Battersea Dogs Home is facing an influx of poorly French Bulldogs driven by the breed’s growing popularity, it has warned.
The French Bulldog is now Britain’s most sought-after dog – but bad breeding leaves them plagued by health conditions.
Many require expensive surgery to cure issues affecting their breathing and ears, and often owners don’t research the breed before buying a so-called ‘designer dog’.
Piccalilli was brought into Battersea at the end of March by her previous owner, who could no longer afford the rising veterinary bills and wanted to make sure she would be in safe hands.
She was fighting for breath, frequently vomiting and suffering from sore ears and infected skin.
After weeks in clinic kennels, she was fostered with a staff member to make sure she gets the care and attention she needs around the clock, and after enduring several different surgeries she finally found a permanent home in August.
This is something Battersea is seeing more and more – designer flat-faced dogs taken on by owners who have no idea of the potential pitfalls of the breed and are unable to cope with the cost of treatment.
In 2014, it took in eight ‘Frenchies’ – but this year they have already taken in three-and-a-half times as many.
Most of these dogs require weeks of intense veterinary treatment, with many, like Piccalilli, needing specialist surgery to widen their airways and shorten their soft palate to help them breathe.
Other flat-faced, or what is known as brachycephalic, dogs like Pugs and Bulldogs often also require this surgery.
While the average length of stay for all dogs at Battersea last year was 35 days, French Bulldogs stay on average for 59 – usually due to the weeks of medical treatment and recovery they require.
French Bulldogs are popular among unscrupulous breeders and puppy smugglers who look to make a quick profit at the animal’s expense.
Battersea has partly blamed the rise in ‘Frenchies’ coming into rescue on the celebrities who plaster photos of their dogs all over their social media accounts.
Shaun Opperman, Battersea’s head vet, said: “French Bulldogs are a classic example of overbreeding – people see celebrities touting them and getting thousands of likes on social media, and want one for themselves.
“I understand their appeal: with their big eyes and ears, they look like Disney characters, but their appearance is a real burden to them, because in many cases it takes away their ability to act like a real dog.
“Many of them can’t run or play for long because they struggle to breathe, their skin folds are prone to infection and they are also susceptible to eye problems.”
Shaun added: “However, you can’t help feeling that if owners knew the true cost to their health this breed pays, they’d be horrified.
“The soaring demand for these dogs encourages unscrupulous breeding, which means generation after generation of Frenchies and other designer dogs are being born with terrible medical problems.
“It’s one of the biggest welfare issues that Battersea is facing.
“We have long campaigned for better regulations around the breeding and sale of puppies – dogs like Piccalilli are counting on us.”
