Comedian and actor Andy Richter posted a photo of an MRI of his friend’s pug. The photo went viral because of its strange appearance. The MRI is a scan of the pug’s head and it shows just how much over breeding has messed up pugs.
The Pug MRI
“If you were to get a pug head cake and cut it to take a look down the middle, that is what you are looking at,” London-based vet Dr. Rory Cowlam told the Independent. “This is a slice at the level of the eyes, looking head-on at the pug, just 2 or 3 inches further back.” (1)
Many people commented that the photo is somehow adorable, and others on how terrifying it is. Some even commented they felt sorry for the pug. While the photo and MRI might look strange to an untrained eye, it does reveal how pugs have been unnaturally bred over the years by humans.
My friend’s pug went to the vet pic.twitter.com/kP4r5o4ZOQ
— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) December 17, 2019
“Their faces have been shortened due to intensive breeding by humans, unfortunately,” Dr. Cowlam said. “They have these massive eyes, bunched up noses… The condition is called brachycephalism.” (1)
Pug MRI Highlights Breed Issues
Pugs are actually an ancient breed with Chinese origins, and the English Stud Book has records of pugs as far back as 1859. They are the fifth most commonly registered pedigree breeds in the UK. However, they also have the second-highest count of disorders directly caused by breeding for certain features. They are prone to difficulty breathing, obstructive airway syndrome, and upper respiratory tract infections, along with skin problems, eye and vision problems, and being overweight. The UK Kennel Club has put the breed on the “Breed Watch” system and asks show judges to look for difficulty breathing, too many nasal folds, excessively prominent eyes, sore eyes, dermatitis in skin folds. (2)
“We have, through human selection, bred them to look more like a human baby because we find that cute,” Dr. Cowlam told the Independent. “But unfortunately that cute look is not very good for the animal.” (1)
Because of their distorted features, pugs also have spinal disorders and gait problems. One study showed 30% of pugs examined had a gait problem. It also found that difficulty breathing was more common in those that had gait problems. (3)
Call For Ban On Pugs In Media
Vets and animal rights groups have called for a ban on dogs like pugs and French bulldogs from advertising campaigns featuring these breeds. They fear that marketing these dogs will increase the already high demands of breeds with deformities. (4)
Dr. Cowlam said he actively encourages anyone thinking about buying a pug or similar dog to think again. If they are intent on it, he asks they do real research into breeding because some specialist breeders are trying to lengthen the snout. (1)
“But also there are lots of irresponsible breeders out there just looking for a quick buck,” he warned. (1)
Andy Richter later tweeted to say the pug had been given a clean bill of health after its MRI. He shared a photo from his friend, stating the pug was “nonplussed” about all the attention from his viral post. (5)
