Companion Animals

Dog Welfare 2026 Final Annual Report

A comprehensive review of companion dog welfare in 2026, covering health, behaviour, puppy trade regulation, and advances in pain management and veterinary care.

Key Facts

Brachycephalic breed health reforms accelerated with stricter breed standard revisions
Puppy farm regulation tightened in several countries following welfare investigations
Arthritis pain management with Solensia expanded globally with strong efficacy data
Dog anxiety and mental health awareness grew significantly among veterinary professionals
Senior dog welfare programmes and geriatric veterinary care expanded

Welfare Considerations

Dog welfare in 2026 reflects growing public awareness and veterinary capability alongside persistent challenges from irresponsible breeding and the puppy trade. Brachycephalic reform is one of the most important welfare advances, though implementation is slow. Access to veterinary care remains a welfare inequality issue.

What You Can Do

Support responsible breeding reform including brachycephalic health improvements
Report puppy farms and irresponsible breeders to RSPCA and trading standards
Ensure your dog has access to good quality preventive and pain management veterinary care