog.

Her French Bulldog knew the new dog was on the other side of the fence in the backyard, and she believes the depression set in due to anxiety over territory. 

Separation anxiety

Separation anxiety is a common theme with Frenchies and one of the main reasons why they will become depressed. I’ve written a guide to this which you can read about in the separation anxiety section.

Symptoms of separation anxiety, and therefore depression include:

• Urinating and defecating indoors.
• Barking and howling.
• Pacing, heavy panting, and drooling.
• Chewing, digging, and destructive behavior.
• Escape attempts.

Lack of attention

If for some reason you change your behavior toward your Frenchie, don’t be surprised if that has a knock-on effect.

I mentioned human babies coming into a household earlier as a prime reason for depression. The reason being, the focus of attention will move from the dog to the new arrival.

Dogs can pick up on your emotions too, and there’s even some evidence to suggest that dogs can even pick up on stress in their owners (read source on Reuters.com).

Sickness 

And last but not least; sickness. 

Your French Bulldog could always look sad due to illness. The depression could very well be a secondary symptom of pain and discomfort.

If you cannot think of any reason why your Frenchie is sad, then this is probably the core reason and means you should book a vet’s appointment.

For example, if your Frenchie no longer wants to go for a walk, preferably to look miserable and disinterested, it could be the on-set of canine arthritis pain.

How to treat Frenchie depression

Now that you’ve read the list, the ways to treat the sadness should be relatively obvious. In most cases though, it will probably only be a short-term thing… most Frenchies won’t be sad for long.

You can usually lift a sad funk with things such as:

• Offer plenty of attention and love.
• Keep routines and schedules the same
• Keep them well entertained with play and exercise.
• Consider getting them a dog companion.
• Buy new toys to keep them mentally active and stimulated.
• Give them more socialization with other dogs.
• Don’t leave them alone for long periods.
• Give them a safe and comfortable place to bed down.
• Give them time to feel better – it will probably lift after a couple of hours.

If nothing else works, then you should seek professional support from a vet. They will be able to do checks and blood tests to look for any medical reasons that could be caused the depressed behavior.

If it isn’t due to an injury or sickness, you might find a vet who even prescribes a form of canine depression medication. These work very similar to how depression meds do with humans.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that Frenchies will typically become sad after a major event or change in their life. In most cases, they won’t be sad for long, and with love and attention will soon bounce back to their happy self.

And how will you know your Frenchie is loving life?

Well, take a look at this list of 13 signs of Frenchie happiness for some clues.

The post How Do I Know if My French Bulldog is Depressed & Sad? 13 Signs of Depression appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.