Veterinarians ask not to buy this "unhealthy" dog 0:51
London (CNN) --
Veterinarians are asking animal lovers to stop buying English bulldogs, due to "huge" health concerns.
The breed, also known as the British bulldog, is "compromised" by a "high rate of health problems related to the extreme body shape" that has been bred into them, according to the UK's Royal Veterinary College (RVC). for its acronym in English).
A new college study calls for "urgent action" to reduce the many serious health problems it says are associated with the breed's "exaggerated traits," such as flat faces.
English bulldogs bred to look cute suffer from significant health problems, according to veterinarians.
Veterinarians hope the study, which reveals English bulldogs are more than twice as likely to develop a number of health disorders, will deter people from breeding and buying dogs designed to look like this.
In a press release posted online, the college states: "The popularity of the English Bulldog has increased considerably in the UK over the last decade. However, its characteristic exaggerated short muzzle, protruding lower jaw and stocky body shape have been linked to a number of serious health and wellness issues, including respiratory problems, skin and ear conditions, and eye disorders."
"Sadly, many of the breed's problematic characteristics, such as the very flat face, deep facial skin folds and noisy breathing, continue to be perceived by many people as 'normal' or even 'desirable' qualities, in rather than as major welfare issues.
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The RVC's VetCompass program compared the health of random samples of 2,662 English bulldogs and 22,039 dogs of other breeds and found that bulldogs were more than twice as likely to suffer from one or more disorders in a single year than other breeds.
Some of the most common health problems included skin fold dermatitis, cherry eye (a prolapse of the eyelid gland), protruding lower jaw, and brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (serious breathing problems related to the flat shape of the dog's face), which was 19 times more common than in other dog breeds.
The bulldog was developed centuries ago in England for use in bullfighting.
Characteristically powerful and often fierce, the breed nearly died out when dog fighting was banned in 1835. However, enthusiasts saved it by reducing its ferocity.
Veterinarians say the public should accept the breed's more natural appearance: "In future, the English Bulldog should be recognized and loved for having a longer face, smaller head and unwrinkled skin, which represents a more moderate and healthy conformation".
Dan O'Neill, lead author of the paper and associate professor of companion animal epidemiology at the RVC, said: "Every dog deserves to be born with equal and good innate health by having a natural ability to breathe freely, blink fully, exercise with ease, have healthy, flat skin, mate and give birth.
"In the case of breeds like the English bulldog, where many dogs continue to be extremely shaped with little innate health, the public has a big role to play in demanding dogs with moderate, healthier conformations. Until then, future Owners should consider this before purchasing a flat-faced dog."
The study has been funded in part by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust.
Bill Lambert, the Kennel Club's health, welfare and breeder services executive, said in the statement: "As this research shows, there are more and more bulldogs being bred outside any realm of influence and in a certain way because it is thought to be ' bonito', with little regard for health and welfare. A collaborative approach to addressing these issues is crucial, we must continue to work together with breeders, veterinarians and welfare organizations to reduce and ultimately eliminate issues brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds face, as well as to reduce the massive demand for these dogs.
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