this post was submitted on 22 Apr 2026
95 points (97.0% liked)

Not The Onion

21510 readers
1356 users here now

Welcome

We're not The Onion! Not affiliated with them in any way! Not operated by them in any way! All the news here is real!

The Rules

Posts must be:

  1. Links to news stories from...
  2. ...credible sources, with...
  3. ...their original headlines, that...
  4. ...would make people who see the headline think, “That has got to be a story from The Onion, America’s Finest News Source.”

Please also avoid duplicates.

Comments and post content must abide by the server rules for Lemmy.world and generally abstain from trollish, bigoted, ableist, or otherwise disruptive behavior that makes this community less fun for everyone.

And that’s basically it!

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

cross-posted from: https://news.abolish.capital/post/44197

Australian scientists have developed an injectable therapy that helps clear blocked airways in flat-faced dogs. Melbourne-based biotechnology company Snoretox and RMIT University have shown early success using the first therapy from a new technology, known as Snoretox-1.


From Biology News - Evolution, Cell theory, Gene theory, Microbiology, Biotechnology via This RSS Feed.

all 36 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] vic_rattlehead@lemmy.world 82 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Or we could just stop breeding animals with hallmark genetic defects.

[–] velma@lemmy.blahaj.zone 36 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Why not both? This could help existing dogs live better lives.

[–] tpyo@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

Those were my thoughts in that order. But I'm very in favor of the projects to bring the breeds like pugs, and I think Boston terrier was another, closer to the original forms

Responsible breeding though, we have too many homeless animals as is

retro pugs!

Frenchies

[–] Malyca@lemmy.zip 4 points 3 weeks ago

This! There are breeders out there breeding pugs without these problems, the rest should be banned

[–] AskewLord@piefed.social 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

people pay $1000s for these dogs, sometimes 10,000+

they are status symbols.

[–] unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de 43 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

How about just banning the breeding of animals that were designed to suffer?

[–] foodandart@lemmy.zip 31 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

Between the people that breed flat faced animals - including cats, to those that breed german shepherds with slumped rumps (the breeders call it a "show line") that suffer from hip dysplasia - I've just got to ask.. what the fuck is wrong with animal "afficianados" that support such shit.

[–] aloofPenguin@piefed.world 8 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The dog might be something like an accessory to them. They might not care for the animal.

[–] foodandart@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 weeks ago

Oh, that they don't care for the animal - which is little more than a means to an end - is a given.

Just reprehensible people.

[–] AskewLord@piefed.social 3 points 3 weeks ago

they think it is cute.

[–] WhyIHateTheInternet@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

Prolly need to get laid.

By a human, to be clear.

[–] frightful5680@lemmy.world 0 points 3 weeks ago

I have zero qualms with a tamed wolf. Joint awo sessions after dinner. 🐺

[–] markz@suppo.fi 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

But it's so cute when they struggle to breathe!

[–] Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Pugs' eyes can also pop out of thier skull

[–] markz@suppo.fi 2 points 3 weeks ago
[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago

That should happen, but it's also good that vets are trying to help these disabled critters lead better lives. And if it becomes adaptable to some humans with disabilities, so much the better.

[–] rimu@piefed.social 14 points 3 weeks ago

This is good because now they can breed them with even flatter faces than before.

/s

[–] elucubra@sopuli.xyz 12 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I've read somewhere that some boxer lines are being bred with longer muzzles.

[–] ouRKaoS@lemmy.today 3 points 3 weeks ago

Same with pugs, I've heard.

A veterinarian saying "oh yeah, sometimes their eyes fall out 🤷‍♂️" tells you that maybe things were pushed too far.

[–] homes@piefed.world 12 points 3 weeks ago

New laws against dog inbreeding?

[–] frightful5680@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Just happy someone cares, but yeah cosmetic and backyard breeders have got to go.

[–] antlion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Because of the adopt-first movement, backyard and pedigree breeders are all that’s left in the US.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

I don't deny your claim but I'm not enough coffees deep to follow

[–] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

What other choice is there in other countries?

[–] antlion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Working dogs are bred for fitness at their task. Many of these breeds are now neurotic because they are without duty over many generations.

I’m sure there are still plenty of good working dog breeders on farms. But, I honestly don’t know who in the world is breeding dogs fit for house pets. Some of the Victorian era breeds had that goal, but have since drifted into… problems.

[–] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 weeks ago

Agreed!

I hadn't thought of working dogs.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

Bichon frises, you know, those purse dogs? I hear they make great apartment dogs too. But I don't know dogs very well

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 9 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Dog Face Lengthener! Lengthen your flat dog's face and allow it to breathe easy. WARNING: Not suitable for borzois.

[–] foodandart@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I love borzois.

When I was a teenager, a family friend had a whippet. He was the fastest thing in the neighborhood and was a bit of an asshole, in that he'd strafe other dogs and nip at them as he flew by. He wasn't neutered so had an alpha male attitude on all the time.

We're at a picnic area having a barbecue and in enters the acquaintance from hell, (who was a pot dealer on the side, coming by to join the festivities and make a deal with the grownups) and his two borzois - Zero and Arrow. (Zero was an absolute snuggle-bug and the chillest dog ever..)

Welp, the whippet (named Whippet) started in on the borzois and they were having none of it. They ran circles around him and actually put his nose in the dirt as they ran him down twice. The only thing Whippet had as an advantage was turning radius at speed. You never saw a dog so instantly humbled and he spent the rest of the afternoon under the picnic table.

We all got a good laugh out of it.. Whippet really was an asshole..

[–] Almacca@aussie.zone 6 points 3 weeks ago

Would this be adaptable to help with sleep apnea in humans?