Cavalier king charles spaniels can suffer syringomyelia, a painful condition in which their brain is too big for their skull. Photo credit: www.takeapaws.com.au
Some of you might remember "Pedigree Dogs Exposed", a BBC documentary that aired on the ABC in late 2009.
The documentary sparked a huge public reaction in both the UK and Australia, as it revealed the serious welfare issues of breeding for certain characteristics in dogs. Perhaps the most chilling example from the doco was that of a cavalier king charles spaniel in agony due to syringomyelia, a condition caused by the dog's skull being too small as a result of deliberate inbreeding.
Scientists are investigating the underlying genetic causes of serious disorders in pedigree dogs with the aim of improving the health and welfare of these animals. The Australian National Kennel Council has promised to adjust breeding standards to improve animal welfare if scientific evidence suggests a link between a disorder and a characteristic that is standard for the breed.
The same gene that causes the characteristic wrinkles of Shar-Pei dogs also predisposes them to familial Shar-Pei fever. Photo credit: www.lasharpei.com
In 2007, geneticists discovered that the genes responsible for the hair ridge in Ridgeback dogs also predisposes these dogs to dermoid sinus.
Just last week, an international team of researchers found that a mutation that causes the characteristic wrinkly skin of Shar-Pei dogs also increases their risk of a life-threatening inflammatory condition called familial Shar-Pei fever (read the whole article in COSMOS here).
Knowledge of the genetic causes of pedigree disorders and diseases will allow the development of screening tests for the defective genes. Those dogs that carry the disease genes can then be removed from the breeding stock, reducing the frequency of the disease gene for future generations.
However, when the disease gene is also responsible for a "desired look" in a breed, as is the case in Ridgebacks and Shar-Pei, dog breeding standards need to be changed to discourage breeding for extreme physical characteristics. Thankfully, there is a strong commitment by the pedigree dog community to breed healthier dogs and many breed standards have been adjusted.
What are your thoughts on pedigree dog breeding? Does your pet dog suffer a condition specific to his or her breed?
