Vet Exposes How Some Animals We Think Are So Cute Live In Unbearable Pain
Veterinarian Dr. Cat Henstridge has worked in the field for more than 15 years and is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. When Dr. Henstridge shared a video explaining why pets that people think are cute are actually not cute at all, she attracted the attention of nearly 9 million viewers.
She stated that although the folded ears of Scottish Fold cats may be lovely, they fold because the thin cartilage causes them to collapse under their own weight. Their extreme abnormalities of the bone cartilage, which result in painful and debilitating arthritis, are also caused by the same genetic flaw that affects their ear cartilage.
Sadly, people intentionally breed these cats to have this disabling illness simply because their ears are "cute." Scottish Fold cats are tragically just one of the numerous creatures that suffer as a result of being bred to be "cute."
"The pets I see most often who suffer because of their looks are the flat-faced dog breeds. They are truly lovely animals with gorgeous personalities, but the vast majority have health problems.
What is even sadder is that their health issues are so normalized—like the fact that they snore or pant loudly—that most owners don't realize just how compromised they are," Dr. Henstridge says.
Veterinarian Dr. Cat Henstridge is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and she has posted a video that will make you think
The Scottish Fold Cat
They suffer from numerous health issues
Dogs with flat faces
Although they appear to have flat faces on the outside, dogs with flat faces may actually have just as much tissue inside as dogs with normal-length noses, which limits their airways. Flat-faced dog breeds struggle to breathe normally. They also have skin issues, such as sweaty, itchy skin folds. Additionally, due to how tightly their teeth are packed in their mouths, severe tooth decay is common.
They have to sleep with toys in their mouths so they can breathe.
"These dogs often fall asleep with toys in their mouths to keep their heads propped up because when they relax, all the extra tissue in the back of their mouths completely collapses. Without the toy propping their heads up, they would literally suffocate while they sleep."
Those cute eyes cause them a lot of problems
Flat-faced dogs frequently experience spinal problems, which can cause them to have difficulty walking or possibly become paralyzed. Their "cute" protruding eyes often indicate that they have uncomfortable eye issues more frequently.
The Pekingese dog
The Pekingese dog breed is also vulnerable. Due to the flatness of their skulls, they have issues with their eyes, respiration, and skin folds. Additionally, because of their large coats and flat faces, they are susceptible to overheating.
"When you compare their skeleton to a normal dog's skeleton, you can also see why they suffer from several mobility issues as well."
Flat-faced cats
The small nostrils of flat-faced cats make it difficult for them to breathe, and there is no room for their teeth, leading to a number of dental issues. Their deformed skulls could also result in neurological problems.
"Their big, beautiful eyes are also vulnerable to issues because they protrude so far, and their tears can't drain properly, which can leave them with sticky, dirty, painful, infected skin on their faces," she added.
Munchkin cats
Munchkin cats have a genetic mutation that makes their legs short. "Munchkin cats can't run, jump, or play as well as cats with normal-sized legs because we have deliberately restricted them by breeding them this way."
They have malformed limbs and joints, which can be very painful. Additionally, the UK's Governing Council of Cat Fancy does not recognize the breed.
Bulldog
"Essentially, someone seemed to say, 'Hey, let's take the bulldog with their flat faces, terrible skin, and awful health problems and make it worse.'" The breed suffers from elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, and severe arthritis.
"In some countries, breeding this dog would actually be illegal because it would be considered 'torture breeding,'" she added.
Shar Pei dogs
Shar Pei dog issues begin when they are puppies.
"The excess facial skin folds make the eyelids curl inward and rub painfully on the surface of the eye. A significant number of puppies have to undergo surgery early in life to tack the skin out of the way," the vet said.
For the rest of their lives, they frequently experience additional issues as a result of the extra skin. Many of them develop severe infections and itchy skin allergies because their skin is sensitive.
"And their small ears have small ear canals, which, combined with their skin sensitivity, can leave them extremely prone to ear infections and other issues."
Pets are not presents
Last but not least, Dr. Henstridge advises consumers to reconsider purchasing puppies listed for sale online around Christmas.
"No reputable breeder is going to sell puppies during this time of year—let alone advertise them as presents. They may look cute in pictures, but there is no way these puppies have been responsibly bred, and they have almost certainly started their lives in horrible puppy mills," she said.
These videos should raise awareness:
Dr. Henstridge wants people to see how much these "cute" creatures suffer by watching her clips.
"Images and videos of these pets are really popular on social media, but that only increases their desirability and the numbers being bred. It is up to all of us as animal lovers to spread the word about the problems these animals face and to either not engage with any content that features them or comment only to point out how compromised they are.
This may seem unkind, but if we don't work together to reduce their popularity, more animals will continue to suffer."
"I also want to add that you can argue that all pedigree pets suffer to some degree because they are inevitably inbred, but none suffer as early in life, as severely, or for as long as the breeds I have discussed," the vet concluded.
These videos certainly gave us a lot to think about. And we should definitely start doing something about it.
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