The flat faces bred into bulldogs can cause “a lifetime of agony,” according to veterinarians.
A study indicated that the bulldog has twice the health hazards of other dogs.
Experts from the Royal Veterinary College assert that immediate action is required to restructure the breed and prevent the United Kingdom from joining the list of nations that ban the dog.
Until breeding difficulties are resolved, they urge people to avoid purchasing English bulldogs and two other popular breeds, the French bulldog and the pug.
In addition, they are requesting that the public cease “promoting” the dog on social media by sharing and liking images.
The bulldog’s popularity has skyrocketed during the past decade.
The breed, often known as the English or British bulldog, was previously viewed as a symbol of bravery and tenacity.
Concerns about animal welfare have been raised due to the breed’s susceptibility to health issues as a result of the trend for ever-more severe traits, such as a flat face, wrinkled skin, and short body.
With their enormous protruding eyes and flat faces, the dogs are unquestionably “cute,” according to Dr. Dan O’Neill of the Royal Veterinary College, one of the study’s authors, but their unusual body form has become their downfall after years of selective breeding.
For breeds such as English bulldogs, where many dogs still have extreme conformations and poor intrinsic health, the public has a significant role to play by demanding dogs with intermediate and healthier conformations,” he explained.
“Until then, potential owners should pause before purchasing a dog with a flat face.”
Once a robust and athletic breed, the English bulldog has become a popular pet with a tendency toward a short skull, protruding mouth, skin folds, and a stocky physique.
Dr. O’Neill stated that the public has a vital role to play in bringing about change by refraining from uploading images of the dogs on social media or like posts, so “inadvertently publicizing” them.
However, he conceded that the “phenomenal” love of the bulldog is comprehensible, considering their psychological effect on us. With their large heads, large eyes, and submissive demeanor, they remind us of infants and stimulate our caring impulses.
“We interpret this as the dogs being cute, which is very understandable and incredibly difficult to combat as a person,” he explained.
“What we consider cute on the surface is anything but cute if you’re experiencing the life of that dog. In many situations, the anguish lasts a lifetime.”
According to an expert working group of veterinarians and animal welfare organizations, including the Royal Veterinary College, the same might happen in the United Kingdom if nothing is done.
They advise existing owners to be on the lookout for health issues like eye difficulties, trouble breathing, and skin fold infections, and to seek veterinary advice if they have any concerns.
Dr. Alison Skipper, a veterinary historian at King’s College London, stated that breeders have been aware of several disorders associated with body form for more than a century. She stated that responsible breeding practices that prioritise health could “increase the welfare of this famous and iconic breed.”
And the Kennel Club warned that a prohibition could drive the issue underground.
Bill Lambert, a spokesperson for the American Kennel Club, stated, “We want people to choose dogs not just because they like the way they look, which is often driven by celebrity and social media, but to find breeders who use the health tools available and breed a non-exaggerated dog, where health comes first, as described in the breed standard.”
The study, which was published in the journal Canine Medicine and Genetics, compared the health of pet English bulldogs to that of other dog breeds. It was discovered that English bulldogs were twice as likely as other dogs to develop one or more illnesses in a single year.
The most prevalent health issues were skin fold infections (38 times more likely than in other dogs), cherry eye (26 times more likely), lower jaw protrusion (24 times more likely), and breathing problems (19 times more likely).
A previous study by the same group indicated that pugs also have a significant chance of developing health problems.
