In-breeding in pedigree dogs means debilitating genetic diseases

Research in the UK by the BBC has revealed that pedigree dogs are being bred with debilitating genetic diseases and the culprit is the breeding process used to produce pedigree dogs.

It appears that this process has resulted in a high incidence of inherited genetic disease.

Selective or line breeding is commonplace among pedigree dogs but veterinary experts say this would be illegal in humans, and from the point of view of the health of the animals, some breeds are paying a terrible price in terms of genetic diseases.

But nevertheless it seems dogs suffering from genetic illness continue to compete in dog shows, and have even won 'best in breed', despite their poor health.

The BBC programme aired this week showed a prize-winning Cavalier King Charles spaniel which was suffering from syringomyelia, a condition which occurs when a dog's skull is too small for its brain, Boxers suffering from epilepsy, Pugs with breathing problems and Bulldogs who were unable to mate or give birth unassisted.

The Kennel Club in Britain apparently has registered dogs bred from brother-to-sister and mother-to-son matings but the RSPCA says the dog show world takes no account of health, fitness or temperament and has become a parade of freakish, garish mutants.

Pedigree dog owners are said to spend £10m a week in vets' fees because their dogs are suffering from genetic diseases following years of inbreeding.

The programme, Pedigree Dogs Exposed, says physical traits required by the Kennel Club's breed standards, such as short faces, wrinkling, screw-tails and dwarfism, have inherent health problems and other problems occur because of exaggerations bred into dogs by breeders trying to win rosettes.

Research by scientists at Imperial College, London, recently revealed that pugs in the UK are so inbred that although there are 10,000 of them, that is the equivalent of just 50 distinct individuals.

The RSPCA says the welfare and quality of life of many pedigree dogs is seriously compromised by established breeding practices for appearance, driven primarily by the rules and requirements of competitive dog showing and pedigree dog registration.

Pedigree animals make up 75% of the seven million dogs in the UK.