Although a French Bulldog’s life expectancy is not as long as we had hoped for, as you’ll understand while reading further, they are one of the ideal dog breeds purposed as companion dogs.
But how long do French Bulldogs live? The general average of a French Bulldog’s life expectancy is ranged from 10 to 12 years, but of course, it is possible to have a 13-year-old+ and for it to live a long, happy life; it can depend on a lot of factors that carry a significant impact to it.
You might be wondering about these factors, and most importantly, how you can lengthen your dog’s life expectancy past the average of 12 years. After all, they are the kind of pets you’ll love to be with for an extended period. Let’s go and discuss these factors and resolutions down into detail as you read on!
Common Factors Affecting the Lifespan of a French Bulldog
French Bulldogs became the second most popular dog breed, in comparison to other breeds, in this past year of 2020, but we can go way back to the 1800s when Toy Bulldogs and Ratters made these cute little furballs possible. Their quirky personality does make them desirable pets.
So, despite their statistically based usual shorter average life expectancy, it is crucial that you give your French Bulldog a great life and possibly lengthen it.
There is no consensus when it comes to the longest living French Bulldog of all time or even the oldest french bulldog living today, even though the average lifespan of a Frenchie according to the American Kennel Club is, as mentioned before, 10 to 12 years of age.
French Bulldogs are very much in demand, a very popular dog breed, so it led to a neglect of their deformities and genetic dog’s health concerns for many years. They are prone to many health problems, and some of the most common ones are allergies, Hip Dysplasia, and Pink eye.
They are also sensitive dogs, and so experiencing stress and anxiety can genuinely affect the average French Bulldog lifespan.
It is essential to consider that if you’re deciding to get a French Bulldog (or if you already have one), you should pay enough attention to their well-being. It is also essential to bear in mind you need to provide them what they need to prevent these health issues from happening as much as possible.
If you decide to adopt one
Try to do it from a trusted breeder who regularly takes puppies to test for hereditary cataract and the possibility of hip dysplasia before they sell them.
Preferably, you can also get a French Bulldog from a licensed facility and not from uncertified dog breeders; the dogs’ well-being will depend highly on how they are bred, so do be cautious and make sure you are not getting one from puppy mills.
What do most French bulldogs die of?
French Bulldogs’ physical structure, as one of the commonly known flat-faced breeds, much like the English Bulldog, contributes to their vulnerability when it comes to their many health concerns and shorter life expectancy.
Their flat-faced breed trait, which most of us all adore, is related to a condition called “brachycephalic syndrome”. French Bulldogs are prone to some breathing problems and upper respiratory tract disorders due to their smushed faces and very short snouts; this can potentially lead to the risk of heatstroke.
Additionally, it can also result in snoring and, for a more severe case, sleep apnea, which can lead to a cardiac arrest.
Getting a Frenchie from a responsible breeder can help you dodge avoidable health problems, suffering, and even serious life-threatening problems.
French Bulldogs can also die from
Over-exercise, and from being in places with extreme temperatures. They are absolutely not destined for frequent exercise as their bodies cannot maintain a safe temperature and can only do physical activities that aren’t too exhausting.
Furthermore, studies have shown that French Bulldogs predominantly die from cancer and neurological issues, suffering mainly from brain tumors, lymphoma, seizures, and cauda equina syndrome.
This news might be a downer for you French Bulldog owners, but honestly, many French Bulldogs die from old age too, which means there’s also a high possibility for your puppy to live a long and happy life as a healthy French Bulldog.
It’s a known fact that taking care of a French Bulldog can, unfortunately, be expensive, yet the chances of it still vary.
It is then crucial to get a French Bulldog from a responsible breeder to whom you can verify that your puppy has gone through proper care and proper health tests before adoption. If not, your puppy might suffer from a couple of health problems in the future and, of course, will cost you more.
Nonetheless, if you’re hands-on with your furbaby and give it the love and attention it deserves, expect that they will have a longer life expectancy and most importantly, a great life with you.
Tips on How to Expand Your French Bulldog Lifespan and Make it Awesome!
We all want the two Hs in our dogs’ lives, and it is for them to continually be happy and with a healthy life. You can tell if your Frenchie is well taken care of when it’s bright, playful, and sociable.
Their breed is naturally affable and loves to either give or receive affection. To keep it that way you, as a dog owner, need to provide the proper care and routine health maintenance.
Good Practises with Hygiene and Grooming
First off, French Bulldogs are bound for indoor living conditions. This means that they can’t last in places that are either too hot or too cold; they are easily affected compared to other dogs who can bear extreme weather. Make sure your home has a comfortable temperature and environment to keep your puppy relaxed.
Again, Frenchies are prone to heatstroke, so you must give yours a proper bath once or twice a month. If your dog starts to stink, you can bathe it more than once or twice a month, given that you use lukewarm water and dry it thoroughly to prevent it from feeling cold. Make sure you are using good quality dog shampoo that is certified to be mild and hypoallergenic.
On a positive note, Frenchies are not that difficult to groom because of their short hair coating, although you need to focus more on keeping their faces and ears clean.
As we all know, their face has a lot of folds where all the gunk and dirt get stuck. You regularly have to clean it with moist wipes, preferably gentle ones like baby wipes, and directly work through those folds without getting it into its eyes.
Frenchies have big ears that expose their ear canals to dirt too. You can also use a baby wipe to clean your puppy’s ears; it is best advised to clean its ears either once a week or once a month, it all depends on the muck build up. You cannot clean your French Bulldog’s ears regularly as it still needs ear wax for natural protection.
Cleaning your puppy will secure them from infection-causing bacteria that can make them smell and suffer from itching and allergic reactions. Indeed, your little gremlin won’t like it, but as long as you do the cleaning gradually and have your puppy calm prior to cleaning, it won’t resist as much.
Moreover, trimming your French Bulldogs nails once every two to three weeks is a must. French Bulldogs’ nails usually grow fast, and you need to cut them to avoid immobility and the possibility to develop an ingrown.
To notice if it needs its nails trimmed, check if the nails are already touching the ground, if not, you should wait another week before cutting.
What to Eat and What Not to Eat
To keep your French Bulldog healthy, as well as with a healthy body weight, you also need to feed it the right kind and portion of food. Never overfeed your dog and ensure that it gets a balanced and healthy diet and maintains a healthy weight for his size.
Otherwise, it will upset its stomach and cause frequent flatulence or diarrhea, plus weight-related issues.
You can feed them fruits and vegetables but be warned that they can also be picky eaters. Some of the vegetables that are safe for them to eat, and they would probably like are carrots, brussels sprouts, and spinach, while some vegetables like onions, chives, and garlic are poisonous for them and cannot be fed.
Although Frenchies can eat most fruits, grapes, and raisins are also toxic for them, you must get rid of the skin and seeds before feeding.
Your French Bulldog can eat dry, canned, or raw foods, depending on your will. You can even feed them a piece of your lunch under the table as long as it’s not something too hard to digest for your dog. Be alert regarding any food allergies your dog might have.
Do not feed your puppy dairy products, anything that is too salty and chocolate. Summarily, any natural and generally dog-friendly food can be fed and will actually be beneficial to your French Bulldog’s immune system. A balanced diet is key.
Respecting Frenchies’ Long Sleeping Times
French Bulldogs are long sleepers, and that’s a fact. Yes, Frenchies love to play and can be energetic, but they love to sleep just as much. Not only do they like it, but it’s also actually a regular necessity that they do to keep them feeling alive and recharged right after.
Frenchies need 14-16 hours of sleep a day. They need a home that is safe and peaceful enough to rest. They usually like it when their owners pet them while they rest, but sometimes they also like a bit of space. They are adorable dogs and enjoy getting cuddled once they scooch over beside you in bed.
Never force your puppy to stay awake or to go out to get some exercise when they haven’t had complete rest; it’s not that they’re lazy, but their bodies are not as robust as other dogs and are pretty much destined indoors.
Although exercise is also significant in keeping you French Bulldog healthy, rest assured a short walk is already enough.
Extra Protective Measures That Make a Difference
If you happen to be a smoker, having a French Bulldog with you is an excellent reason to quit.
Previously, it was discussed that one of the most significant French Bulldogs’ cause of death is cancer, and one of its initiators is their exposure to secondhand smoke.
Chemicals that are harmful to humans are over-detrimental to dogs’ health and thus can cause harm and bring undesired health conditions.
These include paints and solvents, so keep them away from toxic materials and environments.
Although cancer and specific neurological issues can be congenital, infections and poisons can also cause or worsen it. It is best advised to seek veterinary care right away if symptoms occur.
Once more, Frenchies are sensitive dogs, and that means they also require your love and attention.
Despite them being house dogs, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can leave them at home alone, especially not longer than 4-6 hours, or it will result in anxiety since they cannot cope well with the separation from their owners.
Dogs rely on us getting back to them quickly; it will be painful for your puppy to experience loneliness and over-worrying, so make sure if you adopt one, you can be there for your furry friend most of the time or have someone to take care of it while you’re gone. You might want to provide your French Bulldog some toys to entertain it as well as to keep your home “dog-proof”.
The overall considerations
What you should take into account is quite simple, now that you’ve gone through all the health concerns vs. all the possible tips to enjoy and make their life better and a long life, hopefully past the 12 years average lifespan.
Love your French Bulldog and let it know through your actions. Gain their trust, create a good bond with them, and surely, you will grant them their best life. They will, hopefully, live for happy long years.
