Longevity
Life expectancy
Its lifespan is generally between 10 and 12 years. Regular activity without excess during growth, maintaining a stable weight, preventive care and a quality diet promote a long and active life.
Constitution
Is this a robust breed?
Its powerful build and dense coat give it good stamina as well as an appreciable resistance to cold and work. This robustness does not exempt one from monitoring its joints, its eyes and its digestive system, nor from respecting a reasonable progression of exercise in the young dog.
Things to watch for
What to look out for
Particular attention must be paid to locomotion, signs of pain or stiffness, visual disorders and sudden digestive symptoms. The breeding history of the parents and the screening results are important elements when choosing a puppy.
Hip dysplasia: Malformation of the joint that can lead to pain, lameness and osteoarthritis, the risk of which is reduced by screening breeding dogs and controlled growth.
Elbow dysplasia: Developmental abnormality of the elbow likely to cause forelimb lameness and early osteoarthritis.
Histiocytosis: Rare group of conditions linked to an abnormal proliferation of histiocytic cells and requiring a specialized veterinary diagnosis.
Osteochondritis: Disorder of the development of articular cartilage observed in growing dogs and that can cause pain and lameness.
Progressive retinal atrophy: Hereditary disease of the retina leading to a progressive decrease in vision, detectable by ophthalmological examination.
Fragmentation of the coronoid process: Elbow condition that can cause pain, inflammation and lameness, often included in the elbow dysplasia complex.
Gastric torsion: Life-threatening emergency affecting mainly large dogs, characterized by dilation and rotation of the stomach requiring immediate intervention.
Hypomyelination: Occasional neurological condition linked to insufficient formation of myelin, which can cause tremors from a young age.
Climate
Tolerance to cold and heat
Its dense, harsh coat protects it effectively from cold and bad weather. It tolerates high heat less well: in summer, exercise must be scheduled during the cooler hours, with permanent access to shade and water. Its coat must not be clipped in the hope of cooling it down, because it contributes to its thermal protection.
Weight
Prone to weight gain
The breed shows a low spontaneous tendency to become overweight, but its weight must remain controlled so as not to overload the hips and elbows. The ration must be adjusted to age, activity level, body condition and treats given. Regular weighing and observation of the silhouette make it possible to quickly correct a deviation.
Everyday care
Good habits to keep your pet healthy
- Have the hips, elbows and eyes of breeding dogs screened.
- Maintain a stable weight to protect the joints.
- Avoid strenuous exertion and repeated jumping during growth.
- Seek emergency veterinary care in case of a swollen abdomen, restlessness, or unproductive attempts to vomit.
- Regularly inspect the eyes, ears, paw pads and the skin under the dense coat.
Vaccination
Bouvier des Flandres vaccinations: schedule
Which vaccines does a Bouvier des Flandres need? Like all dogs, Bouvier des Flandress should receive their core vaccines from 8 weeks of age: CHPPi (core vaccine) and Leptospirosis. Puppies receive their initial Bouvier des Flandres vaccinations in several shots spaced 4 weeks apart, followed by a first booster at 1 year. Depending on their lifestyle (hunting, hiking, boarding, travel, region), your veterinarian may add vaccines against Rabies, Kennel cough, Piroplasmosis, Lyme disease and Leishmaniasis.
| Vaccine | Primary vaccination | First booster | Then | For whom? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CHPPi (core vaccine)Core Distemper, Rubarth hepatitis, parvovirosis and parainfluenza | 8 weeks · 12 weeks · 3 months | 1 year | every year | All animals |
LeptospirosisCore Leptospirosis (bacterium transmitted by rodent urine and stagnant water) | 8 weeks · 12 weeks | 1 year | every year | All animals |
RabiesDepending on lifestyle Rabies | 12 weeks | 1 year | every year | Mandatory for travel abroad, categorized dogs, most boarding kennels and shows |
Kennel coughDepending on lifestyle Bordetella bronchiseptica and parainfluenza | 8 weeks | 1 year | every year | Dogs attending boarding kennels, daycares, dog clubs and shows |
PiroplasmosisDepending on lifestyle Tick-borne babesiosis | 5 months · 6 months | 1 year | every year | Hunting dogs, dogs living in rural or wooded areas, dogs highly exposed to ticks |
Lyme diseaseDepending on lifestyle Tick-borne borreliosis | 12 weeks · 3 months | 1 year | every year | Hiking dogs, hunting dogs, forest areas of the East and the Center |
LeishmaniasisDepending on lifestyle Leishmaniasis transmitted by sandflies | 6 months | 1 year and 6 months | every year | Dogs living or staying in the South of France, Corsica and the Mediterranean basin |
Adult Bouvier des Flandres booster shots are given annually for leptospirosis and rabies. For distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus, a booster every three years is often enough after the first booster. Your veterinarian will tailor the schedule to your dog's actual risk.
Which boosters does your Bouvier des Flandres need?
Enter your companion's age to see which vaccines are due now and when the next boosters are needed.
Choosing well
Adopting a healthy Bouvier des Flandres
Before breeding, screening of the hips and elbows as well as an ophthalmological examination are recommended. The veterinarian can complete this follow-up depending on the line and the history, notably in the presence of locomotor, neurological, cardiac or visual signs.
This information is for guidance only and doesn't replace advice from a veterinarian. If you have any concerns about your pet's health, consult a professional.
