Breathing difficulties in certain breeds of dog just don’t seem to be an issue for many people, who willingly pay hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds for brachycephalic breeds such as French bulldogs, pugs, boxers, shih tzus and the like.

Shar peis are also on this list - dogs like Spud, who featured in this article a few weeks ago.

He has now had surgery on his eyes and nose and he’s making a good recovery, but he has been put through a painful (and expensive) process.

Brachycephalic dogs are often very characterful both in terms of personality and appearance and it’s easy to see why people want to buy them, even if puppy prices have been massively inflated during lockdown.

If this is something you, or a family member or friend, are considering, please take heed of the following information.

Selective breeding over the years has created certain physical features that owners find desirable.

The most common example of this is the shortened muzzle, which usually means that the dog’s nostrils, soft palate and windpipe are too narrow.

This causes breathing problems, even while the dog is resting.

The dog will also make strange, snoring-like noises which will be worse during periods of hot weather, exercise or excitement, and they may froth around the mouth.

These problems can affect brachycephalic dogs from a young age, and surgery can help, but the symptoms are likely to be made worse if the dog is overweight.

Shortened muzzles also result in the overcrowding of the dog’s teeth, and it is very likely that baby teeth and some permanent teeth will need to be removed by a vet to prevent gum disease and cysts developing.

Other common issues relating to brachycephalic dogs include eye sockets that are too shallow which means that the dog cannot fully close their eyes.

This is uncomfortable in itself, but also has health implications because the eyes can’t properly cleanse themselves, leading to infections, ulcers, blocked tear glands, and even eye ’popping’.

These dogs also commonly have orthopaedic, spinal, digestive and heart problems over their lifetimes, but perhaps the most disturbing issue related to their breed type is the fact that the majority of brachycephalic dogs cannot mate or give birth naturally.

A staggering 86% of English bulldogs in the UK are delivered by C-section, which highlights just how unnatural these dogs have become.

Sadly, most short-snouted or flat-muzzled dogs require a significant amount of veterinary care, and potential owners need to be prepared for the associated costs of this.

One other word of caution relates to the UK government’s relaxation of the rules relating to puppy purchasing during lockdown, enabling buyers to view puppies remotely.

Breeders are currently permitted to deliver their puppies to new owners, increasing the likelihood that the puppy has come from a puppy farm.

Added to this, we have heard of several Manx-related scams where people are handing over money for a ’puppy plus delivery costs’.

All the more reason to adopt your next dog from a reputable rescue charity.