Balancing Popularity and Ethics: The Brachycephalic Dog Dilemma

Despite the well-documented health concerns associated with brachycephalic breeds, their popularity continues to surge. In 2018, the French Bulldog surpassed the Labrador Retriever as the UK’s favourite dog breed, with ownership increasing by nearly 3,000% over the previous 10 years.

But the conversation surrounding the ethical implications of breeding brachycephalic dogs has also intensified, notably with Norway and the Netherlands imposing bans on the breeding of these dogs in recent years.

There have been calls for the UK to introduce similar bans, as well as petitions for the Kennel Club and Government to introduce mandatory breathing tests before breeding. Various animal rights organisations have also launched campaigns aimed at ending the use of brachycephalic dogs in advertising, a move designed to help reduce their surging popularity.

However, what more can we, as veterinary professionals, contribute to this cause? As well as educating our clients about the prevalent health issues faced by brachycephalic dogs, maintaining up-to-date knowledge on the most effective treatments for these patients is crucial.

Central CPD offers a range of online resources to help enhance your knowledge and increase your confidence in surgical corrections, emergency interventions, and nursing support. In addition, we run a practical attendance course, hosted at our central London venue, with a specific focus on Practical Surgery for Brachycephalic Dogs.

Take a look at our learning series on our On-Demand portal: 

Surgery of the Brachycephalic Dog

Surgery of the Brachycephalic Dog: Treating the Snorts, Snores and Smells 

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome: Surgical Interventions

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Disease – There’s More to This Than We Thought! 

Nursing and Anaesthesia of the Brachycephalic Patient 

Or read more about our practical attendance course Practical Surgery of the Brachycephalic Dog