Vets want people to stop buying Bulldogs

[Equi]

My cousins frenchie was put to sleep a few weeks ago. She suddenly lost the use of her back legs and digestive system. She was already booked to be operated on for a nose job and palette surgery and the vet didnt even think she would survive surgery for the spine due to her breathing issues. She was only 3.

 

[blackcob]

I was at an agricultural show yesterday and heard a French bulldog approaching long before I saw it - the crowds were parting ahead of it and people were looking back in concern, such was the awful respiratory noise it was making. Owner appeared unconcerned and continued dragging it around the stalls on a hot day.

 

[NinjaPony]

It makes me want to weep to be honest.

I had to have my horse of a lifetime PTS 18 months ago because his breathing began to deteriorate, scans showed scarring on his lungs and no amount of inhalers/steroids gave him more than temporary relief. It broke my heart but I couldn’t watch him suffer like that, with a constantly elevated respiratory rate, heaving whilst stood still and drained of all energy.

So watching these dogs, knowing that they will be suffering too, all for the sake of ‘fashion’ sickens me. Perhaps we also need a ban on breeding purebreds, with only suitable cross breeding allowed. They are such happy, sweet natured, easy going little dogs, we owe it to them to ease their suffering.

 

[Odyssey]

Earlier this year, my neighbour had to have her Frenchie put down at 5 years old. He'd had countless treatments and surgeries over the years, too. To my great surprise (dismay), she got another one, though it was from Battersea rather than a breeder. Having seen what her last one went through, and spending a fortune at the vets, I really can't understand why she wanted another one, albeit a rescue. With so many lovely, healthy breeds to choose from, just why?! I can't imagine how you can enjoy having a dog that struggles to breathe and exercise, and knowing that in all likelihood it's going to develop other serious health problems that will further impair it's quality of life.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

My cousins frenchie was put to sleep a few weeks ago. She suddenly lost the use of her back legs and digestive system. She was already booked to be operated on for a nose job and palette surgery and the vet didnt even think she would survive surgery for the spine due to her breathing issues. She was only 3.

?

 

[maisie06]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-62096688

Picture says it all - people maybe cutting back but I bet quite a few will still be finding ££££'s to buy bulldogs... glad they chose the brachy photo to use for a negative article though

 

[Arzada]

Earlier this year, my neighbour had to have her Frenchie put down at 5 years old. He'd had countless treatments and surgeries over the years, too. To my great surprise (dismay), she got another one, though it was from Battersea rather than a breeder. Having seen what her last one went through, and spending a fortune at the vets, I really can't understand why she wanted another one, albeit a rescue. With so many lovely, healthy breeds to choose from, just why?! I can't imagine how you can enjoy having a dog that struggles to breathe and exercise, and knowing that in all likelihood it's going to develop other serious health problems that will further impair it's quality of life.

I posted previously, possibly on this thread, about the clique like clients who inhabit my local vet reception area. There is something in all of us I think that believes we are good owners by going to the vet and then following the vet's advice post diagnosis. Unfortunately I have had experiences at 2 practices with my cat which have so put me off vets who weren't working in the cat's interest that I now am unable to face having another small pet.

Anyhow I digress so back to the question of why people buy/adopt animals with known serious life threatening, life inhibiting health issues which are bred into them. Is there something like Munchausen's by Proxy going on although it isn't this exactly because the health issues come from breeding rather than damaging your pet to gain veterinary/other attention?

 

[GSD Woman]

I've probably told this before but niece with pit bull originally wanted a Frenchie. I talked her out of it. Now I wish she had made the mistake of buying a French Bulldog instead of getting the pit bull from the shelter.
Seriously though, I do take a lot of poop on Facebook for trying to steer people away from the brachycephalic breeds. Some breeders do produce sound dogs but the majority are pumping out bracies that have the horrible problems.
A woman at agility said her daughter wants a pug. Of course I jumped in. She did point out my breed for problems. Fair enough but good breeders are breeding away from those problems. Pugs are always going to be brachycephalic and it is a hunt to find a breeder who isn't breeding for the extreme.

 

[Cortez]

There are breeders who are actively breeding pugs back to where they were before the extreme short-nosed face became the breed standard. Based in Germany I believe, but they have faced vile abuse from the "proper" breeders.

 

[GSD Woman]

There are breeders who are actively breeding pugs back to where they were before the extreme short-nosed face became the breed standard. Based in Germany I believe, but they have faced vile abuse from the "proper" breeders.

Oh, you have warmed the cockles of my nonexistent heart. I can like this info enough.

 

[Cortez]

Oh, you have warmed the cockles of my nonexistent heart. I can like this info enough.

Google retro pugs, or retro mops.

 

[GSD Woman]

Interesting. I wonder if it will be possible for them to breed predictably enough to get recognition from the various kennel clubs. I remember the puggle craze. Nice little dogs but they all looked like what they were, beagle mixes.

I'm not going to hold my breath on the retro Pugs unfortunately. I've seen enough mixes that start out as a good idea go wrong. I hope the retro Pug does better.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I've mentioned before that I work for people who foster dogs, usually pups, for Dogs Trust. Been there this morning and met the latest arrival, Frenchie x Shar pei! Apparently there were 11 in the litter, the so called breeders sold 7 but when they still had 4 left at 16 weeks old they handed them to DT. Pup is, as would be expected, a funny looking thing, and not at all confident, doubt she has had any socialising. She obviously wanted to make friends with me but couldn't bring herself to be touched, so she is going to need a lot of work but I'm sure my friends (together with their 4 dogs) will bring her out of herself. Hopefully the fact the "breeders" were left with 4 pups will put them off repeating the mating, though no doubt they did very nicely selling the first 7.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I've mentioned before that I work for people who foster dogs, usually pups, for Dogs Trust. Been there this morning and met the latest arrival, Frenchie x Shar pei! Apparently there were 11 in the litter, the so called breeders sold 7 but when they still had 4 left at 16 weeks old they handed them to DT. Pup is, as would be expected, a funny looking thing, and not at all confident, doubt she has had any socialising. She obviously wanted to make friends with me but couldn't bring herself to be touched, so she is going to need a lot of work but I'm sure my friends (together with their 4 dogs) will bring her out of herself. Hopefully the fact the "breeders" were left with 4 pups will put them off repeating the mating, though no doubt they did very nicely selling the first 7.

I would also imagine it’s hard to sell them to good homes and surely no truly good home would every buy this mating?

 

[ester]

There’s retro/olde versions of most of the brachys I think, there’s some very smart nosed frenchies but in some ways that seems like the easier bit to sort within the breed. The single allele genetic issues more need an outcross

 

[KittenInTheTree]

I would also imagine it’s hard to sell them to good homes and surely no truly good home would every buy this mating?

I suspect that breeders like this don't especially care what sort of home their product ends up in.

 

[GSD Woman]

All of this is taking me back to my days of working as veterinary nurse. We used to see all sorts. I wanted to scream when I would see someone with their second pet store puppy. One woman liked her first puppy so much that she wrote to the so called breeder to get another one. I'm sure Joe Blow puppy miller (puppy farmer) in one of the big puppy mill states was thrilled to see her.