My French Bulldog has Started To Drag and Knuckle Their Back Paws. What Should I Do?

Your French Bulldog might have started dragging one or both back paws along the ground. This might have started suddenly or over a longer period of time, but you will notice their nails getting shorter and often their paw skin starts to bleed as they damage the skin and it becomes damaged.

It doesn’t look nice, and it can be painful for your dog. Importantly, dragging can increase the risk of infection in your dog's paw, as dirt can get inside its cuts or scratches, so you must keep the paw clean and protected!

Your French Bulldog is likely to have a medical condition called Paw Knuckling. Commonly, paw knuckling is a secondary condition to a more serious primary condition, usually neurological. Read more about Paw Knuckling here

Visit the vet

It's important to get your dog checked out by your vet so you have a firm diagnosis. Once you know the medical condition, you can get your French Bulldog on the right treatment plan.

Degenerative Myelopathy

We see a lot of French Bulldogs who start showing signs of Paw Knuckling and have an underlying neurological condition called Degenerative Myelopathy. Read more about Degenerative Myelopathy here

Dog boots for knuckling

It's a good idea to get your Frenchie some protective boots to stop the skin from being damaged further. Find protective boots here. 

Dog wheelchairs

If your French Bulldog is severely knuckling or has Degenerative Myelopathy, we help many owners get a dog wheelchair. A dog wheelchair can seem a big step, but if you're open-minded, it can really transform your dog's daily life. Importantly, dog wheelchairs allow your dog to exercise independently again. The wheelchair takes the weight off their back legs, so they can exercise. This means they can lose any extra weight they've put on through being immobile, and it really lifts their mood. If you'd like to learn more about owners who went ahead and got their Frenchie a dog wheelchair, read more here.