A vet has shared his ‘brutally honest’ advice for those considering which breed of dog to adopt.
Taking to TikTok, South African vet Amir Anwary, advised potential pet owners to think twice about which dog they choose to become the next member of their family – urging them to be wary of some popular breeds.
According to the pet expert, several popular dog breeds – including Labradors and dachshund – can be prone to health conditions that can make them costly to keep.
He warned that even some of the most adorable breeds can require huge amounts of time, attention and cash, and that as a result, he would steer clear.
‘Here are five dog breeds I would not own as a veterinarian,’ he said in the beginning of the video, prefacing the list by admitting some viewers might want to ‘fight me on these’.
The first breed he said he wouldn’t own was a dachshund.
Despite being voted the fifth most popular dog in the UK, the adorable sausage dogs can come with a whole host of undesirable traits, the vet warned.
‘Let me say, they can be a lovely breed. But – they can be very stubborn, they can bark the whole night if they want and they can have some really bad separation anxiety.
A vet has shared his ‘brutally honest’ advice for those considering which breed of dog to adopt (pictured South African vet Amir Anwary)
According to the pet expert, a number of popular dog breeds, even including including labradors and dachshunds, can be prone to health conditions that can make them expensive to keep
‘They are also prone to a condition called IVDE which is intervertebral disc disease which is basically back problems.’
This issue can exacerbate another less desirable trait of the breed: their tendency to gain weight easily.
‘And they can also become really obese which makes the back problems that much worse.
‘So if you own a dachshund, you need to be on top of it,’ he urged.
The French Bulldog was the second on Mr Anwary’s list with the vet cautioning owners on a number of potential health issues.
Despite their irresistible faces and charming nature, French Bulldogs aren’t known for their sturdiness when it comes to health.
‘This cute, adorable little abomination. If it’s not breathing issues, its skin problems. If it is not skin problems, it’s back problems and they are so expensive to get in the first place.
‘As a vet, I see these dogs coming in all the time for so many different medical issues. I would not own a French Bulldog ever – but they are adorable,’ he said.
Last on the list was no other than the beloved family pooch, the labrador
One lesser known pooch on the list was a Belgian Malinois, which according to Nr Anwary, ‘is not a dog’ but ‘a machine’.
‘It requires constant mental and physical stimulation. I work a full-time job, there’s no way I can give this kind of dog the attention it deserves to thrive.
‘And if it doesn’t thrive, it becomes destructive,’ the vet warned.
Fourth on the list of ‘no go’ pooches, according to the vet, was another popular breed loved by millions of Brits – the border bollie.
‘Lovely, lovely dog. But – it is in fact a working dog and they all basically have ADHD. They’re always on, they always need mental and physical stimulation and I could not possibly provide a border collie with the mental stimulation it needs to be happy.
‘And if it doesn’t stay happy, it becomes destructive,’ he cautioned.
Last on the list was no other than the beloved family pooch, the Labrador.
‘I know you guys are gonna be like ‘are you crazy, Labradors are amazing’, and yes, they are. But – Labradors are a dog who are very prone to becoming overweight.
‘And they are also a dog breed who love to eat absolutely everything so they are very food driven.
‘So what do you get? When you’ve got a dog that wants to eat absolutely everything, with a dog who gets fat when it eats anything? You get a dog that is perpetually overweight,’ he asserted.
Fourth on the list of ‘no go’ pooches according to the vet was another popular breed loved by millions of Brits – the border bollie
One lesser known pooch on the list was a Belgian Malinois, (pictured: stock image) which according to Nr Anwary, ‘is not a dog’ but ‘a machine’
Mr Anwary admitted he is a ‘weak owner’ and would struggle to keep up with a dog that should have its treats limited.
‘I love giving my dog treats, my Labrador would be rolling all over the place. That’s why I could never own a Labrador.’
However, the vet’s take was quick to spark controversy among viewers, with many m maintaining that their pooches were ‘worth the effort’.
One impassioned commenter wrote: ‘You lost me on Border Collie’ while another implored: ‘The lab should NOT be in this category’.
Another wrote: ‘Every time I get a dachshund i swear ill never get another dachshund and the minute it I dies I get another dachshund. Such a pain but mostly worth it.’
Though some agreed with the honest take with one writing: ‘As a border collie owner I can honestly say I love border collies but do NOT get them if you can’t provide lots of exercise daily!’