Vets had said that pugs should no longer be classed as ‘typical dogs’ because of the serious health problems caused by their ‘extreme body shape’. A new study by the Royal Veterinary College is calling on dog lovers to stop buying and breeding these varieties to stop their suffering.
According to the RVC research showed that the average health of pub varieties was worse in the main than other breeds. They are twice as likely to experience one or more disorders annually compared with other dogs.
In a release the RVC said: “These findings suggest the Pug can no longer be considered a ‘typical dog’ from a health perspective and urgent action is required to reduce the high rate of health issues associated with the breed.”
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According to Kennel Club registrations there has been a fivefold increase in pug breed registrations between 2005 to 2017. The problems are caused by the breed’s flat face, bulging eyes, wrinkled skin and tendency towards obesity, which the RVC say are characteristics “which are often considered ‘cute’ by the public”.
Justine Shotton, British veterinary Association (BVA) President, said: “These statistics are shocking but, sadly, they will not be surprising to our members. Vet teams see pugs with these distressing health problems – from breathing difficulties to eye ulcers and painful spine abnormalities - in veterinary practices across the UK on a daily basis.
“This study clearly demonstrates how it is the extreme characteristics many owners find so appealing, such as squashed faces, big eyes and curly tails, which are seriously compromising pugs’ health and welfare and often result in a lifetime of suffering. While these extreme, unhealthy characteristics remain, we will continue to strongly recommend potential owners do not buy brachycephalic breeds such as pugs.”
Dr Dan O’Neill, Associate Professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology at the RVC and lead author of the paper, said: “Although hugely popular as pets, we now know that that several severe health issues are linked to the extreme body shape of Pugs that many humans find so cute. It is time now that we focus on the health of the dog rather than the whims of the owner when we are choosing what type of dog to own.”
The RVC’s VetCompass programme, compared the health of random samples of 4,308 Pugs and 21,835 non-Pugs. Overall, Pugs were found to be 1.9 times as likely to have one or more disorders recorded in a single year compared to non-Pugs, indicating a poor overall health status in the breed.
Pugs had a higher risk of 23 out of the 40 (57.5%) disorders compared with a lower risk of only seven out of 40 (17.5%) disorders. Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)* was the disorder with the highest risk in Pugs, with the breed almost 54 times more likely to have the condition.
Bill Lambert, Health, Welfare and Breeder Services Executive at The Kennel Club, said: “We want to ensure that all Pugs are bred with their health and welfare as the absolute priority. Dogs with exaggerated features which are bred and bought irresponsibly are one of The Kennel Club’s biggest concerns, and this paper highlights there is still a long way to go.
“Sadly, certain exaggerations that can cause health issues are often perceived as ‘cute’ or ‘normal’ for the breed and, worryingly, desirable by pet owners too.”
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