Illegal puppy purchases influence later health, study confirms
Buyers risk being 'pet-fished' by sellers misrepresenting a puppy's origins.
Researchers from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) have revealed the impact that illegal sales can have on a puppy’s health.
The new study, focusing on puppies bought from illegal sellers during the pandemic, found evidence linking the purchase to later health problems.
The RVC conducted a large-scale study of 985 puppies that were bought during the pandemic, when puppy-buying practices had deteriorated. Online questionnaires, completed by the puppies’ owners, explored the dog’s health during puppyhood and young adulthood.
Data collected from the questionnaire revealed that puppies bought at six weeks old or under would typically suffer almost three additional health problems by 21 months of age. In the UK, it is illegal to sell a puppy that is under eight weeks of age.
Similarly, puppies purchased without their mother present suffered 0.3 more health problems compared to puppies sold with their mother present. Under ‘Lucy’s Law’, it is illegal to sell a puppy without its mother present in England, Wales and Scotland.
RVC warns that buyers that purchase puppies illegally risk being ‘pet-fished’, with sellers misrepresenting the puppy’s origins and concealing poor breeding and welfare conditions.
However, researchers from RVC says that all prospective puppy owners should be prepared for some likely health issues. Data revealed that 91.1 per cent of all the puppies purchased experienced at least one health issue by 21 months of age.
Among these health issues were digestive issues (75.4 per cent), skin disorders (26.8 per cent), eye disorders (25.1 per cent), upper respiratory conditions (18.5 per cent) and ear disorders (17.6 per cent).
More than half of the dogs had received veterinary treatment for at least one health problem. Nearly one in four owners said they had spent more on veterinary care than they had expected.
Researchers say that their findings highlight a need for ‘informed action’ by owners during the decision-making stage of the puppy buying process. They call for improved public awareness of illegal practices and other ‘red flags’, and also urges more consistent enforcement of existing legislation.
Rowena Packer, lead author on the paper, said: “Some people believe that once a puppy is settled into a home and loved, their early weeks of life no longer matter. Our findings don’t support this and show that being bred and reared in low-welfare systems carries lasting negative impacts on canine long-term health.
“A poor start in life cannot simply be undone.”
The full study can be found in the journal Animal Welfare.
Image © Zanna Pesnina/Shutterstock.com
Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.
