The flatter the face, the cuter it is? Garfield cats and Pekingese dogs are more likely to get these diseases

Flat nose, big forehead, round and flat face as if punched by someone - in the pet market, Persian cats, Garfield cats and other flat-faced pets are particularly popular with their ugly and cute appearance. But behind the cuteness, these animals are under health risks because of their flat faces.

Round and flat Garfield | Tuchong Creative

Why do people prefer flat-faced animals?

Flat-faced animals are very lovable with their cute and adorable appearance - protruding eyes, short snouts, and short bodies. They look like human babies . Such appearance can arouse people's love and protective desire, which is also an important reason why many owners choose flat-faced pets.

Pekingese, also known as Pekingese and Royal Lion Dog｜HILL'S PET

From a behavioral perspective, studies have shown that compared to long-nosed animals, flat-faced animals are more likely to get along with strangers in a friendly manner and exhibit more interactive behaviors with humans , such as longer stares.

Flat-faced animals are loved for their appearance and behavior. Earlier this year, one of the star species of flat-faced animals, the French bulldog, became the most popular dog breed in the United States. It defeated the Labrador, which had been on the altar for 31 years.

French Bulldog｜Frenchie Journal

In addition to the French bulldog, common flat-faced dogs include the boxer, English bulldog, Boston terrier, pug, etc. The Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso, whose faces are covered by "fluttering long hair", are actually flat-faced animals.

Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Chow Chow, Boston Terrier | Showsight Magazine, American Kennel Club, TuChong Creative

There are also many cats with flat faces . Common breeds include Persian cats, Himalayan cats, Exotic Shorthair cats (yes, Garfield cats), etc.

Persian cat, Exotic shorthair cat, Himalayan cat, Burmese cat | The Spruce Pets, Tuchong Creative

Humans' love for flat-faced animals is not limited to cats and dogs. Many varieties of pet rabbits , such as the Netherlands dwarf rabbit, the mini lop rabbit, and the lion-head rabbit, are also among the flat-faced animals.

Netherland Dwarf Rabbit｜Breadbox Farm

The different body shapes and appearances of pets are the result of artificial breeding, and the "flat face" trait of flat-faced pets is no exception. People's love for flat-faced animals is constantly increasing, and artificial breeding is also intensifying . Video materials truly record the changes in the faces of flat-faced animals. It is not difficult to see from the comparison picture below that compared with the past, the face of the current boxer dog has become much flatter .

On the left is the boxer dog in the book "Dogs of All Nations" published in 1915, and on the right is the current boxer dog after a hundred years of breeding. ｜The Kennel Club

Cute looks, but will bring them bad luck

Cute and easy to get along with, animals with flat faces seem to be the winners in the pet world. However, the flat facial structure will cause some of their important life-sustaining organs to be distorted and changed, which will bring a series of health problems .

Respiratory problems

The most directly affected part is the respiratory tract. The flat face causes the skull and related structures to be "squeezed", which will cause many flat-faced animals to suffer from obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) , the main symptoms of which include narrow nares, long soft palate, incomplete tracheal development, and eversion of laryngeal sacs .

The most directly affected part is the respiratory tract. The flat face causes the skull and related structures to be "squeezed", which will cause many flat-faced animals to suffer from obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) , the main symptoms of which include narrow nares, long soft palate, incomplete tracheal development, and eversion of laryngeal sacs .

Not only do the nostrils become narrower, but the nasal cavity is also smaller. | International Cat Care

Because of their narrow airways, flat-faced animals often make snoring-like sounds when they breathe—especially when they exercise or get excited. They also experience chronic shortness of breath, and their oxygen saturation may not keep up after just a few steps.

Compared with ordinary animals, they are more susceptible to heat stroke . After all, it is difficult for them to breathe normally, let alone rely on panting to dissipate heat in the hot summer.

Because of these serious airway obstruction problems, many airlines prohibit flat-faced animals from taking flights . This is also for the safety of the animals, because their fragile respiratory systems have difficulty coping with the unfamiliar and changing environment while waiting for a flight and at high altitudes.

The area marked in red is the tongue. The short mouth of flat-faced animals often cannot accommodate a tongue of normal length (Figure B), which further aggravates the problem of respiratory obstruction. Reference [3]

Oral problems

A squeezed mouth not only leaves no room for the tongue, but also has no room for teeth.

Although the faces of flat-faced animals have become flatter, the number and size of their teeth have not changed. In a mouth with limited space, the teeth are crowded together, making it difficult for new teeth to grow and prone to cysts . There is no space between the teeth, so plaque and bacteria are more likely to accumulate . Many flat-faced animals also have an overbite, which aggravates the problem of malocclusion . All of these have caused oral damage to the animals, which not only causes pain, but long-term damage can also cause inflammation, and the situation will get worse and worse.

The mouth of a long-nosed Australian Shepherd on the left and a flat-faced Pug on the right | Fraser Hale

Compared with cats and dogs, flat-faced rabbits may be in a worse situation. Flat-faced rabbits have protruding jaws and their front teeth cannot be aligned, which affects the normal wear of the front teeth . Overly long teeth not only affect eating, but also cause oral infections, so they need continuous dental treatment.

Eye problems

Many people think that animals with flat faces have bigger, more lively eyes; but in fact, their eyes are normal size - they look bigger because the eye sockets are too shallow, causing more of the eyeball to protrude .

Protruding eyes are undoubtedly more vulnerable to injury. If the eyelids cannot close, it will affect the normal lubrication of the eyes, making corneal ulcers and corneal embolism more likely to occur. What's more frightening is that an eyeball that is too protruding may even fall out of the eye socket in an accident.

A nine-year-old pug with ectropion and exposure keratitis | Joelmills/ English Wikipedia

Skin problems

Flat-faced animals usually have too many skin folds on their faces. After all, even though their faces are flat, there are still so many wrinkles on their faces. These "extra" skin folds are warm and moist, providing an excellent environment for bacteria to grow, which can easily lead to chronic dermatitis . The ears of lop-eared rabbits can also cause similar problems.

Wrinkly Pug | Pet Keen

Fertility issues

Giving birth to a child is also a problem for animals with flat faces. Their flat face genes are also accompanied by a smaller pelvis, and the puppies' heads are much wider than the mother's reproductive tract, so natural births are often impossible . In the UK, more than 85% of bulldog mothers need caesarean sections, and the rate of dystocia is very high.

What can I do if I don't want to see animals suffer?

Flat-faced animals need to endure many diseases, but they are constantly bred because of human love. Therefore, if you want to make fewer animals suffer these pains, the most direct way is to try not to choose flat-faced animals as pets. If no one is willing to sacrifice their health for their cuteness, there will be fewer and fewer artificially bred flat-faced pets .

However, it is not realistic to ask everyone not to keep animals with flat faces. We can choose animals with less flat faces. Breed standards are derived from human aesthetics. If more people can say no to this morbid and extreme aesthetic, perhaps the breed definition of "the flatter the better" can be gradually abandoned .

A UK survey shows that 75% of dog owners are unaware of the possible health problems of flat-faced dogs before choosing them as pets | Royal Veterinary College

In addition, because flat-faced animals may be accompanied by more diseases, it is recommended that you obtain pets from regular channels . You should also pay attention to the following before purchasing: Do the animal's parents have any diseases? Has the animal been genetically tested to ensure that there are no genetic diseases?

Of course, in addition to buying purebred dogs and cats, there are many stray animals waiting for their forever homes. As a member of the family, it doesn’t really matter what breed or whether these animals are purebred. If you want to keep a pet, you can also consider adopting instead of buying !

I am already the guardian of a flat-faced pet, what can I do?

If you already have a flat-faced animal at home and it has developed the above health problems, don't panic too much and take it to the veterinarian for a check-up .

Respiratory problems can be improved through respiratory surgery, oral problems can be treated through timely examinations, eye problems can be reduced by avoiding trauma, skin problems can be improved by regularly cleaning skin folds, and sterilization surgery can avoid fertility problems from the source and prevent the next generation from suffering the same pain. Their quality of life and health will be greatly improved with the attention of their owners .

Nostril opening surgery before and after｜Allwest Animal Hospital

Finally, I hope everyone will not follow the trend and buy popular breeds online , and do not impulsively keep pets based on some videos or pictures. If you are interested in a breed, do some research first to understand the common diseases, exercise requirements, hair loss, and other characteristics of the breed, and make sure you are able to bear the responsibility of keeping them before making a decision.

Once you bring an animal home, never abandon it . It may just be a companion in your life, but you are its entire life!

I wish everyone’s little cutie can be happy and healthy every day!

References:

[1] Gyles C. Brachycephalic dogs — time for action. Can Vet J. 2017;58(8):777-780.
[2] Packer RMA, O'Neill DG, Fletcher F, Farnworth MJ. Come for the looks, stay for the personality? A mixed methods investigation of reacquisition and owner recommendation of [3]Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs. PLOS ONE. 2020;15(8):e0237276. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0237276
[3]Ekenstedt KJ, Crosse KR, Risselada M. Canine Brachycephaly: Anatomy, Pathology, Genetics and Welfare. Journal of Comparative Pathology. 2020;176:109-115. doi:10.1016/j.jcpa.2020.02.008
[4]Urgent call by vet profession to stop suffering of brachycephalic dogs and cats. Vet Help Direct. Published May 9, 2016. Accessed July 20, 2023.
[5]Monteiro CL, Campos AI, Madeira VL, Silva HV, Freire LM, Pinto JN, de Souza LP, da Silva LD. Pelvic differences between brachycephalic and mesaticephalic cats and indirect pelvimetry assessment. Vet Rec. 2013 Jan 5;172(1):16. doi: 10.1136/vr.100859. [6]https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2016/05/09/vets-to-end-suffering-of-brachycephalic-dogs/
[7]https://pugdogpassion.com/dentition-and-mouth-health-in-the-pug/
[8]https://www.ufaw.org.uk/rabbits/netherland-dwarf-dental-malocclusion

Author: Hazel Heart Animal Doctor

Editor: Wanwan, Mai Mai

Title image source: Tuchong Creative