Pugs are anatomical disasters. Vets must speak out – even if it’s bad for business | Anonymous

Owners must be told some breeds are born to a lifetime of suffering, even if it means upsetting clients and putting livelihoods on the lineI still remember when I was introduced to the concept of a “brachycephalic” (squashed-nosed) dog as a veterinary student. We were having our first anatomy lectures on the skull and the lecturer put up various slides (yes, slides – that’s how long ago I trained to be a vet) showing x-ray images of dogs’ heads. Various different-sized ones went up – a collie, a jack russell, a beagle and then suddenly an extraordinary image of a skull with a crushed nose and distended forehead. “What is wrong with this patient?” our lecturer asked. “Has it been hit by a car?” The students responded. “Has it been kicked? Is there a birth defect?” No ne of these was right, of course, because the lecturer had been waiting to give his punchline. “You are all wrong. It’s just a pug”.Related:Vets ask prospective dog owners to avoid pugs and other flat-faced breedsContinue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Dogs Animal welfare Animals Veterinary medicine Pets Life and style Science UK news World news Source Type: news