Smaller dogs are often considered (even) cuter than larger breeds. We are seeing an increasing popularity of these miniature animals, which is not without risk…
Chihuahua, Miniature Spitz or even Shih Tzu… Miniature dogs, also called “toy dogs”, are on the rise. There are almost a hundred breeds, often derived from families of normal size in the beginning. In the United Kingdom, the British Kennel Club, the largest organization in the UK dedicated to the protection of all dogs, believes that the average size of pet dogs has decreased by about 2.5 cm in 25 yearsreports The Free. Worldwide, it is estimated that 3 million puppies are born in the mini category each year. It is in Japan, where pygmy pigs are also found, that these mini dogs are most widespread, but the phenomenon is developing everywhere and also in Europe.
Problems specific to small dogs
Unfortunately, unlike their standard-sized ancestors, THAT breeds miniatures are more prone to many health problems. Dwarf dogs are predisposed to dental problems from the age of 4 and because of their fragility, joint pathologies, not forgetting heart problems that are very common in dwarf breeds, notes the website Health Veterinarian.
Also, small dogs tend to present more behavioral problemsemphasizes the site VetFocus. Genetically selecting animals to create smaller ones reduces population diversity, which can entrench genetic diseases and have harmful effects on the immune systems of the animals in question.
“We create disabled animals”
In fact, the hypertype, which consists of emphasizing distinctive features specific to certain breeds to the extreme, is deeply harmful to the health of pets. Also, like dogs, THAT cats is also affected by this accentuation of the features of certain races. Many vets consider this behavior to be a real nuisance.
“As a result of miniaturization, we end up with dogs that no longer have room for 42 teeth. But you have to know that in dogs, teeth are like hands. It is with their teeth that they catch those around them. we make disabled animals a fashion phenomenonand it hurts”regrets Philippe Henry, international dog show judge with The Free. “In ‘toy’ dogs, natural birth no longer exists, for example”he explains again.
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