But, before I go on, please don’t assume that the metal or iron like smell from your dog’s mouth is blood. Often, we associate blood with a metallic taste, so you might think your dog’s breath smells like blood… but that’s not what this is. Here’s the short answer first, then more detail lower down the page.

Why does my dog’s breath smell like metal? Dogs’ breath can smell metallic for several reasons. The most common is due to their anal glands, and the most serious reason is kidney failure.  

The metallic dog breath (like ammonia) can be caused by a build-up of toxins not being filtered by kidneys.

But before you freak out, this isn’t the only reason why a dog’s breath smells metallic, there are other more benign reasons too, all of which I will explain below… with the most common being a smell transferred to their mouth from their anal glands.

If you are worried though, please consult with your vet.

Why does my dog’s breath smell like metal?

Metallic dog breath has many causes so it might not be necessarily a serious health problem such as kidney problems. Here’s are alternatives reasons as to why your dog’s breath smells like iron or metal.

1. The metal smell is due to diet high in protein and meats

Some dogs will have metallic smelling breath due to their diet. You might also think your dog’s breath smells like blood depending on your own sense of smell.

If your dog eats a lot of protein and meats, the protein can come back up into their mouth resulting in that smell. You might consider mixing the diet up a bit to not be to protein concentrated.

Handy Hint: If you do get a diagnosis that the metallic smelling breath is kidney related, here’s what vets recommend dogs with this condition need to eat.

2. The metallic smell is blood

Perhaps it is a smell of blood in your dog’s mouth. Have a check and see what they have been chewing on – toys and rawhide can cause mouth lacerations and bleeding.

The places most susceptible to wounds are the roof of the mouth and on their gums.

3. The metal smell is due to anal glands

One of the more disgusting reasons for your dog’s breath smelling like metal is their anal glands. This might sound strange, but it’s quite simple… they lick their own behinds.

Both male and female dog will get metallic smelling breath, like iron, where they have licked their but after the anal glands have leaked.

This isn’t the most pleasant of topics, but it needs discussing.

Anal glands are a pair of sacs positioned either side of your dog’s anus. They contain a smelly fluid that is oily to the touch. It will occasionally secrete out of the glands with the smell being compared to fish, ammonia, blood, iron, or metal.

This isn’t a problem, it’s entirely natural.

The smell that comes from the anal glands is your dog’s own personal trademark. When he defecates, his poop will have this unique smell, it’s a calling card and lets dogs know who’s been where.

Anal glands are how a dog marks territory and how dogs identify each other.

This is also what is happening when dogs greet each other and smell each other’s buts. It’s all about the anal gland smell.

So, how does this translate into your dog’s breath smelling like metal?

Well, if your dog is biting or licking at their anal region, that smell of the anal glands will then transfer to their breath.

Handy Hint: Sometimes vets will offer to express a dog’s anal glands if they become impacted and sore. Here’s my take on whether this is necessary.

But this could mean that your dog has anal sac disease is the smell is frequent and very strong of metal.

If you do have any concerns, talk to your vet.

Anal glands can become impacted and leak due to the following reasons:

Possible causes of impacted anal glands

Several risk factors can cause a dog to suffer from impacted anal glands. The UK Kennel Club say this:

“Anal glands can fill for several reasons; most commonly when there hasn’t been enough pressure to empty the glands, such as, after a few days of diarrhoea. Whenever they haven’t emptied properly, there’s a chance that glands can become blocked, impacted, and swollen. If they’re impacted for too long, they can build up nasty bacteria, causing pain, increased swelling and sometimes even abscesses and fever.”

4. The metal smell is due to a dental problem

Another reason for dogs having metallic smelling breath can be a dental issue. This can include rotting gums and teeth or an infection. This is most common in older dogs.

It could also possibly be an ulcer in the mouth, so see if your dog will let you check.

Why does my dog’s urine smell like metal?

At the top of the article, I explained how metallic smelling breath in a dog can be due to them having a kidney problem. Hopefully this won’t be the case with your dog, but if you also smell metal around their urine, you should investigate it further.

This can affect both male and female dog urine smelling like metal or iron.

Incidentally, another sign of kidney disease is an ammonia-smelling breath.

Other reasons why a dog smells like metal (not the breath)

It might not just be your dog’s breath that smells metallic. The odor could be coming from their fur or elsewhere. Here are the other reasons why your dog smells like metal:

• Dog has rolled in something, or anal gland secretions are on the fur.
• Blood from an injury on their body somewhere.

Conclusion

In my experience, the most common reason for dog breath smelling like metal will be from where they have licked their backsides and transferred odors from the anal glands to their mouth.

While this is the most common in both male and females, your dog’s metallic smell is not always the fault of the anal glands. Read on to find out why else your dog could be smelling like iron or metal.

But it might not be.

The next time you smell metal, iron, or blood on your dog’s breath, give them the quick once over to check for injuries not just inside the mouth, but also around their body.

If there’s nothing visible, check for a foul smell towards their rear.

If it’s not the anal glands causing the metallic breath smell, perhaps it’s their diet.

Either way, if it does persist, pleased consult a vet for a professional opinion. 

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The post Dog’s Breath Smells Metallic (or Like Iron & Blood) appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

But please don’t panic just yet. Many dogs, and dog breeds, will breathe fast through their nose while sleeping, and there’s nothing unusual about it. Below you can find out what the rapid and heavy sleep breathing might mean, and whether you should act.

Why does my dog breathe heavy when sleeping?

In most cases, your dog will be breathing fast through his nose when asleep because he’s in the REM stage… aka REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. This is something that us humans do, and our canine friends. We and dogs will breathe a lot quicker during REM sleep, and this often manifests itself with short and quick breaths through the nose.

“Dogs sleep more than people do, Coren told Live Science, and they have a particular penchant for catnaps. But the structure of their sleep looks remarkably human: Like humans, dogs cycle through stages of wakefulness, rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid-eye-movement sleep.” LiveScience.com, What Do Dogs Dream About?

Interestingly, dogs are more inclined to breath heavily and fast through their nose during sleep as puppies, and older dogs. Dogs in the middle years aren’t as likely to breathing heavily through nose while sleeping at all.

So, it’s very normal.

But, in some cases it can be a sign of a potential health problem, so you need to know what to look for if your dog is breathing heavily through their nose whilst sleeping.

According to various veterinary websites, monitor the fast nose breathing. Does it last for just a few minutes? If so, it’s probably fine. But, if your dog breathes fast through their nose all night and all the time, that could be the significant.

But just what is it about your dog’s rapid breathing that is the difference between a deep REM sleep or a possible concern? Well, here’s what all those vets that I read up on said.

When is heavy nose breathing in sleep normal for dogs?

The Live Science website say dogs go into the REM sleep about 20 minutes after they nod off. At this point you might start to see your dog breathing heavily through his nose, or breathing fast through his nose while sleeping.

You might also notice some other tell-tale signs they are in REM, which when matched up with the heavy and fast breathing is perfectly normal.

• Fast breathing through the dog’s nose (or the mouth).
• Deeper and heavier breathing than is usual.
• Body twitches including kicking out and stretching.
• Moving of their paws in a padding motion (as if they are dreaming about swimming).
• Barking and whimpering in their sleep.

If you see this happening with your dog for a few minutes, then you should not be alarmed. It’s normal behavior, particularly if they wake up after and don’t appear to be acting differently to usual.

If your dog is in a deep sleep, and in the throes of REM with that breathing fast through the nose, don’t jolt them awake. If they are in a dream they could react and lash out if surprised.

When is heavy nose breathing in sleep a cause for concern then?

If your dog is breathing fast through their nose in sleep or after physical exertion when awake, it’s perfectly normal. However, times to possibly speak with a professional about rapid nose breathing would include the following…

“Resting/sleeping breathing rates that are consistently greater than 30 breaths per minute are increased and considered abnormal. For some individuals, rates lower than 30 breaths per minute may be considered increased and abnormal by your veterinarian. Ask your veterinarian what rate is considered increased and abnormal for your dog.” VCA Hospitals, Home Breathing Rate Evaluation

How fast should a dog breathe while sleeping?

Based on the advice from VCA animal hospitals, count how many fast or heavy breaths you dog is having in a minute. If it’s more than 30 breaths per minute, then ask your vet to make a diagnosis.

With dogs like French Bulldogs and other Brachycephalic breeds it’s more important to keep a close eye on why your dog is breathing fast through their nose during sleep. If they start to breathe very rapidly and heavily, they will start to struggle and it’s the sign of a possible issue to be looked at.

Related questions on breathing and sleeping

Hopefully the insight into why your dog is breathing heavily though his nose while sleeping has given you some peace of mind. There are other things that dogs do when asleep that can also worry new owners… here’s all you need to know.

How many hours in a day should a dog sleep?

On average, a breed like a French bulldog will sleep for 13 hours a day. Our dog will quite happily sleep all night for up to 10 hours, and then have more naps in the day.

However, puppies will sleep a lot longer.

If you have a puppy, not only will they breathe heavily through their nose while sleeping but will also need to sleep up to a mammoth 20 hours in a day!

“Similar to babies, puppies will play and explore their new surroundings until they drop. Therefore, they might need up to 18 to 20 hours of sleep to recharge their batteries. Because they aren’t yet physically capable of going for long stretches overnight without relieving themselves, they will require a sleep schedule.” American Kennel Club, Should I Let My Dog Sleep Late Every Day

Older dogs will also need a lot of sleep as they will tire easier as they age. This is normally of no concern, unless you see other changes in habits – for example digestive issues, crying in the night, and other unusual things.

Why do dogs sleep so much?

Dogs need more sleep than their human owners, so to us it looks like they sleep a lot. Unlike us they don’t feel like they are slaves to routines, so will sleep when their body tells them it’s tired.

According to PetMd.com, sleep is very important to our furry friends:

“All day long, electrical activity is happening in our brain, and random, disorganized data gets stored in various places,” says Dr. Nicholas Dodman, professor emeritus at Tufts University. “We organize that in our sleep, and dogs do, too. It’s very therapeutic, and if you deny dogs that, they’ll kind of lose it.” 

It’s also thought that if a dog doesn’t get enough sleep, it can develop a bad mood. Sounds familiar doesn’t it!

This is particularly true with larger breeds who will need more sleep due to their size and the energy they use up. Older dogs also need more sleep, but for different reasons.

Do dogs dream?

It’s believed that dogs do indeed dream.

Scientists have tested canine brain waves and found that when sleeping, dogs exhibit similar deep sleep and REM like us, which could indicate your dog is dreaming.

But that doesn’t mean they dream like we do.

Dogs are said to spend 10% of their total REM sleep compared to us who spend 25% in REM. As they spend less time in the dream state, it’s possible that their dreams are more simplistic than ours.

Is my dog having a seizure or dreaming?

When you dog starts breathing heavily through his nose while sleeping, with rapid and fast breaths, it’s natural to think that something might be wrong with him.

Seizures can also be quite similar to the behavior that dogs exhibit whilst dreaming. But it’s important to understand that a dog having a seizure will probably have stronger physical reactions in sleep.

If the dog wakes up and is sleepy, it’s likely a dream.

On the other hand, if your dog wakes up and is confused and anxious, that could point to something more serious.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if your is dog breathing heavily through his nose when sleeping, it isn’t typically something to worry about providing it’s not a constant thing.

Fast breathing through the nose while sleeping is very natural but should only last for a few minutes. Longer than 10 minutes and they should be out of the REM stage of sleep.

If the fast and heaving breathing in sleep does last longer than this, and you see other strange symptoms, check in with your vet just to be sure.

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Image in header via https://pixabay.com/photos/labrador-retriever-dog-pet-animal-7004193/

The post Dog Breathing Heavily Through Nose While Sleeping (w/ Fast Breaths) appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

Of course, you will already be feeding your puppy 3 times a day to aid this development, but there comes a point where you need to transition the puppy from 3 meals to 2. Knowing when to switch puppy to 2 meals a day is important so not to under or overfeed them.

When do you stop feeding puppy 3 times a day? You can stop feeding your puppy 3 times a day and transition to 2 meals typically from 6 months older. At this age most puppies can switch to 2 meals a day but do keep them on puppy up until 12 months old.

That’s a very generic answer I’ve given you, but it’s important to know more as puppies can develop so quickly, and not all puppies are the same either. There’s more detail below which explains when to start feeding a puppy twice a day so you can get it right for your pooch with the correct feeding amounts.

When to stop feeding puppy 3 times a day

Switching your puppy to 2 meals a day typically occurs around 6 months of age. At this point in their development, they have been burning energy and calories like crazy, with a need to be fed 3 times so they can grow properly.

At size months, most (but not all puppies) will start to become less frantic, will use less energy, and therefore you should consider stopping feeding your puppy 3 times a day.

Some people don’t though – for example, our own dog was very active up until 7 months, so we took the decision to not switch our puppy from 3 meals to 2 until then.

But, when we spoke to our vet, he told us we should have done it at 6 months anyway as he was no longer growing as fast as he was before.

Once your puppy does make the transition from 3 meals to 2, make sure you get advice from your vet or follow the feeding amount guidelines found on the side of commercial dog food. This will mean your puppy gets the right amount of food and nutrients needed for their next phase of development.

When are the best times to feed your puppy?

The most common feeding times for puppies once they have stopped being fed three times a day is once in the morning and once in the late afternoon. Routine is so important at this stage, so I recommend feeding your puppy twice a day in sync with your own breakfast and dinnertime meal – providing it’s not too late.

Most experts will say that the first feeding time could occur at around 7am when you wake up, and then they can have their daily exercise throughout the day. By the time 5pm comes around, the puppy will need the second meal of the day.

Don’t leave space between the puppies 2 meals any more than this, as they will become very hungry. You should always leave them a constant water bowl out though.

Handy Hint: Don’t take your puppy out as soon as he has finished eating as it can cause them problems. Here’s a guide on how long you need to wait after a meal before exercise.

By sticking to these twice daily feeding times, it gives the puppy enough time for food to digest properly in the evening before bedtime. It also means you will have a few hours in which to play more and burn off more excess energy before it’s sleepy time.

Another benefit to a 5pm feed is it reduces the chances of the puppy peeing and pooping indoors – you will hopefully have a few hours within which the food can digest and be pooped out.

And another big tip I can give you once you have stopped feeding your puppy 3 times a day is to not feed meals too late at night. As well as the pooping and peeing situation, it can also reduce restlessness on a full belly of food as they try to sleep – or feel they need to burn it off with late night activity.

And with regards to that activity, there’s also the aspect I alluded to earlier in my handy hint about when to walk your puppy after a feed. Here’s what that entails below.

How soon after feeding can I take my puppy walking?

This is important; do not take your puppy out for a walk as soon as they have finished eating. Whilst that might suit you and your routine, it can cause them health issues, particularly for highly active puppies.

The reason being, is that puppies can develop abdominal bloat or a twisted gut if they run about too soon after a meal. Vets tend to recommend you walk them at least an hour after their meal has been finished.

The opposite is true too, albeit a reduced timeframe. Vets recommend you don’t feed a puppy as soon as your return from a walk, but instead wait 15 minutes before one of their twice daily meals after 6 months of age.

There’s a good reason for this too:

“If your puppy is hot and panting, she needs to calm down before taking in any food. Otherwise, she’ll gobble her food down and end up with bloat again.”

So now you have the basics out the way regarding when to stop feeding puppy 3 times a day, you need to consider how much food to give them in the two meals.

This will all boil down to how big the puppy is and how much he weighs. The dog breed will also play a huge part in this which is why you will see specific breed foods offered by commercial dog food companies – some breeds are more active than others and need more to eat.

Another consideration will be whether your puppy is on a dry or wet food diet. There are some obvious signs to look out for if you are worried about over-feeding your puppy, including.

• Obvious signs of weight gain around the middle section of your dog: To mitigate this, you could regularly weight your puppy. This is quite easy. Step on the scales yourself and note the weight. Then do the same but with your puppy in yours arm. You can then subtract the difference to see your puppy’s weight.
• You can see your puppy’s ribs: On the flipside, you could be underfeeding your puppy when you stop feeding them 3 times a day. Don’t get me wrong, you should be able to feel them, that’s healthy. It’s when they stick out you should worry.
• Read the feeding guidance: This is the best way to make sure you’re feeding your puppy enough twice a day. The packaging will probably show you the total daily quantity so divide this into two half-meal servings.
• Don’t fall for your puppy’s charms: A begging puppy is hard to ignore, but don’t fall for their charms. They will eat whatever is front of them even if they are full up.

Once you have transitioned your puppy from 3 meals to 2, you will need to think about when it’s the right time to switch them onto adult food.

Puppy food is full of extra nutrients and calories to meet your puppy’s growing needs. But as they mature, they need less of the rich stuff.

Don’t make the switch to adult food too soon and seek advice from your vet. All dog breeds can be different I believe. For example, according to the Doggysaurus website:

“Smaller dog breeds mature quicker than larger dog breeds. So, if your little Dachshund is 7 to 10 months old, you can start switching them to adult food. Large breed dogs should reach 80 pounds before you start switching them to adult food. This can be anywhere between 12 and 16 months.”

Regardless, any switch to adult dog food should really be a gradual change. I was advised by my vet to introduce adult food into our puppy’s diet in small amounts over the course of two weeks. This can reduce the chances of an upset stomach and will reduce any possible stress to change they might have.

Conclusion

Time goes so quickly, and before you know it, your puppy will be a young fully grown adult dog rather than that small and helpless puppy you picked from the litter.

Cherish the early days, because it won’t be long before you will have to switch your puppy to 2 meals a day instead of 3.

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If you enjoyed this article about puppy ownership, you might also find these related pieces of content I’ve recently written useful too.

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The post When Do You Stop Feeding a Puppy 3 Times a Day? appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

It tends to be dogs that have not had properly training from a young age, that like to push the boundaries of acceptable behavior and respect towards their owners. If your dog doesn’t respect you and thinks he’s in charge, it will mean problems. Not just for you, but also other dogs and other people.

With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of signs that your dog respects you. If you can tick most of these signs off, it means your dog respects your position as the leader.

Signs your dog respects you

Given the correct training, environment, and up bringing from being a puppy, the majority of dogs will grow into loving and trusting pets that respect the strong bond they have with you. Dogs are (in the main) very loyal.

You will have a problem if this isn’t the case, so here are the signs that show you how you can tell if your dog respects your or not. If your dog does respect you, your life will be a lot easier in public places, homes, and daily interactions.

1. Your dog doesn’t sit in your seat when you get up

Do you have a dog that leaps into your chair or seat the minute you get up? This might seem cute and make you think they want to be close to you and get your warmth, but the complete opposite could be true.

It could instead mean that your dog does not respect you, because he wants the number 1 seat or throne… and believes it’s his natural position in the hierarchy to have the hot seat.

The alpha is the one in charge of the pack and should be getting the best of everything. This means the best food, the best drinks, the best company and yes, you guessed it, the best seat in the house.

If he’s in your seat when you come back in the room, you might have a power struggle on your hands!

2. Your dog lets you choose your seat

Following on from seats, we can take this one step further by letting you choose which seat you are going to sit in first. For example, when you walk in a room, does your dog wait for you to be seated before he takes his position?

If your dog is letting you sit first and find the prime spot it’s a sign of respect… because after all, the leader of the pack should always get to choose first.

Similarly, dogs that respects their owners will also move out of the way when the owner wants to sit down.

3. Your dog follows you everywhere

Whilst a dog that’s too clingy can’t be a little problematic occasionally, having one that wants to follow you wherever you go is a sign he respects you. It’s all about the pack, and as the pack leader, others will follow you out of respect.

If your dog has such blind trust in you to believe you know what you’re doing and where you’re going, it means he respects you complicitly.

4. Your dog doesn’t walk you on the leash

Ask yourself this question; is your dog walking you, or are you walking your dog?

If it’s the latter, then you know your dog respects you. However, if it’s the former and your dog is pulling you along, he’s positioning himself as the alpha who is leading the pack.

A dog that lets you lead and walks by your side on the leash is one that respects you and waits for you to tell him what is happening next and which direction your pack is taking.

5. Your dog lets you go through doors first

On the topic of walking and the respect of hierarchies involved, what does your dog do when you approach a door? If your dog lets you in first, you can tell that your dog has a lot of respect for you.

If instead, your dog is rushing to get through the door, it means you’ve lost his respect.

Think of it this way; as the brave pack leader you should go into doors (or caves) first, just in case there are any predators in their who need to be defeated by your strength.

6. Your dog brings you toys to gain approval

Before dogs were domesticated, they would have been in wild pack. Within that peck was a pecking order, with the leader at the top. The leader of a pack gets to choose the best food, and that will be offered up as gift by the rest of the dogs.

In more modern times we still see elements of this behavior when dogs bring their favorite toys to their owners. Yes, of course, they want to play, but it’s also a submissive sign of respect as they are giving you their prized “prey”.

7. Your gets close to you to seek protection

The pack leader is the strong one who protects the pack. Other members also have to offer a ring of protection to the leader.

Therefore, you can tell your dog respects you as the leader if he wants to sit and be near you all of the time. It’s his way of not just getting protection, but also offer you strength in numbers too.

As their owner, they trust and respect you to keep them secure and safe.

8. Your dog doesn’t walk away when you talk to him

What do you think when someone turns their back to you during a conversation? It’s a sign of utter disrespect isn’t – and it’s the same with dogs (I think). What could be more disrespectful than them turning around and walking off when you address your dog?

So, if you have a dog who doesn’t listen to you, it’s a sure-fire way to tell they don’t respect you at all. You have zero authority unfortunately.

9. Your dog listens to you when you give him a command

On the other side of the fence, if you have a pet that hangs on every word you say and obeys you, it’s a sign your dog respects you.

As the leader of pack, you should be able to command the respect of a room, with the rest of the pack looking attentively at you and waiting for orders.

10. Your dog doesn’t come and sit on top of you

Back onto the topic of seating arrangements now, this time regarding dogs that like to sit on top of you. If your dog sits on you, it could mean he’s trying to dominate you and your space – placing a solitary paw on you is acceptable.

You know your dog respects you if instead he wants cuddles rather than being a space invader. After all, the alpha would not let his minions sit on him, would he?

11. Your dog is fed on a scheduled time

You can gain the respect of your dog by being in total command of his food – which you should be anyway, but extend that control to the times he’s fed. The pack leader decides when and where the rest of the pack get fed.

If your instead your dog has a food dispenser, he can decide when and how much he eats. This level of control takes away your position as the pack leader in the house.

Your dog will respect you more when you’re in charge of when he gets fed.

12. Your dog is happy to wait until you have eaten before having their meal

Continuing on theme of food, dogs that beg and jump up to get your food evidently have no respect. If you truly are in charge of the household, you can tell your dog respects you if they wait until you eat before they expect to be fed.

This is a basic level of the chain of command.

13. Your dog doesn’t steal your food

Taking things to a whole new level of disrespect are those dogs that are brazen enough to steal the food from your hand or plate, even when you’re back isn’t turned.

The pack leader’s food is sacrosanct, so for a dog to steal yours tell you all you need to know about your position in the pecking order.

14. Your dog doesn’t get treats for doing nothing

Similarly with treats, your dog might grow to disrespect you and having to obey your commands if you give him treats for no reward. By doing so, it could mean your dog thinks your role is purely that of having to serve him, rather than the other way around.

Only give your dog a treat if it’s deserved.

Your dog will respect you a lot more if you make him work for his treats on an action versus reward basis. As the pack leader, you should control the food source.

15. Your dog doesn’t urinate in the house

When dogs urinate indoor it can mean they have health and behavior problems, including anxiety. If your dog is doing this, please do seek professional advice.

However, dogs that pee indoors could also be doing it to mark their own dominance in the household… and that’s problem as means there’s no respect for you or your home.

16. Your dog lets you groom them

Does your dog happily let you groom his fur? If yes, you know that your dog has respect for you because this plays into the being submissive – especially if letting you groom those hard-to-reach places!

Dogs need to be fully relaxed and feel at ease before any grooming takes place, so it’s a sign of trust, love, and respect.

17. Your dog lets you greet visitors first

Another sign that your dog sees you as the alpha is by letting you get to and answer the door first. If your dog is running in front of you to greet visitors before you can at the door, it means he believes he’s the boss in the chain of command.

Respect means the leader of the pack is who get to greet visitors first. If your dog really has respect for you, then he should accept he’s the one who is the last to get attention from a visitor.

This makes sense when you think about how pack mentality should work; the leader is the one to greet visitors, as he can ensure things are safe before the remainder of the crew get introduced.

18. You dog doesn’t wake you up

You know your dog has the utmost of respect for you when he lets you sleep in. After all, you’re the leader of the pack, so you decide when to wake up, not him.

If your dog continually wakes you up, and it’s not because they need a pee, you need to start setting boundaries. Just because your dog is bored, he should not be waking you up and should instead wait until you are ready to start the day.

19. Your dog breaks eye contact with you first

Have you ever heard about looking dogs in the eye? If your dog is trying to stare you out, it means he thinks he’s the dominant one, and refuses to break eye contact first… and it’s all part of their ingrained behavior.

In the dog world, prolonged eye contact is deemed to be threatening. The dog that looks away is the weaker one that has backed down.

So, if you have a dog that refuses to look away in a staring competition, it could be a sign that he doesn’t respect you.

20. Your dog doesn’t nip your ankle when you leave the room

There are a few reasons why dogs nip at heels and ankles, including a herd instinct that’s hard-wired into their DNA.

However, some will also do it as an aggressive motion because they don’t want you to leave them room. In fact, your dog is so dominant he might think you need to get his permission to get up and leave, which certainly can’t be a sign of respect.

21. Your dog is relaxed and happy around you

And lastly, just how happy is your dog? A happy dog is usually one that trusts and respects you. If they are submissive, joyful, have a wagging tail and are relaxed, that equals respect and contentment.

Conclusion

Without respect between the both of you, you won’t have a happy dog. But just because you want to be the boss, it doesn’t mean you have to be hard on your pooch. Instead, to get your dog to respect you, it takes training, patience, repetition, and understanding.

If you can get that all right, a mutual respect will grow.

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• Please don’t leave your dog to sleep in a cold garage

Image in header via https://pixabay.com/photos/dog-puppy-muzzle-animal-sweet-613927/

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It includes the reasons for the attachment and super clingy behavior, and then steps you can take to help your dog through this period.

Why is my dog so clingy all of a sudden?

Our dog was an interesting character. He could be so aloof at times, but still affectionate. Not super cuddly like some dogs – he wasn’t one to come sit on your lap.

However, this started to change as he got older. It was almost an overnight change once he hit 12 years of age. Around this time in his life, he suddenly turned into the most clingy and needy dog you can imagine – he would not leave my side, would cry outside the bathroom door, and insisted on sleeping in my room with me.

Of course, the natural reaction at the time was to worry and wonder why my dog is so attached to me all of a sudden.

Why my dog was suddenly clingy was due to his old age and a further diagnosis of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, which is very similar to how humans will experience dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The confusion made my dog extra cling and attached.

However, that might not be the reason why your dog is being extra clingy and attached to you all of a sudden. It could be due to other factors such as anxiety (including separation issues), health issues, boredom, or for female dogs being in heat.

Before I get started in detail though, please understand that I am not a vet. All of this advice about your clingy dog is based on personal experiences, my own research, and talking with vets.

If your dog suddenly becomes more attached to you, and the behavior chance is accompanied by other symptoms (e.g., sickness) please talk with your vet.

Why is my dog so attached to me all of a sudden?

The reasons can be varied, and this isn’t a comprehensive list of reasons why your dog is suddenly clingy, but some of the more common ones.

1. Clingy due to separation anxiety

Dogs will often develop separation anxiety when left at home as your work or perhaps if left in kennels when you go away. The effect of separation anxiety can manifest itself in lots of ways, one of which will be your dog being clingy all of a sudden.

You can understand too; if you have left them and they are worried, they might then want to be attached to your side at all times to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

However, separation anxiety and clingy behavior aren’t always the same as explained on the PetMD.com website.

“Clinginess and separation anxiety are similar but not exactly the same. Generally, what separates them is how a dog reacts to being away from their owner. Clingy dogs want to be around you when you’re at home, but they don’t panic when you’re not there. A dog with separation anxiety panics when you’re not around.” (view source)

Having said that, a dog that is suddenly clingy to you, could be exhibiting separation anxiety as it is a symptom.

How you know it’s separation anxiety

Some of the more obvious signs that the clingy behavior is related to separation anxiety will include, but are not limited to:

• Urinating and defecating in the house.
• Barking and howling.
• Pacing, heavy panting, and drooling.
• Chewing, digging, and destructive behavior.
• Escape attempts.
• Being extra cling and suddenly attached to you.

What to do about separation anxiety

There are many things you can do about separation anxiety if this is what is leading to the attachment and extra clingy behavior. I’ve written at length about it before, so here are just some very concise tips to help.

• Leave them something with your scent on when you leave the house.
• Don’t make a big fuss of your dog when you return home to reduce any over-excitement – practice a calm routine at all times.
• Similarly, don’t make a big deal about leaving the house – perhaps just try short absences at first.
• Speak with a vet as there could be calming medication they can offer in extreme cases.
• Burn off any excess energy the dog has before you leave the home, meaning regular exercise and play.
• Consider dog sitters and walkers when you go away rather than kennels or being left home alone.
• Buy something like a Furbo dog camera so you can see and talk to them when you are out – we bought ours on Amazon.
• Leave a stimulating game to keep them mentally active whilst you are out (here’s one on Amazon – shown below).

2. Clingy due to a change in their environment

Many dogs hate change, whether that’s to their routine or environment. When change happens, it can mess with your dog’s emotions, meaning they might suddenly become clingy to you for protection.

Changes can include aspects such as you getting a new dog or pet, perhaps a baby was born and comes into the home, or you have undergone a house move.

The way you can help to make things like this smoother is to try and make any significant life changes slowly, and involve your dog each step of the way.

3. Clingy due to a stranger danger

Some dogs will get attached to you all of a sudden, the moment a strange person comes into your house, or meeting an unfamiliar person when on a walk.

Your dog will become nervous and clingy, possibly even hiding behind your legs as you talk to the stranger and perceived threat.

4. Clingy due to boredom

Bored dogs will want your company more. It stands to reason too, if they are not stimulated by their environment, they will be looking for you to constantly provide it.

For example, my dog I mentioned at the beginning of this article, would come and cuddle into me when he was bored.

You might want to look for toys that can stimulate, like the Amazon dog puzzle game I mentioned – consider having a Furbo like below too for when you are out

The bottom line is you need to get them stimulated to stop the sudden clingy behavior due to boredom. You could take their mind of things with a brisk walk outdoors or a ball game.

Boredom is one of the easier problems on this list to fix when it comes to a dog’s sudden clinginess. Here are some more ideas you can try to keep boredom at bay.

• Providing enticing chew toys to keep them happily engaged for hours.
• Using snuffle mats and puzzles to stimulate the mind.
• Arranging play dates and meetups with other dogs.
• Going on active daily walks that make your dog tired out.

5. Clingy due to dementia

And now to the main reason again why my own dog was being extra clingy all of a sudden; Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CCDS). It’s common with senior dogs and has been compared to how humans get dementia.

In fact, our dog suddenly getting clingy was the first suspicion we had that he might have a problem, similar to dementia – and we were right after going to the vet.

Our vet told us that CCDS makes your dog get confused. When a dog is confused, it will naturally become anxious, and in turn will become more attached to you for security. It can all happen so quickly.

How to help your clingy dog with their dementia

I am not a vet but do remember what we had to do with our dog when this happened. The points below helped him to cope better and actually reduced some of the clingy behavior.

• We didn’t make any changes in our home, for example, moving chairs around. This helped our dog to keep the familiar feelings around the home.
• We tried to keep our dog stimulated mentally which I think helped to keep his mind off confusion.
• We let our dog sleep in my room so that he felt safe. I didn’t honestly mind him wanting to be extra cling and attached to me all of a sudden as he got progressively worse.

6. Clingy due to illness

Remember as a kid when you felt sick? Nothing was better than getting a cuddle from your mom or dad, and dogs are just the same.

When dogs are ill, some can get extra clingy and want to be attached to your side suddenly. Others will want to be by themselves, so it all boils down the dog’s individual character.

With this in mind, if your dog is attached to you all of a sudden, it could be worth having a vet’s check-up to see if there are any underlying illnesses that aren’t obvious to the eye.

7. Clingy due to heat

This reason for a suddenly extra clingy dog is for the females only and happens when they start to go into heat – their time of the month / leading up to the menstruation period.

Female dogs will often want to be close to their owners for comfort during the stages of heat. If your dog is suddenly attached to your side, check for the signs of heat include the following:

• Flirting with male dogs.
• Swollen vulva.
• Bloody discharge from the vulva.
• Licking their genital area in an obsessive way.
• Nervousness.
• Agitation or aggression.
• Peeing often.
• Holding their tail in an unusual position.

8. Clingy when just about to give birth

Another one that can afflict female dogs getting so clingy all of a sudden is just before they give birth. Pregnant dogs nearing this time want to nest and get comfortable.

If it’s their first pregnancy, it could be an anxious and unusual time for them too, hence seeking the comfort and wanting to be as close to you as they can.

9. Clingy due to human pregnancy

Following on from that, sometimes owners report clingy dogs when they are pregnant themselves. It’s said that dogs can detect hormonal changes in their owners, and can become more protective and clingier.

Strange, but appears to be true.

Conclusion

There can be many reasons why your dog so clingy all of a sudden, so I hope I’ve given you some ideas on what could behind your dog’s attachment issue.

I’ve also put together some additional guides which are somewhat related to the issue of sudden attachment, which offer more insight – see below.

You might also like…

• I found out how many times Chihuahuas have killed people!
• Why your dog has put his paw out onto you
• What it means when a dog wants to lick your hand all the time

The post Why is My Dog So Attached To Me All of a Sudden (9 Reasons) appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

But today I wanted to get a little bit more detail down on whether French Bulldogs have good eyesight, what you can expect, and even how far they can see.

Do French Bulldogs have good eyesight?

Compared to other dog breeds, Frenchies have about average eyesight, not as good as Labradors, but certainly not as bad eyesight as some other breeds.

Overall though, no dog really has good eyesight when compared to human vision, apart from perhaps seeing the dark, but more about that in a moment.

In short, French Bulldogs have bad eyesight compared to humans, with research suggesting that they have 20/75 vision versus our typical 20/20 vision.

“A pattern that a dog can barely recognize at 20 feet is actually large enough for a person with normal vision to identify at a distance of 75 feet. To give you a feeling about how poor this vision is, you should know that if your visual acuity is worse than 20/40 you would fail the standard vision test given when you apply for a driver’s license in the United States and would be required to wear glasses. A dog’s vision is considerably worse than this.

In practical terms, this means French Bulldogs need to be 20 feet away from something in order to be able to see it as well as we can from 75 feet away. You could then assume that Frenchies have bad eyesight that is only 26% as good as ours.

But that’s not the full story.

Frenchie eyesight is good in the dark

Whilst humans can see things better that are far away, Frenchies do have one eyesight advantage over us, and that’s how well they see in the dark. Their night eyesight is said to be 5 times better than us to be precise and here’s a visual representation of that below.

Frenchie eyesight is bad when it comes to colors

How French Bulldogs see color is another metric you could use to describe their eyesight as being bad, but this doesn’t actually set them apart from any other dog breed as all dogs have a degree of color blindness.

Dogs do not see colors the way we do. For example, they cannot see red the same way we do, instead seeing shades of blue and yellow. In the image below you can see another visual example of how a French Bulldog’s eyesight is bad when distinguishing red colors.

How far can French Bulldogs see?

But what about distance? Well, I’ve already mentioned the 20/20 vision of humans versus the 20/75 vision of dogs. Given what we know, it’s fair to say that French Bulldogs can see something 20 foot away reasonably well, before it starts to get blurry past that point.

However, that doesn’t mean they can only see 20 foot away. I know this for a fact because I can wave to my Frenchie Claude from 50 meters away (164 feet) when on a walk in the forest and he will see me and start running.

So, based on my own experience, French Bulldogs can see as far as 164 feet away. I doubt he will recognize me from this far away, but is probably responding to my body language, given he knows he’s on a walk with me and has an idea of what direction I am in.

Common French Bulldog eye problems leading to bad eyesight

As your Frenchie gets older there’s a high chance that their eyesight could suffer. When I wrote my guide to French Bulldog health issues, a few statistics made for interesting reading relating to eye problems.

Below you can see some of the more common French Bulldog eye problems, and in brackets the percentage of Frenchies who suffered with the condition during a medical study.

Conjunctivitis (3.2%)

The most common French Bulldog eye problem is conjunctivitis. This is the main contributor to Frenchies having bad eyesight as they age.

Conjunctivitis is very common with brachycephalic breed dogs, and happens due to bacterial and viral diseases, foreign bodies in the eye, or allergic reactions to certain substances.

Cherry eye (2.6%)

An eye problem that is often reported with Frenchie is cherry eye, otherwise known as a prolapsed nictitans gland. It happens when the small gland of your Frenchie’s third eye lids falls out of position – with a red cherry looking eye bulge then showing.

For more details on Frenchie cherry eye, click here for what to look out for and how vets can help with it.

Eye ulcers (2.1%)

Corneal ulcers are a big contributor to poor eyesight in French Bulldogs and require swift treatment. Most eye ulcers do clear up quickly, providing treatment has been administered.

I’ve written a more extensive guide about this eye problems including what symptoms you need to check for.

Conclusion

To conclude, French Bulldogs have as good eyesight as most other breeds, as can see as far as most other dogs too. There’s nothing really that sets them apart in this way.

However, French Bulldog eye problems do start to develop as they get older, and this will make their eyesight bad.

To keep on top of this, please have regular check-ups at the vets so they can recognize any eyesight problems before they develop.

The post Do French Bulldogs Have Bad Eyesight & How Far Can They See? appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

However, not all of this vomiting was due to a food allergy. But there was one certain brand dog food kibble that he was allergic to. He would come out in itchy hives and red patches before we are able to identify the problem with the help of our vet.

It’s said that as many of 15% of allergies in dogs are due to food intolerance, but they can be very hard to diagnose, particularly in the puppy months when our little guys tend to vomit regardless of an allergy; often it will be just because they eat too fast!

According to the VCA Animal Hospital, food allergies are:

“One of the most common allergies or hypersensitivities known to affect dogs. The immune system overreacts and produces antibodies to substances that it would normally tolerate. In an allergic reaction to a food, antibodies are produced against some part of the food, usually a protein or complex carbohydrate.”

What you are seeing with your suffering Frenchie might not even be an allergy, but could instead be a food intolerance. The two are actually different things:

1. French Bulldog food intolerance: These reactions tend to arise when a Frenchie has difficulty in digesting certain food types.
2. French Bulldog food allergies: These will often take the form in a skin allergy or as a gastrointestinal problem or a respiratory issue in some rare cases.

No matter how careful you are, it’s almost guaranteed that your French Bulldog will have a food allergy or bad reaction to something they ate at some point.

But it can be very difficult to diagnose what the allergy trigger is, as often it can be just one ingredient of many in one particular food type. The more regularly your Frenchie eats the one particular ingredient, the more likely an allergy will form.

How do I know if my Frenchie has allergies?

If your French Bulldog seems to be itching, licking, scratching all the time, and has visible symptoms such as hives, swellings, and hair loss in patches, then it’s very possible he or she has a food intolerance.

It goes without saying that the best way to find out how bad your Frenchie’s food intolerances and allergies are is to consult with your vets. Professionals are able to run tests to identify what foods your Frenchie is allergic too.

But there are also some tell-tale signs that your Frenchie has a food allergy. Symptoms are listed below.

6 common French Bulldog food allergy symptoms

It won’t always be obvious that your French Bulldog is allergic to food ingredients. One of the more common symptoms will be vomiting up their meal, but other intolerances can also manifest themselves, such as:

1. Itchy skin

The medical term is allergic dermatitis, and it’s the most common of French Bulldog food allergies. There are certain places on your Frenchie where the itching and scratching tends to occur most, including:

• Butt
• Ears
• Paws
• Stomach

2. Hives, spots, and red patches

As your Frenchie bites and scratches, the allergic areas can become red and inflamed, or occur as spots and hives which then lead to further itching.

You might not always see hives, as they can be very small red lumps that appear up to a day after they eat food, they are allergic too. You might see them under the hair or have to run your hands over your Frenchie to find them.

Make sure you check for any broken skin, as the itchy can create cuts that are liable to infection.

3. Hair loss

Another side effect of itching the allergic spots and hives will be hair loss. These bald patches will appear in the areas referenced earlier such as around the paws, stomach, ears, and backend.

You might also find that your Frenchie has more dandruff as usual due to itchy, or even oilier skin (sebum) which can make your dog smelly.

4. Ear and paw infections

Two symptoms that aren’t often associated with French Bulldog food allergies are repeated ear and paw infections.

These aren’t actually an allergic reaction either, but instead will be attributed to a food insensitivity. Allergies produce an immediate immune system reaction; sensitivities are a gradual process.

5. Swollen face

One of the more severe symptoms of French Bulldog food allergies is a swollen face. Areas of swelling can include:

• Ears
• Eyelids
• Lips

6. Vomiting and diarrhea

The quickest and most obvious symptoms of a food allergy will be your Frenchie regurgitating or pooping the offending food item out.

This will often be in conjunction with abdominal pain, so if your Frenchie appears to be in discomfort before expelling the food, it could be an allergy.

There are even some more subtle symptoms of a food allergy, that you might not even notice such as hyperactivity, slight weight loss, loss of energy, and even aggressive behavior.

Ruling out other possible reasons

Whilst the symptoms listed above are all things you can find with a Frenchie food allergy, they can also be signs of a completely different illness. This is just one of the reasons why food allergies are so hard to diagnose and should be something your vet does.

For example, it could instead be:

• Contact with a harsh chemicals man-made substance
• Flea allergy (read more) or parasites
• Atopia allergy
• Malassezia dermatitis

How to treat French Bulldog food allergies

There is only one fail safe way to treat a Frenchie food allergy, and that’s to completely remove the allergic ingredient or food type from their diet. But you need to be able to find out what the offending food ingredient is first, and this can be achieved by:

1. The elimination diet

Your vet will work with you to run some elimination tests. They work just as you would imagine, whereby foods are removed and added to your Frenchie’s diet until it’s possible to identify what food your French Bulldog’s allergic to.

Your Frenchie will be fed one protein and one carb for between 8 and 12 weeks. Vets will monitor for reactions, changing the foods up, and then introducing challenge tests to check for allergies again and again.

The video below is an excellent explainer on how exclusion diets work.

2. Blood test

Some vets can offer blood tests that might provide an indication of a food allergy.

Ask your vet about the possibility of giving your Frenchie a serum IgE test. The vet might say no, if it’s not something that will help to diagnose an allergy in your particular dog.

3. Medication

This is more to help with the symptoms of a food allergy, to give your Frenchie some relief from the scratching and itching. Just like humans, French Bulldogs can be given oral antihistamine to help relieve the allergy.

There are also creams available to soothe the sore skin.

Medication is only really intended to be a relief whilst the vet does longer term tests to come up with a solution to the food allergy.

4. Switch to a special diet

If it’s not possible to identify what foods your French Bulldog is allergic too, some vets will recommend you switch your Frenchie to a special diet for life. It will contain foods that are very unlikely to cause allergies, sometimes being a completely raw diet.

What foods are French Bulldogs allergic to?

All Frenchies are different, and some will react badly to food that others will gulp down. That being said, there are some foods that are bad for all Frenchies, but aren’t necessarily an allergic item.

Research into canine allergies has identified certain foods as being more likely to cause a bad reaction.  According to WebMD.com, the most common food allergens include:

• Beef
• Chicken
• Dairy products
• Fish

And then on a lesser common scale, you have foods such as:

• Barley
• Corn
• Oats
• Rice
• Wheat

It’s not just these foods that can produce allergic reactions. They are the most common, but in truth, any food can trigger an allergy in a Frenchie.

Many owners will tell you that grains are the main causes of a French Bulldog food allergies. According to the Vet4Bulldog.com website this isn’t actually the case and is actually a myth. Their lead vet, Dr Kraemer is quoted as saying:

“Many French Bulldog owners associate food allergy with grain when in fact it is usually due to the protein source found in meat. The most common allergens are chicken (60%), then beef and fish. Also, on the frequent food allergens, shortlist is corn, soy, wheat, and dairy.”

What Frenchie owners are saying

I also looked on social media to see what other owners are saying in the comments and suggestions on this topic. Here’s a selection of the best responses.

“My little boy is allergic to quite a few things including certain good. We had him tested with a company who came highly recommended. They offered us great advice and support. Our Frenchie now only eats natural food that we get custom made which is always raw.”

“Don’t think it’s always a food allergy. For example, our Frenchie puppy was found to be allergic to various chemicals in the home. We not use a ZeroWater filter, Soapnuts for washing his bedding and other preventative methods. He is also allergic to quite a few foods, but with testing and trial and elimination we are getting there to find out what the offending ingredients are.”

“We feed our Royal Canin hypoallergenic dog food and don’t give him anything else, not even treats. You must do a food trial for a full 12 weeks before you really know if it works or not as an allergy test.”

“You can also get prescribed steroids from the vets and pay for a test to find out what the allergy is. But it will cost a lot of money perhaps £500. I have used Piriton on my dog and it helps, and the vets will give you the same advice unless they want money out of you for the steroids of course!”

“I advise you pay for a blood test as mine has allergies to grass, pollen, and dust. We tried different food and it never made a difference. He is now on long term pills like anti histamines for canines, which has helped stop the scratching. Only a blood test will show this up though.”

“Always check the back of the dog food label as some contain as little as 10% meat. Go with something that has a high meat or fish content and no grain or wheat. Our Frenchie has food with 80% chicken, blueberries, and all sorts of good stuff.”

“We put our Frenchie on hypoallergenic food and the vet prescribed a special shampoo. We used it 3 times in a couple of weeks and now bathe him once a month. He is now 8 and not had a food allergy for nearly 5 years now. Give it a try and also it may be worth getting him allergy tested.”

Conclusion

There’s nothing worse than seeing your beloved Frenchie in obvious discomfort. The itching and scratching can be intolerable for them, so the sooner you see it and visit your vet, the better.

Be prepared for some hard work though with the food elimination as it’s very tricky to find out what food your Frenchie is actually allergic too.

With our Frenchie, Claude, we discovered he was allergic to an ingredient in the Royal Canin French Bulldog specific food. We would never have thought that would be the case, given it is sold to be just right for this breed.

You might also like…

I won’t lie, it’s a huge challenge owning a Frenchie, as they are prone to a lot of different health problems. You can read more about these and some related issues in the following guides:

• Common Frenchie skin allergies and skin problems
• Common Frenchie health problems ranked by frequency

The post French Bulldog Food Allergies: Symptoms & Common Allergic Foods appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

One of the more common eye problems will be when your French Bulldog has a corneal ulcer, which thankfully can be treated… read this short and helpful guide on what to expect, how to treat the problem, and what it might cost.

How do Frenchies get corneal ulcers?

According the VCA Hospital website, corneal eye ulcers most commonly occur in Frenchies due to a trauma and injury.

“An ulcer may result from blunt trauma, such as a dog rubbing its eye on the carpet, or due to a laceration, such as a cat scratch or a contact with a sharp object. Another common cause is chemical burn of the cornea. This may happen when an irritating chemical or substance such as shampoo or drywall dust gets in the eye.”

The causes can be further broken down, by looking out for:

• Scratches from a tree branch or a scratch and bump from another dog.
• Infections that can follow on from ulcerative keratitis inflammation of the cornea.
• Foreign objects stuck under the eyelid which then scratch against the cornea.
• Dry eye where the lack of moisture can increase the risk of corneal ulcers.

How to tell if it’s a corneal ulcer?

Some owners will mistake a condition such as cherry eye as being a corneal ulcer. It’s actually a different condition, and instead you should check to see for:

• Is your Frenchie blinking and squinting?
• Is your Frenchie pawing or rubbing at the eye?
• Is the eye red and watery?
• Is there an unusual discharge around the eye?
• Can you see swelling in the eye?
• Does your Frenchie also have a runny nose on the same side?
• Is it difficult for your Frenchie to open the eye?

What should you do?

Corneal ulcers are very painful for French Bulldogs, and if you suspect your dog has one, you should seek swift veterinary help.

Swift attention to the problem can help prevent potential loss of vision in the eye. If you cannot get to a vet on the day, you can use an over the counter saline solution to wash any foreign bodies out of the eye.

Vets also recommend that you keep your French Bulldog in a darker than normal room, as ulcers can be more painful when in direct sunlight.

French Bulldog corneal ulcer treatment

When you arrive at the vets, they will use a special dye in your Frenchie’s eyes which will turn the ulcer area to a yellow color. They then use bright lamps to look into the eye to examine the corneal ulcer better, giving them an idea on size and seriousness.

The treatments available for your Frenchie’s corneal ulcer include:

1. Ointments, eye drops, and tablets

Drops and ointments are used to prevent bacterial infections. These are to be applied every 2 hours but should treat the corneal ulcer within 3 to 5 days. Vets can also prescribe tablet-based medication to heal the ulcer and oral pain killers.

Vets can also prescribe atropine eye drops to relieve the pain and prevent the ulcer from reaching the deep layers of the eye. You should exercise caution though, as atropine can causes mydriasis (dilation of the pupil), up to several days after stopping treatment, so you should not expose your Frenchie to strong light.

2. Surgery for more serious corneal ulcers

The corneal ulcer treatments in step 1 might not be sufficient, so the vet might decide that surgery is needed.

This can range from a simple procedure involving stitching up the eyelid to speed up the healing process.

If it’s a deep corneal ulcer, more major surgery will be required which you can read more about on the Eye Vet Clinic website. This is what they say:

“Superficial corneal ulcers are painful but do not pose a threat to the integrity of the globe and are usually treated medically – with few exceptions. Deep corneal ulcers however pose a threat as they may result in corneal perforation which is extremely painful, and sight threatening and often require emergency surgical intervention.  Surgeries for deep corneal ulcers usually involve placement of a graft into the defect which provides structural support to the eye.” 

The two different surgical procedures this veterinary practice offer are: 

1. Conjunctival pedicle graft (also called ‘CPG’)
2. Corneo-conjunctival transposition graft (also called ‘CCT’) 

The cost of surgeries like this can range anywhere between $200 to $2,000 depending on the seriousness of the problem.

Preventing corneal ulcers in Frenchies

Longer term prevention of corneal ulcers can be achieved by measures including:

• Protecting your Frenchie’s eye with French Bulldog goggles or an eye patch.
• Apply eye drops daily as prescribed by a vet to prevent infections.

Conclusion

Corneal ulcers are just one of a wide range of health problems that Frenchies can develop in their lifetime. It’s fair to say, that if you own this breed please make sure you have adequate insurance in place to cover all eventualities.

You might also like…

On the subject of eyes, here are more guides on what you need to be aware of.

• This is when Frenchie puppy eyes change color
• When puppies open their eyes for the first time
• Reasons why your Frenchie has a red eye

The post French Bulldog Corneal Ulcer: Treatment, Diagnosis, & Prevention appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

If you’ve noticed your Frenchie is losing more hair than usual you are naturally going to be worried. I put these notes together for you to act as a primer before you talk to the vet – which of course, you should do any time you notice hair loss patches and unusual bald spots on your Frenchie.

I will explain in as a helpful a way as possible all I know about French Bulldog hair loss and what I have learned about Frenchie alopecia.

Why is my French Bulldog losing so much hair?

Before I get into the reasons for Frenchie hair loss, you need to exclude the possibility that it’s simple the seasonal shedding coming into play. Once you rule that out, you can then explore the possibility of bald spots and alopecia due to entirely different reasons.

It could be just normal hair shedding

French Bulldog’s shed their hair seasonally. When it happens, it looks like a lot of hair loss but shouldn’t be cause for alarm. You can see what it looks like in a video on our French Bulldog YouTube channel.

Why Frenchies lose their hair by shedding

Frenchies will lose their undercoat hair about twice a year; replacing their thinner or thicker coats for summer or wintertime. However, if your Frenchie is losing more hair than is normal, then it could be a sign of a skin condition, allergies or another medical condition.

But how can you tell whether your French Bulldog’s hair loss is caused by natural shedding, or whether it’s an underlying medical issue?

The bottom line is, you should always talk to your vet for a professional opinion, but there are some tell-tale signs that your Frenchie is losing hair for a different reason.

Reasons for French Bulldog hair loss

Perhaps your Frenchie’s hair is feeling more brittle than normal or is simply coming out in larger amounts than you would expect through shedding. It could be that you see bald patches and bald spots that were not there before?

But why is your French Bulldog losing so much hair? Is there anything wrong? And is there anything you can do about it?

There are many reasons your French Bulldog could be suffering from hair loss, all of which a vet would check for during an appointment. These include:

1. Allergies

Like humans, Frenchies can also suffer from a range of allergies to different materials, environmental factors, or food. This can lead to skin irritations, causing them to scratch, bite and chewing on their fur, leading to hair loss.

Common allergies include plastic and latex materials, dyeing agents, cleaning products, plants, antibiotics or certain ingredients in types of dog food.

It’s not unusual to see bald spots develop due to an allergy, or the act of your Frenchie scratching at the allergy.

2. Skin conditions

Known as ‘hot spots’, there are a few different types of dermatitis that your French Bulldog could be suffering from; including allergic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and acute moist dermatitis.

Acute moist dermatitis is often caused by moisture and dampness in folds of skin, especially around the neck area. You might see your French Bulldog losing hair on sides of the mouth and neck area bald spots.

3. Mange

Mange can be a scary word for many Frenchie owners, conjuring images or scabbed and furless dogs, but it is actually quite a common condition, being highly contagious between dogs.

The definition according the Blue Cross animal charity is:

“Mange is a skin disease caused by mites and two types can affect dogs, sarcoptic and demodectic. Sarcoptic mange (or canine scabies) is the most common of the two and is highly contagious. It causes intense itching and, as a result of scratching, dogs suffer open sores, scabs and hair loss.”

The symptoms of mange include rashes, skin redness, hair loss, skin lesions and scaled skin. The good news is, that mange is easily treated using oral antibiotics and topical creams and shampoos.

Your vet will be able to diagnose mange within seconds of seeing your Frenchie, hair loss being one of the obvious signs.

4. Stress related hair loss

When a dog is anxious, restless or just bored, they can find a release of some of that excess energy through licking themselves and things around them. However, excessive licking of their own skin can cause acral lick dermatitis, or ‘lick granuloma’.

Handy Hint: Often Frenchies will create bald patches due to licking when stressed with separation anxiety. Here’s are some signs your Frenchie is left alone too much.

Often found on the lower parts of their legs, it results in a red patch of furless skin, which can often become irritated or even begin to bleed. If you see French Bulldog alopecia on their flanks, this is what the hair loss could be.

The dermatitis and infection can be treated with antibiotics, anti-lick strips and topical medicines, whilst the behavioral and psychological cause can be helped through training, more interaction with the animal and longer walks to relieve their excess energy.

5. Hormones

Just like humans, Frenchies can suffer from hormonal imbalances, such as the over-production or under-production of oestrogen, testosterone, thyroxin or other hormones, which can cause hair loss among other symptoms.

One of the most common causes, however, is hypothyroidism, caused through a malfunction in the canine thyroid gland; this can be treated with an oral hormone replacement medication, such as thyroxine.

Hormonal imbalances can result in hair loss patches and bald spots on areas such as the back, tail, around the mouth, sides of the body, and around the eyes.

6. Abnormal organ functions

While it is rarer, other things that causes hair loss in French Bulldogs can be problems with their internal organs, such as kidneys, liver, and intestines.

Health issues like bowel disease, kidney failure, and liver failure can cause dull, thinning hair (liver failure also causing orange-yellow skin, and kidney failure is accompanied by a musty smell to their coats).

7. Bacterial infection

French Bulldogs can also lose their hair due to parasitic infections like as ringworm, or bacterial and fungal infections like folliculitis.

Sometimes caused by previously mentioned forms of dermatitis and immune system disorders, folliculitis shows itself through a collection of red swellings around the hair follicles but can be treated with topical creams and antimicrobial shampoos (as well as treatment to any underlying cause.)

Ringworm appears in lesions on the head, ears, and paws of a dog, and if often picked up when your dog is digging around in the dirt (where the fungus resides). You might see bald spots around your Frenchie’s ears and sides of the mouth.

Ringworm is easily tested for and can be treated with an anti-fungal shampoo and topical medication over the course of a couple of weeks.

As ringworm is highly contagious, it is recommended that you follow your vet’s instructions closely to avoid reinfection, and wash all bedding, toys and any rugs or blankets that are commonly used by your dog in a bleach solution (or replace them, if they do not have any sentimental value).

If you are concerned that your dog may have any of the above conditions or are just worried about possible causes of French Bulldog hair loss, always visit your vet for a proper, medical opinion and diagnosis before taking any steps to treating your pet yourself.

How to treat hair loss in a French Bulldog

Some of these conditions, when left untreated, can cause harm to your Frenchie. In more serious cases, hair loss can often be the sign of a fatal disease so needs to be checked out by a professional.

Once you have a diagnosis from a licensed vet, they will often prescribe a medical hair loss treatment for your Frenchie, ranging from topical creams and hydrocortisone shampoos to hormone treatment and antibiotics.

However, alongside these standard canine hair loss treatments, there are other ways you can help treat your Frenchie’s hair loss or skin irritation.

Disclaimer: Always check with your vet before using any of these home remedies, as they can sometimes affect or be affected by your dogs’ prescribed treatment.

1. Change their diet

If your Frenchie has an allergy to a particular ingredient in dog food, then the obvious remedy is to change what you are feeding them.

Check the ingredients on tins or packets of dog food, and make sure that your dog isn’t eating any scraps of food from around the home that may be triggering their allergies.

You can get your vet to do an allergy test to check if your Frenchie’s hair loss is caused by something they eat, come into contact with, or environmental factors.

2. Natural topical remedies

There are some common kitchen ingredients that you might already have that can help relieve the itching from dry skin conditions. By relieving the itching, you can reduce the hair loss and bald patches from scratching and licking.

Some dog owners say lemon juice helps. It contains anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, as does apple cider vinegar, which can also help to boost the immune system.

To use it, simply dilute the lemon juice or vinegar in warm water, before dipping a cotton ball into the mixture and applying it to the affected bald patch.

3. Brush your Frenchie regularly

Your Frenchie’s skin has natural oils that are designed to keep their fur protected and moisturized. By brushing your dog’s fur, you can help spread it around and bring it out into the longer areas of fur.

Regular brushing will help to keep the hair healthy and could lead to a reduction in how much hair your French Bulldog loses each day. Here’s a brush on Amazon we use with Claude the Frenchie. It will remove loose hair but does encourage re-growth and healthy fur so don’t worry about using it.

4. Use a humidifier

Room humidifiers can really help a dog with dry and itchy skin, meaning less scratching, thus reduced hair loss. By placing a humidifier near your dogs’ bed, the night moisture in the room will help to rehydrate and soothe your dog’s skin.

More about French Bulldog bald spots

French bulldogs with hair loss behind ears

Mites are a common cause of hair loss in Frenchies, even those with shorter fur, and one of the common symptoms of a mite or tick infestation in your dog is fur loss behind their ears.

Ear mites are an extremely common and highly contagious species of mite in cats and dogs, causing scabbed skin around the back of their ears, as well as lesions from your pet constantly scratching to relieve the itching sensation.

These open wounds can also lead to bacterial infections, resulting in crusting and discharge of pus, which may have to be treated separately.

It is important that the mite infestation is treated, as it is the root cause. Once the mites have been got rid of, the scratching and skin lesions will often resolve themselves with a little topical treatment.

After a few weeks you might then see the hair loss behind the ears grow back to what it used to be before the mites took hold.

French bulldog hair loss around eyes

Along with hair loss around their ears, hair loss around your Frenchie’s eyes can also be a sign of mites. However, it can also be a sign of allergies. Often, allergies or skin issues can begin around the eyes and ears of your dog, before spreading outwards around the body.

Common signs of discomfort around their eyes include rubbing their faces against things, excessive scratching of a particular area, eye-watering, sneezing and a runny nose.

If your Frenchie is losing patches of hair around their eyes, be sure to check for any open sores and raw skin (which can be a sign of dermatitis), as well as lesions and scaly skin in localized areas (a symptom of ringworm).

If you are concerned that your Frenchie’s hair loss around the eyes, it’s important that you check with your vet for a diagnosis before seeking any treatment options.

The definition of French Bulldog alopecia

While it may sound like a terrible skin condition, alopecia is actually just the name for seasonal baldness. Often found in breeds of French, American and British Bulldogs, this type of hair loss is completely natural and is caused by changes in the seasons.

Shorter periods of sunlight during the day triggers their hormones to regrow their fur into a thicker coat, ready for the approach of winter, and then back again for a thinner summer coat.

Because of this, French Bulldog baldness and hair loss does not result in any skin conditions, dryness or itching, and is purely just a change in outward appearance and over time the hair will grow back.

When seasonal baldness comes into effect, you may notice these bald patches are far darker than the rest of their skin, resulting from hyperpigmentation. This is usually seen around their flanks and hind legs, but after a while, the hair will regrow and cover the area.

However, some Frenchie’s bald patches will remain indefinitely, with only some of the lost hair returning. This is also natural and shouldn’t be worried about, as it is not a sign of any kind of medical issue; in fact, some regrowth can skip a year and regrow during the next bout of seasonal baldness.

If you are concerned about your French Bulldog’s bald patches, then it is recommended that you consult a vet before pursuing any treatments for mites, allergies or dermatitis.

Conclusion

Despite Frenchies only having a very short, fine coat and only losing their undercoat a couple of times a year, they do produce a lot of hair.

This will often be mistaken for problematic hair loss – which instead is typically when you see patches and bald spots in isolated areas rather than uniform hair loss with natural shedding.

The bottom line is if you’re worried at all, please talk to your vet as often hair loss can be the sign of a more serious problem.

The post French Bulldog Hair Loss: The Causes of Bald Spots & Patches appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

Well, I own a Frenchie, and whilst they aren’t all the same, there are certain parts of their character which are very typical. So just how lazy are Frenchies? Let me explain with some real-life experiences, and videos.

Are French Bulldogs lazy dogs?

There are certain characteristics that will lead people to believe that French Bulldogs are lazy dogs. However, this isn’t actually true; they are not a lazy breed and need stimulation. When Frenchies are active they can be very hyper, needing regular exercise each day to keep them happy.

I hate to break it to you, but French Bulldogs are not lazy!

All of this is based on the personal experience of owning a Frenchie, plus having been in the French Bulldog community for a number of years.

However, I can understand why there is this common misconception that all Frenchies are lazy, so let me explain in more detail.

Why people perceive Frenchies to be lazy dogs

There are certain ways that Frenchies behave that will make them look very lazy. It’ very understandable, and the truth is, for a lot of the day they will actually do absolutely nothing – so they can deserve this reputation.

For example, here are some typical French Bulldog personality traits which can create the impression of laziness.

1. Frenchies can sleep for almost 60% of the day

Our French Bulldog Claude will sleep a lot. I’ve previously written a blog about his sleeping patterns, where I recorded him nodding off for between 12 and 14 hours a day.

It understandable that people will look at these statistics and fall into the trap of believing in Frenchie laziness.

Don’t let this lack of action fool you into thinking Frenchies are lazy though.

When Claude is awake, he is VERY AWAKE, wanting to run, play, act hyper, and be the most hectic dog on the planet. Many Frenchies are exactly the same, demanding constant attention and stimulation.

2. Frenchies can be very stubborn and refuse to walk

One of the most common personality traits of Frenchies is their stubbornness. If they don’t want to do something, they won’t.

For example, sometimes your Frenchie puppy will just sit there and refuse to walk. Claude even to this day will sometimes struggle with recall commands, preferring to completely ignore me and only saunter over when he is ready.

This stubbornness can work both ways though, and can mean our Frenchie does what he wants, which can mean running, running, and more running until he can’t run anymore despite me trying to get him to stop!

3. Frenchies are brachycephalic and can struggle for breath

The flat face and squashed features that defines this breed, and also makes them popular is actually very problematic for their health. This physical trait makes them a brachycephalic breed leading to breathing problems, and difficulty coping in hot weather.

Because of this, you might assume that Frenchies won’t over-exert themselves and will be lazy, but the opposite is unfortunately true.

My experience of Frenchies is that they don’t know when to stop. They can run themselves into the ground even when they are struggling to breathe.

Claude is a perfect example. If I let him run around our garden, he would do it until he dropped so it’s up to us to monitor his activity and bring a stop to it before he gets too worn out.

4. Many Frenchies will be overweight

You will see lots of fat Frenchies on social media and could fall into the trap of thinking this is a normal look and offer confirmation bias of them being lazy dogs.

The truth is, Frenchies should not be overweight, and require regular daily exercise and a sensible approach to diet and snacks. I wrote a guide about fat French Bulldogs and how to keep their weight in check only last month.

The truth about Frenchies being lazy dogs

Hopefully I’ve given you some insight into why people believe all French Bulldogs are lazy. Of course, all dogs are different with their own personality, so it’s not to say there aren’t Frenchies who are completely lazy – it’s just that I am yet to meet one.

The truth is, this breed needs a lot of stimulation and attention, and far from being lazy they are actually very active when they aren’t in sleep mode.

They are very funny and can quickly go from one extreme to the other. One minute your Frenchie will be snoring his head off, the next minute running “zoomies” around the room or garden and yard.

Handy Hint: If you’ve ever wondered why Frenchies get the zoomies and run like crazy then I think I might be able to help with my zoomies explanation.

There’s no real in-between status with Frenchies; they will either be chilling out or being manic and hyper. You can see some classic examples of their non-lazy behavior in this video from our YouTube channel showing the different ways Frenchies like to play.

Frenchies need exercise and walks

Many people think that Frenchies will easily slot into the sedentary and chilled lifestyle of the owner. Whilst of course this is true to a certain extent, it doesn’t mean Frenchies are lazy enough to not need walks and regular exercise.

Without exercise they will get bored, possibly even destructive, and almost certainly will put on weight leading to health problems. As owners, you have an obligation to walk your Frenchie no matter how lazy you think he or she is.

Handy Hint: Read my guide to how often you should walk a Frenchie, how far, and what the limits should be on daily exercise.

This breed needs to be walked at the very least, once a day, twice if possible. They have energy to burn, and a desire to be active.

You do need to be careful though!

Whilst you should exercise them, you do need to be very careful to not overdo it. It’s very easy for Frenchies to overheat, and you will need to keep them cool in the hot summer months (here’s how).

In fact, only this week the BBC published a news article highlighting some research by Nottingham Trent University which showed this breed is more prone to heatstroke than others.

The study found that French Bulldogs were in the high-risk category of overheating due to their restricted breathing; the brachycephalic issue I mentioned earlier.

A spokesperson from the Dogs Trust charity said:

“These findings show that owners of flat-faced breeds and dogs who are overweight need to keep an especially close eye on their beloved pet during the warm weather as they could be at greater risk.”

Whilst Frenchies are not lazy, that doesn’t mean you should take them on long hikes or expect them to be good running partners. This breed will not be able to handle that level of activity, and it can be actually be extremely dangerous.

Conclusion

It all boils down to how you define laziness.

Our Claude sleeps so much of the day, but when he’s up and about he’s more than a match for dog breeds that you typically think of as being active.

However, I won’t dispute that some owners might have Frenchies they say are lazy. Whilst there are some breed-specific traits, all dogs have their own personalities so there will be outliers.

Overall though, I disagree with the statement around this breed being lazy dogs and believe owners should keep their Frenchies well exercised and active.

Both you and your dog need this for mental well-being!

The post Are French Bulldogs Lazy? The Truth Might Surprise You! appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.