In just ONE month Mayhew has shockingly had SEVEN French Bulldogs brought into the rescue.

Unfortunately these dogs are just some of the many brachycephalic pets that can end up abandoned and in our care either due to ill health or being bred to sell. They were handed into us separately and are aged between one and a half and four-years-old.

In the last few years there has been a huge surge in the popularity of brachycephalic pets such as Pugs and Bulldogs, with more and more being bred and available to buy. The French Bulldog was even named as London’s favourite breed of dog in 2017, according to The Kennel Club.

Mayhew’s Head of Animal Welfare, Zoe Edwards, said: “In the past year, five per cent of the 162 individual breeds Mayhew has dealt with have been brachycephalic. We’ve had more than five times as many brachycephalic breeds brought into us compared to the previous year. This goes to show the popularity and increase of brachycephalic pets that have been bred. The trend for dogs with specific facial features has seen breeders increasingly focused on appearance over health.”

“Unfortunately potential owners don’t always understand or are aware of the health problems that brachycephalic breeds often experience.”

Our Head Vet, Dr. Ursula Goetz, said: “Brachycephalic breeds are animals that are bred to have a flat face, which causes their muzzle and nasal aspect to be short, creating a perceived appearance of cuteness. Unfortunately a high percentage of them will have health problems throughout their lives, including eye problems, breathing problems, skin diseases, neurological and dental problems. This can result in a poorer quality of life and will often require veterinary intervention.”

“They have exposed eyes that are prone to injury, skin folds on their face that can become inflamed, infected and sometimes cause trauma to their eyes. These animals can also have a variety of breathing problems such as narrow nostrils and relatively large tongues.”

“The French Bulldogs that were brought into the home had been used for breeding and had a multitude of problems including chronic ear infections, skin conditions, dental problems and an inverted tail. Most of these poor dogs had been suffering with constant chronic pain and discomfort and needed surgery and treatment.”

Dr. Ursula Goetz added: “If you are thinking of getting a dog that belongs to a breed that is brachycephalic, it is very important to do your research first, because these are breeds with a special physiology that you should be aware of. At Mayhew we are here to assist and give you advice on the best course of action for your pet.”

As soon as our Vet Team are satisfied they have received the medical attention and care they need and have been vaccinated and neutered, the French Bulldogs will be put up for adoption on our website here.

We are proud to support Vet Emma Milne’s ‘Vets Against Brachycephalism’ campaign, which strives for better animal welfare and is of the opinion that breeding of extremely brachycephalic animals is fundamentally wrong and should be stopped.

Every year our Animal Welfare Officers and Community Vet Clinic respond to hundreds of animals in need. Please consider a donation to help us help even more animals.