this could be interesting

[chris_walton]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7569521.stm

its on tonight on bbc2 @9pm


Many pedigree dogs are suffering from genetic diseases and living in pain after years of inbreeding, an investigation says. A BBC documentary suggests the methods used to produce breeds like the King Charles spaniel, boxers and pugs could cause debilitating inherited genetic problems.

[wilsonathome]

thanks chris
i'll be watching it

[alicia]

thanks chris, i shall be watching it too! poor pups


x

[Sylvia1]

Yep - i'll be watching.

[Laraine]

Good Post Chris!
Cavaliers have well known heart problems that can then lead on to kidney and liver failure.

Springer Spaniels have eye problems, our little Ollie, (Darrens fault for the post about many tears! Thank you Darren we love our BIG monster! ) Has only 1 good eye, the other is not set in the socket properly, and has no functioning vision in this one.

Labradors and German Shepherds can have hip and rear leg problems

With pedigrees its always best to research the breed problems and then insist the breeder shows you and gives you a copy of the health certificate for the parents and grandparents. We insisted when we bought our last Cavalier spaniel, and so many breeders can't provide them. We found one that could. Jades mum, dad, grandparents on both sides all have the healthy heart certificate.

[ME SHELL]

Boxers have loads of heart problems too, mine has a heart murmer and all her brothers and sisters have arthritis. She aches abit after she's been asleep after a walk, but she is exercised more than the others so that has helped alot.

[dizzywend]

Thanks Chris
I will be watching this.
My 10 yr old King Charles was diagnosed with a heart murmur at 8 weeks old!
Very interesting

Wendy

[chris_walton]

oh no its on one right now im not sure i can watch it now though after seeing the begining

[gtm]

My vet say the 'invention' of pedigree dogs was one of the 'best' thing to happen to his profession (he was being ironic) - so many of them have health problems which need expensive treatment that are directly related to being inbred. My mother Cav had the usual things - heart murmur, Kidney failure, back problems. Cav's were started in the 1920's (there was a craze for all things restoration) from a microscopic pool of starter dogs (I think no more that 4 or 5 animals) - a recipe for disaster. The situation with pug, bulldogs and shar pei's is even worse. Who is to blame for this? The Kennel club & their breed standards thats who! I'm very glad we don't have a tortoise equivalent of Crufts (not that any of mine would be in with a chance)

[TortMad]

I have to say I have never agreed with the views of the Kennel Club nor any breed standard.

I have watched the program on the BBC and found it very interesting if not very very sad. I think the kennel club and some breeders came across very badly. As long as the breed standard which is wrote in stone is achieved then the welfare of the animal and the future of the breed does not matter at all.

I must say however, there are some fantastic breeders out there who do it for the love of dogs not for the love of £££££s.

Incidently my JRT is an absolute stunner, has a cracking character and a fantastic temperment sp.

And do you know what?

He doesn't meet any of the so called breed standards, and I don't care