English bulldogs should be BANNED unless they are bred to have healthier features, warn experts

ENGLISH bulldogs should be banned unless they are bred to have healthier features, experts warn. A study shows they are much more prone to some health issues than other dogs — with many of the conditions linked to the “extreme” traits they have been bred for. Royal Veterinary College researchers sifted through vets’ records on […]

ENGLISH bulldogs should be banned unless they are bred to have healthier features, experts warn.

A study shows they are much more prone to some health issues than other dogs — with many of the conditions linked to the “extreme” traits they have been bred for.

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Royal Veterinary College researchers sifted through vets’ records on 2,662 English bulldogs and 22,039 other breeds.

They found the English bulldog is twice as likely to be diagnosed with at least one more disorder than other dogs.

They showed predispositions for 24 out of 43 specific disorders, and were found to be many times more at risk of breathing, eye and skin conditions.

Only 9.7 per cent of English bulldogs in the study were aged over eight, compared with 25.4 per cent of other breeds — indicating a shorter lifespan linked to overall poorer health.

English bulldogs were originally developed as a muscular, athletic dog for bull-fighting but later bred as show animals and pets.

The breed’s popularity has risen sharply over the past decade with owners attracted to their exaggerated features such as a short skull, protruding lower jaw, skin folds and a squat, heavy build.

But study author Dan O’Neill said: “What is most concerning is that so many of the health conditions that English bulldogs suffer from — such as skin fold dermatitis and breathing problems — are directly linked to the extreme structure of their bodies that has been selectively bred.”

He told journal Canine Medicine and Genetics: “Given the breed’s continued popularity, the body shape of the typical pet English bulldogs should be redefined towards more moderate physical characteristics.

“Doing so will not only improve the dogs’ health, but could also enable the UK to avoid following other countries in banning the English bulldog on welfare grounds.”

A recent study, also by the Royal Veterinary College, concluded with a similar health warning about pugs.