Studies mainly conducted in the UK and the US show that 18 to 44% of dogs are overweight and that the rate is increasing.
French bulldogs are popular for their appearance, and if they gain a bit of weight we think they look adorable.
However, obesity can lead to serious health problems in dogs, such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease.
So we have to be on the lookout for signs of obesity in our dogs and catch it before it becomes a problem.
Do French Bulldogs Get Fat?
Yes, they do. They have a good appetite, and they love both dog treats and human food.
However, they eat too much and don’t know when to stop.
This means that they put on weight quite easily.
French bulldogs have more health problems than other dogs due to genetic factors.
An overweight French bulldog will have even more health problems due to obesity.
You can’t control genes, but you can control weight, so you have to know if your Frenchie is gaining weight and what you can do about it.
Below are ten signs that your Frenchie is overweight and ten tips on what you can do about it.
20 Signs and Solutions for Overweight Frenchies
1. Inability to Feel the Ribs
You should be able to feel, but not see, your Frenchie’s ribs. If you can see them, it means your dog is skinny.
Place your hands around the chest area. If you can feel the ribs, your dog is fine.
If you cannot feel them at all, you have an overweight French bulldog on your hands.
2. The Waist is not an Hourglass Shape
Stand over your dog and look at his waist. If it is narrow, and sort of looks like an hourglass, your Frenchie is fine.
If you can’t tell the difference between your dog’s waist and abdomen, you definitely need to do something about it
3. The Abdomen is Prominent
A fat French bulldog, when looked at from the side, has an abdomen that is more prominent than his chest.
The ideal shape would be to have it thinner than the chest
4. Lack of Interest in Physical Activities
An overweight French bulldog usually has no interest in physical activities.
He may prefer sleeping to playing around because his weight is exhausting to carry around.
If your dog no longer plays around like he used to, he may be getting overweight.
Apathy can also be a sign of sickness though, so don’t rule out taking him to the vet.
5. Lack of Stamina
A fat French bulldog will get tired much faster than a healthy dog.
They will play and run around but will stop sooner and maybe lie down to rest.
6. Inability to Scratch Their Ears
If your dog is unable to reach the ear for a normal scratch, he may be getting too fat.
7. Heavy Breathing
Frenchies are known to have breathing problems due to their physique, but only during exercise.
However, a fat French bulldog will also breathe heavily even when at rest. This is a problem.
8. No Defined Muscles
A healthy Frenchie will have clearly defined muscles and a strong-looking chest.
An overweight French bulldog will look round and full.
9. The Dog is Heavier than Normal
Using a health chart from your local vet, compare your dog’s weight to the recommended weight for his age.
10. Inability to Jump
A fat French bulldog will have to back up quite a bit to jump onto the couch, or may even stop trying to jump altogether.
Solutions for Overweight Frenchies
1. Lighter Dog Food
Give them high fiber, low-calorie food.
The recommended portion is not more than 25 calories for every pound the dog weighs.
I recommend WildEarth, a food brand that is both natural and caters to your dogs needs.
2. Feed them Correct Portions
Avoid feeding your Frenchie portions in excess of what is recommended on the commercial food package.
3. Reduce Portion Sizes
If you have a fat French bulldog, consider reducing his portions until he attains the desired weight.
Your vet can advise you on a suitable amount for your dog.
4. Reduce the Treats
Dogs like treats but too many of them are bad for their health.
According to vets, treats should not be more than 10% of your dog’s daily intake.
5. Regular Exercise
Walk your dog regularly to keep them in shape.
Overweight French bulldogs should also be exercised as much as possible without dangerously exerting them.
Begin with a short walk and increase the distance little by little.
6. Regular Weighing
If you have a fat French bulldog, weigh him constantly to measure his progress.
You can even have your vet set targets with a timeline in mind.
7. Vegetables
You can feed your dog vegetables as an alternative to processed treats.
They may not be as tasty, but the dog will get used to them. You could give them cucumbers, green beans, broccoli or sliced apples, and bananas.
8. Smaller, More Frequent Portions
Rather than give your fat French bulldog two large meal portions a day, try giving him smaller, more frequent, and well-spaced portions.
This way, he won’t get so hungry and will get used to eating smaller portions.
9. Use a Measuring Cup
If you’re not sure what size of portions to give your overweight French dog, ask your vet to help you choose a suitable measuring cup.
10. Enlist the Family
Get your whole family to help you cut your dog’s weight so that they don’t undo any progress you make with your dog.
The Ideal Weight for French Bulldogs
A healthy male Frenchie should weigh between 20 to 28 pounds, while a female should weigh 16 to 24 pounds.
If your Frenchie weighs 15% heavier than the recommended weight, he is overweight.
The Bottom Line
In summary, French bulldogs gain weight easily, and unlike humans, they won’t notice it and stop overeating.
It’s up to us to make sure they remain healthy and fit.
Follow the tips discussed in this article to make sure your dog receives your entire attention and wouldn’t have to see a vet.
