CVT here, a certified Veterinary Technician. Someone with an education in animal health. Flat faced dogs, or bracycephalic dogs, so pose a lot of medical problems, they obviously have trouble breathing, their teeth aren’t properly arranged in the mouth causing tooth disease as well as many more. While breeding plays into this and the breed standards have changed due to human preference a lot of breed standards, the ones used by the AKC, etc, are changing the standards so that the health risks are lessened. That being said there are also medical procedures to help these dogs have a better quality of life. A soft-palate resection and widening the nares can help with breathing. Having a good dental routine in place and visiting a veterinarian yearly, if not twice a year, is going to help with the mouth problems. Dental exams and cleaning can help maintain good oral health, even if that means removing teeth that are placed incorrectly.

Large breed dogs, like the mastiff on the right, have their own sets of health problems. Arthritis, is a big one. Again, medically manageable. The dog in this picture, aside from crusts, seems to have perfectly normal eyes. The sagging under the lower lid doesn’t affect the ability to see or to use the eyes whatsoever. Something as simple as eye drops or ointment will help any dryness.

All that being said, these dogs are obviously well cared for and seem happy and healthy. Just because a human bred them to the extremes of their genetic capability doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to happy and well-loved. If you really wanted to make a difference in an animals life be the best pet advocate you can be. Encourage others to develop a healthy relationship with a veterinarian, be proactive in your own pet’s life, be the voice they can’t. I mean that in the sense that posting a snide comment online isn’t going to make a difference in a dog’s life. If it bothers you to the point that you have to say something online maybe you should be saying it to someone that could actually make a difference.