A guide to French Bulldog health testing
French Bulldog health testing is the best tool breeders have to cut the airway, spine, joint and eye problems common in French Bulldogs. This guide covers the tests the French Bull Dog Club of America lists for its CHIC program, the extras worth doing, and what VerifiedStuds requires before a stud earns the Verified Health badge.
Test
How it is done
Earliest age for a final result
Hips
OFA X-ray or PennHIP
24 months (OFA); PennHIP from 16 weeks
Eyes
Exam by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist
Any age; repeat yearly
Patellas
Hands-on vet exam of the kneecaps
12 months
Heart
Basic exam by stethoscope, or advanced exam by echocardiogram
12 months
Your vet submits all results to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), which then publishes them in a public database.
Tracheal hypoplasia: an X-ray that checks for a narrow windpipe.
Airway grading (RFGS): a graded exercise test of breathing, which vets developed for flat-faced breeds.
Elbows: also an OFA X-ray, this time for elbow dysplasia.
Juvenile Hereditary Cataracts (HSF4): a DNA test.
Cystinuria: a DNA test for a bladder-stone condition; the club recommends PennGen for this one.
DM and HUU: DNA tests that breeders often run in panels from Embark or Wisdom Panel.
First, a clear dog has no copies of the gene variant. By contrast, a carrier has one copy and is usually healthy, but can pass it on. Finally, an affected dog has two copies. Pairing a carrier with a clear mate produces no affected puppies, so breeders can still use carriers responsibly.
Canine brucellosis is a contagious bacterial infection that causes infertility and miscarriage, and it can spread to people. Therefore, both dogs should test negative shortly before every breeding. The AKC advises testing stud dogs every 6 to 12 months and females before each breeding, timed so results are back before the breeding day.
OFA issues a CHIC number once a dog completes all the required tests and the results are public in the OFA database. However, a CHIC number only shows that the owner did the testing, not that every result was good, so always read the actual results.
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What health tests does a French Bulldog need before breeding?
The CHIC tests are hips, eyes, patellas and heart, registered with OFA. In addition, add a negative Brucellosis test before each breeding.
At what age can a French Bulldog be health tested?
A vet can finalize patellas and heart at 12 months, eyes at any age, and OFA hips at 24 months.
Does a CHIC number mean a dog is healthy?
No. It only means the owner completed and published the required tests. Therefore, check the actual results on OFA.
Can a French Bulldog carrier be used for breeding?
Yes, if you pair it with a mate that tests clear for the same gene. As a result, no puppy inherits the condition.
What does VerifiedStuds require for French Bulldog studs?
OFA hips, eyes, patellas and heart, plus a recent negative Brucellosis test, for the Verified Health badge.
The first 100 studs pay 0% commission on their first booking, and listing is free.