The health and welfare impact of extreme breeding must be tackled across all species. Owners, breeders, breed clubs, academics, vets, and vet nurses should work collaboratively to raise awareness, support research, and ensure healthier future generations of animals.

Animals showing extremes of conformation that negatively affect their health and welfare should not be used for breeding.

Vets should participate in existing reporting schemes, for example:

• for dogs, the Kennel Club scheme for reporting conformation-altering surgery and caesarians
• for production animals, reporting caesarean sections to the Artificial Insemination services
• also for production animals, monitoring abattoir and FSA reports to identify the health and welfare impacts resulting from extreme conformation and using this to advise keepers on responsible breeding decisions

Vets should advise owners not to breed from affected animals. In companion animals, neutering should be encouraged as a means of preventing the perpetuation of extremes of conformation.

Breed Standards for animals with extreme conformation should be reviewed and developed according to evidence and with expert veterinary input. 

Animals with extreme conformation shouldn't be used in advertising and marketing materials in order to avoid the normalisation of poor animal health. Advertisers should follow our good practice guide 'Pets in advertising: A social concern'.

Prospective pet owners should speak to their local vet for advice on potential health and welfare issues before getting a pet and use available guides, such as the Animal Welfare Foundation's Puppy Contract.