Five per cent of the 162 individual dog breeds Mayhew has cared for over the past year have been brachycephalic.

Mayhew reports a rise in brachycephalics at its rescue home   

A rescue centre in London has seen seven French bulldogs come through its doors in just one month, fuelling concerns about irresponsible breeding.

Animal welfare charity Mayhew said the dogs were all brought separately to the home and are aged between one and four years old.

They had been used for breeding and had a multitude of health issues among them, including chronic ear infections, skin conditions, dental problems and inverted tail.

Five per cent of the 162 individual dog breeds Mayhew has cared for over the past year have been brachycephalic. The charity also reported a five-fold increase in the number of brachycephalics brought in compared to the previous year.

The popularity of brachycephalics has soared in recent years and is likely being fuelled by celebrity owners and the prevalence of pugs, French bulldogs and English bulldogs in marketing campaigns. The BVA’s #BreedToBreathe campaign is urging practices to tackle this prevalence in advertising and social media.

Images © Mayhew