5 Popular Dog Breeds to Think Twice About, According to a Vet

“People love them for their laid-back personality and ridiculous wrinkles, but be prepared to spend hours on skin care. Their skin folds and feet need to be cleaned daily, and they are very prone to allergies and recurrent skin infections. Due to their short, bow-legged limbs they are also susceptible to arthritis and other orthopedic disorders.”

“Another bulldog breed that’s impossible to hate with their permanent smiles. Like their cousin the English Bulldog, it is very common for them to have skin issues and chronic allergy problems. They also can have severe breathing issues that can require a visit to their puppy plastic surgeon to help them breathe easier. Another reason they may have to see a veterinary surgeon is an injury to their spine caused by a prolapsed disc or malformed vertebrae.”

“There is no wonder why these are the dogs protecting our country and also tucking our human babies into bed at night—they’re intelligent and caring. Unfortunately, though, they are susceptible to many orthopedic problems including hip and elbow dysplasia which can lead to early onset of arthritis. Another common genetic disorder we see is called degenerative myelopathy which affects their spinal cord and has no cure at this time.”

“It is easy to fall in love with this gentle, happy-go-lucky breed, but by six to seven years of age, many develop a heart condition that causes their valves to be leaky. These cuties can be maintained for years after the diagnosis with the proper medications and monitoring, but their life expectancy is shortened (that is unless you want to travel to Japan for a new heart valve).”

“These lovable guys and gals are a walking bear hug. Yep, they are soft and cuddly little…cancer machines. Studies have shown that BMD are 225 times more likely to develop a specific form of cancer called histiocytic sarcoma and about 25 percent will be affected in their lifetime. So hug a Berner today if you haven’t yet.” 

We know: It’s nearly impossible to look at those adorable faces and read the scary descriptions. But, as Lang told us, “If you have done your research and still decide this is the breed for you, then I say go for it, because you might get lucky with a healthy little pup! And always: The best thing you can do is either #adoptdontshop or go to a highly qualified breeder.”