A study by the Royal Veterinary College found that the distinctive features of English Bulldogs, such as their flat faces, protruding lower jaws and skin folds, are twice as likely as other breeds to have health problems and significantly shorter lifespans. Problems with respiratory, skin and eye diseases, among others, are so serious that experts in the study called for an “immediate redefinition of the breed” in the hope of encouraging breeders – and buyers – to prioritize healthy ones. animals and not the supposedly cute features. . “Issues with English Bulldogs are real issues with humans and what we find cute and what we find acceptable,” said Dr Dan O’Neill, lead author of the study at Royal Veterinary College. “We need people to see dogs not from a human point of view, where short noses and wrinkled skin are considered cute, but from a dog’s point of view, where good innate health is graceful.” To investigate the health of English Bulldogs, the researchers looked at the medical records of 2,662 English Bulldogs and 22,039 other breeds randomly selected in 2016 from veterinary clinics across the UK. Bulldogs were significantly younger, with less than 10% aged eight years and over, compared with more than a quarter of other breeds, indicating a significantly shorter lifespan. Strong differences were also observed in animal health, according to the study in Canine Medicine and Genetics. English bulldogs were twice as likely as other breeds to be diagnosed with at least one health problem, with predispositions found for 24 of the 43 conditions examined by veterinarians. Many of the problems the bulldogs developed were directly related to traits that some breeders encourage because of their popularity with buyers. Compared to other breeds, English Bulldogs were 38 times more likely to have dermatitis from skin folds, 27 times more likely to have “cherry eye” – eyelid prolapse – and 19 times more likely to have specific airway abnormalities caused by their short skull. “Therefore, the immediate redefinition of the breed to a modest configuration is strongly supported to prevent the United Kingdom from being included in the growing list of countries where breeding English bulldogs is prohibited,” the experts write. Some countries, such as Norway and the Netherlands, have already taken steps to effectively ban the breeding of English Bulldogs and some other breeds for animal welfare purposes, although many dogs bought in the UK are imported or sold by outsiders. official reproduction directive. “The vast majority are not raised by ranchers, but are raised, often in miserable conditions, to meet a market and sold on the Internet to anyone who pays the money,” O’Neill said. Sonia Saxon, Public Relations Officer for the Bulldog Breed Council, said: “The Bulldog breed model, which is our ‘design’ to help us breed the bulldog, does not require exaggeration or unfoundedness. it actually leads us away from them. “If all bulldogs were bred to this standard and used the available health tools, we would not see some of the so-called bulldogs being advertised on social media of various types, coats, colors and sizes deliberately bred for exaggeration with little respect. the health and well-being of the national race of the United Kingdom “. He added: “The Bulldog Breed Council would like to work with the Kennel Club to find a better means of educating the public when buying a puppy.”
