IVDD

If you only listen to one of my tips may this be the one🙏🙏 NO JUMPING OFF OF FURNITURE OR STAIRS WITH THIS BREED I will explain why further down but if you are looking to get a French Bulldog, YOU HAVE TO PROTECT THEIR BACKS.

IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) is the most common spinal disorder in frenchies and occurs when the spongy shock absorbing discs between the bones of the spine dry out and eventually rupture.  IVDD makes it much easier for spinal injuries. A dog can live a full and normal life with IVDD as long as you protect their backs, put them in crate rest and medications whenever they have a flare up and keep them in good shape. Exercise and keeping their backs strong is key.

French Bulldogs are more prone to back injury as most of their weight is in their head and shoulders. Jumping off of furniture can compress their spine like an accordion which can result in back injuries. Back injuries tend to happen later on around 1.5 years and later. It can occur at any time and with just one jump. Not all frenchies will deal with IVDD but we treat them all like they could because you won’t know until it’s too late. If the injury is bad it could result in a back surgery.

We always keep all of our dogs at ground level, all four on the floor at all times. They are extremely strong, like little bowling balls, but their spines are fragile. When we play, we keep their toys low to the ground so they don’t jump up to fetch it. We also use a harness and not a collar to help support their backs. Exercise by running and again not them jumping on and off of things or up and down. Exercise is important, keep the muscles around their spine strong.

Train your baby to only get up on the couch when you physically pick them up to put them on the couch.  Don’t let them learn to get up on their own. If they attempt to, say no and block off the couch.  We will always put our dogs down off of the couch if we need to go to a different room even for the smallest amount of time.  If your baby is notorious for randomly jumping down off of the couch you might have to cut off couch access completely. Put a dog bed by your feet.  You can use a baby gate to block off the couch.

*We do not suggest using ramps or stairs to the furniture or bed. Most tend to bypass them when they get excited.  We recommend to train them and don’t let them learn how to get up on the couch/bed. If they don’t know how to do it, it’ll be much easier for you. 

-note some families have great success with stairs but if they still jump even once in a while I would get rid of them. We want no jumping of furniture PERIOD!

❇️HOW CAN YOU TELL YOUR FRENCHIE HURT ITS BACK?-

They will not be acting themselves. They will seem anxious and off. If you touch along their backs you will feel them trembling in certain spots. If you feel like your baby has injured its back it’s important to get them on medications to help the swelling and inflammation go down in their spine immediately.  Immediately put them in crate rest.  If your frenchie hurts its back,  ask your vet if you can have these medications on hand so if your frenchie hurts their back again you can get them on meds immediately.  Some vets will do this for you and some won’t. It never hurts to ask.

If you allow your dog to continue with activities and don’t get the swelling down this is what can cause paralysis and shock so please take it seriously and act immediately or you could be looking at an expensive back surgery.