Dogue de Bordeaux health: what owners should know

Heart disease (including aortic stenosis and dilated cardiomyopathy) heads the list of known concerns, alongside bloat, hip and elbow dysplasia, breathing and heat problems linked to the short muzzle, skin fold infections, and several cancers. Responsible breeders screen hips and elbows, have hearts checked by a veterinary cardiologist, and favor parents that are still healthy and active at 4 or 5 years. Ask to see results, and ask how old the grandparents lived to be.

Regular checkups where the vet listens carefully to the heart are worth more than usual in this breed. Go to an emergency vet immediately if your Dogue has a swollen belly and retches without bringing anything up, collapses, or struggles to breathe. A new cough, fainting, tiring on short walks, or a lump that grows also need prompt attention.