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Australian Dog Lover
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A landmark study from the UK’s Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has delivered a sobering look into the true cost of owning a French Bulldog, revealing a startling 2075% increase in soft-tissue surgical referrals for the breed over a decade.
The research, which analysed data from the RVC’s Queen Mother Hospital for Animals (QMHA) in London, found that the massive surge was overwhelmingly driven by the need for complex, costly surgeries to address severe breathing problems associated with their deliberately flat faces.
While the data comes from a prominent UK institution, the RVC's findings serve as a powerful and urgent warning for Australian Dog Lover readers who have embraced the French Bulldog and other flat-faced, or 'brachycephalic,' breeds like the Pug and British Bulldog.
The Startling Numbers: A Crisis in the Making
The research, led by Dr. Alex Currie, compared surgical logs from 2008 to 2018 and painted a stark picture of shifting veterinary needs:
- French Bulldog Referrals: A staggering 2075% rise in referrals for soft-tissue surgery.
- Total BOAS Surgeries: Procedures for Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)—the serious breathing condition affecting flat-faced dogs—rose by 1813% (from 16 surgeries in 2008 to 131 in 2018).
- Frenchie Dominance: By 2018, French Bulldogs accounted for almost half (45% ) of all BOAS surgeries performed.
- Young Patients: The median age for referred French Bulldogs was shockingly low at just 26 months, suggesting a short lifespan linked to chronic health issues and a high demand for young dogs with health problems.
Dr. Alex Currie, former RVC intern and lead author, summarised the findings: “These findings demonstrate the welfare cost associated with flat-faced dogs, in addition to the financial and emotional toll on owners of managing the health needs of such breeds.”
What is BOAS and Why Does it Require Surgery?
The appeal of a short muzzle and large eyes often overshadows the severe health consequences for these dogs. BOAS results from the deliberate breeding of dogs to have compressed skull structures, leading to:
- Difficult Breathing: Inability to easily draw in air.
- Heat Intolerance: Inability to pant effectively and cool themselves.
- Sleep Problems: Disrupted sleep and chronic fatigue.
Procedures like widening the nostrils, removing excess soft palate tissue, and correcting narrowed windpipes are often essential for these dogs to breathe comfortably, but they are invasive, complex, and carry a high BOAS surgery cost.
The Australian Connection: A Warning for Owners
In Australia, the popularity of the French Bulldog has skyrocketed, making this research highly relevant. As Professor Dan O’Neill, co-author of the study, notes:
This statement is a powerful call-to-action for the Australian dog community. Owners must be prepared for the potential emotional, time, and financial strain that comes with managing a brachycephalic dog's chronic health issues.
Informing the Future of Veterinary Care
The study also highlighted the importance of using administrative data, like surgical logs, to inform veterinary resource planning. The massive shifts in breed popularity are directly driving new requirements for specialist expertise, specific facilities, and equipment.
Professor Dan Brockman, Professor of Small Animal Surgery at the RVC, said: "It is impossible to ignore the dominant, stark and devastating finding that human “preference” is creating a welfare catastrophe before our eyes and 'on our watch.' I concur entirely with Professor O’Neill, it is time for this to stop.”
What Can Australian Dog Lovers Do?
Reference:
Currie A.J., O’Neill D.G. & Brockman, D. (2025). ‘Lessons from changing soft tissue surgical referral trends for cats and dogs in a UK veterinary university teaching hospital between 2008 and 2018’ Companion Animal Health and Genetics [https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-025-00147-w.]
About the Research Source:
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and a Member Institution of the University of London. The RVC is consistently ranked as one of the top veterinary schools in the world (QS World University Rankings by subject, 2025).
The RVC is one of the few veterinary schools globally to hold accreditations from major bodies, including the Australian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) for Australasia, giving its research immediate relevance to Australian veterinary standards and practices. The College is a leading research-led institution, providing expert veterinary care through its teaching hospitals in the UK.
The Australian Connection: A Warning for Owners
In Australia, the popularity of the French Bulldog has skyrocketed, making this research highly relevant. As Professor Dan O’Neill, co-author of the study, notes:
“These findings show the huge cost that dogs are paying for our human desire to own dogs that no longer look like natural dogs.”“It is time for humanity to put the welfare needs of the dog ahead of our whims to own extreme and non-natural shaped animals, and to return to seeing the natural canine body shape as a thing of beauty.”
This statement is a powerful call-to-action for the Australian dog community. Owners must be prepared for the potential emotional, time, and financial strain that comes with managing a brachycephalic dog's chronic health issues.
Informing the Future of Veterinary Care
The study also highlighted the importance of using administrative data, like surgical logs, to inform veterinary resource planning. The massive shifts in breed popularity are directly driving new requirements for specialist expertise, specific facilities, and equipment.
Professor Dan Brockman, Professor of Small Animal Surgery at the RVC, said: "It is impossible to ignore the dominant, stark and devastating finding that human “preference” is creating a welfare catastrophe before our eyes and 'on our watch.' I concur entirely with Professor O’Neill, it is time for this to stop.”
What Can Australian Dog Lovers Do?
- Prioritise Health Over Aesthetics: When considering a brachycephalic breed, research ethical breeders who prioritise health screening and breeding away from extreme features. Look for breeders who use BOAS testing schemes.
- Pet Insurance is Essential: Given the high risk of needing specialist, complex surgery at a young age, comprehensive pet insurance is crucial for these breeds.
- Support Welfare Campaigns: Support groups and campaigns in Australia that advocate for improved breeding standards and better health outcomes for flat-faced dogs.
Reference:
Currie A.J., O’Neill D.G. & Brockman, D. (2025). ‘Lessons from changing soft tissue surgical referral trends for cats and dogs in a UK veterinary university teaching hospital between 2008 and 2018’ Companion Animal Health and Genetics [https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-025-00147-w.]
About the Research Source:
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and a Member Institution of the University of London. The RVC is consistently ranked as one of the top veterinary schools in the world (QS World University Rankings by subject, 2025).
The RVC is one of the few veterinary schools globally to hold accreditations from major bodies, including the Australian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) for Australasia, giving its research immediate relevance to Australian veterinary standards and practices. The College is a leading research-led institution, providing expert veterinary care through its teaching hospitals in the UK.
For more information, visit the RVC website.
