Maggie the Merle

Free Frenchie Care Checklist

Everything a flat-faced dog needs, on two printable pages: a daily-to-yearly care routine, heat safety, the emergency signs to know, and what to bring to the vet.

  • Daily, weekly, monthly & yearly care
  • Heat-safety rules and overheating first steps
  • Breathing red flags
  • Vet-visit prep list and questions to ask
  • Weight log and emergency-number blanks

Or download the PDF directly (2 pages, US Letter)

Preview of page 1 of the Frenchie Care Checklist: daily, weekly, monthly and yearly checkboxes and a weight log

Not veterinary advice. This is general information gathered from veterinary schools and published research. It isn't a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Talk to your veterinarian about your own dog, and if your Frenchie is struggling to breathe, collapses, or overheats, go to an emergency vet now. Full disclaimer.

A peek inside

Every day

  • Fresh water all day
  • Measured meals; treats 10% or less of the diet
  • Harness, not collar, at the coolest times
  • Listen for new or louder breathing noise
  • Wrinkles and tail pocket clean and dry

Emergency: act now

Heavy panting, drooling, vomiting, weakness, confusion or collapse: stop, cool with cool tap water and moving air, and call a vet while you keep cooling. Blue or gray gums, collapse or struggling to breathe: go to the nearest emergency vet.

FAQ

What's in the checklist?

Two printable pages: a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly care routine with a weight log, then heat safety, emergency signs, a vet-visit prep list with questions to ask, and blanks for your vet and emergency numbers.

Is it really free?

Yes. Enter your email and we'll send it, along with Maggie's Monthly Sniff: one email a month with a gear pick, a heat or safety tip and any policy changes we spot. Unsubscribe any time.

Is this veterinary advice?

No. It's a general routine based on veterinary sources (listed below). Your vet knows your dog, so follow their advice where it differs.

Can I print it?

Yes, it's a US Letter PDF designed to print in color or black and white. Stick it on the fridge.

Keep reading

Health

French Bulldog breathing problems (BOAS)

The signs vets look for, why heat is the big danger, when to go to the vet, and gear that helps.

Heat

Heat safety & cooling gear

Heat-safety basics from veterinary guidance, plus how to judge cooling mats and vests.

Frenchie Size Chart & "On Track?" Check

Adult weight and height from three breed standards, plus a body-condition check based on the WSAVA chart.

Feeding

Best food for French Bulldogs

How to choose a food for sensitive stomachs, suspected allergies, a flat face and a lean waistline.

Health

French Bulldog allergies & skin care

Itchy skin, ear trouble and skin folds: what the research shows and how vets work out the cause.

Frenchie Cost Calculator

Add up first-year and yearly costs with your own local prices. Every starting number shows its source.

Sources

  1. WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee: Guidelines on Selecting Pet Foods (treats 10% or less)
  2. WSAVA: Body Condition Score chart (dogs)
  3. UK Brachycephalic Working Group (2021): heat-related illness consensus statement
  4. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Heatstroke, a medical emergency
  5. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: BOAS (harness instead of collar; respiratory emergencies)
  6. University of Cambridge BOAS Research Group: recognition & diagnosis
  7. ASPCA: Cutting Pet Care Costs (dental routine, dog toothpaste, home grooming)
  8. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center