The Family French

15/08/2024

Vestibular disease took my baby boy. First he was sick, then wobbly then fell over and kept trying to wee but couldn’t do it, then the nystagmus (eye shaking) then it got so violent his head shook and tilted. He had a peaceful journey in the car to the vet as we rushed him in, on my lap holding his head on the open windowsill of the car to keep his head still in the sunshine. They rushed him to the back straight away but they felt he wouldn’t improve, they said I was right diagnosing vestibular disease onset in only an hour and very violently, they said it wasn’t anything to do with his ears, they said it could have caused a blood clot in his brain and that we could try him with an injection for a week to see if he improved but they felt he would struggle only having 3 legs and falling over forward as his head was twitching and heavy. I said it was time to let him go, the vet then said yes that’s the second option and the one we’d reccomend and that it was horrible but I should be proud for not letting him suffer just for more time. They sedated him and gave him something to stop his head tremors so he was more comfortable but they were so bad he couldn’t close his eyes. They gave him the long sleep sedative and he lay in my lap for about 10 mins just snoring away as it took effect. I lay him in my arms on the table, holding his head and the cannula was put in. Still snoring I picked him up and held him close as they injected the euthanasia drug in. Part of me died with him. He went without a movement or a peep. I couldn’t let his body go, I held him for close to an hour before I could lay him in the blanket on the table. As I supported his head I heard one final snore as I lay him down on the table, he was gone but he left one little snore to leave me with as I lay him down on the table in the blanket. I kissed him over and over on his silky little head and I WAILED as I left. I ran back in one more time, screaming with pain. I couldn’t control the raw emotion coming out. 14 years, my special little man. They said they’d never met a frenchie as old has him, all of mine lived to 13/14 apart from Yoda who had cancer and was put to sleep at 8 after losing an eye to glaucoma and a leg to cancer. Vader is at peace with Yoda Leia Callie and Lilly now. He truly was his pedigree name “brave bull” to the end. I’ll miss you my son ❤

14/08/2024

RIP VADER MURPHY Jan 2011 to August 2024

22/09/2023

24/08/2023

Big bed in wash, clean puppies but for how long? Leia is a chonk and Vader has a disease that makes him underweight but he’s doing very well atm! He’s on meds

24/08/2023

Freshly bathed poopers, all 3 frenchies are clean and have had their bed changed. So have I!

28/02/2022

Pile on!

17/02/2022

It terrifies me that in the last decade plus (11 years) that I’ve owned French Bulldogs that in that time I’ve seen these fad colours in the U.K. go from mainly just blue to almost every colour you can get a T-shirt in and nearly every texture… it scares the living daylights out of me. With Isabella??? And Fluffy??? The new “must have styles of the season” it seems my “blue” “teacup” worries are decades old and “naked” “hairless” “bald” (Presumably Chinese crested crossed to create these new “trends”) frenchies are not as light year far away as I’d prayed.
With little known about the affects on health these colours being bred into the bred could have, noses getting shorter and BOAS surgery and stenosed dogs becoming more common… I urge people to do their research on the French bulldog breed and colours before going out to buy or even rescue one! So many in rescue (after speaking to a member of one of them recently) are so agressive and have allergies and other major behavioural and other mental and physical health issues, we don’t know how much consideration is taken into WHO the dog is that is being bred from when they see the colour can make them money.
The Kennel Club in the U.K. recognises these colours: fawn (it can have a black mask), brindle, brindle pied. Soon these “standard” colours will be the rare ones. Be a responsible owner and buy a dog from health tested parents with a KC standard colour, failing that RESCUE a neutered frenchie whatever the colour they are NOT BECAUSE of their colour and be proud you’ve helped save one dog in your home and the next who can take their space now you’ve freed one up for them.
Just my 2p but I’ve had 6 French Bulldogs now, only one of non U.K. standard colour (though cream is allowed in America and other countries) who is a rehome and I can tell you she is the most nervous and mentally messed up thing I’ve ever met (I’m unsure what other “fashion” colours her mum and dad carry but I know one had several of the fad list), she comes from a kennel who breed “designer colours” self confessed and advertise that way for thousands of pounds to make money. Who knows if it’s the colour or the fact she has had a bad start that brought her to this outcome but they tried to breed from her which was the most irresponsible thing to do, sadly she is now mentally and physically scarred after aborting the litter at just 6 weeks due to an infection that nearly killed her as well as her puppies. She was unwanted after she couldn’t breed and was a shadow of who she is now that she is loved by me but still HUGELY nervous.
Anyway, if you’d like advice on the breed or to meet a frenchie if you haven’t had the pleasure! Please contact me via message or email on this page (The Family French) I’m always really happy to chat to anyone who wants to talk about this wonderful breed… but please, consider adoption first, there are so many amazing rescues out there especially the French Bulldog Welfare Trust who I really want to mention, please consider donating to them today if you, like me, are against these fad colours and GREED BREEDERS! Also, contact them if you have any interest in fostering, adopting or fundraising for frenchies in the U.K. They could really do with some one dog only foster and adoption homes where the dog you take in is the only pet, if that’s you, email them/apply today! Thanks!
- Caroline Murphy

05/02/2022

26/01/2022

Watching a film and Mara just sits back OF HER OWN ACCORD! We call this the Homer Simpson!

25/01/2022

No animals on the screen and she’s still at it, now panting as well as shaking. Tv off and plenty of reassurance. Videos for the vet done.

25/01/2022

Took this video for the vet, can’t watch anything without Mara shaking and being glued to it! She’s obsessed! Poor thing.

19/01/2022

This is how Mara balances when she meerkats to try and get my attention when I’m on my phone or watching tv, not giving her EVERY last bit of my attention, she’s so funny and clever! Of course I then drop everything to play with her!

19/01/2022

Has her back toes under her chin! Not sure what she’s done to her eye though silly billy, will keep an eye on it. Think it’s just a little puppy spot.

17/01/2022

She’s insane…..

17/01/2022

When she wants attention and Mum and I are playing a game on my phone, Cue the Meerkat!!!

17/01/2022

Poor Mara, she’s obsessed! Shaking with excitement at the animals on tv!

16/01/2022

Taking full advantage of me leaving the room to get morphine!

15/01/2022

Birthday girl and Pickle behind against the radiator!

15/01/2022

Happy 2nd birthday Mara moo! Your first with us ❤ Here’s to many more together! Though you’re a little tyke and probably won’t last that long 😉

13/01/2022

Needs a bloody good clean but they’re always watching, my angels on the bottom row. L TO R - Lilly and Callie the old lady rescues and Yoda who I owned from 8 weeks, my first ever frenchie. Vader and Leia are on top, Leia with her one ear up ❤ both a little greyer now. I’ll have to get one done of Mara and them to put next to it, our family is changing shape but they’ll always be together ❤

13/01/2022

He’s snoring away with a full tummy and Leia is cuddling up to him, he’s had a great day for his birthday and hopefully we can continue to spoil him for the rest of his days! He’s such a treasure. Leia feeling much better after the rich pate which we won’t be giving her again, made her sick all day but stomach of steel Vader is happy to eat it!

13/01/2022

Me with any kind of food! Vader eyes! 👀

13/01/2022

11 years old today ❤ my Vader, the three legged wonder dog, owner surrender
I took on with 3 legs aged 6 months who “fell off the sofa” but had so much separation anxiety and fear he wouldn’t come out from under the table or sofa and then from leaving me for weeks and only other dogs gave him that confidence to finally leave me. Yoda did so much for him. He still cries when I leave the room but he’s come on so much! I adore him and pray we have many more birthdays with him to come!

13/01/2022

He might be 11 but his tongue work is on point! Happy 11th birthday my darling boy, Vader! I wish Yoda was here to celebrate it with you, miss him so much.

13/01/2022

Happy 11th birthday my darling boy, Vader ❤ sorry for the pic spam but if you see them you’ll know why I’ve posted them all! ❤