A UK-based vet has shared a list of four dog and cat breeds he believes people should steer clear of due to potential health issues that could lead to costly vet bills.
Ben, who goes by ‘Ben The Vet’ on social media, specialises in small animals and uses his online platforms to share pet health information. He recently posted a video on TikTok outlining which dog and cat breeds he thinks are best avoided.
However, he acknowledged that this is a topic that “might make people upset,” and stressed that these are merely his opinions. Before adopting or buying a pet, it’s important to conduct your own research.
1. Shar Pei dogs
Recalling his first encounter with a Shar Pei puppy as a newly qualified vet, Ben said he initially thought it had been stung on the face by a bee, only to realise that “that is just what Shar Pei puppies look like. He went on to explain: “The issue is that pretty much all of the hallmarks that make a Shar Pei a Shar Pei confer a disease risk for the dog.
“All of this excess thickened skin is due to a genetic mutation which doesn’t just affect their appearance, it puts them at risk of an inflammatory disorder called Shar Pei Fever and over time, of kidney failure.”
The vet further explained that these dogs often have very narrow ear canals, making them highly susceptible to chronic painful ear infection and “a lot of them have entropion caused by the excessive skin where their eyelids roll inwards and hairs from outside of the eyelid scratch the surface of the eye.” According to PDSA, Shar Peis fall under a group of breeds categorised as ‘Category Three’ by The Kennel Club due to their excess skin folds, which can lead to skin issues and impact their sight.
The charity also listed infections and inflammation between the skin folds, entropion and ear infections as some of the conditions Shar Peis may develop, along with atopy, an itchy skin condition triggered by environmental factors like pollen, grass and dust mites. The charity highlighted Familiar Shar Pei Fever as a “disorder which causes a high temperature, painful swollen joints, swollen face and other symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea.”
It advises seeking veterinary advice immediately if your Shar Pei shows any unusual symptoms.
2. Scottish Fold cats
Ben went on to say that Scottish Fold cats are “another case where the blueprint of the breed’s appearance directly inflicts suffering on them.” He explained: “They have these cute, folded ears only because of a genetic mutation that also affects the cartilage in all of their joints and means that they develop painful arthritis at a young age but so many people have no awareness of this.”
Dr Primrose Moss, a UK-based small animal vet, told PetMD that Scottish Fold cats “require caregivers who can understand a cat’s body language and notice small signs of discomfort” as their folded ears “also come with joint and cartilage problems.”
3. Dogs with cropped ears
Next, Ben stated that no dogs are born with the appearance of cropped ears and it is “created by cutting off part of the ear flap and then posting years with tape and bandaging for several weeks or a couple of months until they stand upright like this.” He continued: “Ear cropping is purely about looks. It serves no health benefits and although it might be written into breed standard for lots of different breeds by the American Kennel Club, it is a painful mutilation.
“It’s illegal in many parts of the world and to people that say it doesn’t hurt, really? If you cut off part of your ear then bandage your ear for weeks in this silly contraption, you don’t think that would be painful and irritating? Come on.”
The RSPCA has also confirmed that “ear cropping (or docking) is an entirely unnecessary surgical procedure in which a dog’s ears are removed or altered” and it “has no benefits for the dog and can cause permanent damage.”
4. Brachycephalic dogs
Additionally, vet Ben stressed the issues with brachycephalic dogs, which are flat faced breeds with short skulls, such as pugs, French bulldogs and bulldogs. He expressed his wish that people knew about the extensive “veterinary intervention these animals need” and “how much they suffer.”
He pointed out: “And the breathing problems are a huge issue and they’re something that I think people are becoming more aware of but it is by no means just that, these dogs are so reliant on veterinary intervention to exist because the majority of them need a C-section, particularly in the case of bulldogs and Frenchies to give birth.”
Ben also highlighted that brachycephalic breeds often contend with “serious eye problems”, skin infections, ear infections, and corkscrew tails that “need amputating because of horrible skin fold infections.” He added: “It’s their inability to communicate like other dogs because they don’t have a normal tail and head anatomy.
“It’s all of the dental issues because they have the same number of teeth crammed into that tiny mouth. It’s the young French bulldogs that become paralysed because of disc herniations and I’ve seen too many of them to count.”
He also said that in his view, society has become “too accepting of their health problems and their welfare issues.” This concern is echoed by the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association which argues that brachycephalic dogs’ “inability to breathe normally is considered the greatest impediment to their welfare.”