French bulldogs continue to increase in popularity every year even though they’re not conventionally beautiful dogs. The reason is easy to see when you pay attention to them. They’re not only super cute dogs but they’re also smart and affectionate. Their different shape and size made them very popular in recent years, but it’s proven to be an evolutionary problem as well. Some people say that French Bulldogs cannot procreate as nature intended them for.
So, can French Bulldogs give birth naturally? In 80% of the cases, the female french bulldog has to go through a caesarian section. Due to the head shape and the pelvis of the dog, they need to go through surgery to make sure that the mother and children survive. Fail to do so puts their lives at considerable risk.
This is why it’s so hard and expensive to breed French Bulldogs. Even though they’re one of the cutest dog breeds of all, it can cost a lot of money not only to breed them but also to have one since they do have a predisposition to lots of diseases.
Still, if you’re curious about the details of why they can’t give birth naturally most of the time, you can find out below. Their head shapes are not the only reason. Also, most of French Bulldogs pregnancies do not happen naturally either.
So, if you want to know everything there is about French Bulldog breeding, just read ‘til the end. This is especially important if you’re considering having your dog procreate. It’s important to know the risks.
80% Of French Bulldogs Are Born Via Caesarian Section
Most French bulldogs can’t be born naturally. The female needs to go through a caesarian section to get all the puppies out without risking their lives more than the surgery itself already does. Without this procedure, most cases end up with the death of the mother or the puppies when it isn’t both.
Now, there isn’t anything that can be done to make it more likely that natural labor will be possible. The best thing that a vet and the owner can do is to endure that a c-section will be possible when the time comes. Since French Bulldogs have two big things impeding them to be born naturally, this is the best way.
So, if you’re considering getting a French bulldog or allowing yours to have puppies, keep that in mind. You’ll need to not only schedule a procedure like this, but you also have to remind yourself about the risks involved. That’s why most people who do this are professional breeders.
The Head Shape Make It Nearly Impossible
The first reason that French bulldogs can’t give birth naturally, it’s about their head shape. Due to its format and size, it’s nearly impossible for it to go through the birth canal naturally. This is the main difficulty that the female dog would find when going through labor. The French bulldogs’ heads can’t pass through it naturally, which makes the c-section a must-have during the operation.
Still, there are 20% of the cases in which natural birth happens. The problem is that the low numbers make them the exception and not the rule. This makes it not only natural birth unrecommended but also irresponsible for those who even consider it. The best way is the caesarian section to ensure everyone’s safety, although there’s still a risk.
So, since you can’t change the fact that the French bulldog has a head shape that makes natural birth nearly impossible, there’s not much to be done about it. The only thing is to keep in mind that since this isn’t situational, the natural birth should be off the cards.
Pelvic Abnormalities Don’t Help Either
The second reason why French bulldogs can’t give birth naturally is their pelvic abnormalities. This is nothing serious about the dog’s life, but it makes it natural birth harder to happen. Not only their head shapes are too big, but their pelvis is too small. The shape makes natural birth nearly impossible either. It’s like trying to get an iceberg through a kitchen funnel. It’s not going to pass.
The main problem here is that the pelvis is not only too small, and even smaller to their head shape, but it also doesn’t expand as much during labor. It makes it dangerous and painful for the dog to give birth naturally. The likelihood is that it’s not going to happen, or that there’ll be fatalities.
So, the best way is c-section. It’ll sound repetitive, but it has to be said and highlighted many times over. Many people try to do this without the expertise, thinking that it’ll work. It’s more likely that it won’t. It’s your responsibility to ensure the dog’s safety. And this is one of those moments.
Breeding Also Requires Insemination
French bulldogs not only have a hard time giving birth naturally, but they also have a hard time when it comes to getting pregnant. Most studs are infertile. They can’t reproduce or don’t have the sperm count to do it naturally. This forces the breeders to get the female dogs inseminated. This makes everything harder and more complex.
As you can see, this is a breed that makes it very hard for amateur breeders to have. Everything is hard, expensive, and requires expertise on your part. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have a French bulldog, but you should reconsider breeding them if you were thinking about it.
So, since breeding requires insemination, you can pretty much say that they need human intervention to get pregnant and to give birth. Although that’s not always the case, it’s the best and most responsible way to do it. It ensures the safety of all dogs involved in it.
Human Intervention Is The Culprit
Now, we haven’t talked about the real culprit of all this. After all, a breed that needs all of this shouldn’t have survived naturally. The truth is that the reason French bulldogs need all this it’s human intervention. The breeders selected dogs with certain characteristics throughout the years that made it impossible for them to continue without human intervention.
This means that they purposefully chose to procreate the ones with all those physical characteristics that now make it hard to reproduce them naturally. This gives the breed an exotic look, but a really hard time to continue existing without human intervention. This is why they need to be born via caesarian section and need insemination most of the time.
So, as you can see, this is mostly due to human intervention. Still, the best that you can do as a French bulldog owner is to follow the instructions given to you by the vet. You also have to keep in mind that these dog breeds require special care throughout their whole lives.
They’re A Brachycephalic Dog Breed
One of the reasons that make French bulldogs not being able to give birth naturally, and also having certain troubles throughout their lives is that they’re a brachycephalic dog breed. This is a pathological syndrome that makes the dog’s noses short, which causes respiratory problems. Many dog breeds have this condition, so you might want to keep that in mind.
Now, when it comes to giving birth naturally, this condition makes it hard because it affects the head shape as well. The French bulldog has not only a large head but also a short nose, which makes it way harder for it to pass through the birth canal. That’s how this condition affects the process of the female French bulldog giving birth naturally.
The best that you can do is to make their lives easier. There are things such as a special bowl that makes it easier for them to live with their condition. This brachycephalic dog bowl makes it easier for the dog to eat and drink water without having to force his neck. The YMAXGO Ceramics Food Bowl is the best one for French Bulldogs and other brachycephalic dog breeds. Take a look here.
Review Everything Before Considering Having Your Dog Procreating
Now that you’ve arrived at this part of the article, it’s important to review everything before considering having your French bulldog procreating. It’s important to understand the risks and everything that it’s involved in this process.
The first step is to talk to a vet. You need to get all your questions answered and evaluate whether or not this is a good idea. Maybe talk to a professional breeder as well. What you may conclude is that it may be best to leave this to professional dog breeders, or that maybe you want to take the risks.
So, make sure to think long and hard about it. Whatever you decide, just make sure that you’re making an informed decision.
Final Thoughts
So, French bulldogs can give birth naturally only in 20% of the cases. Most of the time, they can only give birth via a c-section while ensuring the safety of the mother and the puppies. The head shape and small pelvis are the main reasons why this can’t happen.
