The Kennel Club said popular breeds that are vulnerable to sickness, such as French bulldogs and pugs, suffer from poor care and particu-larly intense breeding.
These puppies either get ill or die before their first birthday, it found.
A third of dogs bought online on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok are from puppy farms, it said, where malnutrition, abuse and parasites are rife. Owners then face high vet bills and behavioural problems.
The charity’s chief executive Mark Beazley said: “Behind every cute photo on social media, there is a real puppy and a real need to ensure their health and welfare have been prioritised…there can be devastating consequences.
“It’s down to buyers to ask the right questions, see the pup with their mum in their home and step back if things don’t feel right.”
