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Having a snoring frenchie can be quite disruptive in your home. Whether you’re trying to relax or have a quick nap yourself, a french bulldog’s loud snoring can become quite irritating.
Is it normal for french bulldogs to snore so much or is something wrong?
And more importantly, how do you get a french bulldog to stop snoring? Unfortunately, the only way to completely stop your french bulldog from snoring is to have them go through surgery. Even with surgery it’s not guaranteed that they’ll stop snoring forever. Other ways to reduce their snoring are elevating their head, maintaining a healthy weight or air purifiers.
In this post you’ll discover:
- Why snoring is so common in french bulldogs
- When your french bulldogs snoring is something to worry about
- 9 real ways to limit how often and how loud your frenchie snores
- And much more
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
Why Snoring Is So Common In French Bulldogs
If you’ve ever been kept up at night by the sound of your french bulldog snoring, you’re not alone.
In fact, snoring is quite common in french bulldogs, due to their unique anatomy.
French bulldogs are one of a few brachycephalic breeds which means they have short noses and flat faces.
The major cause for their snoring and breathing difficulties in general is because while they have a shorter nose and subsequent mouth, they have about the same amount of soft tissue (skin).
Which means they have a lot more skin sitting in a much smaller space.
And when air passes through the smaller space, it creates the snoring sound we all love so much (not..).
They’re also susceptible to having their soft palate collapse and block their airway.
This obstruction can lead to vibrations that create the snoring sound.
However, in some cases, their snoring can indicate a more serious problem, such as sleep apnea.
If your french bulldog snores loudly or is having more trouble breathing lately, it’s important to consult with a veterinarian.
9 Ways To Help Reduce French Bulldog Snoring
1) Keep The Air In Your Home Clean
One of the best things you can do to help your french bulldog’s snoring is to keep the air in your home clean.
This means no smoking inside and using an air purifier to help with any allergies or dryness.
You should also avoid using strong cleaning chemicals around your dog as they can be harmful if inhaled.
2) Certain Dog Beds Help
Dog beds can help by changing up the position of your frenchies head while they’re resting.
For example, beds with raised borders help by keeping their head elevated which can reduce how much or how loud they snore.
Also, donut dog beds where they’re designed to have your pup curl up into a ball can also help limit snoring.
Both being curled up in a ball or having their head elevated when sleeping helps keep their breathing as smooth as possible.
Which of course helps reduce how much they snore.
Related Reading: 12 Best Beds For French Bulldogs: Beds That Last
3) Keep Them At a Healthy Weight
If your frenchie is overweight this will only make their snoring worse.
Extra weight puts additional pressure on their chest and respiratory system which can make it harder for them to breathe properly.
The best way to help with this is to make sure your pup is getting enough exercise while also eating good quality food in the correct portions.
Both low quality food and too much food makes weight gain much easier and is definitely something to avoid to help with snoring.
4) Airborne Allergy Check
Allergies are a common trigger for snoring in dogs (and people).
The more congestion they have the less space in their airways for air to travel freely which creates the snoring you’re hearing.
If your french bulldog’s snoring has become worse more recently and it’s spring time, it’s worth having them looked at by a vet for an allergic reaction.
There are also many things you can do around your home to help with airborne allergies such as using an air purifier or investing in high-quality air filters.
You can also try things like wiping them down with a damp cloth after they’ve been outside to remove any pollen that might be on their fur.
5) Nasal Strip
If your frenchie will let you, you can try using a breathe right nose strip that people use.
They may find it too uncomfortable and scratch it off right away, but if they don’t notice it on their nose it can help open up their nasal passage just like they do for people!
6) Keep Where They Sleep Clean
This one is pretty self explanatory but definitely worth mentioning.
Keep their sleeping area (bed, crate, etc.) clean and free of any dust, dirt or debris that could clog up their airways and make it harder to breathe.
A clean and clear airway will help reduce snoring significantly.
You should also avoid using any sort of chemical cleaning products around their sleeping area as the fumes can be harmful.
A quick vacuum and wipe down with a damp cloth should do the trick.
7) Give Them An Adjustment
You probably already do this which is why we’ve left it for near the end..
But next time your french bulldog is snoring, give them a quick adjustment!
Whether it’s a slight push to wake them up, rolling them from on their back to their side, or putting a pillow under their head to elevate it.
Sometimes they just need a quick adjustment when they’re snoring to give you some peace and quiet.
8) If On Medication – Speak With Your Vet
If your frenchie is on medication, it’s always best to speak with your vet first.
Certain medications can cause dryness in the nose which leads to snoring.
There are also other medications that have side effects of causing drowsiness which can make snoring worse.
Your vet will be able to advise you on whether or not the medication your frenchie is on could be causing their snoring.
They may also be able to offer a different medication that doesn’t have the same side effects.
9) Vet Check Up
If none of the above tips are helping to reduce your frenchie’s snoring, it’s never a bad idea to have them checked out by a vet.
There could be an underlying health issue, infection, or a growth in their mouth that’s blocking their airway and causing them to snore.
The vet will be able to give you a definitive answer on if something’s going on internally that could be causing their snoring and offer the best course of treatment.
Bonus: Have Them Sleep In a Separate Room
This isn’t always possible or practical, but if you can have them sleep in a separate room it can definitely help.
This way if they do snore you’re not in the same room trying to sleep and can just shut the door to block out the noise.
French Bulldog Snoring Surgery Details
While there are a few surgical options that can be done to help with french bulldog snoring, we’ll just be covering the most common one here.
The surgery is called a soft palate resection and involves removing a portion of the soft palate.
This helps to widen the opening of the airway and reduce or eliminate snoring.
The surgery is usually done under general anesthesia and takes about 30 minutes.
Most dogs are able to go home the same day and make a full recovery within a few weeks.
If your frenchie has been snoring persistently and nothing else has worked, this may be an option to consider.
It typically costs between $500-$1000 depending on the vet and region you live in.
As always, we recommend speaking with your vet first to see if this is the best course of action for your dog.
FAQs
Why Is My French Bulldog Snoring While Awake?
This is usually due to some sort of obstruction in their airway.
It could be a growth, an infection, or something else blocking their airway and causing them to snore.
If they’re awake when making a snoring noise, it’s likely more of a wheeze than a snore.
Regardless of what it’s called, they’re both caused by lots of air traveling through a small space (their narrow airways).
Why Does My French Bulldog Sound Congested?
This is usually due to an infection or allergies.
If your frenchie has a cold or the flu, they may also sound congested.
If your dog sounds like they’re struggling to breathe, it’s best to take them to the vet as soon as possible as this could be a sign of something more serious.
Why Do French Bulldogs Snore So Loud?
French bulldogs snore loudly because they have narrow airways.
This causes the air to travel faster through their airway which creates a loud noise.
Some dogs may also snore loudly if they’re overweight as this can cause their airway to be even narrower.
The more narrow the airway, the louder the snore.
This can simply be from the excess skin they have surrounding their mouth which reduces the amount of space their breaths have to move.
Or it could be caused by more serious health conditions that are narrowing their airways so much.
If you’re worried about your french bulldogs snoring it’s always a good idea to have a vet look at them.
Final Thoughts
Completely stopping your french bulldog from snoring isn’t likely to happen.
It would be nice, but their genetic makeup doesn’t support smooth airflow which frequently results in lots of snoring.
The only way to have the best chance at stopping it entirely would be to have them go through surgery.
However, this doesn’t always guarantee they’ll stop snoring forever after the surgery.
If you use several of the tips we’ve listed above you’ll have the best chance of reducing how much or how loud your french bulldog snores.
Other posts you might find interesting:
Top 15 Best Harnesses For French Bulldogs
9 Reasons Why French Bulldogs Are Always Hungry + 4 Tips