As with most large breeds, there are health
issues associated with the Dogue de Bordeaux.
Hip Dysplasia, an inherited condition affecting
the hip joint, being the most common and
appearing first during the time of rapid growth.
There are a lot of breeders in Australia who have
the breed at heart and are hip scoring their
animals, however there are also breeders who
still refuse to Xray their animals, thus continuing
to breed with unsound Dogues. The animals and
owners certainly suffer when inflicted with Hip
Dysplasia and the veterinary attention required
is certainly very costly. Often the end result is
that the animals may have to be euthanised.
There is also a tendency towards Osteochondritis
dissecans (OCD) in DDB's. OCD is a disease of
the joint cartilage and is especially common in
the shoulder joint, although other joints can be
affected. It occurs primarily in young, fast
growing dogs and appears to be more common in
males. Diagnosis can only be confirmed by X-
ray examination.
Other health issues connected with The Dogue de
Bordeaux are Heart Murmurs and Skin Diseases.
The most prolific skin problem that seems to be
prevalent is Demodectic mange. This is a skin
problem caused by a tiny parasite called a mite.
Diagnosis of demodectic mange is made by a Vet
taking scrapings. If mites are present
microscopic examination of the skin scrapings
provide a diagnosis.
The Dogue de Bordeaux can also be succeptiable
to Acute Gastric Dilation or Bloat . Acute gastric
dilation is usually fatal because the owners have
little, if any, warning of an impending attack. In
most cases the animal is found dead, usually the
next morning, with a greatly distended
stomach. Most breeders agree that it is
recommended not to feed your dogue
immediately before or after exercise, and that it
is best to feed 2 to 3 small meals a day, rather
than one large meal.
The above problems are associated with most
large breeds of dogs, not just the Dogue de
Bordeaux.
Always remember although these are cute
little pups, they will grow into a very large strong
dog. It is for this reason that it is essential
that you socialize your puppy both with people
and other dogs as soon as puppy has had their
final vaccination. I would also recommend that
you take your dogue along to an obedience school
for some basic training, this will benefit you and
your dogue.
When purchasing a puppy, whether it be for show
or for a family pet, please keep the above issues
in mind. Ask if the parents have been hip
certified. If they have not, then I personally
would NOT buy a puppy from that kennel. Ask to
see the hip certificates. Always ask to view the
parents of the puppies, are they healthy looking?
Do the parents have a good temperament, what is
the movement like ? If it is rather stilted this
could be an indication of an underlying problem.
The puppies should be vaccinated , wormed, and
microchipped and they should be pleasantly
plump and full of energy with bright clear eyes.
Ask the breeder if they supply a health
guarantee.
We give our dogues a normal home life with our
family and especially our children. We give them
the very best diet, aiming to ensure that we
produce healthy strong puppies, sound both in
mind and anatomical construction.
Heat Warning
Now that the hotter Summer months are upon us,
please bear in mind that our beautiful Bordeauxs
dont tolerate heat terribly well.
Every year Dogues die from heat related
problems, some in the family home, others while
exercising and others that have attended shows.
Keeping your Dogue cool in the summer is of the
upmost importance. Please be aware that they
certainly need shade and water during the
heat. A childs plastic pool is a great asset for
them to laze around in the cool water or you
could purchase a cooling pad for them from your
local petshop. Even let them lay around inside
under the air conditioner. Be very aware of NOT
exercising them in the heat of the day and also
taking them in the car.
If you fear your Dogue is suffering heat related
problems, cool him or her down immediately
using ice packs between the back legs and cool
water over the rest of the body. Contact your vet
for further instructions.
