Indeed, according to the Kennel Club, 1 in 5 dogs registered with the organization in the past 5 years belongs to one of those breeds. If their popularity keeps increasing at its current rate, soon we will be looking at ‘Planet of the Pugs’ style uprising and I, for one, can’t wait for President Snuffles to become my overlord!
The popularity of ‘short-nosed’ dogs (Pugs, most Bulldog breeds, King Charles Spaniel, etc) has exploded in recent years, with their (generally) small size and affable character increasingly popular among urbanites and first-time dog owners.
A real cutie, but those nostrils will cause it untold breathing problems!
However, none of this will be possible unless owners of ‘short-nosed’ breeds get to grips with an affliction that affects up to 50% of the flat-faced chaps. It’s called Stenotic nares (pinched nostrils), and brachycephalic breeds are very susceptible to the breathing problems it causes. Behavior to look out for includes snoring, same as in humans, and even your lil’ pup pal sleeping while sitting up, in an attempt to keep its airways clear.
A handy guide.
Now, of course, your good canine chum will often not know any better (indeed they were born that way) but it is possible to check your dog’s nose and even have surgery to open up its nose to the oxygen-y goodness.
Before surgery.
Post-surgery, this doggo has a new life!
