The 16 conditions every Frenchie owner should know
Click any card to dive in. Each one is explained simply — what to spot, what to do, when to call the vet. No jargon, no fluff.
Information compiled from public internet sources including peer-reviewed studies. Statistics may vary between studies. Always consult your veterinarian. Never medicate your dog without veterinary approval.
Click any card to read more
Every condition explained simply. Start with BOAS if you're new.
BOAS
About 6 in 10 Frenchies have it badly enough to need care.
Loud snoring isn't "how Frenchies are." It's a breathing disease, and severe cases can be life-threatening. Manageable — if you spot it early.
Learn more 18
Traveling With a Frenchie
Cabin only, never cargo.
Many airlines ban flat-faced dogs from the hold — they were about half of the purebred dogs that died on US flights (2005–2010). Cabin rules, vet clearance, why sedation is dangerous, car heat, and the paperwork.
Learn more 02
Heatstroke
Can kill in minutes.
Frenchies are about 6× more likely to get heatstroke than a Labrador. It can strike even on mild days. Cool first, vet second.
Learn more 03
Yeast Infection
Funky smell + rust paws.
Probably not just allergies — yeast loves Frenchie folds, paws, and ears. Fixable, but it takes months.
Learn more 04
Food Allergies
7× more likely than other dogs.
Beef is the #1 culprit, not grain. The only real test? An 8-week elimination diet. Blood tests don't work.
Learn more 05
Skin Fold Infections
About 26× the odds of crossbred dogs.
Nose rope, tail pocket, vulvar folds. A 30-second clean-and-dry, 2–3 times a week — but most owners skip it.
Learn more 06
Cherry Eye
Red lump, inside corner.
Tear gland popped out. The biggest mistake is removing it. Always ask for replacement, not removal.
Learn more 07
Dry Eye (KCS)
Yellow gunk + dull cornea.
Not "just an eye infection." Without treatment it can lead to blindness. With treatment, most dogs stay comfortable.
Learn more 08
Brachy Eye (BOS)
About 4 in 10 flat-faced dogs seen by eye specialists had corneal ulcers.
Lubricating drops help protect the eye — ask your vet which ones. And if the eye ever pops out — RUN to the ER.
Learn more 09
Ear Infections
Drops only fix half the problem.
Behind chronic ear infections there is often an allergy — sometimes to food. The drops clear this infection; finding the allergy with your vet helps stop the next one.
Learn more 10
Dental Crowding
"Doggy breath" isn't normal.
42 full-size teeth in a small mouth. Plaque turns to tartar in 24 hours. Untreated: tooth loss + heart damage.
Learn more 11
IVDD — Disc Disease
Sudden hunched back? Yelps when picked up?
About 21× the odds of mixed-breed dogs in a large US study. Sudden loss of walking is an emergency — the sooner he is examined, the better his odds.
Learn more 12
Hip Dysplasia
Bunny-hopping isn't a personality quirk.
Frenchies hide pain. Catch it early: healthy weight, joint care and your vet's plan. Catch it late: surgery.
Learn more 13
Kneecap Dislocation
"Skip" when running = grinding cartilage.
~50% of cases are in BOTH knees. Each skip wears the joint. Surgery success: 95% — if caught early.
Learn more 14
Reflux & Hiatal Hernia
White foam vomit has more than one cause.
Most Frenchies with breathing problems have digestive signs too. Slow-feeder + smaller meals — and ask your vet about acid control.
Learn more 15
Hot Spots
Goes from dot to pancake in hours.
A raw, oozing patch that wasn't there yesterday. Clip rinse with saline dry cone — and call your vet. Don't wait until tomorrow.
Learn more 16
Anal Gland Issues
Flat-faced dogs: 2.6× more likely than long-nosed dogs.
Scooting + fishy smell. The real fix isn't more "expressions" — it's firm stool and finding food allergies.
Learn moreStill not sure what's going on?
Health symptoms can overlap. When in doubt, call your vet — and use this guide to ask better questions when you get there.
See the Emergency Guide