When you think about a pug, the first thing that pops to your head is their adorable little faces, their grunts, and even their double-curled tails.
That coiled tail, one you think is really adorable, becomes less appealing when you know that it’s a genetic defect and can even lead to paralysis, in serious forms.
The squishy nose, which looks cute, has been bred selectively to become shorter and smaller, which makes it difficult for the dogs to breathe and eat. Vets have stated that this abnormality causes cardiovascular stress, overheating, weight gain, and eye prolapses. They also suffer from dental crowding, skin-fold dermatitis, and soft-palate collapse.
This has now become an “anatomical disaster” rather than being a sign of cuteness.
Several pain treatment plans have been designed and vets have performed corrective surgeries but vets do not usually speak about the unethical nature of buying these genetically impaired dogs. It is just bad business from their end.
VETS OPEN UP ABOUT THE REAL TRUTH BEHIND THESE BREEDS
An anonymous vet reported to The Guardian: “If I stood up and told the truth about these breeds, I would immediately alienate [their owners] and they would up sticks and move to the neighboring practice where the vet was not as outspoken. Vets in general practice simply cannot afford to be honest and to speak out.”
The BVA or the British Veterinary Association has made many statements on the breeding and buying practices of brachycephalic dogs and has expressed the trend as a major concern in dog health and welfare.
“The surge in popularity of these dogs has increased animal suffering and resulted in unwell pets for owners, so we strongly encourage people to think about choosing a healthier breed or crossbreed instead.” Sean Wensley, president of the BVA, says to The Guardian.
Mixed-breed dogs are hailed to be much healthier than the purebred ones, which is a claim refuted by several dog breeders. A study from 2013 injected more data into this argument.
The study used medical records of around 27,000 dogs and compared the incidence of 24 genetic disorders in the mixed and purebred dogs. Researchers found that 10 of those genetic disorders had a much higher incidence in purebred ones while 1 of these disorders was greater in the mixed-breed dogs.