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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
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.
A S Koziol 7 years ago
A responsible breeder will only breed animals that don't have any know health issues-this is done be extensive testing. They will also no breed any animal that isn't fully and adult height and weight, nor breed that animal more than once a year. They will also ensure the mother and puppies have a room to themselves with a whelping box and the room is kept at 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit (26.5-30 degrees Celsius) and are not left unattended AT ALL in the first 72 hours of the puppy's life. They will also know how the mother should be acting because birth is just as traumatic for her as for us, and be prepared to feed and wash puppies if the mother isn't or won't do it. And if you aren't interviewed and asked a number of questions (Do you have a fence? how many and what age of kids? How long will the puppy be expected to stay home alone during the day? Do you have a way to ensure the puppy can't hurt itself chewing on things even when you are away? etc.) they are in it for money only,
Rafaella Bueno 7 years ago
This so much. People demonize breeding as a whole, but responsible breeders are that: responsible. They do everything to make sure the puppies are as "good" as they can be, and that all the dogs are treated as well as they possibly could, which is why the puppies are so expensive: it costs a lot to do it right. What f***s everything up is people who just take two random dogs of the same breed and have them breed to get a quick buck out of the puppies without thinking of anything else. And then people go and buy those puppies rather than the well bred ones, because they're obviously much cheaper.
Load More Replies...
Shiraz Qaddoumi 7 years ago
....they don't just "have trouble breathing," they have to breathe through their mouths. So their teeth end up all rotting away because their mouths are always open and the protective saliva never gets to coat the teeth. It's also why they always get fat - a dog that can't breathe can't run and play. Here's another good one - over 80% of bulldogs are delivered by c-section because we have bred their heads to be too big to pass through the mother's pelvis/birth canal.
diane a 7 years ago
Would be interested - how much does it cost to fix a flat faced dog's nose - re breathing problems? Am guessing this is a US procedure
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 7 years ago
It's not, it's one of the most common surgeries for flat-faced dogs in Europe, too. It's not only the nostrils. Due to the short snout, those doggies don't have enough place in their head to place their tongue. So when they relax, the back of the tongue slips down into the throat and causes breathing-problems. I've also heard of a dog that had to have his tongue half-amputated because the front part didn't fit into his head and was hanging out all the time. It dried up and was only just a piece of dry meat. A lot of breeds have problems due to their breeding, and even in responsible kennels sometimes genetic problems occur. Doesn't mean mutts are healthier, but sadly, mutts are at least a little bit less often at the vet ... which is sad, because shouldn't it be the purebreds that are less often at the vet? Anyway. Yes, other breeds have problems, too, but no type of dog has this pitiful lives ahead of them in comparison. I cannot understand how people actually pay money to buy those
Load More Replies...
Eunice Probert 7 years ago
There's a lady in my town who breed old-fashioned pugs. That is, pugs with longer muzzles, who can actually breath properly. Since the Victorian age, we've been tampering with dogs and it's ridiculous. The chief vet in the UK has spoken out about it and is trying to encourage people to breed the original version of these flat-faced dogs.
John Louis 7 years ago
It is morally wrong to breed a dog that has inherent health problems. There are several examples of this, including breeding German Shepherds who have shorter back legs that cause hip displacement.
diane a 7 years ago
Surely the Kennel Clubs throughout the world could improve things very quickly (within a few years) if they had rules that only dogs with a specified minimum snout/muzzle length were eligble for recognised shows. If the champions and "best of breed" winners all had improved traits - the breeders would be aiming for this standard
Grumble o'Pug 7 years ago
The kennel club has no incentive to improve breeds beyond show ring standards. Plus the blowback of pet millers and backyarders chasing money as breeds ascend and descend in popularity is astounding. Until MIB featured a pug, they were relatively safe breeds: hard to breed (they need c-sections) and hard to do much more than pamper, they now are highly popular and so the punishment is that they are churned out and the byproduct isn't a healthy dog. I have three rescues. Trust.
Load More Replies...
Vonskippy 7 years ago
You mean if you breed a certain type of dog for traits that are "cute" to vain a*s owners the dogs might suffer? Big f*****g surprise. Is there surgery to fix the pinched brain in 90% of the human race? Stop buying purebreed dogs - adopt a mutt at your local animal shelter.
lilspiffy 7 years ago
My shihtzu had to have a nose job when she was about a year old. I had to sign a paper saying I would never put her in a dog show. Afterward she could finally breath! People have always looked at me funny when I’m i tell them about her rhinoplasty. ;)
lilspiffy 7 years ago
She is mostly shihtzu. Her dad was a Yorkie, but she looks like a small shihtzu.
Load More Replies...
Mrs Lesley Sheppard 7 years ago
I was diagnosed with Emphysema. My symptoms included shortness of breath, dizziness, lack of oxygen to all body parts, numbness of fingers, no energy, no appetite, fatigue, and bloodshot eyes. I was living at a place that has mold and mildew in the air conditioning unit. I also smoked a pack a day for 20 years. The Pulmonologist started me on Spiriva and Advair plus nose sprays, to reduce symptoms and slow down progression but I could not tolerate them for long due to severe side effects so I opted not to go on prescription medicines but decided on using herbs instead, October 18, 2017 after being on the herbs you recommended, i had a total recovery from Emphysema disease with this natural herbal formula treatment. The shortness of breath, dizziness has subsided. When I stumbled upon you guys, it was just pure instinct. And from that day on it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. The caring that goes into explaining what herbs work for whatever ails me is astounding
d r e a m w o r l d 7 years ago
Pinch your nose and try to breathe... it's hard. That's every day for these poor doggies... we need to fix this :(
d r e a m w o r l d 7 years ago
Nose surgery should be mandatory when adopting these dogs... I know it will heighten the price but what's worth more, money or a beautiful creature's life?
A Dog Person 7 years ago
This is actually ridiculous. We bred these breeds because of their unusual looks and now they are suffering beacause of that. Yes, these breeds (frenchies, english bulldogs) are friendly, cute, good with kids etc. But breathing issues are not the only health issues they have. They have short legs and weigh a lot. Because of their extremely short snouts they have trouble eating, as well as drinking and breathing. They should not be bred this much.
Perry Swift 7 years ago
Don't buy dogs that have squashed noses? And, definitely don't buy dogs from any breeders!
Jason Pabst 7 years ago
Proposal for alternate article title: "These dogs are being bred for all the wrong reasons"... what happens next will shock you
Morganna Kennsington 7 years ago
Aside from my general dislike of small dogs(I'm clumsy and would step on one should I ever have one) this is one of the many reasons why I refuse to own most bulldogs, pugs, etc. I know I can't afford the surgery and there's been uncited information told to me by vets and pet store workers that some of the puppies of mush-face dogs actually smother to death if they lay on their backs. I don't know if it's true or not but it's definitely possible since they can potentially smother when standing or running.
diane a 7 years ago
they shouldnt be bred to the stage that they need "fixing" by surgery
Load More Replies...
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.
A S Koziol 7 years ago
A responsible breeder will only breed animals that don't have any know health issues-this is done be extensive testing. They will also no breed any animal that isn't fully and adult height and weight, nor breed that animal more than once a year. They will also ensure the mother and puppies have a room to themselves with a whelping box and the room is kept at 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit (26.5-30 degrees Celsius) and are not left unattended AT ALL in the first 72 hours of the puppy's life. They will also know how the mother should be acting because birth is just as traumatic for her as for us, and be prepared to feed and wash puppies if the mother isn't or won't do it. And if you aren't interviewed and asked a number of questions (Do you have a fence? how many and what age of kids? How long will the puppy be expected to stay home alone during the day? Do you have a way to ensure the puppy can't hurt itself chewing on things even when you are away? etc.) they are in it for money only,
Rafaella Bueno 7 years ago
This so much. People demonize breeding as a whole, but responsible breeders are that: responsible. They do everything to make sure the puppies are as "good" as they can be, and that all the dogs are treated as well as they possibly could, which is why the puppies are so expensive: it costs a lot to do it right. What f***s everything up is people who just take two random dogs of the same breed and have them breed to get a quick buck out of the puppies without thinking of anything else. And then people go and buy those puppies rather than the well bred ones, because they're obviously much cheaper.
Load More Replies... Shiraz Qaddoumi 7 years ago
....they don't just "have trouble breathing," they have to breathe through their mouths. So their teeth end up all rotting away because their mouths are always open and the protective saliva never gets to coat the teeth. It's also why they always get fat - a dog that can't breathe can't run and play. Here's another good one - over 80% of bulldogs are delivered by c-section because we have bred their heads to be too big to pass through the mother's pelvis/birth canal.
diane a 7 years ago
Would be interested - how much does it cost to fix a flat faced dog's nose - re breathing problems? Am guessing this is a US procedure
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 7 years ago
It's not, it's one of the most common surgeries for flat-faced dogs in Europe, too. It's not only the nostrils. Due to the short snout, those doggies don't have enough place in their head to place their tongue. So when they relax, the back of the tongue slips down into the throat and causes breathing-problems. I've also heard of a dog that had to have his tongue half-amputated because the front part didn't fit into his head and was hanging out all the time. It dried up and was only just a piece of dry meat. A lot of breeds have problems due to their breeding, and even in responsible kennels sometimes genetic problems occur. Doesn't mean mutts are healthier, but sadly, mutts are at least a little bit less often at the vet ... which is sad, because shouldn't it be the purebreds that are less often at the vet? Anyway. Yes, other breeds have problems, too, but no type of dog has this pitiful lives ahead of them in comparison. I cannot understand how people actually pay money to buy those
Load More Replies... Eunice Probert 7 years ago
There's a lady in my town who breed old-fashioned pugs. That is, pugs with longer muzzles, who can actually breath properly. Since the Victorian age, we've been tampering with dogs and it's ridiculous. The chief vet in the UK has spoken out about it and is trying to encourage people to breed the original version of these flat-faced dogs.
John Louis 7 years ago
It is morally wrong to breed a dog that has inherent health problems. There are several examples of this, including breeding German Shepherds who have shorter back legs that cause hip displacement.
diane a 7 years ago
Surely the Kennel Clubs throughout the world could improve things very quickly (within a few years) if they had rules that only dogs with a specified minimum snout/muzzle length were eligble for recognised shows. If the champions and "best of breed" winners all had improved traits - the breeders would be aiming for this standard
Grumble o'Pug 7 years ago
The kennel club has no incentive to improve breeds beyond show ring standards. Plus the blowback of pet millers and backyarders chasing money as breeds ascend and descend in popularity is astounding. Until MIB featured a pug, they were relatively safe breeds: hard to breed (they need c-sections) and hard to do much more than pamper, they now are highly popular and so the punishment is that they are churned out and the byproduct isn't a healthy dog. I have three rescues. Trust.
Load More Replies... Vonskippy 7 years ago
You mean if you breed a certain type of dog for traits that are "cute" to vain a*s owners the dogs might suffer? Big f*****g surprise. Is there surgery to fix the pinched brain in 90% of the human race? Stop buying purebreed dogs - adopt a mutt at your local animal shelter.
lilspiffy 7 years ago
My shihtzu had to have a nose job when she was about a year old. I had to sign a paper saying I would never put her in a dog show. Afterward she could finally breath! People have always looked at me funny when I’m i tell them about her rhinoplasty. ;)
lilspiffy 7 years ago
She is mostly shihtzu. Her dad was a Yorkie, but she looks like a small shihtzu.
Load More Replies... Mrs Lesley Sheppard 7 years ago
I was diagnosed with Emphysema. My symptoms included shortness of breath, dizziness, lack of oxygen to all body parts, numbness of fingers, no energy, no appetite, fatigue, and bloodshot eyes. I was living at a place that has mold and mildew in the air conditioning unit. I also smoked a pack a day for 20 years. The Pulmonologist started me on Spiriva and Advair plus nose sprays, to reduce symptoms and slow down progression but I could not tolerate them for long due to severe side effects so I opted not to go on prescription medicines but decided on using herbs instead, October 18, 2017 after being on the herbs you recommended, i had a total recovery from Emphysema disease with this natural herbal formula treatment. The shortness of breath, dizziness has subsided. When I stumbled upon you guys, it was just pure instinct. And from that day on it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. The caring that goes into explaining what herbs work for whatever ails me is astounding
d r e a m w o r l d 7 years ago
Pinch your nose and try to breathe... it's hard. That's every day for these poor doggies... we need to fix this :(
d r e a m w o r l d 7 years ago
Nose surgery should be mandatory when adopting these dogs... I know it will heighten the price but what's worth more, money or a beautiful creature's life?
A Dog Person 7 years ago
This is actually ridiculous. We bred these breeds because of their unusual looks and now they are suffering beacause of that. Yes, these breeds (frenchies, english bulldogs) are friendly, cute, good with kids etc. But breathing issues are not the only health issues they have. They have short legs and weigh a lot. Because of their extremely short snouts they have trouble eating, as well as drinking and breathing. They should not be bred this much.
Perry Swift 7 years ago
Don't buy dogs that have squashed noses? And, definitely don't buy dogs from any breeders!
Jason Pabst 7 years ago
Proposal for alternate article title: "These dogs are being bred for all the wrong reasons"... what happens next will shock you
Morganna Kennsington 7 years ago
Aside from my general dislike of small dogs(I'm clumsy and would step on one should I ever have one) this is one of the many reasons why I refuse to own most bulldogs, pugs, etc. I know I can't afford the surgery and there's been uncited information told to me by vets and pet store workers that some of the puppies of mush-face dogs actually smother to death if they lay on their backs. I don't know if it's true or not but it's definitely possible since they can potentially smother when standing or running.
diane a 7 years ago
they shouldnt be bred to the stage that they need "fixing" by surgery
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