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FRENCH BULLDOG
PHYSICAL HEALTH AND CONFORMATION |
In French Bulldogs, there are some structural
problems associated with the breed's
constitution that one should keep in mind when
assessing conformation. The rapid growth in our
breed (whose registrations increased by over 50%
from 2003 to 2004) suggests that some of the
increase in numbers is due to puppies produced
by dogs and bitches who really should not be
bred, either because they do not conform well to
the breed standard, or because they care some
potentially inheritable condition that should
not be perpetuated, or both.
French Bulldogs are classified structurally and
developmentally as a brachycephalic and
chondrodystrophic breed. That is, a
brachycephalic Frenchie skull typically has a
very short face compared to the length of the
cranium; and the other bones in the skeleton
show an abnormal type of development,
chondrodystrophy, that results in a shortening
of the vertebrae and of the long bones of the
limbs. The chondrodystrophic and brachycephalic
skeleton is, though characteristic of the breed,
structurally abnormal, with the potential to
cause some inherent physical problems.
First, the facial bones and tissues of a
brachycephalic dog are so compressed that its
airway is often impaired by several related
defects (stenotic nares, elongated soft palate,
excess tissue in the throat, toocrowded nasal
cavities; and secondary changes in the larynx
that these primary defects can produce over
time). These are collectively called the
Brachycephalic Syndrome. The only visible part
of the airway are the openings to the outside,
the nares. These should be open rather than
pinched, and their openings should not have been
surgically enlarged. Though you can't see a
dog's palate, throat, nasal cavities, or larynx,
you can usually tell whether it has airway
problems by watching and listening to it. If a
Frenchie cannot walk around the ring in cool
weather without becoming obviously stressed and
showing noisy and labored breathing, it does not
have a good airway.
The spine of a chondrodystrophic breed is also
shortened by its abnormal type of development.
Although the breed standard calls for a short
and compact body, it should not be too short as
the standard also calls for good proportion.
Frenchies have a high incidence of vertebral
malformations, and also of premature
degeneration of the intervertebral discs. The
shorter the back, the more extreme the degree of
malformation of the vertebrae. As the spine is
excessively shortened the size of the chest
cavity is reduced, which restricts the lung
capacity and compromises an already marginal
respiratory system. Excessive shortening can
also affect gait, particularly if the dog is so
close coupled that its gait is crabbed as it
tries to prevent its hind feet overtaking its
front feet. Though a Frenchie's movement is not
weighted as heavily in the standard as that of
many breeds, its movement should be
"unrestrained, free and vigorous." If the spine
is so short that there is not enough length of
neck, the reach of the forelimbs will be
reduced, as the neck muscles that move the
forelimbs forward will be unable to shorten
sufficiently to produce a good forward motion at
the shoulder.
Frenchies' eye openings should be round, with no
white showing when the dog is looking forward,
and located on the front of the skull rather
than on the sides (where they are situated on
long-faced breeds). Frenchies occasionally have
cherry eye (enlarged and prolapsed gland of the
nictitating membrane), entropion, a visible haw
(nictitating membrane), dermoid cysts (rapidly
enlarging growths usually found on the margin of
an eyelid or on the cornea), and juvenile
cataracts. These conditions are not considered
desirable, and may be inheritable.
The coat of a French Bulldog should be fine,
smooth, and shiny, and the skin soft and loose,
forming wrinkles at the head and throat.
However, many Frenchies have one or more skin
problems. In addition to skin lesions caused by
atopy or by food or flea allergies, they may
also have autoimmune skin disorders as well as
hypothyroidism-induced hair loss. The deep
wrinkles of the face should be kept clean and
dry, as should the areas between the toes, to
prevent infections from developing in these
dark, moist areas. Good grooming, proper
nutrition, good veterinary care, and an attempt
to avoid breeding animals with known
immune-mediated disorders are necessary to
minimize the skin disorders found in the breed.
Finally, and importantly, a Frenchie should have
a sound temperament as well as a sound
body.Although any dog may develop a bad
disposition if maltreated, it is possible for a
line of dogs to show bad temperaments. Even a
perfect conformation cannot compensate for a bad
temperament in a dog whose primary function is
to be a companion
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