The 2022 PDSA Animal Wellbeing Report and breed health surveys reveal the extent of inherited health problems in pedigree dogs, with welfare implications for millions of dogs and ongoing debate about breeding reform.
Inherited health problems in pedigree dogs cause chronic suffering that owners often accept as 'normal for the breed.' Brachycephalic dogs that cannot breathe normally are experiencing chronic respiratory compromise - not a cosmetic issue. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with syringomyelia experience pain from cerebrospinal fluid pressing on the spinal cord. Hip dysplasia causes progressive joint pain from a young age. These are not individual bad luck - they are predictable, breed-wide welfare problems caused by breeding standards that prioritize appearance over health. Reform requires breeding standard changes, health testing requirements, and consumer education about what constitutes acceptable health trade-offs in dog breeding.