Health testing French bulldogs
With every breed of dog there are inherited conditions. Just like any mammal. I wish I could say that the French bulldog was the healthiest of dogs. But this would not be true. But as a breeder I can say in some ways we are luckier than years ago because we have tools at our finger tips which determine how we can breed. We have DNA markers.
The French bulldog has a different shaped scull to other breeds and it has been given the name Brachycephalic. This means the scull is a different shape to other breeds.
Sadly their has been a lot of Cross breeding dog, and registered as pedigree over the last 10-15 years and because colours was paramount to these breeders they neglected health. Some colours are not only associated with health problems, but some are associated with bad temperament because of the dogs used to cross with the dogs. It's a bit like breeding pit bulls and XL bullies and then things go wrong. There is an awful lot of mis information out there with regards to the French bulldog.
For example vets! When you ring up a vets and tell them you want to register your dogs they will ask you what breed you own. You will say a French bulldog, they will ask for colour sometimes. They then register it with themselves as a French bulldog. But it's not a French bulldog. But then when they get clients going in with poorly dogs, in their minds they are treating pure bred French bulldogs and they are not. So the breed statistics with vets isn't correct.
The French bulldog also weighs 11 kilos for females and 12.5 for males. So when you see huge great big Frenchies you have to question what else is in there. The. height of a French bulldog should be around 10-11 inches.
So I blame vets for not understanding whats in front of them and then blaming the breed as unhealthy. As a vet once said to me we are not breed specialists, we just are animal doctors. This was true but it's a shame that some give such bad advice to owners. We have heard numerous times vets telling their clients to breed from their dogs as they are nice. Stop doing this! we have enough problems as it is.
I will not say all cross breeding is a bad idea either. But the majority of cross breeding has not been done. mindful to try and avoid inherited conditions. In some breeds where they cross breed there is a few excellent breeders now who are health testing their breeding stock and should be commended for this. Because at the end of the day all breeders should work towards improving health in dogs.
The French bulldog has a different shaped scull to other breeds and it has been given the name Brachycephalic. This means the scull is a different shape to other breeds.
Sadly their has been a lot of Cross breeding dog, and registered as pedigree over the last 10-15 years and because colours was paramount to these breeders they neglected health. Some colours are not only associated with health problems, but some are associated with bad temperament because of the dogs used to cross with the dogs. It's a bit like breeding pit bulls and XL bullies and then things go wrong. There is an awful lot of mis information out there with regards to the French bulldog.
For example vets! When you ring up a vets and tell them you want to register your dogs they will ask you what breed you own. You will say a French bulldog, they will ask for colour sometimes. They then register it with themselves as a French bulldog. But it's not a French bulldog. But then when they get clients going in with poorly dogs, in their minds they are treating pure bred French bulldogs and they are not. So the breed statistics with vets isn't correct.
The French bulldog also weighs 11 kilos for females and 12.5 for males. So when you see huge great big Frenchies you have to question what else is in there. The. height of a French bulldog should be around 10-11 inches.
So I blame vets for not understanding whats in front of them and then blaming the breed as unhealthy. As a vet once said to me we are not breed specialists, we just are animal doctors. This was true but it's a shame that some give such bad advice to owners. We have heard numerous times vets telling their clients to breed from their dogs as they are nice. Stop doing this! we have enough problems as it is.
I will not say all cross breeding is a bad idea either. But the majority of cross breeding has not been done. mindful to try and avoid inherited conditions. In some breeds where they cross breed there is a few excellent breeders now who are health testing their breeding stock and should be commended for this. Because at the end of the day all breeders should work towards improving health in dogs.
Cambridge University have been at the centre of the RFG scheme. Which stands for Respiratory Function Grading Scheme. The Kennel club did ask for assured breeders to do this health test. Sadly now the scheme is going im not quite sure if it will be a requirement. But as a breed club member I can assure you we will always be doing RFG on our dogs. Why go backwards when we can go forwards with the breed.
Across the UK there is a database of vets who will do the grading scheme.
Now there are many breeds of dogs which come into the catergory of Brachycephalic. I wont list them all but here are some:
You can have a grade 2 which they say you can breed to a 0.
Across the UK there is a database of vets who will do the grading scheme.
Now there are many breeds of dogs which come into the catergory of Brachycephalic. I wont list them all but here are some:
- Cavalier King Charles
- King Charles
- Japanese Chin
- English Bulldog
- Pug,
- Boston Terrier
- Griffon
- Dougue De Bordeaux
- Bull mastiff
- Old English Mastiff
- Shit zu
- Cane Corso
- Chow chow
- Pekinese.
You can have a grade 2 which they say you can breed to a 0.
It's down to you the person looking for a puppy to make sure BOTH parents have been boas tested. Because still the majority of breeders are not doing it. The only person who can change the way dogs are sold and bred is you. If you all stopped buying these dogs breeders would not breed them and would move onto other dog breeds. This is happening in XL bullies now. They still want to breed dogs so they are breeding Cross XL bullies which again they should not do as its illegal, but they are also moving into other breeds at the moment such as Cane Corso. But if you stop buying the dogs they wont breed them. Do not get fobbed off with excuses like " Oh we do not need to have it done because our dog doesnt pant", (The dog is probably never exercised)." Or " We do not need to do it as the grandparents were clear"! It does not work in that way. Each dog must be individually tested.
What kind of tests are available for French bulldogs?
BOAS (Breathing Obstructive airway syndrome
Hereditary cataracts - DNA but also Specialist BVA vet will check when they do the annual test.
Spinal x ray for Hemivertabra
Patellar
French bulldog health scheme
DNA tests:
Degenerative Myelioathy Exon 2
Cystinuria Type III
Chondrodysplasia
Canine Multi-Focal Retinopathy
Hereditary Cateracts
Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter
BOAS (Breathing Obstructive airway syndrome
Hereditary cataracts - DNA but also Specialist BVA vet will check when they do the annual test.
Spinal x ray for Hemivertabra
Patellar
French bulldog health scheme
DNA tests:
Degenerative Myelioathy Exon 2
Cystinuria Type III
Chondrodysplasia
Canine Multi-Focal Retinopathy
Hereditary Cateracts
Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter
Hemivertabra
The spine of the dog is made of bone just like the human spine. It has sections we call vertebrae. These can have malformations and spinal deformity. This is called hemivertebra or HV. Their is no clear cut reason why this occurs but it is thought their could be multiple factors such as genetic, abnormal blood supply to the vertebrae, the impact of having puppies, in other words stress put on the body. There is no DNA test for this malformations. Because it's most likely a multiple of DNA strands why it occurs. It is said to be caused by complex hereditary disorder rather than a simple DNA abnormality. It is more likely to occur in dogs with no tails, or screw tails. This is why it's tested for in Pugs and French bulldogs.
The HV test has never been required for assured breeder scheme. It's been left that you can do it if you wish.
I have been told by a vet that there is no such thing as a normal spine in these breeds because of how the tail developed. It's a natural short bob tail. So breeders do not dock the tails.
What can breeders do to help prevent it?
Because there is no DNA marker test, all we can do is either have a vet check the vertebra by feeling the spine and grading it or have an X-ray. They should not be bred with out having it checked first. But there is no official test for it, so all test results are with the breeder and not on a database you can check for.
How would you know if your dog had it?
Your dog would show pain in the spinal region. It could be just minor pain, and slight limp, or tense, The dog may react if you touch an area on the back. it may suddenly drag its back legs, or could not get up.
What should you do if your dog has this?
Seek a referral to a specialist and they can help. Quite often your every day veterinary surgeon can not help.
PATELLAR
Putnam grading scheme - 0 to 4.
Loose Patellars means when the dog runs the knee caps pop out and causes a limp, pain. Their is a grading scheme where a vet can assess the dog. He will rotate the leg and see if the knee cap pops out. Then grades it. Ideally breed from 0 score or 1.
Can it be cured? In mild cases instead of operating it is a better option to support the knee cap with good muscle. Find a Mc Timmoney chiropractor who can help. Do hydro therapy with your dog which again builds muscle. Only in severe cases should they be operated on.
Now the down side as far as I can tell is this. You can go to 0 tested dogs and yet your dog can still get it. So with this in mind we have to think of ways to make sure our dogs are not over exercised when they are younger. They must not slip of flooring when young. They must not be allowed to jump off steps, sofas or run up and down stairs until the joints are set. Which is 18 months plus. To give your dog every chance of having no damage to the knee joint. Remember 0 dogs can still produce it. So a lot of it is also what you do with your puppy.
BVA EYE TEST
French bulldogs are required to have an annual eye test done by a BVA vet. Specialist vets who do nothing but look at eyes will put drops in your dogs eyes to dilate the eye. Then you go in a darkened room and they put on a magnifying glass head piece and look into the dogs eye and they are looking for all ocular eye disease.
HEREDITARY CATERACTS
This test is required in French bulldogs as they can be effected, or a carrier or clear.
BVA vets also may pick this up on a visual test. But it is easier to do the DNA testing.
Symptoms are structural changes in lens protein. Symptoms are changes in eye colour, clumsiness, reluctant to climb, rubbing or scratching eyes.
This effects French Bulldogs
DM - DEGENERATIVE MYOPATHY
This was a required health test in French bulldogs, but the Kennel club have recently removed it from their wording. But we as breeders believe it should be done.
Symptoms are weakness of the hind limbs. worn nails. difficulty standing up, scuffing the hind legs muscle wastage.
This can effect any breed
Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter
Goiter is a nodular enlargement of the thyroid gland which can be present from birth. Thyroid hormone secretion maybe decreased, increased or normal. Treatment is thyroid hormone replacement when hypothyroidism is present.
CY - CYSTINURIA
This is an inherited condition caused by defective transport of amino acid cystine. If not treated causes kidney failure, bladder rupture.
This effects French Bulldogs
Again you want parents to be either both clear, or one a carrier and one a clear. You should not mate two effected or two carriers
Chondrodysplasia
Chondrodysplasia, also known as canine dwarfism, is a recessive genetic defect found in purebred dogs. This disorder causes the abnormal growth of cartilage and results in the disproportionate growth of a dog's limbs, which causes dwarfism.
Canine Multi-Focal Retinopathy
Canine multifocal retinopathy 1 is an inherited eye disease characterized by areas of retinal detachment. The disease does not typically lead to blindness or vision deficits. Phenotype: Affected dogs typically present with multiple, discrete circular areas of retinal detachment between 11 and 16 weeks of age.
Hereditary Cateracts
Most cataracts in dogs are the result of a genetic or hereditary defect. Many dog breeds are predisposed to hereditary cataracts, which may occur as early as at birth or develop later in young or middle-aged dogs.
BOAS - Breathing Obstructive airways syndrome
This test can only be done by a qualified veterinary surgeon who has been specially trained. Your vet will not be able to do it. So you need to locate vets who will perform the test.
So what do they do ? The vet will listen to the noises inside the dogs throat by a special stethascope. They will then ask you to run your dog for a solid 3 minutes and listen to the dogs breathing again. They are listening to unusual noise or laboured breathing. They are going to also look at your dogs nostrils and grade them. The whole test is graded 0-3
Now what you have to remember is this which some of the vets have not understood. A French bulldog will pant if stressed. So if your dog is not used to going out and it just goes for the test it may make a lot of noise. Even long nosed dogs will pant with stress.
Also the French bulldog purrs, and it's the most adorable sound. This purring noise often happens if you touch your dog like you would a cat. So some people can mis interpret the noise. But a fully qualified BOAS vet should know.
FRENCH BULLDOG CLUB HEALTH SCHEME
This test is actually brilliant as it looks at so many aspects of the French bulldog. Any vet can perform this. They will look at skin to see if it's healthy or does the dog have allergies, yeast. Spine and tail. They will look to see if Tail covers anus or does not have a tail at all. They will look at eye health.
.DNA TESTS AND HOW THEY WORK!
If you mate a clear to a carrier your puppy will not be effected,
The spine of the dog is made of bone just like the human spine. It has sections we call vertebrae. These can have malformations and spinal deformity. This is called hemivertebra or HV. Their is no clear cut reason why this occurs but it is thought their could be multiple factors such as genetic, abnormal blood supply to the vertebrae, the impact of having puppies, in other words stress put on the body. There is no DNA test for this malformations. Because it's most likely a multiple of DNA strands why it occurs. It is said to be caused by complex hereditary disorder rather than a simple DNA abnormality. It is more likely to occur in dogs with no tails, or screw tails. This is why it's tested for in Pugs and French bulldogs.
The HV test has never been required for assured breeder scheme. It's been left that you can do it if you wish.
I have been told by a vet that there is no such thing as a normal spine in these breeds because of how the tail developed. It's a natural short bob tail. So breeders do not dock the tails.
What can breeders do to help prevent it?
Because there is no DNA marker test, all we can do is either have a vet check the vertebra by feeling the spine and grading it or have an X-ray. They should not be bred with out having it checked first. But there is no official test for it, so all test results are with the breeder and not on a database you can check for.
How would you know if your dog had it?
Your dog would show pain in the spinal region. It could be just minor pain, and slight limp, or tense, The dog may react if you touch an area on the back. it may suddenly drag its back legs, or could not get up.
What should you do if your dog has this?
Seek a referral to a specialist and they can help. Quite often your every day veterinary surgeon can not help.
PATELLAR
Putnam grading scheme - 0 to 4.
Loose Patellars means when the dog runs the knee caps pop out and causes a limp, pain. Their is a grading scheme where a vet can assess the dog. He will rotate the leg and see if the knee cap pops out. Then grades it. Ideally breed from 0 score or 1.
Can it be cured? In mild cases instead of operating it is a better option to support the knee cap with good muscle. Find a Mc Timmoney chiropractor who can help. Do hydro therapy with your dog which again builds muscle. Only in severe cases should they be operated on.
Now the down side as far as I can tell is this. You can go to 0 tested dogs and yet your dog can still get it. So with this in mind we have to think of ways to make sure our dogs are not over exercised when they are younger. They must not slip of flooring when young. They must not be allowed to jump off steps, sofas or run up and down stairs until the joints are set. Which is 18 months plus. To give your dog every chance of having no damage to the knee joint. Remember 0 dogs can still produce it. So a lot of it is also what you do with your puppy.
BVA EYE TEST
French bulldogs are required to have an annual eye test done by a BVA vet. Specialist vets who do nothing but look at eyes will put drops in your dogs eyes to dilate the eye. Then you go in a darkened room and they put on a magnifying glass head piece and look into the dogs eye and they are looking for all ocular eye disease.
HEREDITARY CATERACTS
This test is required in French bulldogs as they can be effected, or a carrier or clear.
BVA vets also may pick this up on a visual test. But it is easier to do the DNA testing.
Symptoms are structural changes in lens protein. Symptoms are changes in eye colour, clumsiness, reluctant to climb, rubbing or scratching eyes.
This effects French Bulldogs
DM - DEGENERATIVE MYOPATHY
This was a required health test in French bulldogs, but the Kennel club have recently removed it from their wording. But we as breeders believe it should be done.
Symptoms are weakness of the hind limbs. worn nails. difficulty standing up, scuffing the hind legs muscle wastage.
This can effect any breed
Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter
Goiter is a nodular enlargement of the thyroid gland which can be present from birth. Thyroid hormone secretion maybe decreased, increased or normal. Treatment is thyroid hormone replacement when hypothyroidism is present.
CY - CYSTINURIA
This is an inherited condition caused by defective transport of amino acid cystine. If not treated causes kidney failure, bladder rupture.
This effects French Bulldogs
Again you want parents to be either both clear, or one a carrier and one a clear. You should not mate two effected or two carriers
Chondrodysplasia
Chondrodysplasia, also known as canine dwarfism, is a recessive genetic defect found in purebred dogs. This disorder causes the abnormal growth of cartilage and results in the disproportionate growth of a dog's limbs, which causes dwarfism.
Canine Multi-Focal Retinopathy
Canine multifocal retinopathy 1 is an inherited eye disease characterized by areas of retinal detachment. The disease does not typically lead to blindness or vision deficits. Phenotype: Affected dogs typically present with multiple, discrete circular areas of retinal detachment between 11 and 16 weeks of age.
Hereditary Cateracts
Most cataracts in dogs are the result of a genetic or hereditary defect. Many dog breeds are predisposed to hereditary cataracts, which may occur as early as at birth or develop later in young or middle-aged dogs.
BOAS - Breathing Obstructive airways syndrome
This test can only be done by a qualified veterinary surgeon who has been specially trained. Your vet will not be able to do it. So you need to locate vets who will perform the test.
So what do they do ? The vet will listen to the noises inside the dogs throat by a special stethascope. They will then ask you to run your dog for a solid 3 minutes and listen to the dogs breathing again. They are listening to unusual noise or laboured breathing. They are going to also look at your dogs nostrils and grade them. The whole test is graded 0-3
Now what you have to remember is this which some of the vets have not understood. A French bulldog will pant if stressed. So if your dog is not used to going out and it just goes for the test it may make a lot of noise. Even long nosed dogs will pant with stress.
Also the French bulldog purrs, and it's the most adorable sound. This purring noise often happens if you touch your dog like you would a cat. So some people can mis interpret the noise. But a fully qualified BOAS vet should know.
FRENCH BULLDOG CLUB HEALTH SCHEME
This test is actually brilliant as it looks at so many aspects of the French bulldog. Any vet can perform this. They will look at skin to see if it's healthy or does the dog have allergies, yeast. Spine and tail. They will look to see if Tail covers anus or does not have a tail at all. They will look at eye health.
.DNA TESTS AND HOW THEY WORK!
- Mate Clear to Clear
- Mate Clear to Carrier
- DO NOT MATE carrier to carrier
- DO NOT MATE effected to effected.
If you mate a clear to a carrier your puppy will not be effected,
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