A baby-face, prominent eyes, and a charm like no other – flat-faced dogs are becoming increasingly popular as family companions around the world.
And the U.S’ most popular dog breed for the past two years being a flat-faced dog breed, aka the French Bulldog, tells you everything you need to know about these dogs’ popularity.
However, despite their overwhelming popularity, awareness regarding the health issues that these flat-faced dog breeds are predisposed to don’t get as much attention.
So, to help dog owners understand these problems and help improve the welfare of these dog breeds, we’ll take a closer look and discuss the health issues that flat-faced dog breeds can suffer from.
What Are Flat-Faced Dog Breeds?
Flat-faced dog breeds, as the name suggests, are dog breeds that have a flat face or a short nose. Vets refer to these breeds as “brachycephalic”, a term derived from two Greek words ‘brakhu’ (short) and ‘cephalos’ (head), which translates to “short head”.
The most prominent features of flat-faced dog breeds include:
- A flattened muzzle: A flat-faced dog’s muzzle looks like it has been smushed or flattened inwards.
- Narrow or small nostrils: Due to their muzzle, a flat-faced dog’s nostrils are small and narrow, which often cause breathing problems.
- Disproportionately large head: A flat-faced dog’s head is large as a result of the skull shape being compressed on the front size. The face or muzzle widens, and therefore making the head appear larger. Furthermore, this also results in their bottom jaw being longer than their upper jaw.
- Prominent and bulging eyes: Again, this is a result of the structure of their skull that compresses their facial features.
- Skin folds: The skin folds around a flat-faced dog’s muzzle is also a result of their skull structure that compresses their facial features. While the muzzle is reduced as compared to other dogs, the skin around the area doesn’t reduce proportionately.
Here are dog breeds that are considered flat-faced:
- French Bulldog
- Pug
- Shih Tzu
- Pekingese
- Boxer
- Boston Terrier
- English Bulldog
- Chow Chow
- Bullmastiff
Historical Background Of Flat-Faced Dogs
The origins and historical background of flat-faced dogs can be traced back to ancient civilizations. For example, Pugs, who are believed to have originated in China in 400 B.C., were bred as companion animals for wealthy people.
Although before being the lovable and loyal companions that they are today, other flat-faced dogs, like the Bulldog, were selectively bred to fight in sports such as bullbaiting.
However, as society evolved, some of the roles of these dogs shifted from working/sporting animals to family companions.
And through this transition, the emphasis on these dogs’ physical appearance rather their functionality increased. Hence, the current and growing popularity of these breeds today.
Breeding Practices Of Flat-Faced Dogs
For thousands of years, humans have been selectively breeding dogs to have certain characteristics. Most of the time, these characteristics serve a function – hunting, herding, intelligence, temperament, athleticism, and many more.
Other times, humans selectively breed dogs for pure aesthetics. And in the case of flat-faced dog breeds, it’s both. As a matter of fact, a study published in PLOS One suggests this.
The study has two theories on why humans selectively breed flat-faced dogs
1. Functionality
Certain flat-faced dog breeds like the Bulldog were selectively bred to develop a flattened muzzle. It was believed that a shorter snout created stronger jaws that these dogs can use to their advantage during bullbaiting.
2. Aesthetic
The other theory is that dog owners back in ancient times loved the “cuteness” of these small dogs because they are able to retain infant-like features into adulthood. Features such as ‘puppy dog eyes’, round skulls, small noses, and short and plumb limbs reminded people of human infants.
And naturally, people find babies cute, so breeding dogs that have similar traits is purely for aesthetic purposes.
The Impact Of Flat-Faced Dog Breeding
Over time, breeders, especially those looking to make money off the most appealing dog breeds, started breeding dogs for the flattest faces and the biggest eyes, without any regard for the dog’s health.
And in addition to this, kennel clubs further reinforced these characteristics by establishing breed standards, making them a dog’s defining traits.
Unfortunately, these selective breeding practices doesn’t only breed “cute” dogs but also health problems.
Common Health Issues In Flat-Faced Dog Breeds
As dog owners, it is in our best interest to ensure that our four-legged friends live a long and healthy life. But sadly, this cannot be the same for flat-faced dog breeds.
As a matter of fact, a recent study from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) reveals that flat-faced dogs are less healthy than other dogs.
So, if you own or planning to buy/adopt a flat-faced dog, it’s important that you are aware and knowledgeable of the following common health issues that they can experience in their life:
1. Breathing Problems
The most common problems in flat-faced dog breeds is a health issue called, Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). This is also called brachycephalic syndrome because it is common in brachycephalic or flat-faced dogs. And it refers to a set of upper airway abnormalities that makes breathing difficult, including:
- A short snout and narrow nostrils that restricts the amount of air that can flow into the nostrils properly.
- A deformed and narrowed windpipe that makes these dogs put more effort into pulling air into the lungs.
- Extended nasopharyngeal turbinates. Nasopharyngeal turbinates are ridges of bones covered by tissue that aid in humidifying and warm the air that dogs inhale. When these extend past the dog’s nose and into the pharynx (area behind the nose and mouth), they cause airflow obstructions.
With these abnormalities, the inability to breathe properly also leads to other serious and life-threatening problems.
For example, flat-faced dogs’ inability to pant and regulate temperature. Dogs do not sweat. And they regulate their temperature through panting.
However, brachycephalic dogs cannot do this, so they end up overheating. This is also the reason why flat-faced dog breeds are prone to heatstroke.
And since flat-faced dogs struggle to breathe properly, they can be lazy and won’t like physical activities as compared to other dogs. This is why most flat-faced dogs are prone to obesity.
Another study by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) even showed that Pugs are at the highest risk of obesity with one out of five being formally diagnosed with obesity each year.
Furthermore, with shortened and narrowed airways, these dogs struggle to cope with the lack of oxygen in their bloodstream. This usually puts a strain on the dog’s heart, making them susceptible to heart problems.
2. Dental Issues
Generally, dogs have 42 teeth. Dogs with longer snouts, and therefore a proportionate jaw, have no problem with this. However, the same cannot be said for flat-faced dogs.
This is because they have a short upper jaw and have to accommodate all 42 teeth, but into a much smaller area. And because the teeth are cramped in a small space, flat-faced dogs can have dental issues.
A flat-faced dog’s teeth can overlap each other, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum infection.
Signs that a flat-faced dog is suffering from dental issues include:
- Swollen or bleeding gums
- Tartar buildup
- Bad breath
- Discolored teeth
- Difficulty eating
- Weight loss
3. Eye Conditions
Flat-faced dog breeds’ protruding and bulgy eyes result in them having very shallow eye sockets. And because of this, they suffer from Brachycephalic Ocular Syndrome (BOS).
This is described as eye problems that are associated with smaller brachycephalic breeds like the Pug and French Bulldog. Some of the health issues in relation to BOS include:
- Shallow eye sockets that result to the protrusion of the eyes. This can also makes flat-faced dog breeds unable to close their eyes fully, especially when sleeping.
- Macropalpebral fissure (or the excessively wide opening of the eyelids) resulting in the over-exposure of the cornea.
- Flat-faced dogs can also suffer from corneal ulcer due to the fact that their protruding eyes are more prone to injuries.
Other than injuries, flat-faced dog breeds can also develop dry eye syndrome because they can’t blink properly.
Due to these eye problems, loss of sight or even loss of an eye is not uncommon in flat-faced dog breeds.
4. Skin Issues
Some flat-faced dog breeds have extreme skin folds and wrinkles around their nose and mouth. And because of this, they are more prone to skin infections and irritations.
If not cleaned regularly, a flat-faced dog’s skin folds can become breeding grounds for infections. And these can cause discomfort and pain to a dog.
While these issues do not seem as alarming as previously mentioned health issues, they can still be irritating and frustrating for a dog. Furthermore, these irritations and infections, if not addressed properly, can cause chronic itching.
5. Labor Complications
Due to a flat-faced dog breed’s abnormally large head, it’s difficult for these dogs to give birth naturally.
French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs, for example, commonly need Caesarean sections when they’re ready to give birth.
This is because the puppies have a large head that a mother’s birth canal cannot naturally accommodate. This is known as “Dystocia due to Foetal-Pelvic Disproportion”.
A 2010 study even reveals that in flat-faced dog breeds such as the Boston Terrier, Bulldog, and French Bulldog, 80% of puppies were born through a C-section.
Ethical And Modern Breeding Practices
With a plethora of issues, the growing popularity of flat-faced dog breeds has raised ethical questions about whether it’s wrong to continue breeding and even owning these dogs.
Animal welfare organizations and veterinarians alike have long raised concerns about the ethics of breeding dogs with extreme conformation that compromise their overall well-being.
Thankfully, as flat-faced dog breeds’ popularity grow, so do the awareness of the health problems associated to them.
And efforts to improve these dogs’ health have grown in recent years. Ethical breeders now focus on improving the health and well-being of these dogs by selecting features such as a longer muzzle and wider nostrils.
Furthermore, countries such as the Netherlands have banned the breeding and selling of extremely flat-faced dogs.
Conclusion
Despite the health risks associated with flat-faced dog breeds, many still choose them as family companions.
So, if you’re really set on getting a flat-faced dog for yourself, we encourage that you adopt from shelters or rescues. And for you to do your research and preparation for the responsibility that’s about to come.
At the end of the day, no matter how adorable these dogs are, they will be a huge responsibility and will entail a lot of serious care due to their health issues.
Remember, responsible pet ownership and a dog’s health and well-being comes first before anything else.
