Do French Bulldogs Shed?

Before you get yourself a pet, you have to learn about that certain animal – especially if you are thinking of getting a French bulldog. You have to ask different questions about their health and appearance. One of the most common questions that people ask about this breed is, do French bulldogs shed?

Well, the short answer to this question is YES. In fact, all dog breeds, including Hypoallergenic dogs, shed to a specific degree. Keep in mind that shedding is completely normal for dogs. By shedding, they naturally lose damaged or old hair. However, if your pet is shedding more frequently, it could be caused by some serious issues.

To give you a better perspective, in this article, we have mentioned everything you need to know about a French bulldog losing hair.

So, without further ado, let’s get into it!

Why is My French Bulldog Shedding So Much – Top 9 Reasons

 

 

Before we discuss what to do if a French bulldog sheds a lot, we have to determine the cause. As mentioned earlier, all dog breeds shed. So, if your dog is losing a reasonable amount of hair, you don’t have to worry. Just provide proper grooming and use the best shedding tool for French bulldogs to reduce mess.

Alternatively, if your dog is losing its hair more frequently, it might be caused by some external and environmental factors. Here are some of the main reasons that might lead to a Frenchie losing hair:

Genes

Genes play an important role in determining a dog’s traits. Just like other traits, genes also affect shedding and hair loss. When it comes to French bulldogs, the MC5R-gene determines how much a Frenchie with shed. It is found in their hair follicle glands, creating sebum that offers moisture to the skin.

The MC5R-gene is available in two different forms: A-variant and G-variant. Compared to A-variant dogs, pets carrying G-variants usually shed a lot. Fortunately, the G-variant genes in Frenchie are not that common.

Hormonal Imbalances

Hormonal imbalances can also lead to a Frenchie shedding a lot. For instance, your dog can lose a lot of hair after being neutered or spayed or after giving birth – especially if your French bulldog is old!

Stress

Did you know dogs and other animals can also get stressed? Well, if your French bulldog is shedding too much without any medical conditions, it might be a symptom of stress. As a Frenchie can get overly attached to its family and owners, it can easily get stressed during isolation.

French Bulldogs do not like to be left alone. If you leave your pet alone for hours, it will make them anxious, leading to stress and depression. Moreover, a French bulldog can even get stressed if another dog has joined the family or their daily routine is being changed.

Cushing’s Disease

Cushing’s disease or hypothyroidism can also lead to bald patches in French bulldogs. In case your dog’s thyroid gland is not working properly, it won’t produce enough thyroxine hormone. Moreover, if your dog is suffering from Cushing’s disease, its adrenal glands will produce too much cortisol – a stress hormone.

Too much cortisol in your Frenchie’s body can cause several other symptoms like hair loss, increased urination, as well as increased appetite.  

Infections & Parasites

Yeast and bacterial infections can lead to hair loss, itching, odor, and redness. In some rare cases, some parasites like ringworm can also select your Frenchie as their host, leading to small areas of infection and hair loss.

Worms, mites, ticks, and fleas are some of the most common causes of excessive shedding in dogs. If these parasites have selected your Frenchie as their host, they will have smelly skin and bald patches. Keep in mind that if your dog has parasites, you should visit your vet immediately. Otherwise, they can lead to several other serious problems.

Allergies

Allergies are the most common cause of shedding in French bulldogs. Frenchies can be allergic to anything: from their food to their shampoo to household products. In case of allergies, your Frenchie will scratch excessively, leading to hair loss.

Dust, pollen, grass, plants, and smoke can also cause allergic reactions in your pet, leading to scratching, constant biting, and shedding.

Diet

You probably have heard, “We are what we eat!” and the same goes for our pets. A healthy diet means a healthy dog. If your Frenchie does not get a balanced diet with the required amount of vitamins and nutrients, it will lead to several health complications, including excessive shedding.

Moreover, as omega-3 fatty acids are important for hair growth, their deficiency can lead to hair loss. In addition, a diet without enough fluids will lead to dehydrated skin that can cause shedding and hair loss.

Weather

The external environment can also lead to hair loss in pets. Generally speaking, French bulldog shedding frequently happens in the winter and summer seasons. In summer, they lose their undercoat to survive the summer heat. In winter, they start to shed their undercoat to grow thicker coats to survive the winter cold.

Normally, shedding is at its lowest for Frenchies in the mild temperature!

Age

Age is another important factor that can influence French bulldog shedding. Young pets usually shed more as they undergo the puppy shedding phase. During this phase, a Frenchie loses its puppy coat when they are around 4-6 months old.

Alternatively, some people believe older dogs shed more because they have more surface area of hair. However, as French bulldogs are a small breed, they shed less than other breeds.

How Much Does a French Bulldog Shed?

 

 

Just like all other dog breeds out there, French bulldogs also shed, but not often. Generally speaking, your Frenchie will shed twice a year, usually during fall and spring. You can offer proper grooming to avoid occasional shedding.

Grooming your Frenchie at a young age is recommended so it is used to the process. While grooming, you should check for signs of infections, flaky or rough skin, bare spots, skin lesions, and scabs. When it comes to skin, this breed is considered quite healthy. So, you don’t have to worry about shedding unless it is a symptom of some other health complications.

Do French Bulldogs Shed – How to Prevent?

 

 

Now that you know the common causes of why do French bulldogs shed a lot, it’s time to ask how to prevent it?

Before we go on and explain each French bulldog shedding solution, keep in mind that shedding within a limit is completely natural. With this process, your dog loses its old hair to grow a new and stronger coat. Moreover, shedding helps your dog to survive different weather.

To help you out, below, we have compiled a list of tips that you can use to prevent excessive shedding in French bulldogs:

Consult Your Vet

First of all, if your Frenchie is losing hair at a normal pace, you don’t have to worry at all. However, if your pet is losing too much hair more frequently, it could be a symptom of some other health complications. Your Frenchie might be stressed or seriously ill. In that scenario, your best bet is to contact your vet!

Keep in mind that identifying the right cause of shedding can save your pet from several other health issues. Therefore, if your Frenchie is shedding more frequently, you should contact your vet and follow his instructions.

Preventing Parasites

Parasites are one of the most common reasons why your Frenchie is losing hair. Besides excessive shedding, parasites such as fleas, ticks, and mites can also cause serious skin conditions and inflammation of the skin.

If your French bulldog has parasites, consult your vet and use topical or oral control products. You can also keep your yard parasite-free and never allow your Frenchie to drink standing water.

Rule Out Food Allergies

In case shedding is caused by allergies, such as food, flea, and environmental, you should follow different methods to prevent them. You can contact your vet to do an elimination trial to rule out any food allergies. This procedure can take around 2 months.

During the process, you’ll eliminate each ingredient that might result in excessive shedding. You have to avoid offering treats to your pet during this process and follow a strict diet.

Skincare and Proper Grooming

Just like cats, dogs also need proper grooming. With regular grooming, you can get rid of the loose fur. Moreover, it will also offer a smooth-looking coat. For this approach, you can use a shedding brush in summer, helping your Frenchie bring down its temperature.

During summers, using a shedding brush is quite useful as it decreases your pet’s natural insulation. Furthermore, regular brushing and grooming can also help you spot the symptoms of different health issues in your Frenchie.

It’s noteworthy to mention here that your Frenchie features a short coat. Therefore, it would be best to avoid hard brushes as they can cause irritation, making your dog feel uncomfortable. To remove loose hair, it is recommended to use a silicone grooming glove.

Regular Bathing

With a healthy diet, keeping your clean is the most useful tip to prevent excessive shedding. To keep your Frenchie healthy and affectionate, you should bathe it regularly. However, it doesn’t mean you have to bathe your dog each and every day.

Bathing your Frenchie multiple times every fortnight will do more harm than good. This is because it can cause your Frenchie to lose its natural oils, which are essential to keep its coat healthy. You need to wash your dog once every month with mild shampoo.

As your French bulldog comes with sensitive skin, it is recommended to use hypoallergenic shampoo. After each bath, you need to dry your pet immediately, as French bulldogs can lose heat quickly!

Proper Diet

A strict, good-quality diet can help your French bulldog have a shiny and clean coat. Moreover, it can also avoid shedding to a particular extent. As a nutritious and well-balanced diet will offer all the necessary nutrients that your dog needs to be healthy, it also offers a healthy and strong coat.

For shiny and strong fur, it is recommended to offer food to your pet that is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, such as fatty acid supplements and salmon. This type of diet will offer a healthy coat while keeping your pet’s skin moisturized.

However, before you go on and change your Frenchie’s diet, you should definitely consult with your vet!

What Color French Bulldog Sheds the Least?

 

 

Did you know that your Frenchie’s coat color can also affect the shedding? According to many studies, dark-brindle and black-colored French bulldogs shed the least. Alternatively, a French bulldog that features a light fawn or cream-colored coat sheds more than others.

Female Frenchies and Shedding

Generally speaking, both sexes of Frenchie bulldogs require the same type of grooming and care. Both male and female French dogs need a healthy diet and regular grooming to avoid excessive shedding. But, while the shedding is generally alike, there is an exception.

Female Frenchies tend to shed more when going into heat. In that scenario, you’ll need to wait until the heat period ends for this excess shedding to stop. Another solution for this problem is, of course, getting your dog spayed!

In a Nutshell

Are you wondering, do French bulldogs shed? Well, the short answer to this question is YES. Like all other dog breeds, French Bulldogs are also prone to shedding, but not often. Generally, they lose their coat to attain an ideal body temperature.

However, if your Frenchie is shedding at a more frequent pace, it might be caused by some other issues, like parasites, infections, allergic reactions, and more. So, if your dog is shedding more frequently, you should contact your vet and follow his instructions!

To avoid these problems, it is recommended to groom your Frenchie regularly and provide a well-balanced, nutritious diet.