Are pedigree dogs more prone to illness

Although Purebred Dogs Can Be Best in Show, Are They Worst in Health?

With its sweet and loving disposition, combined with silky fur and elegantly droopy ears, the Cavalier King Charles spaniel is a popular breedwith families paying hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars per puppy. Unfortunately, though, it is almost certain that their pet will also come with genetic disorders.

By age five, for example, half of all Cavaliers will develop mitral valve disease, a serious heart condition that leaves the dogs susceptible to premature death. By the same age, up to 70 percent will suffer from canine syringomyelia, a debilitating neurological disorder in which the brain is too large for the skull, causing severe pain in the neck and shoulders, along with damage to parts of the dogs spinal cord. And although Cavaliers may be a particularly obvious case of purebreds with problems, they arent alone. Most purebred dogs today are at a high risk for numerous inherited diseases. Why did this happenand what can be done about it?

Consequences of breedingFor almost 4,000 years people have been breeding dogs for certain traitswhether it be a physique ideal for hunting pests like badgers or a temperament suitable for companionship. But the vast number of modern breedsand the roots of their genetically caused problemscame about over the past two centuries, as dog shows became popular and people began selectively inbreeding the animals to have specific physical features. Over time the American Kennel Club (AKC) and other such organizations have set standards defining what each variety should look like. To foster the desired appearance, breeders often turn to line breedinga type of inbreeding that mates direct relatives, such as grandmother and grandson. When a male dog wins numerous championships, for instance, he is often bred widelya practice known as popular sire syndrome (pdf)and his genes, healthy or not, then are spread like wildfire throughout the breed. As a result, purebred dogs not only have increased incidences of inherited diseases but also heightened health issues due to their bodily frames and shapes, such as hip dysplasia in large breeds like the German shepherd and the Saint Bernard, and patellar luxation, or persistent dislocation of the kneecap, in toy and miniature breeds.

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

How did we get to this situation? Historically, a breeders primary concern was to produce dogs that look like the breed standard, explains James Serpell, professor of ethics and animal welfare and director of the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Even if they did recognize health problems, breeders were too driven to produce what was perceived to be the most perfect breed.

In the 1850s, for example, the bulldog looked more like todays pit bull terriersturdy, energetic and athletic with a more elongated muzzle. But by the early 20th century, when dog shows became popular, the bulldog had acquired squat, bandy legs and a large head with a flattened muzzle. This altered figure makes it nearly impossible for them to reproduce without assistance, and the facial changes cause severe breathing problems in a third of all bulldogs. Breeders frequently turn to artificial insemination because the female bulldogs bone structure cannot support the males weight during mating. Most cannot give birth naturally either, because the puppies heads are too big for the birth canal.

Large head size and short legs are part of the written standard, so Serpell believes these standards would have forced the bulldog into extinction if breeders did not rely on artificial insemination. By essentially requiring judges to select animals that are the written standard, the club, in a way, signed the bulldogs death warrant, Serpell says.

Despite the negative effects of controlled breeding, animal science experts point to the value of selecting for consistency. A breed standard is the template providing information about the appearance and temperament and reflects the original function and purpose of the breed, says Milan Hess, a Colorado-based veterinarian who works with the AKC. When choosing a dog as a pet, consumers look to the breed standard for certainty. They know what it will look like and how it will act, says Thomas Famula, an animal-breeding specialist at the University of California, Davis.

Healthy choicesWith the search for consistency yielding unforeseen flaws, however, who is to blame? Although the AKC sets the breed standards, it is principally a registry organization and has little control over the actual breeding process. Famula believes dog breeders hold the highest responsibility because they make the decisions about which dogs to mate. In the end, breeders are the ones creating the next generation of dogs, Famula explains. But researchers like Famula and Jerold Bell, a geneticist at the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, note that breeding practices are greatly influenced by the puppy buyers who Bell believes are largely ignorant about genetic issues. The public is completely unaware. They see a cute dog and are sold, Bell says. When purchasing a puppy, buyers can ask for medical tests and family history of diseases; but this rarely happens. Although its ultimately the breeders responsibility, if theres no pressure from the buyer, the system wont change, he adds, emphasizing that most of the top 10 diseases plaguing all dogs are controlled by single genes which, when identified, are easy to eliminate in the next generation.

Meanwhile many organizations breeding dogs for police work or to aid the disabled routinely do use data registries to maintain health information and make smart pairing decisions that reduce the prevalence of inherited ailments. The Seeing Eye, a guide dog school in Morristown, N.J., for example, uses genetic testing and keeps a database that tracks all dogs potential problems. We have a geneticist on staff who evaluates each dog as a potential breeder, and we occasionally bring in dogs from other guide schools to ensure our gene pool doesnt get too restricted, says Michelle Barlak, senior public relations associate at The Seeing Eye.

Moving forwardIt is possible to improve a breed and maintain its characteristics, of course. Consider the dalmatian. The challenge: the genes responsible for the breeds sought-after characteristic spotting pattern also result in high levels of uric acid in the breeds urine, predisposing them to the formation of urate crystals that frequently cause urinary blockages. Selecting against uric acid, however, would result in a spotless dalmatian. Now theres new hope from work that began in 1973, when Robert Schaible, a geneticist at the Indiana University School of Medicine, started the DalmatianEnglish Pointer Backcross Project. He paired an AKC champion dalmatian with an English pointer, a breed with normal uric acid levels and a disposition similar to that of the dalmatian, and then crossed a dog from that litter to another dalmatian and so on. In 2011, after 15 generations, the AKC allowed dalmatians from this healthier pedigree, spots intact, to register.

Looking ahead at the future of purebreds, Serpell emphasizes that the goal is not to get rid of them but rather to put the health of the animals first. I dont think anyone wants the breeds to disappear, Serpell says. I dont want the bulldog to disappear, I just want the bulldog to be transformed back into an animal that can function properly and is reasonably healthy.

This article is provided by Scienceline, a project of New York University's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program.

Whats the best pet insurance for a pedigree dog?

Whats the best pet insurance for a pedigree dog?

During the past 17 months, whilst the country has been in and out of lockdown, pet ownership has exploded. With most rescue centres closed, people turned to breeders in search of their perfect pedigree. But due to the increased demand, they were met with a steep hike in prices. This extra cost has made many new owners consider taking out an insurance policy to help with financial protection should the worst happen. But before you take the plunge, what do you need to know to ensure your insurance doesnt bite back?

According to The Kennel Club, the UKs largest registration database for pedigree dogs, around 75% of the 12 million dogs in the UK are pedigree, meaning both parents are of the same breed and both are registered with The Kennel Club or other recognised society. The most popular pedigree breed is currently the Labrador Retriever, closely followed by the French Bulldog and the Cocker Spaniel.

Any dog can suffer with any illness, but some breeds are more prone to certain conditions than others

Unfortunately, pedigree animals are more prone to inherited problems than cross-breeds. If we look at the top three breeds for example

• Labradors are most commonly prone to joint conditions, especially hip or elbow dysplasia and osteoarthritis.
• French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed meaning they have a shortened skull and therefore will commonly suffer with breathing problems, specifically BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome), along with skin, eye and joint issues.
• Cocker spaniels are known for certain eye conditions like progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). They are also over-represented for skin and ear problems.

Pet insurance can be a good safety net for many owners

Although only a licensed insurance broker can advise on specific policies or companies, your vet can give you some tips as to what to look for.

There are four main types of policy to be aware of:

1. Lifelong or lifetime these policies will pay up to a chosen limit every new policy year for the life of the pet. They will cover for new medical conditions and accidents and are typically the most comprehensive policies on the market.
2. Maximum benefit these policies provide a set financial amount for each condition. But there is no time limit on when the money expires. If the maximum amount is reached, there will be no more payouts for that condition. And the owner will have to pay for any further treatment.
3. Time limited these policies will provide cover per condition up to specified amount. But only for a limited time period, often 12 months. If the condition continues beyond this limit, the owner will be required to pay any fees.
4. Accident only this is the most basic type of policy and will only cover for accidents, not illness. There is also often a time limit component to the policy, again, usually 12 months.

Get a quick quote from one of the UKs leading pet insurers

Learn more about them on our Pet Insurance page

In general, pet insurance will provide cover for veterinary fees including consultations, diagnostics and treatments

However, procedures such as neutering, vaccinations, and routine parasite treatments will often not be covered. You must declare any pre-existing conditions before you take out the policy and these are usually not covered. This includes if you switch from one provider to another. Crucially, dog insurance should also provide third-party liability cover. That is, if your dog injures another animal or person, or damages another persons property, you will be covered under the insurance. These claims can often run into tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds. So it is often thought of as one of the main reasons to consider taking out pet insurance.

• Cover for purchase price pedigree dogs cost more to buy than cross-breed dogs. Therefore some people may want to add this to their cover. It means that if the dog dies or is lost and doesnt return, the insurance provider will cover the purchase price of the dog up to a certain amount.
• Payment towards lost and found fees sadly, dog thefts have also risen in recent times. Because pedigree dogs demand a higher cost and are less likely to be unneutered in order to continue the breeding line, they are more attractive to thieves. If your dog is stolen, or even if they simply go missing, some policies will pay up to a certain amount towards the cost of advertising the loss of the dog or towards a reward to get them back.
• Complementary treatments often, complementary treatments such as osteopathy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture and homeopathy are not covered by pet insurance, or carry a low financial cover limit within a standard policy. Complementary treatments may be just as helpful for non-pedigree dogs, but considering the most popular pedigree dog is the Labrador Retriever who we know commonly suffer with mobility problems, cover for therapies such as hydrotherapy or acupuncture may be very beneficial.

Insurance companies work on risk

So because pedigree dogs are at higher risk of suffering from certain diseases or conditions, typically, their insurance policies will cost more. The size of the breed can also play a part, for example, a pedigree Bull Mastiff will, on average, cost more to insure than a pedigree Chihuahua. This is because the larger the dog, the more expensive the drug treatments, hospitalisation, and surgery.

The key when looking at insuring your pedigree pooch is to go in with your eyes wide open.

• make sure you shop around and ask for recommendations on providers or policies from friends and family
• make sure you know exactly what you are being covered for, what is excluded and what your financial or time limit is on the policy
• choose a level of cover that balances an acceptable cover limit with a monthly premium that you are happy to pay
• check you are happy with the excess on the policy (the amount you will always pay per new claim before the provider calculates their payout) and any extra fees that may apply, such as the requirement to pay a percentage of the claimable veterinary fees, which is often added to policies for older pets
• remember to read those Terms and Conditions!

We all want to keep our pets happy and healthy. But some dogs just dont seem to have got the memo and, if they end up needing veterinary care, pet insurance could give you that extra peace of mind and help relieve some of the financial stress. If you have any questions, your veterinary practice will be more than happy to help to guide you through the process and ensure your precious pure-breed doesnt end up costing you a pretty penny.

You might also be interested in: