Health-Focused Advocacy & Resources
Advancing French Bulldog Health Through Education & Research
Politics Vs. Ethics
Prioritizing Health with French Bulldog Foundation of America
At the French Bulldog Foundation of America, we believe that responsible breeders are those who look past the politics of the Parent Club and actually health test (and screen) for the recommended tests French Bulldogs:
Minimum/Core Tests (Phenotypic Evaluations):
- Hips: OFA evaluation or PennHIP to screen for dysplasia. Stats show ~32.6% of tested Frenchies have some level of dysplasia, ranking the breed 23rd out of 204 for hip health.
- Patellas: Checks for luxation (knee dislocation); ~5.8% affected in tested dogs.
- Cardiac: Echocardiogram or auscultation for congenital heart defects.
- Eyes: CERF (now CAER via OFA) for issues like cataracts or distichiasis; ~24.7% of examined dogs show abnormalities.
Recommended/Additional Tests:
- Respiratory Function Grade (RFG/BOAS): Assesses brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome via a 3-minute exercise test. In a sample of 828 Frenchies, 46% scored Grade 0 (unaffected), but 14% had moderate to severe issues. OFA rolled this out in 2023 at the FBDCA's request.
- Spine: X-rays for vertebral anomalies or intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), common due to chondrodystrophy genes (high carrier rates of 20-37% in the breed).
- Elbows: OFA for dysplasia; ~7.2% affected.
- Trachea: Evaluation for hypoplasia (narrowing).
- Other (e.g., Thyroid, Genetic Panels): DNA tests for over 150 conditions, including degenerative myelopathy and multifocal retinopathy. Labs like Embark or OFA offer breed-specific panels.
ROGUE & Unrepresented
The number one most popular breed in the American Kennel Club for the third consecutive year is the French Bulldog. According to a 2022 presentation by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for the French Bulldog Club of America at their National Specialty, only 1% of every litter is produced by an FBDCA member.
Color is the Least of This Breeds "Problems"
That means 99% of the breed is being bred without any guidance or mentorship, and if you're not the "right color" (which most aren't now), the "Parent Club" will not engage with you in a meaningful, mentorship capacity. It's their way or the high way and that leaves 99% of French Bulldog owners in America without support or guidance in the issues that matter most to our beloved Frenchies: health and longevity.
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