Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Craniofacial measurements in French Bulldogs, Pugs, and Shih Tzus
By da Silva, Paulo Henrique Sampaio et al.·Published in Research in veterinary science·2026·University of Brasí, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Comparative applied craniofacial morphometry in popular brachycephalic breeds: A tool for preventive medicine and risk stratification.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at the facial features of healthy French Bulldogs, Pugs, and Shih Tzus to understand their unique traits better. Each breed showed different measurements, like skull width and muzzle length, which can help veterinarians assess their health risks. For example, French Bulldogs were found to be the heaviest with the widest skulls, while Pugs had the shortest muzzles. This information is important for tailoring veterinary care to each breed's specific needs, rather than treating them all the same.
People also search for: brachycephalic dog breeds health risks · French Bulldog skull shape · Pug breathing problems · Shih Tzu vet checkup
Abstract
Brachycephalic dog breeds are globally popular, yet their craniofacial morphometry is rarely quantified in clinical settings. Since each breed possesses distinct traits, individual assessment is crucial. This study aimed to assess and compare cranial features of healthy French Bulldogs (FB), Pugs (P), and Shih Tzus (S), utilizing 25 dogs per breed (n = 75). Morphometric measurements included body weight, muzzle length (ML), skull length (SL), skull width (SW), palpebral fissure length (PFL), relative palpebral fissure length (RPFL), cephalic index (CI), and craniofacial ratio (CFR). Also, Body Weight was computed. All dogs were classified as extreme brachycephalic (CFR < 0.2; CI > 0.81). Significant breed-specific correlations were observed, notably between CFR and SW in FB, CFR and PFL in Pugs, and SL and SW in Shih Tzus. The French Bulldog was the heaviest breed, characterized by the widest skulls and largest palpebral width. Pugs exhibited the lowest CFR and shortest muzzles. These findings emphasize that the brachycephalic phenotype manifests heterogeneously across breeds. Consequently, from a preventive medicine perspective, these breeds cannot be treated as equivalents; clinical assessment and monitoring must be tailored to their specific anatomical profiles. This study provides reference data for clinical use and supports future research into breed-specific craniofacial anatomy.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41926813/