The RSPCA says the number of French Bulldogs coming into its care has risen by 3,800 per cent over the last ten years, and is warning pet lovers to think twice before buying flat-faced breeds.
In 2016 the charity took in just six French Bulldogs or Frenchie crosses from owners who could no longer safely keep them. Last year that figure rose to 234, almost double the total number of Frenchies taken in across the four years from 2016 to 2019 combined.
Flat-faced, or brachycephalic, breeds suffer a wide range of inherited health problems linked to traits bred for their 'cute' appearance, including short snouts, bulging eyes, wrinkled skin and corkscrew tails.
In a new report, the RSPCA said the rising number of flat-faced dogs entering its care is driven by owners who cannot keep up with the vet bills these health issues cause. RSPCA Scientific and Policy Manager Ashleigh Brown, lead author of the report, said: "This is one of the biggest welfare problems pets face today, and it's impacting far more animals than people realise."
Despite their well-known health issues and short life expectancies, influencers and celebrities have helped make French Bulldogs one of the UK's most popular breeds. Many owners, however, are not prepared for how debilitating and expensive their dogs' 'extreme conformation' can become.
Dr Rowena Packer, a dog welfare expert at the Royal Veterinary College, told the Daily Mail: "Flat-faced breeds have been shaped by decades of artificial selection for an increasingly extreme appearance, pushing their anatomy beyond the biological limits required for normal function."
"The impact on quality of life can be profound. Some affected dogs struggle to breathe comfortably, cannot exercise or play normally, are at increased risk of overheating, and even have difficulty sleeping because of airway obstruction," she said. "Painful eye ulcers, chronic skin disease and spinal disorders can cause persistent pain and discomfort, and some dogs lose their vision or mobility."
Frenchies are especially prone to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, or BOAS, a condition in which an unnaturally short snout and narrow nostrils block the airway and cause severe breathing difficulty. Many cases require surgery to widen the airways.
Extreme features to avoid
The RSPCA lists ten extreme conformations dog owners should watch for:
- Stubby legs
- Flat faces
- Bulging eyes
- Drooping eyelids
- Skin folds
- Merle colouration
- Short tails
- Misaligned jaw
- Curved or bowed legs
- Inflexible spine
Airway surgery costs around £2,500 from a private vet, according to the RSPCA's report, The Shape of Suffering. The charity says these costs are simply too great for some owners to bear. A survey cited in the report found more than half of pet owners are worried about affording vet bills, while almost a quarter said they had skipped their pet's annual checkup to save money.
French Bulldogs are not the only flat-faced breed arriving in greater numbers. The number of British Bulldogs given up to the RSPCA has almost doubled between 2016 and the end of 2025, while abandonments of English, or 'Old Tyme', Bulldogs are up 1,450 per cent. Pugs coming into RSPCA centres rose 192 per cent in 2025 compared with 2016.
Ms Brown said these animals are "essentially being bred to suffer" and called their rising popularity a "major concern." She added: "Too often, loving owners take on these dogs with the best intentions, but don't realise what caring for one of these breeds can involve until they're dealing with repeated vet visits, expensive treatment and seeing their pet struggle on a daily basis. People often think these problems won't affect their pet - but they will."
Some dogs cannot be saved
Some dogs arrive at the RSPCA with health conditions from selective breeding so severe that euthanasia is the most humane option. Bruno, a Chow Chow who came into RSPCA care in 2024, underwent multiple surgeries to lift his eyelids, reduce his soft palate and remove excess skin folds from his face.
Despite the treatment, Bruno continued to suffer because of his extreme breeding and was put to sleep on welfare grounds last February.
"We will always try our hardest to give every animal the best outcome, and to find them a new home where appropriate," Ms Brown said. "But sadly some dogs are suffering on a daily basis to such an extent that, even with surgery, they wouldn't have a life worth living - and the kindest option is then to put them to sleep. It's so tragic."
"Anyone looking to add a pet to their family should do their homework, and avoid breeds with exaggerated features unless they are rescues," she said.
The RSPCA notes that many pedigree breed standards include multiple debilitating extreme conformations, among them Pugs, French Bulldogs, Dachshunds, King Charles Cavalier Spaniels, Welsh Corgis, Basset Hounds, Boston Terriers, English Bulldogs, German Shepherds, Shar Peis and Boxers.
