Giant, short‑muzzled guardians, Dogues de Bordeaux are typically calm but deeply attached and protective; excitement, crowding, or unfamiliar dogs/people can heighten stress and stubbornness. As a brachycephalic breed, even brief exertion or warm rooms can trigger noisy breathing and over‑heating; owners may describe baseline snoring/snorting and heavy drool. Many prefer low‑stimulus check‑ins (quiet/direct rooming), space from other dogs, and keeping a harness on (avoiding neck pressure). Escalate if owners report open‑mouth breathing at rest, rapidly worsening breathing noise/effort, blue or pale gums, collapse, or inability to cool down.
Front desk script: “Many Dogues de Bordeaux can get short of breath or overheat with excitement or warm spaces. Would you like us to room you right away and keep their harness on during the visit? We can provide towels and limit contact with other dogs. If you ever see loud or labored breathing at rest, blue or pale gums, or collapse, please come in immediately or go to the nearest emergency clinic.”
Dogue de Bordeaux are large, brachycephalic, deep‑chested dogs with elevated risks for: breathing/heat intolerance (BOAS) and heat‑related illness; life‑threatening bloat (gastric dilatation–volvulus) typical of large deep‑chested breeds; congenital heart disease—especially subaortic stenosis (SAS); orthopedic issues (hip/elbow dysplasia); and skin/eyelid problems including skin‑fold dermatitis and a higher odds of juvenile demodicosis. Front‑desk red flags to escalate include loud or labored breathing, blue/gray gums, collapse or overheating, fainting or exercise‑related weakness, and non‑productive retching with a tight, swollen abdomen.
Front desk script: For Dogue de Bordeaux callers reporting breathing trouble, blue gums, collapse/overheating, or unproductive retching with a tight belly, advise: “This could be an emergency—please proceed to the nearest emergency hospital now.” For fainting, a new heart murmur noted by another vet/breeder, or worsening exercise intolerance, schedule a same‑day doctor exam. For recurring skin‑fold irritation, eye redness/squinting, or patchy hair loss in a young dog, book the next available appointment and note the breed risks in the chart.
The Dogue de Bordeaux is a giant, devoted, short‑nosed (brachycephalic) mastiff that drools heavily and overheats easily; plan for daily low‑to‑moderate exercise, early training/socialization, and simple grooming (weekly brushing plus skin‑fold care). Typical lifespan is about 5–8 years. Health concerns seen in the breed/giant dogs include hip and elbow dysplasia, heart disease, eyelid issues (entropion/ectropion), and risk of life‑threatening bloat (gastric dilatation‑volvulus) in deep‑chested breeds; parent‑club/AKC screening often recommends hips, elbows, cardiac, and eyes. Seek emergency care now for severe breathing distress, blue/pale gums, collapse, or signs of bloat (restlessness, non‑productive retching, a tight swollen abdomen).
Front desk script: They’re a gentle, giant, short‑nosed breed that can overheat quickly and drool a lot; moderate daily walks and early manners training work best. If you ever see hard breathing at rest, gums turning blue/pale, collapse, or a big tight belly with retching, go to the ER immediately. For limping, eye irritation, or skin‑fold problems, please book a same‑day visit. We can also schedule the breed‑recommended screenings for hips, elbows, heart, and eyes.
Front-desk sees frequent calls for Dogue de Bordeaux about loud/snoring or effortful breathing and heat intolerance (short-muzzled risk), sudden nonproductive retching with a tight/bloated abdomen and heavy drooling, fainting/weakness or concerns after a heart murmur is noted, new limping/stiffness or trouble rising (hips/elbows), red or irritated eyes/eyelid rolling, recurrent ear or skin-fold odor/discharge, and in youngsters, cracked or painful paw pads.
Front desk script: Thanks for calling about your Dogue de Bordeaux. Because this breed can overheat or bloat, is your dog struggling to breathe, has pale/blue gums or collapsed, or retching without bringing anything up with a tight belly? If yes to any, this is an emergency—please go to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital now and we will call ahead. If none of those are present, we recommend a same-day exam for new limping, eye redness/discharge, or ear/skin-fold irritation, or persistent noisy breathing.
Short, smooth coat with year-round shedding; weekly brushing typically manages hair and professional grooming needs are minimal. Prominent facial and lip folds plus heavy drooling allow moisture to collect—after any bath, swimming, or wet weather, ensure folds and ears are fully dry and schedule routine checks to prevent problems. As a flat-faced (brachycephalic) giant breed, book shorter, cooler appointments and request towel/low-heat drying; avoid hot rooms and prolonged dryer time. Escalate same day for strong odor, redness, discharge, or pain from skin folds/ears; treat rapid or labored breathing, blue/pale gums, collapse, or inability to cool down as an emergency and direct to an ER clinic.
Front desk script: For Dogue de Bordeaux, we schedule short, low-heat grooming in a cool room and make sure facial folds and ears are thoroughly dried after any bath. Expect steady shedding and notable drool; weekly brushing at home usually keeps the coat in good shape between visits. If you notice strong odor, redness, discharge, or sores in the folds or ears, we should see your dog the same day. If breathing becomes labored, gums look blue or pale, or there’s collapse after heat or drying, go straight to an emergency hospital.
Dogue de Bordeaux are giant, deep‑chested and short‑nosed (brachycephalic), so intake should screen first for breathing/overheating issues and for bloat/GDV red flags; any report of noisy or labored breathing in heat or after exertion is routed same‑day, and a distended belly with unproductive retching is immediate ER. For routine calls, note large‑dog handling needs and confirm weight; for any sedation/anesthesia, flag as brachycephalic for pre‑anesthetic review and morning drop‑off. If a heart murmur, fainting, or exercise intolerance is reported, route to DVM with potential cardiology follow‑up; orthopedic/skin‑fold concerns can be standard appointments unless acute pain or infection signs are present.
Front desk script: Because Dogue de Bordeaux are short‑nosed and deep‑chested, I’d like to ask a couple of quick safety questions: Is your dog having noisy or labored breathing, overheating, or a swollen belly with trying to vomit but nothing coming up? If you see a tight, enlarged abdomen with unproductive retching, pale gums, collapse, or severe breathing trouble, this is an emergency—please proceed to the nearest 24/7 ER now and I will alert them. Otherwise, I can book a same‑day exam; for any procedure with sedation, we’ll schedule a pre‑anesthetic consult and a morning drop‑off.
Puppies (giant breeds like the Dogue de Bordeaux can mature closer to 18–24 months) need q3–4 week visits to finish vaccines, monitor rapid growth/weight, and screen early for orthopedic and brachycephalic airway concerns; adults should have wellness every 6–12 months with weight/dental checks and owner coaching on heat sensitivity and bloat awareness; because this deep‑chested, flat‑faced mastiff has elevated risk for heat‑related illness and gastric dilatation–volvulus (GDV), staff should brief owners on red‑flag signs—unproductive retching, sudden abdominal distension, collapse, labored/noisy breathing, blue gums—and direct immediate emergency care; seniors (the last ~25% of expected lifespan, which occurs earlier in large breeds) are best seen at least every 6 months with mobility and cardiac check‑ins and baseline labs to catch change early.
Front desk script: For a Dogue de Bordeaux puppy, we’ll book visits every 3–4 weeks to complete vaccines and track large‑breed growth. As an adult, we recommend wellness exams every 6–12 months; please call immediately if you ever see non‑productive retching or a suddenly bloated belly. From around 6 years, we’ll shift to senior checkups every 6 months with mobility and heart screening. If at any age your Dogue is struggling to breathe, overheats, collapses, or has a swollen abdomen with dry heaves, go to the emergency hospital now—we’ll alert them you’re on the way.
For Dogue de Bordeaux (a giant, flat‑faced breed), set expectations up front: offer indoor check‑in and a cool, quiet space to avoid heat and stress; confirm the purpose of the visit and ask brief triage questions about breathing at rest (noisy/effortful, blue or pale gums, collapse) and acute belly signs (sudden unproductive retching with a tight, enlarged abdomen). If any of these are present, state clearly this is an emergency and direct immediate in‑hospital evaluation; otherwise, schedule the earliest cooler‑time slot and minimize wait-in-car time to reduce risk and friction.
Front desk script: Because Dogues de Bordeaux can overheat and have airway challenges, I’d like to quickly check for red flags: is your dog having noisy or labored breathing at rest, blue or pale gums, collapse, or sudden non‑productive retching with a tight, swollen belly? If yes, this is an emergency—please proceed to the nearest emergency hospital now and do not wait in the car; I can call ahead. If no, I’ll book the earliest cooler‑time appointment and reserve an indoor check‑in area so your dog stays comfortable.
Large, deep‑chested Dogue de Bordeaux are at increased risk for gastric dilatation–volvulus (bloat): if an owner reports unproductive retching, a tight/bloated abdomen, excessive drooling, weakness/collapse, or pale/blue gums, instruct immediate ER care; discuss preventive options (e.g., gastropexy) at pre‑surgery visits. Their short muzzle/BOAS means poor heat tolerance—offer cooler appointment times and escalate reports of noisy breathing at rest, heat stress, or collapse to emergency advice. The breed is predisposed to congenital heart disease (notably subaortic stenosis); prioritize timely vet exams for any murmur, fainting, or exercise intolerance and be ready to book cardiology if directed. Because of heavy build and known hip/elbow issues, keep growth‑phase wellness/weight checks on schedule and flag mobility changes for the doctor.
Front desk script: Thanks for calling—this breed can have heat‑ and bloat‑related emergencies. If you see non‑productive retching, a swollen belly, collapse, or severe breathing trouble, please go to the nearest emergency hospital now. For routine care, we’ll schedule regular wellness and weight checks; if our doctor hears a murmur or notes lameness, we’ll arrange the recommended cardiology or orthopedic follow‑up. Would an early morning or late‑day slot work to keep your dog cooler during the visit?
Very large, brachycephalic guardian that’s typically calm, devoted, and patient but can be stubborn, wary with strangers, and dog‑selective. Handling: minimize lobby time and heat exposure; room directly to a quiet space; allow owner present; slow, confident approach; use a sturdy harness/double‑leash and avoid neck pressure; keep towels handy for drool. What matters most: airway/heat sensitivity and low exercise tolerance—watch for noisy or heavy breathing, open‑mouth breathing at rest, stress in warm rooms, and over‑arousal; manage distance from other dogs due to size/strength. If respiratory effort escalates, gums turn blue/pale, collapse occurs, or overheating is suspected, alert the medical team and move to emergency care immediately.
Front desk script: Thanks for bringing your Dogue de Bordeaux—this is a large, heat‑sensitive, short‑nosed breed. We’ll take you straight to a quiet room and use a harness/double‑leash and a slow, low‑stress approach. Please tell us right away if you notice noisy/heavy breathing, open‑mouth breathing at rest, blue/pale gums, or signs of overheating; if we see any of these, we will escalate to emergency care immediately. We’ll also keep space from other dogs for everyone’s comfort and safety.
Dogue de Bordeaux are giant, deep-chested, brachycephalic dogs—house in a cool, low‑stress area on intake, use a harness (not a neck collar) for handling/transport, and brief adopters on two urgent risks: brachycephalic airway compromise (loud/noisy breathing, open‑mouth breathing at rest, blue/gray gums, collapse) and bloat/GDV (non‑productive retching, sudden abdominal distension, restlessness, hypersalivation); either set of signs is an emergency. Note the breed’s documented predisposition to subaortic stenosis (new heart murmurs warrant non‑urgent veterinary follow‑up) and common large‑breed orthopedic/skin‑fold care needs that may affect placement readiness (ability to manage a heavy dog, traction on floors/steps, towel/skin‑fold hygiene planning). ([vet.cornell.edu](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-topics/brachycephalic-obstructive-airway-syndrome-boas))
Front desk script: For this brachycephalic, deep‑chested breed, please keep them cool and calm and use a harness for walks or transport. If you ever see unproductive retching with a tight or rapidly enlarging belly, or worsening noisy breathing/blue gums or collapse, this is an emergency—go to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital immediately and let us know. We will also flag any new heart murmur for routine cardiology follow‑up with the adopter. ([vet.cornell.edu](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-topics/brachycephalic-obstructive-airway-syndrome-boas))
Calm, loyal, and protective but very strong, the Dogue de Bordeaux may be wary of unfamiliar people and dogs; seat away from traffic and other pets, and move them to a spacious, cool exam room quickly. As a brachycephalic, minimize heat, excitement, and restraint time; confirm the dog arrives on a well‑fitted harness (avoid neck pressure), use non‑slip footing, and plan a slow, low‑stimulus handoff with two staff if needed. Expect heavy drool—have towels ready. Escalate immediately if you observe noisy or labored breathing, blue/pale gums, collapse, or heat‑stress signs (excessive panting, thick saliva, lethargy); alert the medical team and fast‑track to emergency triage.
Front desk script: “Hi! We’ll bring you right into a cool, larger room to keep things calm. Would you prefer to wait in your car until we’re ready, and does your Dogue de Bordeaux have any handling preferences (harness, treats, past muzzle use) or triggers around other dogs? We’ll seat you away from foot traffic. If you notice heavy/noisy breathing, blue gums, or signs of overheating at any time, please tell us immediately so we can treat it as an emergency.”
Dogue de Bordeaux are large, deep-chested and brachycephalic, so front-desk should escalate immediately if the caller reports: non-productive retching with a rapidly enlarging or very tight abdomen, restlessness, hypersalivation, or abdominal pain/distention (possible GDV—treat as an emergency); noisy or labored breathing, open-mouth breathing at rest, blue or very pale gums, collapse, or any heat exposure with heavy panting, drooling, confusion, vomiting/diarrhea (possible brachycephalic airway crisis/heatstroke—this is an emergency); sudden fainting/collapse, marked weakness, rapid breathing at rest, or new belly swelling (possible cardiac decompensation—same-day to emergency depending on severity).
Front desk script: Based on what you’re describing in a Dogue de Bordeaux, this could be life‑threatening. I’m escalating to the clinician now—please come to our hospital or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic immediately. If breathing worsens, the abdomen swells, or your dog collapses while en route, call us from the car so we can prepare.