Costly cuddles: French bulldogs among dogs being surrendered at concerning rate: SPCA

French bulldogs are one of the most popular breeds to purchase, but they are also one of the most expensive to care for. (Angela Schjodt)

Animal advocates in Montreal say a rising number of French bulldogs and other fashionable breeds are being surrendered due to their costly medical, insurance and other bills.

French bulldogs (Frenchies), like pugs, chow chows, boxers and mastiffs, are a brachycephalic breed with short snouts, flattened faces and large bulging eyes.

SPCA Executive Director Laurence Massé explained that the features that are so valued to be bred into the dogs are also the cause of multiple medical issues.

“There are many issues that come with the physical features that we are all attracted to,” she said, adding that one in six dogs of all breeds are surrendered to the SPCA due to medical costs.

“Because of the economic context right now, unfortunately, families can’t put aside money and as soon as they have a veterinarian emergency, they surrender their animals because it’s really expensive when you don’t plan for those types of emergencies,” she said.

Prized features, future problems

Frenchies and other similar breeds often have issues with their wind pipes, spine, skin and other areas due to their physiology.

“These dogs tend to have a lot of breathing issues, but it doesn’t stop there,” veterinarian Sophia Skoulikas told CJAD 800 Radio host Elias Makos. “They can have eye problems. They have protruding eyes, big globular eyes, so they have higher risks of getting corneal ulcers or corneal pigmentation.”

As a result, bills can pile up.

“It really depends on what condition arises,” said Skoulikas. “If they end up having pretty severe things like hip and elbow dysplasia or spinal issues, these are surgical costs that are in the thousands. You’re looking at minimal $5,000 to $10,000.”

Skin-related issues, Skoulikas adds, can run about $150 per month for special foods, medication and shampoos.

“That all adds up because there’s also the regular care that any regular dog needs like their grooming, their regular food and their vaccines,” the vet added.

Premium insurance rates

Pet insurance is an option for mitigating vet bills, but, again, pet parents should be prepared to pay.

Forbes magazine listed French bulldogs as one of the top 20 most expensive breeds to purchase pet insurance for.

The pet insurance site Trupanion quoted just under $150-per-month for a two-year-old Frenchie with no existing conditions.

“All of the insurance companies know that they come with health issues, so it’s really expensive,” said Massé.

The problem with popular pups

Frenchies were the sixth most popular dog breed in Canada in 2024 and the most popular brachycephalic dog, according to Rover.com.

This popularity, however, comes with a major issue for animal advocates: unethical breeding.

“That’s going to come with a lot of issues because there’s no genetic testing, [and] they’re not bred in an ethical way,” said Massé. “Not only are they going to reproduce features that people like that are causing some issues, but also, because they don’t look at the genetics, they’re going to increase the risk of health issues.”

Anyone looking for a pure breed dog should always do background checks on the breeders, Skoulikas said.

“Unethical breeders will breed dogs even if they have these conditions,” she said. They’ll know that the dog will have hip dysplasia for instance, which is something that you shouldn’t breed. You shouldn’t make offspring of those dogs and they’ll do it anyway.”

Skoulikas says buyers should verify that the puppy’s parents have the proper papers and a clean bill of health.