Qantas recently refused to carry snub-nosed dog breeds on its flights after three deaths in transit. Now with two dog deaths in recent weeks, Virgin Australia has followed suit. Snub-nosed breeds include boxers, bull dogs and pugs.

The airline said it will honour all current flight bookings for snub-nosed dogs but will not accept any more bookings from Friday January 24.

Numerous vets and animal charities have spoken out against the breeding practices of squashed nosed “brachycephalic” dogs believing it is cruel. The animals can be in constant pain and have a variety of different health issues.

The broad head shape did not evolve naturally, and is instead the result of selective breeding. Also, the facial structure of flat-faced dogs forces the breathing passages to be very compact which in turn can lead to numerous issues including:

• Difficulty breathing when exercising
• Inability to properly regulate body temperature, which leads to heavy panting
• An elongated palate, which can cause episodes of reverse sneezing which can consist of excessive gasps and wheezes.

Yet the brachycephalic breeds remain a common and popular household pet.

Like Qantas, Virgin said it is in discussions with RSPCA to draft new procedures for transporting the dogs.

“We have seen a tragic spike in issues across the industry when transporting snub-nosed breeds and this has prompted Virgin Australia to review the transport of these animals,” a Virgin spokesperson said.