What are the 10 extreme body traits in dogs that experts advise avoiding?

Experts advise avoiding dogs with stubby legs, flat faces, bulging eyes, drooping eyelids, excessive skin folds, merle coloration, short tails, misaligned jaws, bowed or curved legs, and inflexible spines.

What health problems are associated with flat-faced dogs?

Flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs often suffer from Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), which severely impacts their ability to breathe, cool down, and smell, and can lead to gagging and vomiting.

How can potential dog owners identify dogs with extreme conformations?

Experts have developed the Innate Health Assessment (IHA) checklist to help identify extreme conformations, which can prevent dogs from living healthy and happy lives.

Home / Lifestyle / Dogs Suffer for 'Cute' Traits: Experts Warn

Dogs Suffer for 'Cute' Traits: Experts Warn

1 Feb

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Summary

Extreme dog conformations lead to lifelong suffering.
Brachycephalic dogs struggle with basic functions like breathing.
Social media fuels demand for unhealthy dog breeds.

Dogs Suffer for 'Cute' Traits: Experts Warn

Animal welfare experts are sounding the alarm on 10 extreme body traits in dogs, urging potential owners to avoid breeds that suffer due to human aesthetic preferences. Traits like stubby legs and flat faces, often perceived as cute, condemn thousands of pets to lives of pain and health issues. These conformations can prevent dogs from performing basic functions such as breathing, blinking, walking, and even wagging their tails.

The Innate Health Assessment (IHA) has been developed to help identify these extreme conformations. Dogs with very short legs relative to their body struggle with movement, risking joint strain and disc issues. Flat-faced breeds, known as brachycephalic, suffer from conditions like Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), impairing breathing, smelling, and self-cooling.

Other concerning traits include bulging eyes, which increase infection risk, and drooping eyelids that hinder normal blinking. Excessive skin folds trap moisture and bacteria, leading to painful dermatitis. Merle coloration is linked to blindness and deafness, while short tails impede social communication and can lead to aggression. Misaligned jaws cause dental problems and sores, and bowed legs result in mobility issues and pain. Inflexible spines restrict essential grooming and scratching, increasing the risk of spinal disease.