Wednesday 18 May 2022 10:10 AM Buying a pug is CRUEL: Vets warn against celebrity-driven obsession with 'cute' ... trends now

With their squashed little noses and wrinkled faces, pugs have become a favourite with dog lovers and celebrities.

Gerard Butler, Kelly Brook and YouTuber Zoe Sugg are just a few of the famous faces who have shared their lives with the breed. 

But vets are urging people not to buy pugs, following a new study that has revealed the breed suffers from such severe health conditions that it can no longer be considered a 'typical dog'.

Pugs are significantly more likely to suffer from breathing, eye, and skin disorders than other breeds, according to vets from the Royal Veterinary College.

'This study clearly demonstrates how it is the extreme characteristics many owners find so appealing, such as squashed faces, big eyes and curly tails, which are seriously compromising pugs' health and welfare and often result in a lifetime of suffering,' said Justine Shotton, president of the British Veterinary Association.

Pugs' short-faced 'brachycephalic' characteristics did not evolve naturally, and are instead the result of selective breeding.

This facial structure puts them at high risk for a range of health conditions, including breathing, eye and skin disorders.

'Pugs have become phenomenally popular in the UK over recent decades,' the research team wote in their study, published in Canine Medicine & Genetics.

'The breed has a flat-faced look that many humans find highly attractive and 'cute' but this flat face is also linked to several serious health problems.

'Consequently, there is growing concern about the welfare issues associated with the popularity and health issues of Pugs.'

In the study, the researchers compared the risks of 40 common conditions in pugs with other dog breeds.

The team analysed the records of 16,218 pugs and 889,326 non-pug breeds, taken from the VetCompass database.

Their analysis revealed that pugs were at increased risk for 23 out of 40 common disorders.