We’re calling for collective action to improve the health and welfare of brachycephalic (or flat-faced) dogs, such as English bulldogs, French bulldogs, and pugs.
There's been an explosion in the use of these breeds in social media and marketing in recent years, driving a demand for them as pets.
Health over looks #BreedtoBreathe
There’s been a rapid rise in the number of brachycephalic, or flat-faced, dogs in the UK in the last decade.
In 2018, the French bulldog overtook the Labrador Retriever as the UK's most popular dog breed, with an almost 3000% increase in numbers in the previous 10 years. We’re concerned that celebrity influence and social media have had a big role to play in this rise in popularity.
Flat-faced dogs can suffer from a range of serious health and welfare issues, including breathing problems, eye disease, inability to mate or give birth naturally, and skin and dental problems. Obesity exacerbates these health problems.
In our 2017 Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey, vets reported that 56% of the brachycephalic dogs they see in practice need treatment for breed-related health issues. But only 10% of dog owners could recognise these issues.
Download and share our 10-point practice plan
Ask companies to stop using brachycephalic breeds in their advertising and marketing: use our template letter (105 KB PDF) or contact them on social media using the campaign hashtags #BreedtoBreathe and #PromoNoNo and tagging @BritishVets
Use the BVA guide for the responsible use of pet animals in advertising before commissioning and using animals in marketing materials
Use our social media infographics
Share the #BreedtoBreathe video Health and welfare of brachycephalic dogs
Share the video Brachycephalic CT scan morph, kindly created by Dr Clare Rusbridge and Dr Penny Knowler
Use our 10-point practice plan to improve the health and welfare of brachycephalic dogs and promote responsible pet ownership.
Promote and carry out annual brachycephalic health assessments.
Tell owners about the role of obesity in exacerbating other health problems linked to brachycephaly (for example, respiratory disease). Let them know that frequent respiratory sounds by their dog, such as snorting and snoring, are not normal, but instead are clinical signs of compromised breathing.
Report conformation-altering surgery and Caesarean sections, in Kennel Club-registered dogs, to the Kennel Club.
All stakeholders have a role to play in addressing the health and welfare problems faced by brachycephalic dogs. We’re calling for collective action to drive healthier standards including reviewing breed standards, encouraging research, developing brachycephalic health assessments, and avoiding the use of brachys in advertising and marketing materials.
The health and welfare impact of extreme breeding must be tackled across all species. Animals showing extremes of conformation that negatively affect their health and welfare should not be used for breeding. We need to work collaboratively to raise awareness, support research, and ensure healthier future generations of animals.
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