With their wrinkly faces and bat-like ears, it’s no surprise that French Bulldogs have become a favourite breed among celebrities.
Stars including Lady Gaga, The Rock, and Reese Witherspoon all have French Bulldogs, while the breed is also the second-most popular puppy in the UK.
However, vets have now issued an urgent warning to French Bulldog owners.
The PDSA has revealed that French Bulldogs are at high risk of elbow (humeral) fractures.
In fact, figures from the vet charity show that the breed mde up two thirds of elbow fractures surgically repaired in Britain last year.
‘Fractures […] can happen in French Bulldogs with everyday accidents, such as a heavy landing when jumping down from the sofa or a trip over a step, whereas in many other breeds, these injuries are generally only seen after a serious fall or trauma such as being hit by a car,’ said Lynne James, a vet with the PDSA.
‘All breeds come with their own individual personalities and quirks, but it’s important for owners to be aware of the health concerns specific breeds could be prone to, and the impact they will have, should your pet become sick or injured.’
With their wrinkly faces and bat-like ears, it’s no surprise that French Bulldogs have become a favourite breed among celebrities
The PDSA data shows that in total, 278 dogs underwent surgery for elbow fractures in 2023.
A staggering 180 of these dogs were French Bulldogs.
The charity highlights one case of a five-month-old French Bulldog named Moon, who broke not just one, but two elbows during a terrifying incident.
While on an Easter holiday walk with her family, Moon fell over and was rushed to the Southampton PDSA Pet Hospital.
X-rays confirmed that she had fractured both front legs, and she was taken into surgery the following morning.
Unfortunately, Moon vomited while asleep, leading to aspiration pneumonia – a condition that occurs when foreign material is inhaled.
Aspiration pneumonia is particularly common in French Bulldogs, according to the PDSA.
‘French Bulldogs, along with other flat faced (brachycephalic) breeds are more prone to regurgitation and aspiration pneumonia due to the increased effort needed to move air through their narrowed airways, part of the condition known as Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS),’ the charity explained.
The charity highlights one case of a five-month-old French Bulldog named Moon, who broke not just one, but two elbows during a terrifying incident
Because of this additional complication, Moon had to spend a week in hospital, where she received intensive treatment including oxygen support, fluid drip, pain relief, and antibiotics.
Thankfully, Moon has now made a full recovery.
‘We’re so pleased Moon had a happy ending,’ Ms James said.
‘Her treatment was made even more complicated by breed-related health concerns.
‘For people who are considering sharing their lives with this loveable breed, we’d strongly advise they do lots of research to understand potential health problems and what this could mean for them.
‘Dogs add so much love and joy into our lives, we want to make sure we do everything we can so they live the happiest and healthiest lives possible.’
