Favorite dog breeds may disappear: new rules introduced in Britain

In the UK, popular dog breeds such as pugs, English and French bulldogs are at risk of disappearing due to harmful physiological features. In particular, short, flat faces, wrinkled skin, and bulging eyes create a high health risk for the animals, causing breathing problems, infections, and making active lifestyles difficult. Owners of such dogs often face the necessity of expensive surgeries to alleviate their pets' suffering.

• Breathing problems due to shortened airways;
• Infections in skin folds and eyes;
• Limited mobility and insufficient heat tolerance.

In a step towards progress and dogs' health, we offer the Inherited Health Assessment (IHA) - an evaluation system based on ten traits related to the physical condition and welfare of animals. Scientists developed this tool to enhance the quality of life of pedigree dogs and prevent the spread of harmful physiological features in the future. The initiative is currently voluntary but has broad support and may change the standards for breeding dog breeds in the future.

“The problem is that short, flat faces, wrinkled skin, and bulging eyes cause serious suffering to animals and require expensive surgeries” - The Guardian

The significance of the physiological features of dogs can worsen their health and quality of life. Thus, scientists and animal rights advocates propose new standards for health assessment and minimizing harmful physiological features in animals to ensure long and happy lives for popular dog breeds.