Like pretty much every other breed, Dogue de Bordeaux also have some health issues. If you are looking here then you’re obviously doing research into the breed which is great!
An average age for a Bordeaux is 8-10 years with a proper diet and being well cared for – but this doesn’t mean they can’t get older than that!
Sadly, like any other animal (or person) things can happen in life at any stage and even if we take the best care of our family – furry members included – it doesn’t always mean that nothing bad will happen.
All we can do is keep our pets as healthy and well looked after as possible and enjoy the time we have together.
Dogue de Bordeaux are prone to certain hereditary diseases and issues – meaning they can be passed on through the bloodline. It is best to be aware of these issues so you can keep an eye on your giant baby and keep them healthy and happy.
Just as a side note – even if there are hereditary issues in the pups bloodline, it doesn’t mean your pup will definitely have them!
On the other hand, your pup could come from a healthy bloodline but still have health problems – it’s a bit of a hit and miss really!
As dog lovers and breeders, we try our best to only breed from healthy Dogues and do all of the health checks we can to make sure our own dogs are healthy but also that their pups have a fantastic chance of being healthy too.
Main heath issues for Dogues:
- Hip dysplasia – large breeds in particular
- Elbow dysplasia – large breeds in particular
Here are some health issues that could affect all breeds:
- Bloat
- Breathing problems
- Skin problems
- Heart disease
- Eye problems
- Mange
- Hypothyroidism
- Pano (Eosinophilic panosteitis)
You can find out more detailed information about these issues and ways you can help your Dogue deal with them, using the links above.
For example, one way you can help your dog deal with issues is with a heat mat. These Dog Heat Pads from Amazon are fantastic for aches and pains; including hip pain, season pain, whelping, younger puppies and elderly dogs. The electric heating pad below is Amazon’s Choice! (Jan 2022).
What Issues Do We Test For?
The main health issue we test for is hip/elbow dysplasia – we use the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme from the Kennel Club which has been in effect since 1984 and has assessed over 250,000 x-rays since then!
You can find out more information about Hip Dysplasia on our other post here.
We also only breed from other good blood lines – known to have less or no heath problems in their pups.
We check out the history of breeders and Dogues in any line of stud we use to be our pups dad!
Here at Strawberieve, we are always trying to keep on top of any issues that are present in the breed and also any new issues concerning the breed in general – we do this in lots of different ways; from research online, other breeders advice, the Kennel Club, shows and breed clubs information.
Like I said earlier in this post, sadly no-one can ever be 100% certain of the health of their dog or pup. We all just try and get as close to this as possible!
Remember: Just because the BREED has issues doesn’t mean YOUR pup will! Don’t let it put you off having one of these gorgeous, gentle giants in your life!
You can see each of our own dogs’ health info and other details on their own pages.