A new study has warned that breeding English bulldogs could be banned in the UK if “moderate traits” are not sought.
The peer-reviewed study, published in the journal Canine Medicine and Genetics, found that the breed was much less healthy than other dogs.
English bulldogs have a higher risk of respiratory, eye and skin diseases due to their “extreme” physical characteristics.
English bulldogs should be bred for more moderate characteristics, a study has warned. (Getty Images / iStockphoto)
Shortened muzzle, folded skin and squatting bodies of dogs were among the sources of the increased risk factors.
The breed, first mentioned in writing in the 1600s, was originally developed as a muscular, athletic dog for bullfighting, but over the years has been bred to be a breed. show and company.
His physique has been linked to various health conditions, and countries such as the Netherlands and Norway have restricted bulldog breeding in recent years.
Study author Dan O’Neill and colleagues found that bulldogs were twice as likely to be diagnosed with at least one disorder as other dogs.
The breed showed predispositions for 24 of 43 (55.8%) specific disorders.
The study warns that bulldog breeding could be banned in the UK. (Getty Images / iStockphoto)
English bulldogs had a 38.12-fold higher risk of developing skin fold dermatitis than other dogs.
They also had a 26.79-fold higher risk of developing an eye condition called the nictitating membrane gland prolapse (also called the “cherry eye”), where the dog’s third eyelid protrudes like a swollen red mass in the lower eye.
English bulldogs also had a 24.32-fold higher risk of mandibular prognathism (where the lower jaw is too long than the upper jaw) and a 19.2-fold higher risk of obstructive airway brachycephalic syndrome (which can cause severe respiratory problems) compared to other dogs. .
The wild eye of the apex predator looks through the carcass
Not all is bad news: the breed was found to have a reduced risk of some conditions such as dental disease, heart murmur and flea infestation.
“These findings suggest that the overall health of the English Bulldog is much lower than that of other dogs,” O’Neill said.
“However, the most worrying thing is that many of the health conditions that English bulldogs suffer from, such as dermatitis of the skin folds and respiratory problems, are directly related to the extreme structure of their bodies for which has been selectively bred “.
He urged breeders to focus on developing more moderate physical characteristics.
“Doing so will not only improve the health of dogs, but could also allow the UK to avoid following other countries in banning the English bulldog for welfare reasons,” O’Neill said.