What are the most clinically significant health conditions I should screen for in French Bulldogs at each life stage?

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French Bulldogs carry a concentrated burden of breed-specific disease that warrants structured screening at every life stage, spanning spinal, orthopedic, ophthalmologic, respiratory, and dermatologic systems. In puppies and young adults (first year of life), thoracic hemivertebra is the highest-priority spinal concern. Hemivertebrae occur commonly in clinically normal French Bulldogs and are incidental findings in the majority, but dogs with clinically relevant hemivertebrae most often develop slowly progressive signs of spinal cord dysfunction within the first year of life.2 Medical management of symptomatic hemivertebra is considered unfavorable, and surgical options, while available, are challenging.2 Spinal arachnoid diverticula, intervertebral disc disease, and congenital vertebral malformations are additional spinal conditions for which French Bulldogs carry breed predisposition.5 Baseline spinal screening in young French Bulldogs is warranted given this cumulative spinal disease burden.5 Humeral intracondylar fissures (HIF) are a clinically significant orthopedic finding in French Bulldogs and a predisposing factor for humeral condylar fracture (HCF). HIF can be identified on CT as a partial or complete hypoattenuating area extending between the distal articular surface and the supratrochlear foramen in the sagittal plane, with adjacent sclerosis.4 Sclerosis at the intracondylar fracture surface on CT should prompt suspicion that HIF preceded HCF.4 The contralateral intact humerus should be evaluated when HCF is diagnosed, as bilateral HIF is documented in this breed.4 Ophthalmic screening for evaporative dry eye disease (EDED) is indicated at every visit in French Bulldogs, including those without obvious clinical signs. Clinically normal French Bulldogs consistently demonstrate shortened non-invasive tear break-up time, reduced lipid layer thickness, increased tear meniscus height, and increased Schirmer tear test values — a combination characteristic of q