Why do we still continue to breed dogs for cuteness?

The practice of dog breeding has been around for about 15,000 years. What first started as a simple interaction between man and wolf has led to around 400 dog breeds that exist today. While these dog breeds are loved by many around the globe, that comes with ethical concerns about dog breeding today. 

Historically, dogs were bred for specific jobs like hunting, guarding and herding leading to breeds with functional traits. While some countries continue to breed working or service dogs, modern dog breeding largely focus on appearance and temperament. People want dogs for companionship, and physical appearance plays a significant role when people select their pets. 

Trends and demands have led to impractical breeds like "teacup" and flat-faced dog breeds which is born to a lifetime of suffering. There are ethical concerns because of genetic disorders and severe health issues. Pugs, along with other brachycephalic breeds, often suffer from breathing difficulties with their shortened snouts and flat faces. So much so, the Singapore Veterinary Association (SVA)  issued a position statement regarding welfare concern  https://sva.org.sg/news/brachycephalic/   

We can speak from first hand experience in the case of Pickles, a 6-year old female pug with several health issues. She's a sweet dog, but breathes heavily when anxious or over-stimulated,  and our warm weather increases her risk of overheating. The vet has said that if her respiratory issues worsen, surgery will be needed to correct her anatomical abnormalities. 

But despite the fact that such breeds face serious health challenges, breeders continue to breed them driven by demand and profits.

At what cost are we paying for cuteness?

New crossbreeds like Labradoodle, Goldendoodle, Cockapoo and Schnoodle, are also increasingly popular. Also known as the designer dogs, the perceived value based on looks can be worrying. Captivated by the cute face of that little pup at the window, people may overlook potential issues on pet ownership and the dog's suitability as a pet. 

People don't really realize that when they purchase dogs, they are unintentionally supporting puppy farming, breeding practices that harm dogs and the black market of puppy smuggling. 

In the past 2 years, we have rescued several ex-breeding dogs with extremely poor health conditions from a breeding facility. You can read about their living conditions - The horrors of a breeding kennel  

It is unsurprising that dogs that come from these breeding facilities are often sick as a result of malnourishment, stress, and lack of veterinary care. These can include mental problems such as severe anxiety that require costly veterinary intervention and can eventually result in frustrated owners into giving up their dogs.

Breeding farms or puppy mills are essentially puppy producing factories prioritizing profits over animal welfare. Living conditions are often poor and with so many dogs in their facility, it is impossible to provide adequate care. Almost all of the ex-breeding dogs that we had rescued have bad dental decay and weak bones. 

There is also the possibility of overbreeding; that is a dog having many pregnancies which can damage the body. Local regulations stipulate a maximum of one litter per year for breeding dogs, but they can have multiple litters throughout their breeding lifespan before retiring at six years old.

While you enjoy your time with your puppy, think of mama dog. 

What about ethical breeding, you may ask. By definition, ethical breeding refers to a responsible approach to breeding, ensuring the welfare of the breeding dog and offspring.  The question is how do we know that the breeder is not at risk of being irresponsible. Will the breeder make you a lifetime commitment to the dogs they breed, share their research, and put money into comprehensive health checks? Are they willing to take back a dog that is not thriving in a home that they placed?

The same with licensed breeders. In Singapore, licensed dog breeders are regulated by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) under the National Parks Board. They must adhere to specific licensing conditions and meet certain requirements for breeding practices.

But, in 2024, 19 out of 22 licensed breeders in Singapore were found to have breached tightened rules.  

They may be legal, but that does not make it right in our view. Where is the morality of keeping dogs in cages and forcing them to reproduce?

It has often been said that it is easier and faster to buy a dog than adopting.  We cannot deny the fact because the dog's needs are thoughtfully considered while rescuers and shelters try to find a balance in fulfilling the human's needs. Often, we have to put the pet's needs before our own.

There is also the issue of people wanting to raise dogs when they are puppies.  We need to rethink the idea that buying a puppy provides a clean slate and is easier to handle than a rescue dog.  Puppies are baby animals, and need a tremendous amount of time, care, training and understanding. The experience often turns out to be more challenging than most would expect. 

The rising cost of vet medicine has also put many pet owners in a plight about how much they can afford to pay for treatments for their beloved animals. That lack of information can come at a high cost if animals have undisclosed health problems, which can cost owners hundreds or thousands of dollars in veterinary bills. Not to mention the emotional pain involved.

It's a tragic irony. We have dogs overcrowding in shelters and many owners seeking to rehome dogs, while breeders are churning out puppies after puppies for profit. 

Overpopulation of dogs will be a real issue when demand continues to fuel breeding, more pet abandonment and lack of resources for proper pet care. 

As for retired breeding dogs, while there are now rescue organizations helping to rehabilitate and rehome these dogs, they do come with issues that involves time and money.  

Is this practice sustainable?

While animal shelters are established to create safe places for animals to await their new homes, they are not pleasant places for these animals. It's a known fact that shelters are not conducive environments for promoting physically and mentally healthy animals. However they are in place to attempt to save these animals and give them another chance at a wonderful life, a second chance.

We all have a part to play to protect these animals.

Syncope

Have your dogs experienced fainting spells or seizures before? Do you know that not all fainting spells are caused by seizures and the proper medical term for it is Syncope. 

We had a recent rescue whom we thought had seizures. She would faint and scream and her pee and poo would uncontrollably be expelled. We took her to the vet and she was given seizure medication for long-term treatment. However, the dog still has frequent fainting spells even after taking a few months of the medication. We were stumped and started to research and read up on such condition and realized the similarity between a Seizure episode and Syncope.

What is the difference between a seizure or a syncope?

A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled movement of the body caused by abnormal brain activity. Some dogs may have partial seizures, involving only a limited portion of the body. Many dogs have generalized, or tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures, involving movements of the entire body and a loss of consciousness. Syncope describes a temporary loss of consciousness and posture, also known as 'fainting' or 'passing out'.

 

How do we identify whether our dogs is experiencing a seizure or syncope?

A dog with a generalized seizure often begins showing abnormal behaviors prior to the actual seizure. Dogs may hide, whine, act anxious, tremble, or salivate for anywhere from several seconds to several hours prior to a seizure. This period is called the pre-ictal phase, or aura.

In a generalized or tonic-clonic seizure, the dog will typically be seen to suddenly fall on his side. The legs will first become stiff and this stiffening is often followed by rhythmic / jerky paddling motions. The head is often held back with the neck extended. Dogs may vocalize, will often have repeated chewing or chomping motions of the jaw, and often will salivate excessively. Typically, dogs will also urinate or defecate during seizures. Seizures typically last approximately one to two minutes, although prolonged seizures can occur and require treatment. Once the seizure has ended, the dog will have a prolonged post-ictal recovery period, lasting up to 24 hours depending on the individual dog. During the post-ictal period, dogs are typically confused and disoriented. They may be observed to pace and wander aimlessly, while some dogs may show further signs such as blindness, and increased thirst and urination.

A typical syncopal episode will start suddenly with no pre-ictal phase, often during physical activity and exertion. The dog may initially appear weak or wobbly and, if observed, this period will be short-lived. When the dog collapses, he will go suddenly limp. Like a dog having a seizure, he may urinate or defecate during the episode.

A syncopal dog may move his legs but these movements are typically associated with the dog trying to get back up. These movements are not like the paddling leg movements that are more commonly associated with a seizure. Syncopal dogs typically will not have chewing motions of the jaw or increased salivation. The episode will end within seconds to minutes and the dog will recover rapidly, with no post-ictal period.

 

Causes of Seizures and Syncope

Seizures can be caused by a number of underlying conditions. The most common cause of seizures is idiopathic epilepsy, an inherited condition that results in increased excitability of the brain’s neurons (nerve cells). Dogs with idiopathic epilepsy typically have their first seizure between the ages of six months and six years. In addition to idiopathic epilepsy, other causes of seizures include toxins, liver and kidney disease, head trauma, and brain tumors.

Syncope is caused by a temporary disruption in blood flow or oxygen delivery to the brain. Typically, this is caused by episodes of low blood pressure, although other internal changes can also trigger syncope. Common underlying causes of syncope include heart disease, heart tumors, emotional stress or anxiety, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and abnormalities in blood electrolyte levels. Additionally, some episodes of syncope are triggered by specific actions or activities, including coughing, urinating, and defecating.

 

Treatment

Treatment is dependent on accurately determining whether your dog is experiencing Seizures or Syncope. Videos of your dog’s episodes can be very useful in this determination.

If you and your veterinarian determine that your dog is having seizures, further workup will depend on such details as your dog’s age, seizure history, and other concurrent medical issues. Most likely, the next steps will include blood work to assess cell counts, glucose (sugar) levels, and organ function. Following blood work, your dog may be started on anti-seizure medication or may be referred to a specialist for more advanced testing to assess for possible underlying neurologic causes.

If you and your veterinarian determine that your dog is having syncope, your veterinarian will likely develop a plan to evaluate your dog's heart function. Your dog may need to go on medications to help correct the underlying heart abnormality if one is detected. Based on the diagnosis, there may be other interventions to decrease the frequency of your dog’s syncopal episodes.