DNA tests for French Bulldogs with health issues

You already know your Frenchie has brachycephalic issues — that's not a surprise finding, it's baked into the breed. What you're really asking is: what else might be lurking genetically that you don't know about yet? That's actually a smart use of a DNA test. Dog DNA tests have become genuinely reliable for health screening, but there's a real difference between providers — some test for 200+ genetic health markers, others barely scratch the surface. The one caveat I'll give you upfront: a DNA health panel is a useful early-warning tool, not a substitute for the specialist monitoring your vet probably already has your boy on. Can I ask — is your Frenchie already under a vet or cardiologist for the brachycephalic stuff, and are you mainly hoping to flag conditions that haven't shown up clinically yet?

That's exactly the right framing, and honestly the most responsible way to use one of these tests. Frenchies do have elevated risk for a few conditions beyond BOAS — IVDD (intervertebral disc disease) is a big one, hereditary cataracts, and certain cardiac markers. A good DNA panel won't diagnose those, but it can flag whether your dog carries variants associated with higher risk, which gives you and your vet something concrete to watch for. How old is he, and has he had any back stiffness or neurological symptoms at all, even mild?

Good — five years old and mobile is encouraging. At that age, a DNA health screen gives you a useful baseline to share with your vet going into the second half of his life. My clear recommendation here is Embark for Dogs — the Breed + Health kit. It tests for over 230 genetic health conditions including IVDD risk variants, MDR1 drug sensitivity, hereditary eye conditions, and cardiac markers. The results are detailed enough that your vet can actually work with them, and Embark has a vet portal so results can be shared directly. It's the most clinically credible consumer option available in the UK right now. Wisdom Panel Premium is a reasonable alternative and tests a similar number of conditions, but Embark's health reporting is more granular and their science team is more transparent about what the markers actually mean. Given that your dog already has a health history, I'd lean toward the one that gives you more to work with.

Yes — Embark tests for the CDDY and CDPA variants associated with chondrodystrophy, which is the genetic trait linked to IVDD risk in chondrodystrophic breeds like French Bulldogs, Dachshunds, and Corgis. Because Frenchies are already a chondrodystrophic breed, your dog almost certainly carries at least one copy — but the test tells you how many, which affects risk level, and it's a useful thing to have documented in his records. It won't predict whether he'll develop IVDD, but it gives your vet context for decisions around exercise, weight management, and early intervention if symptoms ever appear. The Embark Breed + Health kit is on Amazon UK — I'd go for that over the health-only kit since the full profile is worth having even for a purebred.

Definitely share them with your vet at his next appointment rather than just filing them away — even if nothing alarming comes up. Print the health summary or use the sharing link Embark provides. The conditions flagged as 'at risk' or 'carrier' are the ones worth discussing: your vet can advise whether any warrant monitoring, earlier screening, or just awareness. For Frenchies specifically, I'd highlight any cardiac, spinal, or eye-related findings. And if anything does flag unexpectedly, Embark has a vet genetics team you can contact directly, which is genuinely useful. Good luck with him — sounds like he's got a very attentive owner.