flat-nosed dogs like the English bulldog are prone to health issues that can affect their quality of life, such as breathing difficulties and eye problems. for animal welfare reasons, several countries have imposed breeding restrictions on flat-faced breeds in recent years. norway and the netherlands are among the nations that have moved to curb the breeding of the English bulldog.
a study published in the journal Canine Medicine and Genetics notes that this breed carries a higher risk of respiratory, eye, and skin ailments due to extreme facial features like a shorter nose, loose facial folds, and a stockier body.
without redefining breed standards, the authors warn that more moderate features in england could lead to an outright ban on breeding.
A breed chosen for its extreme physical characteristics
the English bulldog’s origins tie to blood sports such as bullfighting, where its name hints at its historic role.
in 1835 the uk Parliament passed the Animal Cruelty Act, which among other measures prohibited bulls being fought with dogs. as bullfighting waned, the bulldog’s usefulness declined, giving way to the modern English bulldog.
over time this breed was selectively bred to appear less aggressive than its historic progenitor while also refining facial features such as a flatter nose and deeper wrinkles, and a thicker, stockier body.
the English bulldog has evolved into a show animal and companion breed. its defining traits include a short brachycephalic skull, a protruding jaw, skin folds, and a stout frame.
susceptibility to disease
the study’s authors, from the royal veterinary college (RVC) in London, compared disease risks between English bulldogs and dogs of other breeds.
to conduct the comparison they used the VetCompass database, a nonprofit project from the RVC that tracks health data to understand canine illnesses and improve pet welfare.
the study analyzed clinical records from 2,662 English bulldogs and 22,039 dogs of other breeds. data were gathered across the uk and reflect 2016 records.
the researchers evaluated 43 common diseases, including dermatitis, heart murmurs, respiratory and eye problems.
the analysis showed that English bulldogs are twice as likely to be diagnosed with at least one disorder compared with other dogs, and the breed is predisposed to 24 of the 43 conditions examined, accounting for more than half of the pathologies reviewed.
in particular, the risk of dermatitis in the folded skin areas is 38.12 times higher in this breed than in others.
the eyes contain a protective third eyelid that houses tear glands. when this third eyelid protrudes, it can form a reddened, swollen mass in the inner corner of the eye, a condition commonly called cherry eye.
the researchers noted that English bulldogs were about 27 times more likely to develop cherry eye than other dogs studied.
brachycephalic syndrome is an obstructive respiratory condition linked to these dogs’ shortened skulls. because the skull is flat, air passages can be narrowed, making breathing difficult. some bulldogs also experience sleep apnea, exercise intolerance, heat sensitivity, and regurgitation or vomiting due to the compromised airway.
the analysis found English bulldogs faced a 19.2 times higher risk of this syndrome than other breeds.
on the other hand, researchers observed that English bulldogs show lower risk for certain conditions such as dental disease, heart murmurs, and flea infestations.
Redefine the breed with more moderate features
the life expectancy of the English bulldog generally runs about 8 to 10 years, which is shorter than many other breeds.
the study notes that only 9.7% of English bulldogs in the dataset were over eight years old, compared with 25.4% among other breeds. the authors interpret this as evidence that the breed’s overall health is poorer with extreme traits.
life expectancy for the English bulldog tends to be lower than that of many other dogs.
dan o’neill, associate professor of companion animal epidemiology at RVC and co-author of the study, commented that the general health of the breed is worse than that of most dogs. most concerning, he said, are health issues like dermatitis in skin folds and breathing problems, which are closely tied to the extreme physical traits for which the breed was originally chosen.
he added that as the breed remains popular, it is worth redefining the typical body shape toward more moderate dimensions. doing so could improve dog health and may help the UK avoid following other countries that have banned the breed on welfare grounds.
the authors suggest future research could compare health outcomes between English bulldogs with more moderate traits and those with more extreme traits within the same breed, to assess potential benefits of breeding for less rigid body features.
Reference study: (CGE Journal, 2022).
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