Most Bulldogs can no longer mate or whelp without human help — the vast majority of litters are delivered by planned C-section because puppy heads are too wide for natural birth — and the same flat face that defines the breed causes lifelong breathing difficulty severe enough that a hot walk can be fatal.
9.8years, median
2.7 years below the all-dog median of 12.5.
Measured, not estimated: the middle age at death across 584,734 UK dogs, 284,734 of them deceased. Based on 15,808 dogs of this breed (listed in the study as "Bulldog"). 95% confidence interval 9.7 to 10 years. Half lived longer than this, half did not. UK dogs, so treat it as the best available figure rather than a promise about yours.
In the same study, medium breeds as a group had a median of 12.5 years and flat-faced breeds 11.2. This breed is medium and flat-faced.
McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports 14:531 — open access · CC BY 4.070.8% of English Bulldogs had at least one disorder recorded in 2013.
From the clinical records of 1,621 English Bulldogs under veterinary care in the UK that year, read by the Royal Veterinary College’s VetCompass programme.
Most often recorded, 2013
| Disorder | Share of English Bulldogs | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Ear infection (otitis externa) | 12.7% | 11.1–14.4 |
| Skin infection (pyoderma) | 8.8% | 7.4–10.2 |
| Overweight or obese | 8.7% | 7.4–10.2 |
| Skin fold dermatitis | 7.8% | 6.5–9.2 |
| Overgrown nails | 7.3% | 6.1–8.7 |
| Cherry eye | 6.8% | 5.6–8.1 |
| Conjunctivitis | 5.4% | 4.3–6.6 |
| Inflamed paws (pododermatitis) | 5.4% | 4.3–6.6 |
| Hair loss (alopecia) | 5.3% | 4.2–6.5 |
| Hot spots | 4.3% | 3.3–5.5 |
| Inward-rolling eyelids (entropion) | 3.6% | 2.7–4.6 |
| Obstructed breathing (BOAS) | 3.5% | 2.6–4.6 |
Compared with other dogs, 2016
2,662 English Bulldogs against 22,039 other dogs. The odds of having at least one disorder that year were 2.04 times those of other dogs (95% CI 1.85 to 2.25). Of 43 disorders tested, 24 were more common in the breed and 6 less common.
More likely in English Bulldogs — times the odds
- Skin fold dermatitis6.7% vs 0.2%38×
- Cherry eye5.7% vs 0.2%27×
- Undershot jaw2.1% vs 0.1%24×
- Obstructed breathing (BOAS)4.2% vs 0.2%19×
- Cyst between the toes2.6% vs 0.3%13×
- Dry eye (KCS)2% vs 0.3%12×
- Inward-rolling eyelids (entropion)3.9% vs 0.3%12×
- Demodex mange2.1% vs 0.2%8.0×
- Inflamed paws (pododermatitis)4.8% vs 1.3%4.7×
- Skin infection (pyoderma)4.2% vs 1.4%3.5×
- Ear infection (otitis externa)16.2% vs 7.3%2.7×
Less likely
- Retained baby teeth0.04% vs 1%0.02×
- Fatty lump (lipoma)0.04% vs 1.5%0.06×
- Gum disease (periodontal disease)2.4% vs 12.6%0.23×
- Itching (pruritus)0.4% vs 1.6%0.25×
- Flea infestation0.9% vs 2.1%0.40×
- Heart murmur0.6% vs 2.1%0.47×
Age at death in this sample
Median 7.2 years (middle half 4.9 to 9.3), 2013 data. Of the 110 deaths with a recorded cause: Heart disease 11.8%, Cancer (neoplasia) 10.9%, Brain disorder 9.1%. Males 6.7 years, females 7.9. Different sample and year from the measured lifespan above, which is why the two numbers differ.
Twice the odds of having at least one disorder in a year, and 24 of the 43 disorders tested were more common in the breed.
“Immediate redefinition of the breed towards a moderate conformation is strongly advocated to avoid the UK joining the growing list of countries where breeding of English Bulldogs is banned.”— the authors, O'Neill et al. 2022, Canine Medicine and Genetics 9:5
Health tests to ask the breeder for
Bulldog Club of America sets the tests a English Bulldog needs for a CHIC number in the OFA's open database. A CHIC number means the tests were done and the results are public. It does not mean the dog passed them: ask for the results for both parents, or look them up yourself on ofa.org.
- Patellar Luxation (OFA Evaluation)
- Cardiac Evaluation (OFA Congenital Cardiac; echocardiogram preferred)
- Tracheal Hypoplasia (OFA radiographic evaluation)
When to spay or neuter a Bulldog: the UC Davis study of 35 breeds has a suggested guideline for the breed. For males it is any age. For females, any age. The spay and neuter page has the numbers behind it and what the guidelines say for a dog this size.
Eye ulcers: in a study of more than 100,000 dogs in England, about 1 Bulldog in 41 had one in a single year. A squint or a half-closed eye is a same-day call to the vet. The eye ulcer page has the signs, and the eye drops that make an ulcer worse.
- Autoimmune Thyroiditis (OFA)
- Elbow Dysplasia (OFA)
- Hip Dysplasia (OFA or PennHIP)
- Hyperuricosuria (HUU) DNA test
- Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist
- BAER hearing test
- OFA Spinal database submission
- Cystinuria Type 3, CMR1, DM and CaOx1 DNA tests
Test names as the club lists them; checked September 2026. OFA CHIC breed page. How to use this at the breeder: check a breeder.
Adopt a English Bulldog near you
Shelters and rescues list English Bulldogs and English Bulldog mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
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Living with a English Bulldog
Bulldogs are low-energy, affectionate couch companions, not a breed that needs long runs — but that's a side effect of a body that struggles to cool itself and breathe efficiently, not laziness. Day to day this means no exercise in heat, air conditioning close to a requirement in warm climates, daily wrinkle cleaning, and a real chance of needing airway or eyelid surgery over the dog's lifetime, all of which push average veterinary costs well above most breeds.
Health you should know about
- Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) — narrowed nostrils, an elongated soft palate and a narrow windpipe together restrict breathing; a VetCompass study found Bulldogs carried roughly 13 times the risk of BOAS versus other dogs, and it's often the reason for corrective surgery.
- Very high Caesarean-section rate — a peer-reviewed UK study found the C-section rate in Bulldogs exceeded 80%, among the highest of any breed studied, largely because puppy head width routinely exceeds the mother's pelvis.
- Extreme heat intolerance — the compromised airway makes Bulldogs prone to fatal heatstroke even on moderately warm days; vets routinely advise against exercise in heat and recommend air conditioning access.
- Skin-fold dermatitis and other conformation-linked disorders — a large VetCompass study found Bulldogs at increased risk for the majority of common disorders it screened, including cherry eye, entropion and interdigital cysts, all tied to the breed's extreme body shape.
Read the full Dog Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a dog needs before you choose a breed.
Naming a English Bulldog? British dog and cat names, 89 of them, with what they mean.
Sources — 5 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 5 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.