How Long Do Your French Bulldogs Live? Big Surprise
How Long Do French Bulldogs Live?
The average lifespan of a French bulldog is between 10-14 years. This breed of dog has particular physical characteristics that leave it vulnerable to several diseases, resulting in an even shorter lifespan of 7 to 10 years.
Many factors influence a French bulldog's lifespan, like health factors, environmental factors, and the quality of care it receives. Here we'll talk about the standard life expectancy of a French bulldog, its health issues, and what steps you can take to keep good care of it.
So if you want to know everything about how long do French bulldogs live and how you can help your Frenchie live a healthy, happy, and long life, then Keep reading, and you'll get the answers to all your queries.
Breed Origin and History
Despite the name, French bulldogs did not originate from France. They were first introduced in England in the 18th century. During the Industrial Revolution, bulldogs were crossbred with some smaller breeds of dogs, giving rise to the first variation of the French Bulldog.
These dogs became popular with the working class in England due to their docile nature and calm temperament. They also didn't require regular walks or exercises and were relatively easy to keep, making them great companions.
However, the Industrial Revolution put many small business owners and lace-workers out of business, which forced them to relocate to France. This working-class took their Frenchies with them, and these pets soon became famous in France, and their demand increased. But the English were no longer making the breed in a large enough quantity, so a different variation of the dog was produced in France.
This breed originating from France is what we know today as the famous French Bulldog, with large eyes and a saggy nose. However, Frenchies today are not like their first variation produced in England and were crossbred with terriers and pugs to create the French bulldog puppies we know today.
What is the Oldest Living French Bulldog?
The oldest French Bulldog to ever live was named Popeye. Popeye lived for 18 years, three months, and eight days. He died on January 15th, 2021, from Cancer.
Popeye is a rare case and not the standard life expectancy of a French bulldog, even when you take good care of it. His longer-than-average French bulldog lifespan could have resulted from several factors or even been purely genetic, I.e., a result of good genes.
What Health Problems Do French Bulldogs Have?
Frenchies are an adorable breed of dogs, but it's not all cute when it comes to their health. Frenchies undergo a lot of health issues that can cut down the average French dog's lifespan. Poor breeding, environmental factors, and inadequate nutrition can all lead to these health problems. Some common French bulldog health issues are described below.
- Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is an orthopedic problem that limits the mobility of French bulldogs. It is a skeletal disorder where the ball and socket joint in the hip doesn't develop fully and remains unformed, leading to issues in movement.
Symptoms include difficulty in movement like difficulty in walking or running, inability to sit down, inability to climb stairs, inability to jump, low activity in general, and difficulty in changing position like standing up from sitting down. The cause could be anything like excessive growth rate, improper nutrition, or even genetics.
- Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye)
Pink eye in French bulldogs is commonly caused by a bacterial or viral infection, although sometimes it can also be due to an allergy.
Symptoms include mucous discharge from the eye, pinkness/redness of the eye, squinting or swelling, and excessive blinking.
In severe circumstances, conjunctivitis can also be due to a tumor in which the affected eye might have to be surgically removed.
- IVDD (Intervertebral disc disease)
IVDD stands for Intervertebral disc disease. It is usually common in Frenchies who are unusually big or weigh above 50lbs. A Frenchie's vertebral column comprises discs connecting the vertebrae and is protected by a membrane. IVDD is caused by injury to one of these discs that lie between the vertebrae.
The discs act as a cushion but can get ruptured, causing severe pain and presenting the problem of a "slipped disc." Depending on how badly the discs are ruptured, this can cause your Bulldog to lose control over its muscles or lead to French bulldog back problems.
Some French Bulldog IVDD symptoms include pain and weakness in hind legs, inability to jump, crying out in pain, hunched back, reduced appetite and activity, and bladder/bowel control loss. IVDD can also cause French bulldog muscle spasm in the back or neck.
French Bulldog slipped disc symptoms need to be treated immediately, or they can render a dog immobile.
- Skin Fold Dermatitis
Skinfold dermatitis is one of the leading French bulldog skin problems. It occurs due to all the skin folds on Frenchies and can also occur in the armpits, neck, and pubic region.
Dermatitis symptoms include itching, biting, scratching, sores, and redness in the areas where skin folds are found.
- Gliomas/ Brain Tumors
The most common French bulldog brain tumor is known as a Glioma. It can be either slow-growing or aggressive, making it complex to treat.
Symptoms of a brain tumor in French bulldogs include seizures, head tremors, aimless circling or wandering, abnormal eye movement, issues with balancing, and changed activity or behavior.
- Brachycephalic Frenchies
This is one of the significant issues in this dog breed, as small noses in dogs are often related to respiratory problems. Their nasal passage is shortened, causing difficulty in breathing.
One thing to always look for to determine if your Frenchie is having trouble breathing is when instead of panting, the dog lays down to cool off.
- Entropion
It is a genetic disease in which the dog's eyelids roll inwards, causing the eyelashes to touch the eye's cornea.
The common symptoms of this disease are redness of the eye, excessive tears, and inner eye inflammation. It can even damage the dog's vision, so it is recommended to get it treated as fast as possible.
What Do French Bulldogs Usually Die From?
French bulldogs are delicate pets for their health and need to be taken care of well. About 72.4% of French bulldogs have some kind of health problem that can lead to their death, according to a study of 2228 Frenchies conducted by Dr. Dan O'Neill, a senior lecturer at the Royal Veterinary College, London. The most common of these diseases leading to French bulldog death are:
- Cancer
- Heart Failure due to breathing difficulty
- Gastric torsion
- IVDD
- Hypoglycemia
- Drowning
- Addison's disease
- Hypothermia
How to Help Your Frenchie Live a Long and Happy Life?
If you consider adopting a French bulldog, you must keep in mind the quality care you will need to provide your Frenchie to avoid serious complications. An average lifespan of a French bulldog is around 12 years, and you should ensure that you leave no stone unturned in giving your Frenchie the total french dog life expectancy. Some things you can do to help your Frenchie live longer and happier are:
Breeding parents
When buying or adopting a dog, you should always check and interact with the breeding parents. This is important because French bulldogs are prone to many health issues, most of which can be avoided if the breeding parents are in good health and enjoy the average lifespan of a French bulldog.
Medical tests
Ensure to conduct thorough medical tests (especially eye and hip tests) on your Frenchie before adopting one to know any medical complications beforehand.
Reputable source
Adopt your Frenchie from a reputable shelter or breeder. Never buy a Frenchie from just anybody offering to sell one. Frenchies require a lot of care, and if you get one with a pre-existing health issue, it could cost a lot of your time and money in the long run.
Maintenance
Establish a weekly maintenance schedule to keep your dog happy and in good health. For example, take care of your dog's hygiene through bathing, brushing, and trimming nails. And don't forget to brush their teeth to maintain oral health.
Nutrition
Make sure to give your Frenchie a healthy diet and proper nutrition. And take your Frenchie to a vet as soon as you notice any changes in dietary habits.
Regular visits to the vet
Ensure to keep visiting your vet regularly to maintain your pet's health and allow early detection and diagnosis in case of a health problem.
Love and kindness
Treat your cute friend with all the love and kindness you can muster because they deserve it. Your unconditional love and support will go a long way in keeping your pet happy and healthy.
Final Thoughts
Dogs don't live as long as humans, and Frenchies, in particular, can have pretty short lifespans. But do not let that dishearten you.
Take good care of your Frenchie, and be sure to enjoy the time you have together. Remember, minor things can make significant differences, so never compromise on hygiene or ignore your instincts when it comes to your beloved dog.
We hope this article equips you with the necessary know-how to best care for your French Bulldog. Got any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments down below.
If you have got some great ideas on 'how to raise a bul' to share or any questions on this topic to ask. We have a bulldog online community for you to join. You may join the bulldog addict club group we create on Facebook via the following link: Bulldogs Owners USA
READ NEXT:
Leave a comment