Vets are faced with moral dilemmas when advising pet owners.

A new study has revealed the moral conflicts and barriers that veterinary surgeons face when delivering pre-purchase consultations (PPCs) for flat-faced dogs.

The research, conducted by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), has suggested that the veterinary profession needs to better support practices with educating pet owners about the issues with brachycephalic breeds.

Flat-faced breeds, such as French bulldogs and pugs, are believed to be popular with UK pet owners due to their exaggerated features. However, these features are closely linked with severe skin, eye and breathing difficulties which can be life-limiting.

Discussing these issues with prospective pet owners is considered to be critical by many veterinary professionals, from a clinical, moral and ethical perspective.

However the RVC has previously identified barriers to veterinary professionals warning potential owners of brachycephalic dogs, as owners with a close loyalty to the breeds may be unwilling to hear about the welfare issues.

This latest study, based on interviews with veterinary surgeons working with small animals, explored the structural and perceptual barriers to delivering PPCs for flat-faced dogs.

The findings highlighted limited time and resources for these PPCs, including competition for appointment availability which prioritises the ‘firefighting’ of the clinical issues of flat-faced dogs. There was also a perceived public distrust of the veterinary profession.

Many of the interviewees felt they had little or no power to overcome these barriers on an individual level. They also spoke of a moral conflict between their responsibilities to animal welfare and the wants of their clients and businesses, which compromised their integrity and autonomy.

As part of its study the RVC set out a series of recommendations for the sector, which included stronger veterinary leadership to support veterinary surgeons with overcoming these barriers.

It recommended that veterinary organisations, including the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the British Veterinary Association, establish a joint, public-facing consensus on the acceptability of breeding or acquiring flat-faced dogs, to avoid reliance on individual opinion.

It also suggested increased pressure on the stakeholders who perpetuate the crisis, and practical resourcing for facilitating PPCs more regularly.

Dr Rowena Packer, the lead author of the study, said: “As the brachycephalic crisis continues to prevail, the support of leading veterinary organisations is vital in providing a united voice regarding the known harms of brachycephaly and support in facilitating PPCs to ensure vets are protected, and potential owners are fully informed when it comes to acquiring decisions.”

The full study can be found in the journal Vet Record.

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