Extreme conformation is an exaggerated body shape or feature that can interfere with an animal’s normal breathing, movement, eating, grooming, temperature control or comfort. In an August 13, 2025 interview with the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), veterinarian and welfare advocate Emma Milne, BVSc, FRCVS, argues that the appeal of unusual looks can hide serious, lifelong costs. Flat-faced dogs, Scottish Fold cats and some flat-faced cat breeds are important examples, but a breed name or photograph is not a diagnosis: individuals vary, and a veterinarian must assess the animal in front of you.
The practical answer for prospective owners is to investigate function before appearance. Ask how comfortably a puppy or kitten breathes, exercises, eats, grooms and moves; review the health of both parents; and discuss the likely welfare demands with a local veterinarian before committing. If you already own an animal with an extreme trait, seek supportive veterinary care rather than blame.
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What does extreme conformation mean?
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) defines extreme conformation as an exaggerated shape, structure or appearance that negatively affects health and welfare. The harm may not be obvious when an animal is posing for a photograph or resting quietly. A shortened muzzle, a folded ear or a heavily wrinkled face can reflect changes in bone, cartilage, airways, skin, eyes or teeth. When those changes prevent ordinary behaviour or cause chronic pain, the issue is welfare, not simply style.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRisk language matters. Evidence and professional guidance describe population-level predispositions and observed problems; they do not prove that every dog or cat of a named breed has every condition. Conversely, a calm-looking individual can still have clinically important obstruction, pain or disease. Do not try to diagnose from a picture, a pedigree or the absence of an obvious crisis.
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Why the concern is about function, not a particular look
Milne’s central point is that a feature becomes an animal-welfare problem when it compromises the ability to live normally. The BVA says some effects are hidden at first but can produce lifelong problems, and recommends that animals whose extreme traits harm welfare should not be bred. It also calls for breed standards to be reviewed against veterinary evidence and expert input.
That approach avoids two common errors. Calling every member of a breed unhealthy overstates what the evidence can show; calling a predictable functional impairment harmless because it is traditional understates the risk. A responsible assessment asks what the individual can do comfortably, what monitoring and treatment may be needed, and whether selecting for the same feature in future generations is defensible.
Flat-faced dogs: breathing, cooling and more
The Brachycephalic Working Group (BWG) describes brachycephalic dogs as having shortened heads and especially shortened noses. It names Pugs, French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs as examples, with Shih Tzus, Pekingese and Boxers among other breeds in the broader group. Its consensus materials associate this conformation with several risks:
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| Body system or activity | Potential concern described by guidance | What an owner should observe or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Breathing | Narrowed airways and abnormal upper-throat anatomy can make breathing difficult. | Is breathing quiet at rest and during ordinary activity, or persistently noisy, laboured or interrupted? |
| Heat and exercise | Restricted airflow can impair cooling and exercise tolerance, particularly in warm weather. | Does the dog struggle during light exercise or heat, recover slowly, or need to stop unusually often? |
| Skin | Deep folds can become inflamed or infected. | Check for recurrent redness, odour, discharge or soreness rather than treating these as normal grooming issues. |
| Eyes | Eye disease is associated with the altered skull and prominent eyes in some dogs. | Ask about irritation, injury, ulceration or difficulty closing the eyelids. |
| Digestive and throat function | Milne describes abnormal throat anatomy in Pugs as potentially affecting gastrointestinal function as well as breathing. | Discuss regurgitation, swallowing difficulty or distress after eating with a veterinarian. |
| Reproduction and spine | The BWG lists difficulty giving birth and spinal disease among reported risks. | Ask for documented health information on parents; do not assume a successful mating or birth demonstrates low risk. |
Persistent noisy breathing at rest or during light activity should not be dismissed as an entertaining breed characteristic. The BWG identifies it as a warning sign in its consensus resources. A veterinarian can determine whether an individual needs examination, testing, weight management, medication or surgery; the breed label alone cannot determine the answer.
Scottish Fold cats: the folded ear is linked to cartilage disease
Milne explains that the folded-ear appearance of Scottish Fold cats is linked to a cartilage defect that also causes arthritis. The visible ear is therefore not an isolated cosmetic variation. The underlying skeletal abnormality can affect comfort and mobility, and the severity can differ between individuals. BVA guidance cites severe arthritis as a welfare concern for this example and recommends that animals with harmful extreme traits not be bred.
Flat-faced cats: a wider set of possible problems
Scottish Government breeder guidance, issued for the licensing context created by Scotland’s 2021 regulations, lists several potential problems in flat-faced cats. Its table includes Persian, Exotic Shorthair, British Longhair, British Shorthair, American Shorthair and Himalayan examples. The guidance is not a diagnosis for every cat and its licensing rules should not be assumed to apply elsewhere.
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| Function | Potential problem listed in the Scottish guidance | Questions before purchase or breeding |
|---|---|---|
| Breathing | A short muzzle and small nostrils may cause breathing difficulty. | Can the cat breathe quietly while resting and after normal play? |
| Eyes and tear drainage | Tear-duct and eye problems may occur. | Are there chronic tears, discharge, irritation or eye injuries? |
| Skin | Skin-fold disease can develop where folds stay moist or rub. | Does the cat need frequent cleaning or treatment to remain comfortable? |
| Mouth and teeth | Dental problems and crowding are potential concerns. | Can the cat eat normally, and has a veterinarian examined its mouth? |
| Eating and grooming | The facial shape may make eating or self-grooming difficult. | Can the animal keep its coat clean and reach food without distress? |
The guidance tells breeders to screen and select both parents carefully to avoid conformational extremes, inherited disease and negative behavioural traits. A single health check, registration document or pedigree cannot guarantee that outcome.
How celebrity images and social media may shape demand
Milne argues that social media, celebrity culture and rapid online access can make unusual traits appear desirable and increase demand. She cites the visibility of Scottish Fold cats owned by prominent entertainers as an example: a much-loved individual can simultaneously popularise the appearance. Her claim is an interpretation offered in the AAHA interview, not a controlled study or a quantified estimate of celebrity influence.
In her words, “We live in a situation where people can have whatever they want, and social media, I think is a massive driver for that.” She also says, “I think now we live in a generation where everyone can have what they want at the click of a button.” Those observations describe a mechanism by which visibility may affect purchasing decisions; they do not establish that every owner was influenced in that way.
The BVA reports that 83% of veterinarians were concerned about inappropriate representation of animals in adverts, according to its Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey. The policy page does not state the survey year, sample size or full methodology, and the figure is not a measure specifically of celebrity influence. The BVA recommends avoiding extreme-featured animals in advertising and marketing because images can normalise traits that carry welfare costs.
How to choose a puppy or kitten when health comes first
Use a function-first process rather than choosing from a photograph. The following questions reflect the breathing, eye, skin, oral, mobility and transparency issues identified by veterinary and government guidance.
- Consult a local veterinarian before reserving an animal. Ask which conditions are associated with the conformation you are considering, what examinations are useful and what lifelong monitoring or treatment could involve. The BVA specifically advises prospective owners to seek this advice.
- Watch ordinary activity, not just a brief pose. Observe quiet breathing at rest, recovery after gentle play, ability to walk without distress and tolerance of normal room temperature. Noisy breathing, repeated pauses, collapse or unusually slow recovery warrant veterinary advice.
- Check eyes, skin, mouth and grooming. Look for recurrent discharge, irritated folds, dental crowding, trouble eating or a coat the animal cannot keep clean. These signs should prompt questions, not a decision that they are inevitable.
- Ask for information on both parents. Request veterinary records and details of breathing, mobility, eye, skin, dental and reproductive problems. Scottish guidance stresses careful screening and selection of both parents; a seller who cannot answer basic questions is a significant risk.
- Meet the animal in a normal environment. Confirm that it can eat, drink, play and settle without obvious distress. A short visit cannot rule out disease, so arrange an independent veterinary examination and understand any return or insurance conditions.
- Budget for the individual’s realistic lifetime needs. Consider routine examinations, possible specialist care, weight and heat management, skin or eye treatment and emergency access. Do not assume that a lower purchase price offsets future welfare or veterinary demands.
- Decide whether supporting the trait is consistent with your values. The BWG asks people considering a flat-faced dog to stop, think and research the associated health and welfare issues. Choosing a less exaggerated individual or another type of animal can reduce the chance of perpetuating harmful extremes.
If you already live with an affected dog or cat
Owners need help, not shame. Milne advises veterinarians to work with clients as allies: explain common breed-linked problems, keep the animal’s health central and make clear that the practice remains committed to its care even when the veterinarian disagrees with the breeding choice.
Bring a record of noisy breathing, exercise limits, heat intolerance, regurgitation, skin flare-ups, eye discharge, lameness, reluctance to jump or grooming difficulty. Ask the veterinarian which signs require urgent attention and which can be managed through weight control, environmental changes, medication, dental care, specialist referral or surgery. Never restrict exercise or alter treatment solely on the basis of an online breed list; an examination is needed to tailor care.
What veterinarians, breeders and policymakers can do
Veterinary teams
Milne suggests combining individual consultations with local media and community outreach. One-to-one education may not reverse a wider trend, but a respectful conversation can improve an existing patient’s welfare and help an owner make informed future decisions. Practices can explain that quiet breathing, comfortable movement and normal eating are health goals, not optional extras.
Breeders and breed organisations
The BVA calls for evidence-informed breed standards and coordinated action among owners, breeders, breed clubs, academics, veterinarians and veterinary nurses. Breeding decisions should exclude animals whose extreme traits negatively affect welfare, while health information on parents should be transparent and meaningful rather than limited to a single test.
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Law and public policy
Milne favours laws that restrict keeping or buying animals whose traits carry serious welfare harms, framing that approach around harmful features rather than blaming owners. This is her policy view as reported by AAHA, not a statement of current law everywhere. The Scottish Government material concerns cat-breeder licensing in Scotland under the 2021 regulations; other parts of the United Kingdom and other countries may use different rules. Check a current official local source before assuming that a breed, trait, sale or breeding practice is prohibited.
Further reading for owners and professionals
The Royal Veterinary College announced Health and Welfare of Brachycephalic Breeds: A Guide for Veterinary Professionals, by Dr Rowena Packer and Dr Dan O’Neill, with contributions from 29 experts. Published in 2021, it is intended for veterinary professionals, animal-welfare scientists, breeders and owners. It is educational background, not a substitute for an examination or treatment plan, and readers should confirm the current edition and availability.
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