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The Swedes as a nation are a nice bunch and the veterinary profession is, in the main, a conservative one.
So in many ways it is unexpected that Swedish vets are leading the world in demanding change for short-nosed breeds. But perhaps we shouldn't be totally surprised given that Sweden has a strong record in animal welfare and a Kennel Club that has been more proactive than most in trying to tackle genetic and conformation issues.
In recent months, Swedish vets have become increasingly outspoken. Following a petition signed by hundreds of Swedish vets last year, brachycephalic dogs are a hot topic in Sweden, with literature/campaigning material such as this video trending under the hashtag #ogulligt. It means "not sweet" (cute).
In one Swedish newspaper today, two Swedish veterinary opthamologists have called publicly for an outright ban of certain breeds. They rather politely don't name the breeds, but an article highlighting their concerns features a Pug and a Peke.
The original report is in Swedish, but you can read Google Translate's stab at translating it here.
