Pugs have surged in popularity over the past two decades, admired for their distinctive flat-faced features. However, O’Neill et al. (2022) demonstrate that this same brachycephalic appearance is linked to significant health and welfare concerns. Using data from the VetCompass Programme, which included 905,544 dogs under veterinary care in 2016, the researchers compared the health profiles of 4,308 Pugs and 21,835 non-Pugs.
The findings revealed that Pugs had almost twice the odds (1.86×) of being diagnosed with at least one disorder compared to non-Pugs. More critically, they showed markedly higher risks for respiratory, ocular, and skin conditions. The most extreme predispositions included: brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (×53.92 risk), stenotic nares (×51.25), corneal ulceration (×13.01), and skin fold infections (×10.98). These disorders are directly tied to their extreme facial structure and body conformation.
Interestingly, the study also found that Pugs had reduced risks for certain conditions, such as heart murmur (×0.23), lipoma (×0.24), and aggression (×0.31). Nonetheless, the overwhelming balance of risk indicates that predispositions significantly outnumber protections.
The authors conclude that the Pug can no longer be considered a typical dog from a health perspective. Instead, the breed has diverged so far from mainstream canine health that urgent reforms in breeding practices are needed. The study underscores the importance of raising awareness among breeders, veterinarians, and owners to prioritize health over appearance in future Pug breeding.
Source: O’Neill, D., Sahota, J., Brodbelt, D., Church, D., Packer, R., & Pegram, C. (2022). Health of Pug dogs in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections. Canine Medicine and Genetics, 9. Authors: Dan O’Neill, Jasmeet Sahota, David Brodbelt, Dave Church, Rowena Packer, Camilla Pegram. Journal: Canine Medicine and Genetics.
