February 5, 2019, University of
Cambridge
A new screening scheme aims to provide breeders of French
bulldogs, pugs and bulldogs with more information about the health of their
dogs, helping them reduce the risk of breeding puppies with potentially serious
breathing problems.
Developed by the University of Cambridge and funded by the Kennel
Club Charitable Trust, the new Respiratory
Function Grading Scheme assesses dogs for the presence
and severity of a breathing problem known as brachycephalic obstructive airway
syndrome (BOAS). The scheme is currently available for the pug, French bulldog
and bulldog, and has the potential to improve the health and welfare of these
breeds for generations to come.
Dogs with a flat, wide shaped head are said to be brachycephalic
('brachy' meaning short, and 'cephalic', meaning head). The soft tissue in the
nose and throat of some brachycephalic dogs may be excessive for the airways,
partially obstructing the airway and making it difficult for them to breathe
normally and causing heavy panting or noisy breathing. This condition is known
as BOAS and is a progressive disorder that can impair a dog's ability to
exercise, play, eat and sleep.
The assessment, which can now be carried out by a number of
specially trained assessors located across the U.K. involves listening to the
dog's airway both before and after an exercise tolerance test. Assessors then
use a pre-defined protocol to grade the dog from zero to three. Dogs graded as
zero are free of respiratory signs of BOAS, while dogs graded as three will
show severe respiratory signs of BOAS, indicating that further veterinary
examination is advised. The scheme issues guidance that dogs graded three
should not be bred from.
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