Veterinary experts are making an urgent plea to the British public, calling for an immediate halt to the purchase of flat-faced dog breeds. This stark warning comes in response to a dramatic and concerning surge in expensive, complex operations required to treat the severe health problems plaguing these animals.
A Lifetime of Suffering for Fashionable Breeds
New data from the prestigious Royal Veterinary College (RVC) reveals an astronomical 2,075 per cent increase in surgical procedures for French Bulldogs alone. This popular breed, alongside English Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boston Terriers, has become a favourite among dog lovers and celebrities, with famous owners including Paris Hilton, Lady Gaga, and Reese Witherspoon.
However, behind their wrinkled faces and squashed noses lies what experts describe as a 'lifetime of suffering'. These extreme physical features, a result of selective breeding by humans, cause chronic pain and a host of debilitating health issues.
Dr Dan O'Neill, a professor of animal epidemiology at the RVC, states bluntly that these abnormalities are man-made. 'These findings show the huge cost that dogs are paying for our human desire to own dogs that no longer look like natural dogs,' Dr O'Neill said. He advocates for a fundamental shift in perspective, urging that 'the welfare needs of the dog' be put ahead of human whims.
The Shocking Data Behind the Crisis
The research, conducted at the RVC's Queen Mother Hospital for Animals in London, analysed a decade of surgical data. The findings are stark. Overall, soft tissue surgeries—procedures on muscles, skin, and tendons—rose significantly from 659 in 2008 to 1,001 in 2018.
This increase was largely driven by the demand to care for flat-faced, or brachycephalic, dogs. The French Bulldog's rise was the most dramatic, jumping from just four soft tissue surgeries in 2008 to 83 in 2018, making it the most common breed requiring such operations.
One of the most telling statistics concerns Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), a serious breathing condition. Surgeries for BOAS increased by 813 per cent, with nearly half of all such procedures in 2018 performed on French Bulldogs.
Perhaps most alarmingly, the average age of referred French Bulldogs was just 26 months, highlighting a high demand for puppies and a tragically short lifespan linked to chronic illness.
The Severe Health Consequences of 'Cute' Features
Experts are clear that the growing public preference for these abnormally shaped dogs is fuelling a full-blown 'canine welfare crisis' in the UK. Traits marketed as cute come with severe, lifelong consequences.
The list of common health problems for these breeds is extensive and distressing:
- Restricted breathing that can feel like suffocation, especially during exercise.
- Severe dental disease due to their abnormal skull shape.
- Eye issues and corneal ulcers from their bulging eyes.
- Painful skin infections within their excessive skin folds.
- Spinal deformities and a predisposition to obesity.
Co-author Professor Dan Brockman, a small animal surgery expert at the RVC, stated that this preference for flat-faced breeds 'has to stop'. He described the situation as a 'devastating finding that human 'preference' is creating a welfare catastrophe'.
The researchers conclude that it is time to see the natural canine body as the true standard of beauty, prioritising the health and wellbeing of man's best friend over fleeting fashion trends.
