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Health Testing Guide
Which tests are mandatory, how to spot responsible breeders — and what it costs when things go wrong.
For the French Bulldog we've compiled 5 tests required by Internationaler Klub für Französische Bulldoggen e.V. (IKFB) and 4 additionally recommended tests, drawn from breed-club regulations, the University of PEI (CIDD), and OMIA — weighted by severity and heritability.
See dogs available for adoptionWhat this grade means
The French Bulldog carries significant health risks: approximately half of all dogs show clinically relevant respiratory problems due to Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), and a very high percentage of litters are delivered by Caesarean section because the bitches often cannot give birth without veterinary intervention. Responsible breeders actively counter this and strictly adhere to the requirements of the Internationaler Klub für Französische Bulldoggen e.V. (IKFB) by having parent animals undergo mandatory testing for BOAS, complex vertebral malformation (CVM), patellar luxation (PL), heart disease, and color dilution alopecia (CDA). Therefore, always insist on seeing proof of an unremarkable BOAS result, the evaluation for CVM, and a patella status of at most PL 0–1.
Every breed is susceptible to certain inherited conditions. Just like humans, dogs inherit predispositions from their parents. Responsible breeders screen their breeding dogs for these conditions and make informed mating decisions to reduce the risk passed on to puppies.
No — but it's the strongest tool we have. Diet, exercise, environment, and genetics all contribute to whether a dog develops a condition. When breeders use the right tests to identify risk in potential parents, the likelihood of many conditions appearing in the puppies drops significantly.
There's no one-size-fits-all here. For the French Bulldog, Internationaler Klub für Französische Bulldoggen e.V. (IKFB) requires 5 tests for breeding approval, plus 4 additional recommended tests. The specific tests and passing thresholds are detailed further below.
Keep in mind
Reliable screening tests still don't exist for many hereditary conditions, and tests for complex polygenic conditions don't always predict severity in the puppies. Even so, they're a powerful tool of responsible breeding.
There are two main types of health tests:
Screen the dog's DNA for known disease-causing mutations. Can be performed from puppyhood and give a binary result (clear / carrier / affected).
Clinical and imaging exams like X-ray, ultrasound, or ophthalmoscopy. They show how a predisposition actually manifests — usually only conclusive after 12–18 months.
We group breeding programs into three levels based on testing depth. Ask your breeder directly which level they meet.
A breeder at the Great level meets the Good level and performs 4 additional clinically recommended screenings that reduce risk in this breed.
In addition to Good:
Cleft palate
Andere
A cleft palate is a congenital birth defect where the roof of the mouth fails to fuse properly during development in the womb. This failure leaves an abnormal opening between the oral cavity and the nasal passages. Because these two systems are directly connected, food, liquids, and air cannot be properly separated during swallowing.
Physical examination · Passing: clear
Histiocytic ulcerative colitis(HUC)
Andere
Histiocytic ulcerative colitis is a severe, chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine, or colon. It occurs when specific bacteria invade the lining of the intestinal wall, triggering an abnormal and intense immune response. This leads to deep inflammation and painful ulcers in the colon.
Body-fluid analysis · Passing: clear
Ectropion / Entropion
Augen
These are structural eyelid abnormalities affecting a dog's eyes. In cases of entropion, the eyelid rolls inward, causing the eyelashes or fur to rub painfully against the surface of the eyeball. In ectropion, the eyelid sags or rolls outward, leaving the sensitive inner lining of the eye exposed and unprotected.
Passing: clear
Intervertebral disc disease(IVDD)
Nervensystem
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is a degenerative condition affecting the spine, where the cushioning discs between the vertebrae harden and rupture. When these discs herniate, meaning they bulge or burst, they press against the spinal cord and surrounding nerves. This compression disrupts the nervous system, causing pain and potentially blocking signals between the brain and the limbs.
Not health tests, but required for breeding: the club asks for these results too. They don't count toward the risks or the rating.
DNA-Identitätsnachweis
Required by Internationaler Klub für Französische Bulldoggen e.V. (IKFB)
Acceptable result: Abstammungsnachweise vorhanden
These levels are a comparison framework, not an official certification. They help compare breeding programs at a glance.
A complete checklist with every core-standard and additionally recommended test, plus identity and rearing questions — take it with you.
Open the full checklistFor breeders
Machine-readable mating rules, minimum ages, scoring schemes, and what's required for HonestDog verification — as a printable guide.
Example rule — Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)
Both parents must be normal or better.
We take mandatory tests from official breed regulations, build the recommended health standard from veterinary databases — and cross-check every uploaded certificate against the dog's profile using AI.
L1 = core standard: the club's required tests where its rules set them, otherwise the recommended health standard for the breed. L2 = additionally recommended or clinically indicated. L3 = lower prevalence. Every assignment carries a source and confidence rating.
VDH breeding regulations, CIDD (University of PEI), OMIA (University of Sydney), curated veterinary input.
Uploaded certificates are read by AI and checked for date, result, and consistency with the dog's profile — our team reviews anything inconclusive.
A strongly shortened muzzle is typical of the French Bulldog and counts as an extreme-breeding trait: it can cause breathing difficulty (BOAS), heat problems and eye disease. That is why we currently do not show breeders for this breed. A dog of this breed can still have a good life – what matters is explained on our brachycephaly page.
Self-check
Answer 6 quick questions about your everyday life and see how well the French Bulldog fits you — including an honest cost estimate per month, per year, and across the dog's lifetime.