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Does it sometimes seem that short-snouted dogs can barely breathe? Well there’s a 50% chance you’re right. “Around one in 5 dogs registered with the Kennel Club is now a Pug, Frenchie or Bulldog – compared to one in 50 in 2005. While some of these dogs lead good lives, research suggests that around 50% have significant breathing issues and that very few can breathe as well as a dog with a normal muzzle.” says Jemima Harrison, the founder of CRUFFA (The Campaign for the Responsible Use of Flat-Faced Animals).
The “cute” snoring and falling asleep while sitting might be indications that your doggo is not OK – snoring is a clear sign of a breathing issue and your pup might actually be trying to keep the airways open by keeping the head up. If these problems sound close to home, your dog might have what’s called “stenotic nares” or “pinched nostrils”. This condition is very common in brachycephalic breeds (French bulldog, English bulldog, Pug, Boston terrier) and dogs that have excess skin (Shar Pei, Mastiff).
“But my dog is always happy”? Of course they’re happy, they are used to it because they don’t know any better. But owners whose dogs have undergone surgery can see the difference – a change of tongue color, as the dog is no longer deprived of oxygen, and overall playfulness. The doggies just seem happier!
How do we stop poor puppers from living their whole lives short of breath? Well the main thing is spreading awareness, as most people are unaware that their pet might not be up to standard. Also, do not support breeders that produce unhealthy pups.
More info: CRUFFA
RELATED:
Both of these dogs are adorable, but only one meets the “breathe standard”
Most people would be unaware that this cutie has “pinched nostrils” and thus, trouble breathing
Image credits: frenchiebutt.milo
Check your dog’s nose to make sure your pup doesn’t have severe breathing issues
If your dog was born with a “pinched nose”, it can still live a normal life with stenotic nares surgery
These pups can finally breathe after getting a “nose job”. Can you see the difference?
Image credits: Wikimedia Commons
Image credits: mountpleasantvetgroup
Image credits: clenthillsvets
What do you think ?
Alia G. 7 years ago
Pugs and frenchies and dogs like that are so very sweet and lovely dogs, but we really shouldn’t be breeding them, because of pinched nostrils and other issues like that. We’re just breeding them to look “cute” for our enjoyment, but a lot of people can’t afford to pay for this surgery. Again, they’re very sweet, and they are adorable, but unless everyone can and will pay for this surgery and other health bills, we shouldn’t be breeding animals to be like this. (Sorry, I hope this isn’t an unpopular opinion)
Nadine Ducca 7 years ago
I completely agree. Breeders have selected animals for shorter and shorter muzzles, and all this causes so many breathing difficulties for the poor things. It's ridiculous that now people need to operate on the pups' noses to help them breathe when the whole reason they can't breathe is due to selective breeding carried on by people!
Load More Replies...
Sierra Hall 7 years ago
My pekingese had a nose job years ago. I swear it extended her lifespan.
Molly Tallmadge 7 years ago
Ohh that explains why my dog has trouble breathing! I'll take her in ASAP!
diane a 7 years ago
A Rhodesian Ridgeback doesnt have a flat face, therefore her problem shouldnt be due to that issue - but any breathing difficulties should be checked out by a Vet
Load More Replies... 
Elizabeth Lord Cary 7 years ago
I have an Irish Setter, my step-daughter just moved back home with her 2y/o French Bulldog. I have never truly appreciated my Irish Setter more than now that we live with a Frenchie. His breathing is horrible, poor guy has to stop mid play to breathe. I didn't know this surgery was an option, I'm going to show this to her.
mewmew34 7 years ago
It should be considered animal cruelty to breed animals like this. Yeah, they're cute, but they suffer a lifetime of health issues just so a human can have that cute animal. There are so many breeds of domestic animal that suffer health issues as a direct result of they way humans have bred them to look, and it shouldn't be considered acceptable. If you're going to breed an animal, do it with their health in mind, not their looks.
A dose of reality... 7 years ago
There actually isn't a single bred dog that doesn't suffer from some sort of bodily changes during the creation of the specific breed. Some are more serious than others but they're always there somewhere. Even such wolf-like dogs like the German Shepard have problems with their hip-bones and upper leg bones because of their sloping back. Talking about animal cruelty...
diane a 7 years ago
larger dogs get hip dysplasya - but they are not specifically bred to have that problem - small flat faced dogs ARE bred to have breathing issues
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Grumble o'Pug 7 years ago
Well, pugs have other issues, too: heat intolerance, shedding like they have a bag of hair in their pocket, eye sockets that don't actually hold their eyes so they are prone to eye issues, stubbornly hard to house train, and are prone to spinal degenerative myelopathy (heartbreaking). BUT human's selected them to hold tight to their pack and they are the most devoted dogs I've ever met. Mine are all rescues. Sadly because they are so popular backyard breeders churn them out. Now you see pugs in the worst way as rescues. Seniors often show up in kill shelters because people forget that a pure breed is more prone to genetic weaknesses that aren't bred out by cross breeding.
Alia G. 7 years ago
Pugs and frenchies and dogs like that are so very sweet and lovely dogs, but we really shouldn’t be breeding them, because of pinched nostrils and other issues like that. We’re just breeding them to look “cute” for our enjoyment, but a lot of people can’t afford to pay for this surgery. Again, they’re very sweet, and they are adorable, but unless everyone can and will pay for this surgery and other health bills, we shouldn’t be breeding animals to be like this. (Sorry, I hope this isn’t an unpopular opinion)
Nadine Ducca 7 years ago
I completely agree. Breeders have selected animals for shorter and shorter muzzles, and all this causes so many breathing difficulties for the poor things. It's ridiculous that now people need to operate on the pups' noses to help them breathe when the whole reason they can't breathe is due to selective breeding carried on by people!
Load More Replies... Sierra Hall 7 years ago
My pekingese had a nose job years ago. I swear it extended her lifespan.
Molly Tallmadge 7 years ago
Ohh that explains why my dog has trouble breathing! I'll take her in ASAP!
diane a 7 years ago
A Rhodesian Ridgeback doesnt have a flat face, therefore her problem shouldnt be due to that issue - but any breathing difficulties should be checked out by a Vet
Load More Replies... Elizabeth Lord Cary 7 years ago
I have an Irish Setter, my step-daughter just moved back home with her 2y/o French Bulldog. I have never truly appreciated my Irish Setter more than now that we live with a Frenchie. His breathing is horrible, poor guy has to stop mid play to breathe. I didn't know this surgery was an option, I'm going to show this to her.
mewmew34 7 years ago
It should be considered animal cruelty to breed animals like this. Yeah, they're cute, but they suffer a lifetime of health issues just so a human can have that cute animal. There are so many breeds of domestic animal that suffer health issues as a direct result of they way humans have bred them to look, and it shouldn't be considered acceptable. If you're going to breed an animal, do it with their health in mind, not their looks.
A dose of reality... 7 years ago
There actually isn't a single bred dog that doesn't suffer from some sort of bodily changes during the creation of the specific breed. Some are more serious than others but they're always there somewhere. Even such wolf-like dogs like the German Shepard have problems with their hip-bones and upper leg bones because of their sloping back. Talking about animal cruelty...
diane a 7 years ago
larger dogs get hip dysplasya - but they are not specifically bred to have that problem - small flat faced dogs ARE bred to have breathing issues
Load More Replies... Grumble o'Pug 7 years ago
Well, pugs have other issues, too: heat intolerance, shedding like they have a bag of hair in their pocket, eye sockets that don't actually hold their eyes so they are prone to eye issues, stubbornly hard to house train, and are prone to spinal degenerative myelopathy (heartbreaking). BUT human's selected them to hold tight to their pack and they are the most devoted dogs I've ever met. Mine are all rescues. Sadly because they are so popular backyard breeders churn them out. Now you see pugs in the worst way as rescues. Seniors often show up in kill shelters because people forget that a pure breed is more prone to genetic weaknesses that aren't bred out by cross breeding.
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