Selective breeding for exaggerated physical traits in pedigree dogs has created inherited health problems causing significant ongoing suffering across millions of animals.
Dogs with severe brachycephalic airway syndrome experience chronic respiratory effort, sleep disruption from hypoxia, and heat intolerance that limits their activity throughout their lives. The condition is painful and distressing, causing dogs to struggle to breathe during basic activities. Hip dysplastic dogs experience chronic joint pain from early adulthood. Syringomyelia in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels causes excruciating nerve pain. These conditions are entirely human-created through selective breeding and represent an ongoing welfare crisis affecting millions of dogs.