How Long do French Bulldogs Live?

How Long do French Bulldogs Live?

Depositphotos 127266568 l 2015 webFrench bulldogs are loveable and easy-going. As we admire these canines, we also ask ourselves one fragile question, “How long do French bulldogs live?”

Guess what? The French bulldog is the 9nth most popular canine in the United States, as of 2014. That’s up from 24th place in the year 2009. This goes to show that this popular breed of animal has become a canine favorite since then. It seems like everyone’s curious about the French bulldog and want to know more about more about the French bulldog lifespan.

To Fully understand the lifespan of the French bulldog, which does have a rounded number, we must first understand every facet about the animal. Lifespans vary greatly according to how you treat your pet. There are many factors involved in raising these canines and whether they are pets or live in the wild as strays. As you can surmise, these factors change the numbers quite a bit. So, if you’re truly interested, let’s learn the details of the French bulldog lifespan. Educating yourself will help you apply some of these factors and promote your French bulldog’s chances of survival.

Here’s a quick history lesson

After bullbaiting was banned in 1835 England, Pugs and Terriers were bred with English bulldogs. This resulted in the French bulldog. I bet you’re wondering why these canines are called French bulldogs, aren’t you? Well, lace workers from France fancied the English, Pug, Terrier mix and took many them back as companions.

This was the birth of the French bulldog title. While workers produced lace, the French bulldog would sit calmly on their laps for company. This is one testament to their loveable nature, and another reason we should help them have a long and healthy life.

The basic lifespan of the French Bulldog

Depositphotos 96906848 xl 2015 webIf you take great care of your pet, and keep it in ideal conditions, you can expect your French bulldog to live between 10-14 years, even possibly up to 18 years of age. Unfortunately, this is only with perfect circumstances, as I said.

There are many factors which change these numbers, lessens the ability for the French bulldog to achieve long life. Things such as health, breeding, and location alter these age ranges. They decide the French bulldog lifespan.

It starts from the beginning

frenchie03The French bulldog lifespan can be influenced from the very start of their lives. When you decide to use a breeder, you’re locking into a genetic predisposition to reach a certain average age. Some breeds live longer than others. That’s probably another aspect you didn’t know about how long the French bulldog lives.

To find the best breeder for your French bulldog purchase, you must consider a few things first. You must also take your time in the search insuring you cover all your bases.

  • Does your prospective breeder have good references, or do they have no references at all? Having references gives you the opportunity to check many aspects of the breeder’s background and standards. Also, you can learn from other buyers about how long their pets lived or their health condition.
  • Are there suspicions when you talk to your prospective breeder? Sometimes, you get an indication that something isn’t right. You should listen to that warning and pay attention to red flags. Most of the time our intuition is correct. The thing is, suspicious breeders often get their puppies from mills and these canines can be wrought with many health problems. This fact alone contributes greatly to the French bulldog life expectancy.

Wellbeing and lifespan

Just like we as pet owners, need healthy foods and plenty of exercise, the French bulldog needs the same. Without these things, the French bulldog can acquire illnesses and even diseases which shortens the French bulldog lifespan. Taking a closer look at these factors helps us understand how they contribute to your pet’s wellbeing.

Nutrition

Depositphotos 13761570 xl 2015 webA healthy bulldog means a canine that will enjoy your company for many years. Proper nutrition plays a huge role in the bulldog’s health. This means, no table scraps. Now, I know that many people love to share table food with their pet, but this is not a good idea at all. It’s unhealthy and there’s also a risk with the small bones getting stuck in the canine’s airways. These bone fragments can also rupture organs. You might as well ignore those sad puppy dog eyes if you want your pet to live a long time.

Instead of table scraps, opt for high protein meats and vegetables in quality dog foods. Nulo Adult Grain-Free dog food from Amazon provides a 100% source of natural nutrition for your pet. Unlike some other pet foods, Nulo provides real meats like turkey, lamb, and salmon. You see, French bulldogs with grain allergies can be triggered by corn or wheat in other dog food brands. This should be avoided at all costs. A meat and vegetable diet is always best. This ensures, yet again, a long French bulldog lifespan.

Activity

frenchie02Along with proper nutrition, French bulldogs also need plenty of exercise. Taking your pet for a walk on a regular basis to ensure that longer life you’re after, is a great idea. Be careful, however, to not over-exert your pet while walking. You may not know, but French bulldogs have loads of energy, and they love to run around. Because of their heavy body and short muzzle, they can get tired easily and have trouble breathing at times during all this activity. Just make sure the exercise they endure is well-paced.

As far as over-exertion, you can help your French bulldog with this problem. Always keep water close by to help him cool off. This prevents things like sunstroke or dehydration.

Environment and living space

Depositphotos 286010978 xl 2015 webThe absolute worst thing you could do to your French bulldog is lock him up in a cage all day while you’re at work. This is almost as bad as chaining him some place outside. It’s just unacceptable. Since the Frenchie is so curious and loves to run around, they need space.

The best thing to do is designate a certain room in your home for your pet. Here they can basically be themselves, run around, and rest when needed. Of course, you should make sure your pet has plenty of water and food in this situation as well. Providing toys, and a doggie bed is important as well. After all, you want your French bulldog to live a long time, and this sort of treatment contributes to that French bulldog lifespan.

There’s something you should remember. The French bulldog is like a child. At a young age, they can destroy things, even things you care about. This is why babyproofing their “room” is best to keep them out of trouble.  Since your canine loves to chew, makes sure the toys you provide are tough enough rigorous use.

Health concerns

Along with starting a healthy life, maintaining a healthy life and living in a quality space, the French bulldog also has to stay on top of health concerns like illnesses. Rather, you, as the owner must make sure you’re educated about all the things your pet can endure or overcome. There are even things that can only be maintained due to genetic predispositions.

Here’s another tidbit, suspicious breeders, as I stated before, often get puppies from mills. Some breeders claim to have “teacup frenchies” for sale. Unfortunately, most of the time, these are only half-starved puppies or maybe even the runt of the litter. So, always pay close attention to this detail as well. But, if your breeder was reputable, and you’ve done your part to ensure your canines long life expectancy, now’s the time to consider all the possible additional health concerns.

French bulldog allergies

Depositphotos 11110118 xl 2015 webRemember my mention about French bulldog allergies? Well, this is one of the most common problems that French bulldogs encounter in life. The worst part about allergies is that they are often difficult to diagnose. Allergies can come from many sources. They can come from the foods your pet eats to the outside pollen. Allergies can also come from some cleaning products used in the home.

Symptoms of allergies will drive your pet crazy. They cause licking, excessive itching, raw patches, vomiting and watery eyes, among a few other problems. It can be tricky to diagnose the culprit of your dog’s allergies. Since French bulldogs tend to have multiple allergies, it can make the diagnosis even harder. If you do track down all sources of allergies, you can use topical ointments, antibiotics, or shampoos. All prescribed or suggested by your veterinarian of course.

Heatstroke

French bulldogs seem to be especially susceptible to heatstroke, and there’s a big reason why.  Their small size, wide body and flat face hinders much outside activity. You see, air is blocked from the trachea because of the short nasal bones and extended soft palate. Their flat face (brachycephalic airway syndrome) came from centuries of breeding. This breathing problem makes the Frenchie overheat much easier and need  plenty of water to stay cool.

Humidity and excessive exercise can increase the risk of heatstroke during hot weather. It’s important to never leave French bulldogs out in the heat or in trapped in cars under the scorching sun. It’s most certainly a death sentence for this canine. While emergency treatment is possible when signs of heatstroke appear, It’s smarter to take care of your French bulldog so this never happens. Signs of heatstroke are increased heartrate, excessive panting, drooling, fainting, bloody vomit, or confusion. It’s important to make sure your French bulldog has the same comfort you would want for yourself, to be honest.

Deafness

Another common issue with the French bulldog is deafness.  This may be there at birth or happen over time. It depends on the canine itself. Most deaf French bulldogs have lighter coats due to genetics. This is because the lack of pigmentation prevents cilia in the ears to develop. If you want to discover whether your bulldog’s deafness is genetic or otherwise, you can take the BAER test.

Deafness is more predominant is the Merle breed of French bulldog, so if you’re thinking of purchasing your beloved pet from breeders who specialize in this canine, you may want to think twice. Symptoms of deafness in French bulldogs are rather obvious. They will be unresponsive to squeaking toys, your voice, and calling their names. Neither can they be aroused by loud noises. It’s best to learn ways to help your deaf pet to ensure the French bulldog’s life expectancy.

Cherry eye

Depositphotos 120859826 xl 2015 webAll sorts of illnesses can attack the senses of the French bulldog, including something called cherry eye. This problem comes from weakness of the tear gland, where the gland pops out of position. In case you haven’t noticed, dogs have a third eyelid, and this eyelid can become swollen and red, covering most of the French bulldog’s eye. The redness is where the name “Cherry eye” comes from.

When you notice what may be Cherry eye, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Cherry eye can lead to issues such as chronic dry eye, and this can cause severe impairment of vision. Vision problems alone can shorten the life of your French bulldog or even cause more infections and such. If you see the symptoms, don’t hesitate to get them checked out.

Stenotic nares

As I stated before the inability to breathe properly can cause heatstroke. And, this inability comes from stenotic nares, or narrow nostrils. The nostrils are so narrow that they are nearly completely closed. This severe problem prevents the French bulldog from exercising properly and more prone to overheating and, of course, breathing.

You can see how the French bulldog life expectancy would decrease due to stenotic nares. On a positive note, there are surgical procedures which can correct this problem. This procedure can be performed when they are puppies and around the same time they are spayed or neutered. Stenotic nares are primarily genetic, it’s best to find two parents with lesser symptoms when purchasing a puppy breed.

Invertebral disc disease

One of the more serious problems that French bulldogs face is bulging discs. Invertebral disc disease happens from landing and jumping during the pet’s lifespan. Since they love being active, this is a hard issue to prevent.

You can recognize the signs of this disease by the canine’s hunched posture and stiff neck, poor bowel and bladder control, anxious behavior and painful cries. If you opt for surgery, it usually costs between $3ooo and $5000.

Thyroid problems

There are two types of thyroid problems that can change the French bulldog’s life expectancy. Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism are two drastically different issues. Hypothyroidism is when the

French bulldog’s metabolism slows down causing intolerance to exercise, extra-sensitivity to the cold, hair loss and other changes in the coat and skin.

Hyperthyroidism, on the other hand, greatly increases the metabolism of the French bulldog. While this condition is rare in bulldogs, it is usually caused by thyroid cancer. The symptoms of this problem are weight loss, heart murmurs, increased urination, increased weight loss and many other similar symptoms.

Hip dysplasia

Depositphotos 4098223 xl 2015 webBasically, hip dysplasia is when the ball and socket of the hip aren’t formed right. The main causes of this condition are genetic predisposition or acquiring dysplasia through various activities throughout life. A French bulldog can sometimes be stricken with this problem because of obesity, too much activity or even nutritional issues.

You will notice obvious symptoms of the deformity by your dog’s difficulty standing up, inability to climb or jump, and a strange gait called “bunny hopping”.  Of course, you can prevent hip dysplasia by giving your pet plenty of healthy exercise, a nutritious diet, Vitamin C and E supplements, along with regular check-ups. Please consult your veterinarian before administering Vitamin C and E to make sure it’s okay for your pet.

Pet insurance

Depositphotos 124607238 xl 2015 webSince the French bulldog endures so many hardships, it’s a must to acquire pet insurance. This ensures that every issue can be tackled immediately and improve chances of survival. Pet insurance also improves chances of a longer life for the French bulldog. There are a few health insurance plans for your pet which cater to their specific needs as well.

There are policies for accidents only, or lifetime policies, which cover your pet’s entire life, with limited payouts and a rather costly premium. There is also the maximum benefits policy, as well, that’s a bit more affordable but doesn’t allow any claims after the maximum payout.

So, back to the question at hand. “How long does the French bulldog live?” Well, as you can see, it depends on many things. In order to give them the longest life possible, you will need to pay close attention to their history and health concerns, as stated above. Know this, if you decide to own a French bulldog, understand that they will need a lot of attention from their owners. Only purchase a French bulldog if you understand the responsibilities of ownership.

Let’s give these loveable and sweet animals a chance to live a long bulldog lifespan. After all, since most people consider pets a part of the family, we should treat them as we do ourselves and nothing less. So, in a nutshell, the average lifespan of the French bulldog depends on you.