A "vicious cycle of over-breeding" of French Bulldogs and Pugs could see them banned in the UK - after a pet charity promised to crack down on breeders amid health fears.
Animal pet charity The Blue Cross said the dangerous health problems in the flat-faced pets are as a result of "over-breeding".
Now the animal charity, which was founded in 1897, is demanding new laws to stamp out "poor breeding" which leads to long term health defects in the breeds.
The charity wants to see new laws drawn up which will impact the appearance and availability of flat-faced breeds in the UK.
Pugs and French Bulldogs are known to have health issues such as eye disease, skin disease, obstructed breathing and spinal deformities.
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The charity told the Sun it is unacceptable as the breeds are "not living full and happy lives".
The flat faced breeds now make up 20% of dogs owned in the UK and the charity wants to raise awareness of the health issues which face the pets and change the law.
The animal charity believes the rise of "cute" advertisements on social media has prompted the rise in demand, which has lead to the increase in cases of French Bulldogs and Pugs being diagnosed with health issues.
It says poor breeding is leading to the rise of French Bulldogs and Pugs with health problems.
As a result, the charity is treating thousands of pets for the same health issues.
Blue Cross vets claim to have treated over 5,000 brachycephalic pets for dangerous health problems.
And they believe the numbers will increase as a result of more flat faced breeds being purchased over lockdown.
These vets also want breeders in the UK to be forced to have certification issued by vets to ensure their animals don't have any health problems that could be passed down in breeding, as they do in Australia.
Some French Bulldogs can be diagnosed with conditions such as pulmonic stenosis, which is where the dog has 3/6 heart murmur, a genetic in the breed.
These conditions require constant monitoring of the breed and is unable to do regular exercise.
Becky Thwaites, Head of Public Affairs at Blue Cross said: "We have already started contacting MPs.
"Ultimately Blue Cross is determined to see the end of the poor breeding of flat faced dogs and are considering all options both legislative and non-legislative to achieve this."
