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Dogue de Bordeaux Health Care & Feeding

By Michele Welton, Dog Trainer, Breed Selection Consultant, Author of 15 Dog Books

Dogue de Bordeaux

Start your Dogue de Bordeaux off on the right foot by feeding the right food, giving the right vaccinations, finding the right vet, and if you're going to spay or neuter, don't do it too early.


Jump down to this list of
Dogue de Bordeaux Health Problems


Or check out my advice for raising a healthy Dogue de Bordeaux puppy or adult dog:

Obedience instructor and author Michele Welton Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way
Read my advice on daily health care so your Dogue de Bordeaux lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet... [read more]

numeral 33 Best Ways To Feed Your Dog Healthy Food
You can dramatically increase your dog's chances of living a long, healthy life by feeding the right food. Cutting right to the chase, the best foods for your Dogue de Bordeaux are... [read more]

Real homemade dog food A Quick Way To Make Homemade Dog Food
Your Dogue will love real chicken, turkey, beef, fish, eggs, yogurt, broccoli.... this is not just "people food" and I'll tell you why... [read more]

Dry kibble and canned dog food 5 Best Kibble and Canned Dog Foods
Some are better than others, but I must be honest – I'm not a huge fan of dry or canned dog food. Here are my concerns... [read more]

Information on booster shots for your German Shepherd. Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not?
How many vaccinations does your Dogue de Bordeaux puppy really need? Does your adult dog need yearly booster shots? The vaccination guidelines have changed! Find out what some vets aren't telling you... [read more]

Information on spaying Spaying Your Female Dog: Pros and Cons
Should your female Dogue de Bordeaux be spayed? Current research says, "The AGE at which you spay can be vitally important to your dog's future health." So what's the best age? [read more]

Information on neutering your male dog. Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons
Have you been told that you must neuter your male Dogue de Bordeaux? Current research shows that the issue is not so simple. Pet owners are not being told about some risks associated with neutering male dogs, especially neutering too early... [read more]

Information on choosing the best vet Make Sure Your Vet is the Best!
Is your current veterinarian really the best choice for your dog? Here's how to tell... [read more]

Assisi Loop Assisi Loop Review
Does your Dogue suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia, disk disease, colitis? My honest review of a veterinary device you can use at home to reduce inflammation and pain. [read more]

Dogue de Bordeaux

Complete list of Dogue de Bordeaux health problems

The Dogue de Bordeaux Society conducted a health survey that included 79 dogs. The average lifespan in their survey was only 5-6 years.

The club survey reported that the most common cause of death was cancer (30%). Over one-third of those cancers were lymphosarcoma.

The second most common cause of death was heart disease (26%), especially sub-aortic stenosis.

The emergency gastrointestinal syndrome called bloat claimed 15% of the Dogues who had died.

Epilepsy (seizures) was responsible for another 2% of the deaths.

To make matters worse, this breed has appalling rates of hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of nearly 600 Dogues de Bordeaux and found 57% dysplastic – the 3rd worst rate of all breeds. Of 400 elbow X-rays submitted for evaluation, 21% were dysplastic – the 12th worst rate.

Other orthopedic diseases in Dogues include osteochondritis, panosteitis, and luxating patella.

Eye diseases that occur regularly in the Dogue de Bordeaux include cherry eye and eyelid abnormalities (entropion and ectropion).

Dogue de Bordeaux

One look at their abnormal skin folds and you'll understand why Dogues are so prone to skin problems. The extreme folds of wrinkled skin hide dirt and moisture, which bacteria and yeast love. You must keep these folds clean and dry.

All mastiff breeds are vulnerable to chronic allergies (which cause terribly itchy skin) and elbow hygroma (a fluid-filled lump that develops when the pointy elbow presses down on a hard surface when the dog is lying down). Providing these dogs with soft blankets and cushy beds can help protect their elbows.

All young mastiffs are susceptible to demodectic mange.

Preventing health problems

Some health problems are inherited. For example, if your dog inherits from his parents the genes for an eye disease called PRA, he will go blind and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

Dog feeding and health book by Michele Welton But most health problems can be prevented by the ways you raise your dog.

FREE eBOOK! My free online health care program, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to raise your Dogue de Bordeaux in all the right ways that help prevent health problems. Become your dog's health care champion!

Michele Welton with BuffyAbout the author: Michele Welton has over 40 years of experience as a Dog Trainer, Dog Breed Consultant, and founder of three Dog Training Centers. An expert researcher and author of 15 books about dogs, she loves helping people choose, train, and care for their dogs.

My best-selling books – now available  FREE  on my website


book coverRespect Training For Puppies: 30 seconds to a calm, polite, well-behaved puppy is for puppies 2 to 18 months old. Your puppy will learn the 21 skills that all family dogs need to know. Click here to read for free.
book coverTeach Your Dog 100 English Words is a unique Vocabulary and Respect Training Program that will teach your adult dog to listen to you and do what you say. Click here to read for free.
book cover11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy helps your dog live a longer, healthier life. Get my honest advice about all 11 Things before you bring home your new puppy, because some mistakes with early health care cannot be undone. Click here to read for free.