A guy in the office recently bought a pug. He's pretty macho and works on TheSPORTBible. Even he has allowed the cuteness of his pet to infest his social media.
I get it, because the miniature man's best friend is pretty cool and the images of them on Instagram can leave us struggling at times. But putting emotions aside for one moment, they may not be the healthiest choice of pets.
The reality for these particular four-legged friends isn't all doughnut and beer selfies. There is a dark side to the multi-million-dollar trade of which many owners are probably unaware.
Have you ever noticed that pugs sound like they are constantly snoring? Well, apparently we've pushed the breed's noses back so far over the years that now they are struggling to breathe. Brachycephalic breeds like bulldogs and pugs have been known to die in heat and humidity because they can't breathe and pant properly like other dogs.
It gets worse, as they also have terrible skin. I'm not talking about embarrassing acne - more fungus and chronic infection. That's because the folds in their skin make it almost impossible to clean them properly.
Furthermore, breeding for the curl in the dog's tail can have serious consequences. The breeding selection calls for abnormally shaped vertebrae. Many pugs have been born with a curved spine as a result.
According to a recent study, 80.2 percent of pugs suffer with hip dysplasia. This is a condition where the joints and the hip begin to develop abnormally. They are the second worst breed for this in the world, and are second only to bulldogs.
However, it's not all misery for the pug and your viral entertainment. The UK's Kennel Club has amended the breed's standard so that it no longer demands a 'short' muzzle, just a 'relatively short' one instead.
This follows the shocking truth behind some pedigree breeds which was exposed in the Pedigree Dogs Exposed documentary.
Advert
Video credit: YouTube/CBC
No one is saying don't buy a pug - it's Tom's from TheSPORTBible's new best friend and he would be lost without him. It is best to just have a bit of awareness.
Featured image credit: PA
Featured Image Credit: