London: Vets are warning would-be dog owners in the UK to think twice before buying fashionably "flat-faced" breeds like pugs and bulldogs because of concerns over their welfare.
The British Veterinary Association said the surge in popularity of pugs, bulldogs, French bulldogs and shih-tzus had "increased animal suffering".
Sean Wensley, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), said: "Prospective owners need to consider that these dogs can suffer from a range of health problems, from eye ulcers to severe breathing difficulties.
"We strongly encourage people to choose a healthier breed or a crossbreed instead," Wensley said. Evidence suggests that an increasing number of the dogs - more correctly known as brachycephalic or short-muzzled dogs - are being abandoned by their owners, the BBC reported.
Six dog rescue companies said that the breeds were being given up in greater numbers. Battersea Dogs Home and Bluecross Animal Rescue received a total of 314 "flat-faced" dogs in 2015, compared to 226 in 2014, an increase of 39 per cent.
Both charities said they were carrying out more surgical procedures to clear the airways of the dogs they brought in - removing obstructive pieces of tissue and widening nostrils. A recent survey by the Royal Veterinary College suggests many owners of brachycephalic dogs are not aware of the common underlying health problems.
Caroline Reay, chief vet at Bluecross Animal Hospital in Merton, said: "Most owners – and some vets - think airway noise, and consequently reduced activity, is normal, so the problems are rarely discussed.
"And I think the number of operations we are carrying out is really only the tip of the iceberg", she said. The extremely broad head shape seen in pugs and bulldogs is not a natural look. It developed as a result of intense, selective breeding.
It has led the RSPCA to call for an urgent review of the breed standards, which are decided by the Kennel Club, and specify how every type of dog should look.
Caroline Kisko, the Kennel Club secretary, said the breed standards were set many years ago. "But I would say that in the here-and-now, after all of the changes to the standards that were made in 2009, we would expect dogs to be far healthier if they are winning prizes at dog shows."
Kisko said the problems with brachycephalic dogs were being perpetuated in the main by disreputable puppy farms. "If we continue to allow dogs to be brought in from central and eastern Europe where there is no concern for how these dogs are bred, it is inevitable that pet owners will end up with dogs they can't deal with.
"These are breeds which aren't hugely suited to pet homes. If you want a pet that will run around and chase a ball and so on, don't go out and buy any short-faced breed based on what celebrities are walking around with under their arm," Kisko said.
