Sterilisation is one of those subjects that really divides the Vetmed and also the breeder community. What we do know is, that with every season, the risks increase for uterine infections, mamary cancers and cervical cancers. Males often also have the desire or tendency to roam/wander when entire, they can get a bit "narky" with other boys, they may even start marking everything as well as have an increased risk of prostate issues into their more senior years. If caught early enough, that usually all stops with sterilising them
In all my experience and research, bulldogs are not normal small breed dogs, they are mini mollosers and they do take a bit longer to mature than nearly every other small breed of dog. Molloser breed dogs do heavily rely on hormones and reaching maturity for bone density and muscle frame support. It is common practice in rescue organisations for sterilisation to happen as early as possible and definitelybefore 6mths. I don't at all agree with this when there are now other sterilisation alternatives keeping intact their hormonal development such as vasectomies and ovarian sparing speys (salpingectomies).
I myself had a tibial crest (growth plate) avulsion injury on Blondie when she was 5¼mth old. There is no way her growth plates would have been dense enough in just 3 more weeks for a desexing, to void this type of injury.
With females, I suggest not to spey until after her first oestrus, because of their big fat potato bodies growing and their little dog bud staying puppy size, bulldogs are known to have a very high incidence of juvenile canine recessed vulva which gives them a lifetime prone to UTIs and therefore bladder/kidney issues, when its as simple as 99% of the time this always will correct its self after first oestrus, some girls don't have their first one until over a year old. With males I suggest around the 10-12mth mark when all growth plates have hardened and closed
I also find if you desex frenchies too early, especially boys, they tend to be really "leggy" looking, almost like a Boston. This is actually super common among many breeds from greyhounds and weimaraners (who are leggy anyway!!) and border collies all the way down to Chihuahua its a strange phenomenon that unfortunately is heavily perpetuated amoungst the rescue community as like I said, it is common for sterilisation to happen WAY WAY to early!!
Please note,that this definitely isn't a one size fits all advice article and should be taken case by case. My recommendation is talk to your vet and see what their suggestion is. Just remember the opinions on this are heavily split and ultimately the decision is yours.
There is new research and a petition that looks at keeping them entire for as long as possible or where this is not feasible (such as rescues) to opt for the alternative hormonal sparing procedures. Check out the petition for this below.
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