Cute flat-face? Why pugs are not cute, but sick!

Cute flat-face? Why pugs are not cute, but sick! The terms short-headedness and brachycephaly are used to describe those dogs that have a very short facial skull and a flat nose. These breeds include not only Pugs and French Bulldogs, but also English Bulldogs, Boxers, Shih Tzu, Chihuahua and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. These dogs have a very characteristic appearance: they look cute with their short nose, "smiling face" and big googly eyes. They make "funny" noises, snore, grunt and are usually rather cosy dogs. What humans find cute, however, are the causes and consequences of health problems, one of which is the brachycephalic airway syndrome.

How did these dog breeds develop?

Dog breeding has historically grown with the development of mankind. Targeted breeding selection resulted in highly specialised dog breeds that were able to perform at their best in their field of work. Whether hunting under extreme climatic conditions, as a guard dog or as a draught animal for heavy loads: the dogs' physique was perfectly adapted to the work assignments and human needs.

As the dog evolved from a utility animal into the companion of modern humans, many new breeds of dogs were created. These dogs did not always have such short skulls, but through specific breeding efforts, a baby schema became established. The breeding goal of "beauty" developed, which was based purely on external characteristics.

Why is the breeding of such dogs problematic?

In brachycephalic breeds, breeding affected the area of the skull through shortening of the jaw and nose bones and the formation of a round head (also called "apple head"). The compression of these structures can sometimes cause considerable breathing problems. These dogs rattle and snore a lot and breathe more via their mouth, as the air supply via the nose is obstructed. Due to the sometimes considerable lack of oxygen, the animals are not resistant to exercise and can only go for short walks. In the worst case, they turn blue and collapse. Especially in warm temperatures, this can happen quickly due to disturbed thermoregulation. The shortness of breath can cause great anxiety in the animals! The increasingly intensive respiratory activity with a permanent lack of oxygen can reach the point where changes or damage to the brain and unconsciousness can occur.

Due to breeding, the eye sockets are shallower than usual and the eyes protrude far, which can cause inflammation or, in extreme cases, even an eye prolapse. In some breeds, the narrow shape of the skull also causes certain areas of the brain to become trapped. The consequences are insensations such as constant itching and neurological disorders.

In the nose area, the folding of the skin leads to increased inflammation. The eyes of many short-nosed breeds also water because the tear ducts are too narrow or deformed due to the shortened skull and cannot drain the tear fluid - this can also cause inflammation. Another problem is caused by the shorter upper jaw: malpositioned teeth and increased tartar build-up are the result. And last but not least, the rounded skull can cause birth problems. Many of these breeds can only give birth by caesarean section because their puppies do not fit through the natural birth canal.

What you can do

As an owner, you can do a lot to limit the breeding of such breeds or - if you already own a brachycephalic dog - to support its health. You can read here how to check whether your dog is one of the affected individuals and how you can take action.

The confidu magazine is written by our veterinarians according to current scientific standards. The articles do not replace a veterinary diagnosis, but are intended to provide you with initial information on many topics related to your animal. If you have specific questions about your pet, our vets will be happy to advise you via the confidu app.