Vets Report Increase In Disease Amongst Brachycephalic Dogs

[Redsonic]

ABC News

Consumer demands for smaller dogs resulting in debilitating health problems, vets say

AM By Katie Hamann

Updated about 2 hours ago

The surging popularity of certain pedigree dog breeds in Australia is leading to an increase in the number of pets with serious health problems, veterinarians have warned.

In a report published today in the journal Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, researchers from the University of Sydney point to increasing demand for dogs with short, wide heads, such as pugs and French and British bulldogs.

Known as brachycephalic dogs, these breeds are prone to serious complications such as breathing difficulties, skin and eye conditions and digestive disorders.

"In New Zealand, brachycephalic breeds are number four of the top five dog breeds considered by veterinarians to be unsuitable for continued breeding due to compromised health and welfare," lead researcher Kendy Teng said.

As the number of these dogs being bred and traded grows, researchers said veterinarians needed to be prepared for a significant increase in cases of diseased dogs.

One explanation offered for the popularity of these breeds is the trend towards downsizing of our homes and lifestyles.

Honorary Associate Professor Max Zuber from the University of Sydney's Veterinary Teaching Hospital said people were choosing little dogs because they were living in smaller homes without backyards.

He also believed some people chose brachycephalic breeds because of a perception that they did not need much exercise because of their breathing problems.

"[Owners] think 'well I can have that dog because I don't have the time to exercise it and it can't exercise anyway'," he said.

Vets report increase in diseased dogs

Dr Julia Crawford from the Australian Veterinary Association said vets were already seeing a rise in the number of dogs needing treatment for brachycephalic conditions.

The estimates can range from something like a four-year-less life expectancy.

Associate Professor Max Zuber, University of Sydney

"We're seeing a lot of dogs with very, very tiny nostrils, they have a very long soft palate and they often have laryngeal problems ... and that means that they have consistent upper airway obstruction," she said.

"They also get really bad skin folds quite often as their faces get squished up more and more and this leads to chronic skin infections around the skin and their eyes."

The cost of treating these pets can run into the tens of thousands of dollars and, according to veterinarians, their quality of life and life expectancy is often greatly reduced.

"The estimates can range from something like a four-year-less life expectancy," Associate Professor Zuber said.

Up to 70pc of dogs unable to birth naturally

Breeding standards for pedigree dogs are set by the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) and for British bulldogs the standard suggests heads should be "as large as possible".

But according to the ANKC as many as 70 per cent of pups are delivered by caesarean section because their heads are too large to pass through the mother's pelvis.

President of the ANKC Hugh Gent conceded it was a problem and said breeders were working to reduce the size of heads.

"We're also trying to breed them with larger pelvic girdles so they can have them ... but it's really to avoid the distress and pain of having to try and pass a puppy with a big head," he said.

Associate Professor Zuber said the ANKC should look at their breeding standards instead of seeking to re-engineer dogs.

"I would personally feel as a profession we should be advising that that's an inappropriate breed standard," he said.

Dr Crawford said breeding standards were based upon current trends in pets.

"If you were to go to the Australian museum, there is an English bulldog from the 1930s that looks nothing like today's English bulldog," she said.

"It's something that breed descriptions need to look after because it's more important that an animal can breathe than how big their head is."

[Steve]

You can expect to see a huge media hit of this topic with the full swing aiming at educating the public away from these Breeds.

[Loving my Oldies]

It was good to see this and being reported unemotionally and setting out clearly the problems that can result for poor breeding practices.

I hope the commercial stations pick it up.

[Jed]

Hope those reports continue on to tell the public that buying from a proper registered breeder who understands and abides by the standard produces no tiny nostrils or soft palate problems.

These reports will continue until those breeds are eliminated. At that time, the animal rights machine will move to others.

[Danois]

Based on what I see in the areas immediately surrounding Sydney Uni, the majority of the bracchy type dogs are badly bred pugs and frenchies or cross breeds or Pets Paradise specials...

[Steve]

Based on what I see in the areas immediately surrounding Sydney Uni, the majority of the bracchy type dogs are badly bred pugs and frenchies or cross breeds or Pets Paradise specials...

Yep but the intention is to steer the public away from them regardless of who is breeding them . Whilst they are popular they cant ban them being bred so the theory is educate the public first .

[RuralPug]

Yep, watch for a media beat up which loses the main message. A huge proportion of the problem dogs are from BYB and cross-breeders but the media has already lost that part of the message.

At the same time, ethical breeders need to go public louder with demonstrations of well bred brachies who are excelling in dog sports, living long healthy lives etc.

[Steve]

Yep, watch for a media beat up which loses the main message. A huge proportion of the problem dogs are from BYB and cross-breeders but the media has already lost that part of the message.

At the same time, ethical breeders need to go public louder with demonstrations of well bred brachies who are excelling in dog sports, living long healthy lives etc.

hard to beat when you see the material they are working with - their premise is that ALL dogs with brachy heads have at least some form of brachy head syndrome.

[*kirty*]

As a vet nurse, I completely agree with the article. I am sick of seeing dogs that can't breathe properly without airway and/or nostril surgery, or eyes so bulgy they require eye surgery to prevent constant damage and permanent scarring.

Just last week I saw a 2yo Frenchie die from respiratory distress. Owners rushed it into emergency after finding it collapsed. It was a warm day but certainly not hot. Hadn't been exercised or anything. It was a pedigree dog.

I would say at least 50% of our brachy patients are pedigrees and over 90% have severe respiratory issues. Watching them breathe with an ET tube in is heart breaking - it's like they are finally getting enough oxygen and then you have to take it out and they go back to struggling.

I am all for pedigree dogs but I am sick of seeing breeders excuse serious health problems as 'part of the breed'. When a dog's well being is severely compromised, that is not ok. And until breeders wake up and change their ways, stuff like this will keep being published. This article was not written by hard core animal rights activists, it was written by vets and researchers. They have nothing to gain by publishing this article, there is no ulterior motive.

[Willem]

quote from the link:

..."Associate Professor Zuber said the ANKC should look at their breeding standards instead of seeking to re-engineer dogs."

...the biggest problem seems to be the breeding standard amended over the last 70 years, not whether it is a BYB or an 'ethical' breeder.

[*kirty*]

And Steve, all brachy dogs DO have brachy head syndrome! Round skull, missing and/or deformed teeth, prominent eyes and poor airways - all brachy dogs have it to some degree. Which is why all brachy dogs are automatically a higher anaesthetic risk.

[Ruffles]

As a vet nurse, I completely agree with the article. I am sick of seeing dogs that can't breathe properly without airway and/or nostril surgery, or eyes so bulgy they require eye surgery to prevent constant damage and permanent scarring.

Just last week I saw a 2yo Frenchie die from respiratory distress. Owners rushed it into emergency after finding it collapsed. It was a warm day but certainly not hot. Hadn't been exercised or anything. It was a pedigree dog.

I would say at least 50% of our brachy patients are pedigrees and over 90% have severe respiratory issues. Watching them breathe with an ET tube in is heart breaking - it's like they are finally getting enough oxygen and then you have to take it out and they go back to struggling.

I am all for pedigree dogs but I am sick of seeing breeders excuse serious health problems as 'part of the breed'. When a dog's well being is severely compromised, that is not ok. And until breeders wake up and change their ways, stuff like this will keep being published. This article was not written by hard core animal rights activists, it was written by vets and researchers. They have nothing to gain by publishing this article, there is no ulterior motive.

Yes! On a day over 30 degrees, the phone calls usually start "My bulldog/pug/frenchy has just died, I dont know what to do, it's only 1/2/3 years old"... it's heart breaking

Edited April 5, 2016 by Ruffles

[Two Best Dogs!]

I was coming here to post this news article, which I would guess is based of your original post!

Am glad to see attention being put on the health issues that can affect them. I also like the bit about the research helping vets prepare for a jump in these kinds of issues.

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/home/pets/the-rise-of-pugs-and-bulldogs-australians-favour-small-dogs-with-wide-short-faces/news-story/a28777a1472f81bbfb5a63bc9d430794

IF it’s starting to feel like every second dog in your neighbourhood is a pug or french bulldog, you’re not totally off the mark. New research reveals there are more of the squish-faced canines waddling into Australian homes than ever before.

Analysis by the University of Sydney finds that over the last three decades Aussies are increasingly ditching the classic labrador and going barking mad for smaller pedigree pooches with shorter and wider heads, a la pug — but experts fear there is a lack of understanding of the health issues that afflict such breeds.

The study, published today in journal Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, explored the 180 purebreds covered by the Australian National Kennel Council’s data to investigate changes in dog-owning trends between 1986 and 2013.

Each breed was assigned to one of four size groups: small breeds (less than 10kg), medium (10-25kg), large (25-40kg) and giant (40kg and over).

Findings show man’s best friend is shrinking, as demand for smaller dogs has risen every year since 1986.

Australian dog-lovers are in the midst of a love affair with pugs. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Australian dog-lovers are in the midst of a love affair with pugs. Picture: Tim CarrafaSource:News Corp Australia

Over the studied time period, registration of small and medium purebreds increased by 4.2 per cent and 5.3 per cent respectively relative to large purebreds, and by 11 per cent and 12.1 per cent compared to giant purebreds.

As well as a shrinking body size, our enthusiasm for canines with short, wide faces has boomed while dogs with narrower snouts are less popular.

Professor Paul McGreevy, who co-authored the study with PhD candidate Kendy Teng, said the new preference for smaller dogs correlated with a trend towards more high density living as well as a falling need for working dogs.

“Changes in the types of dwellings Australians are buying may indicate the space available for dogs has shrunk,” Prof McGreevy said.

“Moreover, the purpose of dog ownership has continued to shift from the early days of domestication, away from duties such as hunting and guarding properties, for which dogs are more likely to be larger, to pure companionship, which can be fulfilled by a dog of any size.”

Marty McCorry and his best mate Beau the English bulldog — one of the breeds Aussies are increasingly favouring. Picture: Alex Coppel

Marty McCorry and his best mate Beau the English bulldog — one of the breeds Aussies are increasingly favouring. Picture: Alex CoppelSource:News Corp Australia

As for our growing fondness for short, wide faces — described scientifically as ‘brachycephalic’ — Prof McGreevy puts this down to fashion. He also notes they have a unique cute factor humans find hard to resist.

“Studies also indicate the infantile facial features commonly seen in brachycephalic dogs with their round faces, chubby cheeks, big eyes and small nose and mouth, stimulate feelings of affection in humans,” he said.

It is hoped that the research will help Australian vets prepare for a jump in cases of dogs with breathing difficulties, skin and eye conditions as well as digestive disorders, all of which unfortunately afflict four-legged friends with flatter faces like pugs and bulldogs.

Prof McGreevy said life expectancy among these popular breeds was an estimated four years lower than non-brachycephalic breeds.

French bulldogs fall into the category of brachycephalic dogs. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

French bulldogs fall into the category of brachycephalic dogs. Picture: Mark Cranitch.Source:News Corp Australia

Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS) is particularly prevalent and can cause life-threatening respiratory problems. He urged potential dog-lovers to consider such issues before taking home a pug-like pooch.

“A study in the UK shows half of owners of breeds susceptible to these health issues seem unaware of BAOS in their dogs,” Prof McGreevy said.

“This implies owners did not make a fully informed decision when purchasing their brachycephalic dog and that they may be unaware of treatment options.”

The increasing popularity in Australia of such breeds is in line with results from the UK and the USA.

[Sheridan]

I don't object to focus being put on health issues. I do object to pedigree breeders getting the blame for the health issues of dogs bred by BYB and puppyfarms.

[Steve]

And Steve, all brachy dogs DO have brachy head syndrome! Round skull, missing and/or deformed teeth, prominent eyes and poor airways - all brachy dogs have it to some degree. Which is why all brachy dogs are automatically a higher anaesthetic risk.

Yes I know this and for me breeding dogs which are destined to have less quality of life due to the way they are being selected is more cruel than keeping their Mum's in dirty conditions.

This is why we have developed new breeding strategies to have breeders register their puppies with the MDBA - as much as this isn't a popular thing to say especially on Dogz fact is pedigree breeders don't get out of it that easy.

The more they say "its not us - its only the back yarders " the bigger the shame. Sooner or later the general public will see they have become desensitised to the suffering that goes on and that call it what it is - cruelty .

If they dont clean it up [ and they wont ] sooner or later it will have to be taken out of their hands. I have no doubt that it will hit us every where we look in a concerted effort to instigate change by welfare and vet groups.

[Steve]

I don't object to focus being put on health issues. I do object to pedigree breeders getting the blame for the health issues of dogs bred by BYB and puppyfarms.

That's the story but the truth is as plain as the nose on their dogs faces.

Yeah I know How very dare I.

[Redsonic]

I don't object to focus being put on health issues. I do object to pedigree breeders getting the blame for the health issues of dogs bred by BYB and puppyfarms.

Fair enough to say that back yard breeders are scrambling to keep up with the popularity of Pugs, French Bulldogs, etc., and breeding from anything they can get their hands on. This has always led to problems for whichever breed is popular at the time.

I think the point is that the average brachycephalic these days is on the edge of respiratory distress, even those from ethical, registered breeders. And, how many registered breeders are there who don't need routine caesarians for their Bulldogs? How many "average" brachycephalics have skin fold problems? Dental issues? Entropion/ nasal folds rubbing the eyes?

On other threads in Dogzonline, there has been criticism of a trainer holding a Frenchie puppy while it struggled, with a casual statement that you just can't do that with these breeds. Surely, we should not be breeding dogs that are so compromised they can't handle gentle restraint? A colleague used to bring her Frenchie in to work and it was distressing to see the poor thing struggling to breathe in the airconditoned office. It had to sleep sitting up, leaning against the wall of its crate and was constantly woken by the need for air. It was put down when a specialist could do no more for it.

My guess is that that the show quality dogs are usually OK, it is the "pet quality" pups (i.e., the majority of the pups produced) that suffer the worst. If registered breeders really are working to improve the breed, these improvements should be trickling down to the pet quality pups, and they don't seem to be doing this. Although back yard breeders have caused a lot of damage to all sorts of breeds, I think brachycephalic breeders should take some responsibility here.

This photo of a Dogue de Bordeaux "good enough" to compete at Westminster i.e., "better" than the average pet quality dog.

[raineth]

Of the three pugs I know who've gone into respiratory distress (two of which died from it) all of them were pedigree dogs, and all were ex show dogs.

[dogbesotted]

here is an article: "100 years of breed improvement" author Caen Elegans / 2012/09/29

well worth the read not the least because it has photographs of breeds from the 1915 book Breeds of All Nations by W.E. Mason alongside photos of examples of the modern version. draw your own conclusions.

https://dogbehaviorscience.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/100-years-of-breed-improvement/

h

[~Lisa~]

This thread is such an eye opener! I was aware of these issues but not how wide spread they are.

So very sad for the dogs who are suffering