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It is one of life’s greatest annoyances that what is most desirable is likely also too expensive, unhealthy, or probably something you shouldn’t buy into.

Like the brand new Hummer, for example, or even, heartbreakingly, a very adorable purebred pup.

Over the past few centuries, humans have developed a knack for designing specifically desired physical characteristics in dogs and breeding them accordingly.

What we’re left with may look freakin’ cute, but under the surface, those characteristics, or the inbreeding needed to create them, make for a host of high-risk health problems.

Scientists, animal welfare advocates, and some breeders have made efforts to either bring attention to these dogs’ struggles, per Gizmodo, or they’ve been calling for more regulation around breeding practices, with some even asking for or implementing an outright ban.

Otherwise, there are organisations also trying to discourage the buying and selling of specific breeds.

Here are five dog breeds that are among the least healthy.

French Bulldogs

You may recall that we recently brought to your attention how, chances are, your French bulldog isn’t likely to live a very long life.

Because of their flatter muzzle and skull compared to other breeds, they’re far more susceptible to breathing problems:

A study last December found that Frenchies in particular were more likely to develop 12 out of 32 common disorders than non-Frenchies, including narrowed nostrils, skin infections around their wrinkly faces, and difficulty giving birth.

Some breeders have taken it up a notch by designing hairless French bulldogs, which is angering veterinarians as that means they may also develop skin problems.

English Bulldogs

Besides also having a shorter lifespan and breathing problems like its French counterpart, a recent study found that English bulldogs are much more likely to develop what’s known as “cherry eyes”.

It sounds innocent enough, but the condition causes a protruding red mass to form in the corner of the eye, which then raises the risk of infections.

Norway has already banned the breeding of English bulldogs within the country.

Great Danes

These gentle giants are susceptible to hip and other skeletal problems.

On top of that, Danes have a short lifespan compared to many other large dog breeds, with the average Dane living between eight and 10 years. Some only make it to the age of six.

They’re sometimes nicknamed the “heartbreak” breed among vets, thanks to their devastatingly brief existence and higher risk for cardiovascular disease.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Although the Cavalier King Charles spaniels don’t pant as obviously unhealthily as some of the above breeds, they come with their own hefty list of health risks:

In particular, most spaniels will inevitably develop mitral valve disease, which causes the valve to not close properly, allowing blood moving through the heart to sometimes flow backwards.

The condition often leads to other heart problems, including heart failure, and it’s considered to be the breed’s leading cause of death.

Norway also banned the breed of this dog recently.

Pugs

Pugs might just be the most tragic breed of them all.

We love looking at their ever-scrunched-up faces, but underneath the flaps, their flattened skulls cause a range of problems:

Including labored breathing and skin fold inflammation that can lead to nasty skin infections. They also often can’t walk right, and they can develop a neurological condition that’s become so synonymous with the breed that it’s known as pug dog encephalitis.

The pug is so iconic that breeders are going to extreme lengths.

Some are beginning to “outcross” pugs with other dogs in an effort to create healthier “retropugs”, which resemble what the breed used to look like centuries ago before all the major interferences.

One step forward, three steps back, I guess.

Hey, just remember that if you want a good boy in your life, non-profit rescue shelters like DARG are the perfect places to adopt a nunu who deserves a second chance.

They’re such good companions they’re almost human in many ways.

Enjoy this video of a couple of introvert dogs hanging out, proving that they can be just as awkward as us in social situations:

@qilastiktok Imagine putting a lot of introverts in one room 😅 #funnydogvideos #funnytiktok #funnytiktokvideos #funnypetvideos #funnydoggo ♬ Kinda awkward – ionics

[source:gizmodo]