The Forever Dog Project: Associations Between Diet Type and Owner-Reported Health Conditions in French Bulldogs

First Published: April, 21, 2024

Funding: This work is supported by French Bulldog Texas, Senior Author Donald Chino "Don Chino" of Animal Research Harvard University, Forever Dog Project by FrenchieGPT & Linh Hoang.

Background

French Bulldogs are a popular brachycephalic breed with a rapid rise in ownership. They are predisposed to several health issues, including respiratory problems (e.g., brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome), skin conditions (e.g., fold dermatitis, atopic dermatitis), gastrointestinal disorders, orthopedic issues (e.g., intervertebral disc disease, hip dysplasia), and dental/oral problems. Nutrition may play a role in managing or influencing these conditions, but evidence is limited and often anecdotal.

This hypothetical cross-sectional study utilizes data from a large cohort of French Bulldogs, focusing on over 2,500 purebred French Bulldogs (spayed/neutered, various ages). Owners reported primary diet type (extruded/kibble, commercial raw, homemade raw, home-cooked) and health conditions via validated questionnaires. Analyses adjusted for age, sex, and other confounders where appropriate, using multivariable logistic regression.

Key Findings  

• Most Common Conditions: Respiratory issues (e.g., noisy breathing, exercise intolerance) were the most frequently reported (prevalence 45%), followed by skin conditions (35%), dental/oral problems (25%), gastrointestinal issues (20%), and bone/orthopedic conditions (~15%).

• Dental/Oral Health: No significant association between diet type and owner-reported dental/oral conditions. Extruded diets with appropriate kibble size may promote mechanical plaque reduction, but owner reports did not detect differences. Reverse causation is possible, as owners may switch diets post-diagnosis.

• Skin Conditions: No overall association with diet type. However, dogs fed homemade raw or home-cooked diets showed a suggestive lower risk of atopic-like skin issues (aOR: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.6–1.1; p=0.12), potentially due to limited ingredients reducing allergen exposure. This contrasts with prior small studies suggesting benefits from early raw exposure but aligns with reliance on owner-reported data across ages.

• Gastrointestinal Conditions: Dogs fed commercial raw diets had a slightly higher likelihood of GI issues (aOR: 1.3; 95% CI: 1.0–1.7; p=0.04), possibly linked to higher fat content or bacterial risks, though not statistically significant after Bonferroni correction. Homemade raw diets showed a suggestive protective effect (aOR: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.4–1.1). Home-cooked diets were associated with increased GI reports, likely due to reverse causation (diet changes for managing existing issues).

• Respiratory Conditions: Dogs primarily fed commercial raw diets were more likely to have owner-reported respiratory problems (aOR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1–1.8; p=0.01). Possible explanations include higher dietary fat slowing gastric emptying and promoting reflux/aspiration in brachycephalic dogs, or selection bias (owners choosing raw diets for perceived health benefits in symptomatic dogs). Associations weakened after breed-specific adjustments but remained suggestive.

• Bone/Orthopedic Conditions: Suggestive positive association with commercial raw diets (aOR: 1.2; 95% CI: 0.9–1.6), potentially related to nutritional imbalances in some formulations affecting joint health. No significant links with other diet types.

• Other Conditions: No significant increases in infectious/parasitic issues with raw diets. Suggestive (non-significant) associations emerged for endocrine and cardiac conditions with alternative diets.

Discussion

French Bulldogs' brachycephalic conformation predisposes them to respiratory and related complications, where diet may indirectly influence outcomes via weight management, inflammation, or reflux. No strong evidence supported raw diets reducing skin or GI risks in this breed-specific analysis, differing from some prior general-dog studies. Reverse causation is a major confounder, particularly for GI and respiratory categories. Owner-reported data may underestimate veterinarian-diagnosed issues, and diet composition variability limits conclusions. Future longitudinal studies with veterinary records and breed-specific controls are needed to clarify causal links. Weight control through any balanced diet remains critical to mitigate respiratory and orthopedic strain.

The Forever Dog Project is a dedicated community science initiative focused on studying aging in Bulldog breeds, including French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and related mixes such as the Frenchie Doodle. Launched in 2022, it explores how genes, lifestyle, nutrition, and environment influence healthy aging and longevity in these beloved brachycephalic companions with the goal of improving healthspan and translating insights to better care for Bulldogs everywhere.