The life of many English bulldogs is no fun: the flat nose, the folds of the skin and his unwieldy body cause many health problems. Scientists argue for an adaptation of the breed, but especially of public opinion.

The bulldog, a popular family dog, is more likely to suffer from respiratory problems, eye conditions and skin complaints because of its flat nose, puckered skin and short, plump body, according to a new paper published in the scientific journal Canine Medicine and Genetics popped up. The researchers want the breeding of the animals to be modified to create more moderate physical characteristics, in order to avoid breeding being banned in the UK. In the Netherlands as well as in Norway there is already a ban on the breeding of both French and English bulldogs.

companion animal
The English Bulldog was originally developed as a muscular athletic dog suitable for bullfighting, but over the years it has become a show dog and companion animal with a short skull, protruding jaw, folds of skin and a heavy build.

Researchers from Britain’s Royal Veterinary College compared the health risks of English bulldogs with other dog breeds by analyzing data from veterinarians from 2016. Dr. Dan O’Neill and his colleagues studied the records of 2,662 English bulldogs and more than 22,000 other dogs. They found that the bulldogs were diagnosed with at least one condition twice as often as their peers. The breed was predisposed to 24 of the 43 diseases examined.

shorter life
English bulldogs were more than 38 times more likely to develop skinfold dermatitis. The animals were also almost 27 times more likely to have an eye condition known as Cherry Eye. The lacrimal gland swells behind the third eyelid. They were also more than 24 times more likely to have an overlong lower jaw and nearly 20 times more likely to have respiratory problems.

One of the biggest problems is skinfold dermatitis. The consequences for the animals are huge. They get skin infections and it is moist between the folds, which leads to bacterial accumulations. As a result, the animals are in pain and also start to smell. Dogs have a very sharp nose. So the fact that they are in their own stench all the time is extra unpleasant. O’Neill points to the paradox in this area: “People think these skin folds are very beautiful and cute, but for the dog it can be extremely painful.”

Also, the authors point out that only 9.7 percent of the bulldogs in the study were older than 8 years, compared to more than a quarter of the other dog breeds. This supports the theory that the bulldogs live shorter lives due to their poorer health in general. An average dog lives 11.2 years, a French bulldog only 4.5 and an English bulldog 7.4 years, according to a previous study by the researchers.

O’Neill states that his findings show that the overall health of the English bulldog is much worse than that of other dog breeds. “But most worryingly, many of the conditions that bulldogs suffer from, such as skinfold dermatitis and respiratory problems, can be directly linked to the extreme shape of their bodies that have been specifically bred for.”

No prohibition
Still, O’Neill doesn’t necessarily think there should be a ban on breeding the bulldogs. “Given the great popularity of the breed, the appearance of the typical English bulldog needs to be redefined with more moderate physical features. Not only will that improve the health of the dogs, but it could also prevent the UK from having to ban breeding, as is already happening in other countries.”

The British approach, which is supported by the government, scientists and breeding organisations, consists of three pillars. First, people’s opinion of the species needs to change: wrinkled skin isn’t cute for a dog, nor is a flat nose, so think before you buy a bulldog is the motto. Second, people who already own a bulldog should be urged to pay close attention to the animal, visit the vet on time and take extra care of it. Third, the bulldogs of the future must be bred to have much less extreme physical characteristics, eliminating the health problems. If dog buyers want a healthy dog, breeders will adjust their breeding policy accordingly. Such a bulldog will then look substantially different: without pleated skin, without a flat nose and with a less thick and stiff body.
Not cute, but pathetic
Researcher Dan O’Neill especially points out the importance of information and research: informing people about the health problems of the English bulldog can change their minds. “If you ban this breed, people might buy another breed with health problems. It’s about changing public opinion. At the moment, people find a bulldog cute, for example because of the pleated skin. We need to make it clear to people that such skin is not cute, but unhealthy and unacceptable. People should one day stand in the paws of such an animal and feel what it is like to gasp for breath every minute, always have sore eyes, sore skin and a spine that they can’t bend.”