If you brought home your new French bulldog thinking they’re low-maintenance in the grooming department, you may have been mistaken. Their coat may be short and fine, but that still doesn’t mean your Frenchie requires anything less than a regular grooming routine. There are a number of things to consider when grooming your Frenchie. So, we’ve put together a comprehensive grooming guide that will help keep your French bulldog happy and healthy.

Bathing

In general, French bulldogs are clean dogs. While some breeds may need weekly baths, you’ll only need to bathe your Frenchie when he becomes visibly dirty. Be warned, Frenchies are prone to allergies and sensitive skin, to the point where even food allergies can show up as skin problems. That’s why it’s important to use a vet-recommended, hypo-allergenic shampoo.

Cleaning the Face

While bathing, make sure to avoid getting their face wet. When moisture becomes trapped between the folds in their faces, it can create infections. When drying your pup, lift each fold to check for signs of irritation. These wrinkles are a bacterial hotspot, so you should clean them at least once a week.

The Kennel Club says, “Local infections in these folds are common if they are not regularly cleaned. Infections may be painful, particularly if the skin becomes ulcerated.”

Dog-friendly baby wipes are great to have around for cleaning folds, or simply use a damp cloth. Don’t forget to dry each fold after – talcum powder is great for this, but you can also use a towel.

When checking your bulldog’s folds for signs of infection, look out for the following symptoms:

If you suspect an infection may be present, take your dog to the vet for treatment immediately. Most cases can be treated with a topical antibiotic or antibiotic medications. If your dog is affected by recurring skin fold infections, your vet may recommend surgery to remove the fold and prevent chronic pain.

Cleansing the Eyes and Ears

Some dogs are susceptible to tear stains under their eyes, including French bulldogs. These eye stains are largely due to how Frenchies have been bred. Your dog has a flat muzzle and eyes that sit further forward in the skull. This affects the development of the tear ducts, which leads to tear stains and makes French bulldogs more prone to infection. This is why it’s imperative to invest in pet insurance.

Before you remove any tear stains, make sure you know the root cause. If you have any doubts, talk to your vet first to ensure your pooch doesn’t have any underlying eye problems. Once you know your dog doesn’t have any eye issues, you can get down to cleaning.

Cleaning your Frenchie’s eye stains is an easy task that you should carry out once a day. You can use either a vet-recommended tear stain remover or a clean, damp cloth. Wipe down and away from the eye, without getting anything into your dog’s eye.

The ears should only need cleaning about once a month. Simply wipe the inside of your dog’s ears with a clean, damp cloth. Do not poke anything down the ears. If you think your pooch might have an ear infection, see how to battle them here.

Clipping Toenails

Dogs’ nails should be kept short to make it more comfortable for them to walk. Short nails will also give your bulldogs paws a neat, rounded look. If you have never trimmed your pup’s nails before, it’s highly recommended that you go to a vet or groomer to get them done professionally. Each nail has a sensitive area inside them called the quick, which can hurt your dog and cause bleeding if severed. Take them for a trim at least once a month to prevent nails from becoming overgrown.

Brushing

French bulldogs don’t shed much, so brushing their coats once a week will be enough. Brushing their fur will not only keep their coat looking shiny, but will also remove dirt and dead hair. De-shedder tools such as the FURminator are popular as they are specially made for small breeds with short hair. Those looking for a more traditional grooming tool should look for a gentle brush with flexible bristles to prevent hurting their skin. While grooming, pay attention to your dog’s legs, sides and belly to avoid any pockets of loose hair.

It’s important to maintain a grooming routine to keep your Frenchie looking and feeling in tip-top condition. However, not all dogs respond well to at-home grooming. If your dog doesn’t like being groomed, you’ll need to bring the professionals in. If you’re struggling, it’s important to take them to a groomer as soon as possible. The longer you leave it, the worse their condition will become. This could result in badly matted areas and health issues. If in doubt, always see a professional.

At Pin Paws, we offer member only discounts on pet-centric products and services, including grooming tools to keep your French bulldog in great shape. Join our Pin Paws Plus or Pin Paws Pet Care program to start saving today!

Thank you to our guest writer, Lisa Smith, for her contribution to our Pin Paws blog.