Last week we had we had a Frenchie puppy come over to play with our own Frenchie, Claude. She is a 14-week old French Bulldog puppy with the bluest of eyes. They are stunningly beautiful as you can see in the photos lower down the page. I remarked to her owner how blue the eyes were and asked whether they would change color at all.
Do French Bulldogs eyes change color? Yes, Frenchie eyes do change color. When they are born, their eyes will initially be blue. Around 10 weeks, their eyes will then start to change color to brown. The exception to the rule is Blue Fawn Frenchies who can have blue or green eyes in adulthood.
Once the puppy’s owner had reminded me of this fact, it actually made me remember how blue Claude’s eyes were when he was a puppy. I’d actually forgotten this and went back through some old photos to double-check.
You can see a still I took from an old video of Claude below. This photo shows how blue his eyes were when he was younger. Regular readers of French Bulldog Owner will know they are now very much brown!
Are French Bulldogs born with blue eyes?
So, what can you expect with your own Frenchie? Well, all French Bulldog puppies are born with blue eyes. They will either be completely blue, or slightly different shades including grey, green, and brown flecks.
At about 10 weeks old, the Frenchie eyes will start to change color. It will be a gradual process, and most will go through some shades of blue, green-grey, and then to the standard brown color.
In fact, there’s a photo below of our friend’s puppy at 14 weeks chilling out with Claude. This photo doesn’t really her eyes justice. In this shot they look more of a grey-green color which means they are going through the change to brown.
However, in certain lights they do still appear to be very blue.
Will my Frenchie’s eye stay blue?
In most cases they will eventually turn completely brown. However, there is an exception to this rule; blue fawn French Bulldogs.
This particular breed of Frenchie is very rare, being renowned for their colorings. They have a dilute gene which accounts for their coat color as well as their eyes.
Some blue Frenchies will keep the blue eye gene more than other dogs. It’s not always the case that every blue Frenchie will have blue or green eyes, but they will be the only type of this breed where you will see it through to adulthood.
What color are French Bulldog eyes?
What color eyes do French Bulldogs have? French Bulldogs have brown eyes as adults but will be born with blueish eye color. The exceptions to the rule are blue Frenchies which can keep the blue and green eye tones into adulthood.
Why do French Bulldogs have blue eyes?
I’ve already explained how puppies will be born with blue eyes, and also how the blue Frenchie can retain this color into adulthood.
However, if you notice that your French Bulldog’s eyes have changed to a blue color as an adult, where they were previously brown, it could be a warning sign of a bigger issue.
Sudden cloudy or blue eyes could be a health problem
If your adult Frenchie’s eye change color to look bluish or cloudy, it could mean there is an eye disease that needs treating.
There are certain eye diseases, some which are more serious than others, including:
- Anterior uveitis: this is a painful condition due to an inflammation inside the eye. Signs include your dog squinting, scratching, redness, discharge, or a change in color to a cloudy appearance. It can be treated, but in some very rare cases the eye will to be surgically removed.
- Cataracts: these can be caused by diabetes, eye damage, pests, or diet. They can be inherited, can come on quickly, or be a slow to appear. However, what you will notice is that the eyes will have changed color to a blue cloudy appearance. If not treated, cataracts can lead to blindness.
- Corneal dystrophy: this is an inherited eye disease that isn’t painful but can mean your dog’s vision can sometimes be affected. You will notice a change in color to a cloudy blue appearance. There isn’t one specific treatment, as there are varying different types of corneal dystrophy so your dog will need to be diagnosed first.
- Glaucoma: when fluid in your Frenchie’s eye cannot drain properly, it will lead to pressure, and in worst cases complete blindness. You might be able to spot it early if you see a change in color to cloudy blue. There are different treatments available which will reduce the pressure, with the possibility with a complete eye removal.
- Nuclear sclerosis: this tends to occur in dogs once they reach the age of six. It isn’t painful but can result in a change to their vision. As with the other diseases listed here, it can be noticed first when the eyes change color to a cloudy blue appearance. As an age-related disease, your vet might decide not to treat it.
If you notice your French Bulldog’s eye have changed color to a blue or cloudy appearance, please consult with your vet immediately.
Handy Hint: I’ve published a list of the 31 health problems that can afflict the French Bulldog breed. Read this guide to health issues and what to look out for.
Why are my French Bulldogs eyes red?
This is something you should also look out for, as it can be a sign of a health problem. Red eyes in a Frenchie could be:
- Cherry eye (read more about the signs to look out for)
- Corneal ulcers
- Dry eye
- Eye injury
- Dust or foreign objects in the eye
If you are concerned, please read this overview which explains why your Frenchie has red eyes in more detail.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve enjoyed this overview to French Bulldog eye color changes, what they mean, why it happens, and what to look out for.
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