French Bulldog Allergies: Most Common + Prevention
Alex Vicente • Updated on August 22, 2023
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- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Owners of French bulldogs need to keep a watchful eye on their puppy’s eating, sleeping, and grooming habits.
It’s how they can identify health issues early on and then cure them accordingly.
This is especially important in the case of allergies.
Your Frenchie might not be hypoallergenic, but they’re sensitive dogs with compromised immune and digestive systems.
To help you avoid an allergic reaction from escalating, we’ll answer the questions: what are French bulldogs allergic to and what symptoms do they show?
Table of Contents
What Are French Bulldogs Allergic To?
French bulldogs belong to the brachycephalic dog breed, meaning, they’re flat-faced puppies that naturally face a lot of breathing difficulties.
Those issues typically happen due to Frenchies munching on their food too quickly—something else that brachycephalics are known for.
This also leads to digestive problems, such as nausea and flatulence.
Often we, as French bulldog owners, confuse these symptoms with our puppies having an allergic reaction.
That’s not always the case though, so it’s best that you know what French bulldogs are allergic to before jumping to conclusions.
Here’s a shortened list to help with that:
- Certain foods, such as dairy products, wheat, and soy
- Unclean environments covered with dust, mold, or other articles
- Homes infested with bugs, such as cockroaches
- Seasonal pollen and fleas
- Grass or weed
Further below, we’ll go through each point in extra detail to help you fully understand what more can flare up an allergy in your French bulldog.
What Is an Allergy in French Bulldogs?
Frenchies aren’t hypoallergenic dogs which means that they shed pretty plenty.
This affects how often they’re prone to sneezes and watery eyes.
In other words, it often seems like they’re having an allergic reaction when really, your Frenchie is just reacting to their shedded fur.
Keeping that in mind, how do you identify an allergy in a French bulldog?
Simply put, when your Frenchie’s body is exposed to an allergen or a foreign particle, their immune system will react as a result.
How strong your French bulldog’s allergy is will depend on many other factors.
These include hereditary reasons and other accompanying respiratory problems.
As a result, an allergic response can be as mild as your Frenchie feeling uncomfortable or as strong as them having an anaphylactic shock.
Although such severe allergic cases are rare, your puppy is more susceptible to them if there’s a history of them in the family.
What Foods Cause Allergies in French Bulldogs?
Generally speaking, around 15% of what triggers an allergic reaction in French bulldogs is their food intolerance.
They may not be picky eaters, but that’s precisely why your puppy is constantly at risk of having an allergic response.
As a Frenchie owner, you need to be aware of your puppy’s dietary needs that’ll keep them strong and healthy.
You should also know what kinds of dog feed to avoid giving your puppy.
Reading the labels on your puppy’s food and knowing what causes allergies in your French bulldog is a good place to start.
So, here are those allergy-inducing foods:
- Dairy products, such as cheese and milk
- Inexpensive beef, mutton, lamb, and pork
- Certain ingredients: soy, wheat, and gluten
- Eggs and fish
- Artificial flavors and colorings
Your Frenchie will most likely find it hard to digest some or all of the items mentioned above.
As a result, their immune systems will be attacked, and in turn, induce an allergic reaction.
What Indoor Allergens Are French Bulldogs Allergic To?
A clean environment doesn’t only protect you from diseases, but it also helps stop your French bulldog from having an allergic response.
Minuscule particles, hidden germs, and dangerous pathogens accumulate on surfaces all the time.
That’s why it’s important to keep your house clean, including the spaces where your Frenchie hangs out most.
Make an effort to wash their beddings and toys a few times a month.
Additionally, replace your puppy’s old stuff once it’s worn out, otherwise, the stuffing will trigger their allergies.
Considering the above, here’s a small list of what inner allergens French bulldogs should avoid:
- Dust and dirt
- Animal fur
- Synthetic toy and bedding stuffing
- Fleas and mites
- Mold spores
What Outdoor Allergens Cause Allergies in French Bulldogs?
On the other hand, the outside world isn’t so kind to your French bulldog either.
Many outdoor allergens can cause your puppy’s skin to swell and irritate them.
Medically speaking, your dog’s genetics is to blame for this since being allergic to stuff outdoors isn’t common among French bulldogs.
Even more unfortunate, such allergies aren’t curable.
Luckily though, they can be handled with the correct medication.
In time, this action helps prevent the allergy from becoming chronic.
Those outdoor allergens include the following:
- Airborne summer pollen
- Grass and weed
- Certain plants, such as Wolfsbane and Taxus
- Some trees, for example, oak
- Bugs, like cockroaches and mites
- Mold
What Are Allergy Symptoms in French Bulldogs?
Since French bulldogs are prone to digestive problems and breathing risks, it can get confusing knowing if their symptoms are caused by an allergic response or not.
That’s why it’s important to know what triggers your Frenchie’s allergies in the first place.
In short, when a French bulldog is exposed to any kind of allergen, its immune system will release a chemical known as histamine.
This hormone is responsible for Frenchie’s allergy symptoms.
However, how your puppy shows its allergies will help you determine what caused the allergic reaction in the first place.
The stronger the reaction is, the more you should consider taking your dog to a vet.
Keeping the above in mind, here are a few of the most common allergy symptoms in French bulldogs:
- Excessive coughing
- Irritable or inflamed skin, butt, and face
- Paw licking
- Runny eye and nose discharge
- Sneezing or reverse sneezing
- Digestion issues
- Difficulty breathing or wheezing
- Vomiting along with diarrhea
- Chronic gas
Wrapping Up
What are French bulldogs allergic to?
Certain foods and unclean environments are typically what cause your Frenchie to have an allergic response.
That said, Frenchies aren’t hypoallergenic dogs, but they have sensitive immune systems that can be easily attacked by allergens.
So, make sure that you keep them away from the subjects mentioned above to avoid compromising your puppy’s health.
About Alex Vicente
Dog Lover, Founder & Chief Editor at Paws Insider
I’ve been rescuing dogs since a very early age. I got my first dog when I was 9 years old and I remember how he, out of a litter of 6 puppies, started running towards me. He’d just chosen me. Ever since then, my love for dogs only grows stronger and I want what’s best for them. My mission is to let our readers know about the best products in the market for our best friends, as well as providing guides and tips on how we can take better care of them.