With the aim of protecting animal welfare and preventing health issues in brachycephalic animals, a bill is being promoted in Argentina. It is scientifically proven that the characteristics of brachycephalic animals negatively affect their health, and their suffering should be avoided.
The term “brachycephalic” means short snout. Many people choose dogs with short snouts, such as the French Bulldog, the English Bulldog, the Pug, or the Pekingese, and cats like the Persian or the Shorthaired Exotic, because they find them cute. However, many are unaware that these animals can suffer permanently due to their physical characteristics.
Among the most common health problems is the brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome, known as brachycephalic syndrome. These animals suffer from various malformations that impair their breathing, such as narrow nasal openings, excess soft tissues in the mouth and soft palate, relatively large tongues, and very narrow windpipes. Snoring and wheezing are signs of respiratory difficulty.
Many of these animals collapse when exercising or take longer than usual to recover from exertion. Some require surgery to lead a normal life. They are also susceptible to heatstroke, which can endanger their lives. Additionally, they suffer dental problems due to the deformation of their jaws and teeth, facing difficulties in grasping and chewing their food. They have prominent eyes, exposing them to injuries, and the folds on their face predispose them to chronic skin infections and inflammations, as well as intervertebral disc herniations. These breeds present diseases related to low genetic diversity.
Gastrointestinal disorders are also common due to the differential pressure between the chest and the abdomen during forced breathing, such as esophageal reflux or hiatal hernia of varying severity and malformations.
The bill aims to discourage the acquisition of these animals, prohibiting their breeding, sale, and importation, among other aspects, to prevent their suffering.
This initiative has already been adopted by Holland, Norway, France, and the United Kingdom, and Argentina joins the international call to prevent the suffering of these animals. The project is promoted by the Animal Protection Legal Network, composed of rescuers, civil associations, criminal law attorneys, veterinarians, and specialists in animal behavior.
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