The veterinary industry experiences an Australian first

This week, the largest veterinary exhibition in the southern hemisphere will be held in Brisbane at the Australian Veterinary Association Annual Conference.

It will feature images of animals of all species, shapes, and sizes with one notable exception – Pugs, French Bulldogs and other dogs that have been bred with flat-faces.

In an Australian first, the veterinary industry is collectively putting their weight behind the 'Love is Blind' campaign – a joint initiative of the RSPCA and AVA to raise awareness about the health and welfare concerns associated with dogs that are bred with exaggerated features.

AVA President Dr. Paula Parker says that dogs like Pugs and French Bulldogs are highly popular breeds in Australia, and this popularity is fuelled by celebrity ownership and advertisements that feature these dogs. But sadly, they suffer serious health issues because they are bred to look a certain way.

“This year in line with our 'Love is Blind' campaign, we asked our industry supporters to refrain from using images of dogs that are bred with exaggerated features because we know that the overuse of these dogs in marketing material simply promotes their popularity among the public.

“The AVA Conference hosts the largest veterinary exhibition our industry has to offer in this part of the world. We are very proud of our more than 120 industry exhibitors this year who have all refrained from featuring these dogs in their advertising material during the AVA Conference.

“These flat-faced dogs don’t have normal muzzles, so they have difficulty breathing, sleeping and exercising as a result. They can’t easily cool themselves in warm weather, and the soft tissues in their throats can swell and block the passage of air. They may faint, collapse or overheat, sometimes fatally, when exercising or excited. These dogs often need major surgery to improve their quality of life.

“Working in emergency practice, I see a lot of these dogs at the point of crisis. During the hotter months, it’s not uncommon to have an ICU full of flat-faced dogs that need urgent medical attention because they can’t breathe and it’s a devastating situation for both the dogs and the owners.

“People who are considering buying a flat-faced dog should consider the potential longer-term healthcare costs and be prepared to take any necessary action advised by their veterinarian in the future that will improve the dog’s health and welfare,” Dr. Parker said.

The aim of the 'Love is Blind' campaign is to encourage the community to work together to address these welfare concerns in affected breeds so that breeding standards will change to promote the health and welfare of these dogs, over their looks.

For more information visit www.ava.com.au/loveisblind

For further information and requests for interviews contact the AVA media office on 0439 628 898 or media@ava.com.au.

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is the only national association representing veterinarians in Australia. Founded in 1921, the AVA today represents 9000 members working in all areas of animal science, health, and welfare.