Ocular Disease in French Bulldogs

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Ocular Disease in French Bulldogs

WRITTEN BY DR. HANNAH ELIZABETH VISSER, DVM DACVO, Charleston Animal Eye Specialists

French bulldogs are the most popular dog breed in the country for the second year in a row. These pint-sized dogs are easy to love with their little wrinkly faces and often have the personality of a class clown; however, they do come with a variety of possible health disorders. These health issues can include brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, allergies and intervertebral disc disease, just to name a few. French bulldogs are also a breed of dog veterinary ophthalmologists commonly see for several different ocular conditions, some of which are vision-threatening and some which are less concerning.

One of the most common reasons why we veterinary ophthalmologists see Frenchies are dermoids which are areas of haired tissue that incorrectly form on or around the eye. Dermoids are congenital malformations, meaning puppies are born with this condition. The abnormal tissue can cause irritation due to hairs rubbing on the eye, thus the recommended treatment is surgical removal of the tissue typically while preserving the eye and vision. Thankfully, following surgery most dogs have an excellent prognosis.

French bulldogs are also a breed of dog which are often diagnosed with a prolapsed gland of the third eyelid which is commonly called a “cherry eye”. The third eyelid is a normal structure present in animals which contains a tear gland. In breeds such as Frenchies the ligament that holds the gland in place is too loose or relaxed and this can allow the gland to prolapse or flip out of place. It is common for these glands to prolapse within the first year of a dog’s life and it is very common for one to prolapse and then the other to do the same within a few weeks to months. The recommended treatment for cherry eyes is surgical replacement of the gland. Removal of the third eyelid gland can result in decreased tear production, otherwise known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, which can result in corneal scarring or corneal ulceration. With surgical replacement, “cherry eyes’’ have an excellent prognosis.

Another ocular condition we see commonly in French bulldogs are corneal ulcers. An ulcer is a wound on the surface of the eye. These can vary from superficial ulcers which typically heal in about a week with appropriate treatment to deep corneal ulcers which can result in perforations which are very painful, can be blinding, and may even require surgical grafting or removal of the eye. French bulldogs as well as many other breeds are considered brachycephalic, meaning their skull shape has a shortened nose. This skull shape has resulted in shallow orbits, the orbit being the bony socket of the skull which holds the eye. The more shallow an orbit is, the more eyes are exposed which creates the “buggy eyed” appearance. Brachycephalic dogs have also been shown to have decreased corneal sensation, meaning they do not feel the surface of their eyes as well as a dog with a longer nose. These two factors, the increased exposure and the decreased sensation, make it much more likely for these dogs to suffer from corneal ulcers. The fact that most Frenchies think they are WWE stars while at home playing probably doesn’t help them avoid ocular injuries either! An interesting new clinical finding is that French bulldogs may also be predisposed to corneal ulcers caused by Canine Herpes Virus. This disease can be spread from mother to puppies and is incurable. For unknown reasons veterinary ophthalmologists all over the country are seeing a rise in herpetic corneal ulcers in French bulldogs as a breed. Unfortunately, this means these dogs are at an even increased risk of developing corneal ulcers throughout their lives. Antiviral treatment has been used both to treat and prevent corneal ulcers and in many cases appears to be effective. The prognosis for a patient with a corneal ulcer varies greatly as it is dependent on many factors such as the depth of the ulcer, bacterial infection of the ulcer and appropriate treatment.

A slightly less common ocular condition seen in French bulldogs is glaucoma or elevation of pressure within the eye known as intraocular pressure. Glaucoma is both vision-impairing and painful. Patients with glaucoma often seem to exhibit symptoms of headache-like pain that their human counterparts describe. Clinical signs of glaucoma are squinting, redness around the eye, cloudiness to the eye itself and changes in vision. In cases of glaucoma, immediate treatment is necessary to decrease intraocular pressure in hopes of saving vision and relieving discomfort. This treatment typically begins with eye drops; however, long term prognosis for eyes with glaucoma is very poor. In most cases eye drops fail to control the intraocular pressure long term and patients require surgery to keep them comfortable. Glaucoma is a condition which requires frequent medications and rechecks so it can be a significant time and financial investment. Although French bulldogs are not the most common patients we diagnose with glaucoma, the frequency of this condition appears to be rising each year and it has devastating consequences.

French bulldogs are taking over our neighborhoods and veterinary practices. Chances are you have a friend or family member who owns a Frenchie or maybe even own one yourself! Any pet owner should be aware of clinical signs of an ocular condition such as redness, squinting, excessive tearing, vision changes or a cloudy appearance. If you notice any of these in your pet, whether it is a French bulldog or other four legged creature, you should seek veterinary care. Thankfully there are many excellent veterinarians in the lowcountry that can help. We at Charleston Animal Eye Specialists would love to be a part of your veterinary team! ■