A bulldog’s lostbreath
French bulldog Ernest was born with a cleft palate so severe he could stop breathing at any moment – and his owner won’t be able to breath easy until she has raised £1,000 for the urgent treatment he needs.
The two-year-old dog has trouble eating and drinking and has sleep apnea, which means he already stops breathing during his sleep.
Owner Lyndsey Roach said: “I’m scared if he gets too excited his airway could completely close.
“Every day we do our best to keep him calm, which isn’t easy. As Ernest can’t smell very well, he gets up close to objects and people, nuzzling them.”
Cleft palates are more common in breeds with short snouts, like bulldogs and boxers. But Ernest’s is particularly severe – and his first owner sold him to Lyndsey, of Sandycroft, Flintshire, because they had not expected him to need so much care.
Now Lyndsey hopes animal lovers will donate to help her “cheeky little boy”. To help, visit his GoFundMe page via tinyurl.com/ernie-nosey