BVA's Policy on Brachycephalic Dogs: Health & Welfare Guide

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is the UK’s foremost veterinary body, dedicated to promoting health, welfare, and best practices across the profession and the wider public. In 2025, the BVA renewed its focus on brachycephalic dogs—those breeds characterised by distinctive flat faces and shortened muzzles that can impact their wellbeing.

This article unpacks the BVA’s policy on these breeds, exploring the challenges they face and how owners, breeders, veterinary professionals, and the public can contribute to healthier future generations.

Understanding Brachycephalic Dogs and Their Challenges

Brachycephalic dogs have a head shape where the width is at least 80% of the length, resulting in a shortened muzzle and flatter face than typical breeds. This conformation can range from subtle to extreme, with some dogs having almost flat profiles and prominent eyes.

Such facial features often lead to compressions of the nasal passages and airways, which can cause breathing difficulties, overheating, and conditions like brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). These health issues may affect a dog’s exercise tolerance, quality of life, and longevity.

Despite these challenges, not all brachycephalic dogs suffer health problems. Dogs with mildly shortened muzzles often live healthy lives without complications, but those bred for exaggerated traits may experience significant struggles.

Common Brachycephalic Breeds

Some of the most popular brachycephalic breeds in the UK include:

• French bulldog puppies
• Pug puppies
• English bulldog puppies
• Boston terrier
• Cavalier King Charles spaniel puppies

These breeds are often bred with varying muzzle lengths, influencing susceptibility to health issues.

The BVA’s Health and Welfare Policy on Brachycephalic Dogs

The BVA’s policy addresses growing concerns about the rise in demand and breeding of brachycephalic dogs with extreme features – a trend increasing health problems amongst these breeds.

Key objectives of the BVA policy include:

• Ensuring the health and welfare of future generations of brachycephalic dogs.
• Increasing public and professional awareness of health risks linked to brachycephaly.
• Reducing negative health impacts on current brachycephalic dogs through informed ownership and breeding choices.
• Encouraging research into why these breeds are in demand and how health can be improved through breeding standards.
• Developing standardised assessment tools for brachycephalic conformation problems.

The BVA advocates a multi-stakeholder approach involving veterinary professionals, breeders, breed clubs, advertising sectors, and the media to promote healthier breed standards and reduce the popularity of exaggerated features.

The organisation also discourages the use of images featuring exaggerated brachycephalic dogs in advertising and social media, which can contribute to rising demand without informing the public of the associated health issues.

Supporting the BVA Campaign and Responsible Ownership

Every dog lover and prospective owner can champion the BVA’s aims by:

• Following informative campaigns such as the BVA’s #BreedToBreathe on social media to share accurate information.
• Discussing health considerations with friends or family considering brachycephalic breeds, emphasising the importance of avoiding exaggerated conformation.
• If owning a brachycephalic dog, thinking carefully before breeding and consulting vets to ensure mating pairs promote healthier traits.
• Choosing responsible breeders who perform health checks and prioritise good conformation and welfare when selecting a brachycephalic puppy.
• Alerting companies using brachycephalic dogs with exaggerated features in marketing to the BVA’s position, encouraging them to reconsider such representations.
• Considering alternative breeds with fewer respiratory challenges when selecting a pet dog.

Conclusion: Working Together for Healthier Brachycephalic Dogs

The BVA’s policy on brachycephalic dogs is a well-researched, compassionate call to action for all involved in these breeds’ futures. By collaborating across sectors and spreading awareness, we can help reduce suffering caused by extreme conformation and ensure that brachycephalic dogs have healthier, happier lives.

Responsible breeding, informed ownership, and careful media portrayal play crucial roles in this ongoing effort to prioritise animal welfare over fashion or appearance. Support the campaign and help breathe new life into brachycephalic breed standards.