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from the Pugs-prefer-"gaited"-communities dept.
Pug owners putting down their dogs due to common gait problems
Pugs, along with British and French bulldogs, already suffer from breathing difficulties due to their airways being obstructed. A team of Swedish researchers asked 550 owners of pugs whether their dogs had any gait problems, such as inability to jump, and abnormal wearing of the nails and the skin on their paws, and if so, how long these had been going on.
They were also asked about their dog's general health, and encouraged to send in video footage of their pet walking slowly back and forth on a leash, including a side view.
A prevalence of gait problems was found in just under 31 per cent of the dogs. On average, pugs were 2 years old when the gait abnormality first started, with front leg problems tending to show up earlier than problems with the back legs. But gait abnormalities were strongly associated with older age.
They were also associated with breathing problems and excessive scratching around the neck, ears and head. And pugs with abnormal gait were more likely to have incontinence issues.
Some 47 owners said their dogs had been put down with abnormal gait the single most frequently cited cause.
High prevalence of gait abnormalities in pugs (open, DOI: 10.1136/vr.104510) (DX)
(Score: 3, Insightful) by frojack on Wednesday February 07 2018, @04:31AM (8 children)
The desire for pure breed dogs is ruining some of the most desired breeds.
Generations of German Shepard with bad hips came out of the puppy mills.
Putting down a dog for non-debilitating gait problems - especially when you aren't breeding them, seems kind of callous.
The ever popular Border Collie is probably the next breed to be ruined. Smart dogs, not too big, and good tempered. It won't last.
Meanwhile the lowly animal shelter mixed breed seem to have the fewest problems, and the longest life.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 07 2018, @04:59AM (3 children)
That is a far nicer way to put it than what I was thinking when I read the summary. People suck.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by bob_super on Wednesday February 07 2018, @07:09AM (1 child)
People suck for liking deformed creatures which can barely breathe even when considered "healthy".
Pugs are an offence to natural selection, and an abomination onto Nuggan. My neighbour has one, and all I can think each time it's near, is how thankful it might get if someone was to finally put it out of its misery.
Think before you become a Buddhist : Fear not the cockroach nor the mayfly, a pug could be your reincarnation.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 07 2018, @08:43PM
Might not be too bad - my aunt has a pug, it gets half a beer whenever she opens a can.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 07 2018, @07:57PM
And in this case, not even in the fun, sexy way. :(
(Score: 3, Informative) by captain normal on Wednesday February 07 2018, @05:31AM (1 child)
I have to agree, mutts are probably the healthiest and usually the nicest dogs. There is way to much inbreeding in many of the popular breeds especially in puppy mills. Plus the shelters are full of wonderful dogs just wanting a home.Many of them are crosses of popular breeds.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts"- --Daniel Patrick Moynihan--
(Score: 4, Insightful) by NotSanguine on Wednesday February 07 2018, @05:55AM
This quite often applies to people as well, iMHO.
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: 2, Interesting) by jelizondo on Wednesday February 07 2018, @05:48AM
Quite right. I have a pure breed Border Collie and she's a fine animal but I got a second, mixed with God-knows-what, and she's wonderful. To most people they look exactly like Collies, but a little knowledge you can tell the mixed one from the pure breed.
Now character, the pure breed is smart and easy to train, the mixed one is smarter and easier to train; the pure breed can be quite aloof and the mixed one is totally in your face all day.
So far no health problems for either one, but they are still young. The pure breed is five and the mixed one is two.
Love them both.
(Score: 3, Informative) by choose another one on Wednesday February 07 2018, @09:50AM
Border Collies are bred to work, while there is work for them to do the breed will last and there is no incentive to breed in health problems - quite the contrary.
However, because collies are built to work, you need to work them or at least exercise them, a lot, lock them up alone in a house all day while you're out at work and that "good tempered" will not last.