RESEARCH - Is There no Hope for Healthy Bulldogs?

(akc.org)

English bulldogs: the beloved, cartoonish, man-made breed that warms hearts and turns heads.

Ranking #4 for U.S. dog breed popularity and #1 for health problems, the breed has long been cautioned as a potentially costly one.

A recent University of California study concludes the breed is “now lacking the diversity in its gene pool to make much-needed health improvements.”

The researchers go on to say that the bulldogs' genes have become too similar for breeders to reduce the higher risk of sickness by only breeding the healthiest English bulldogs.

The study's bottom line: Despite breeders best efforts, there's just not enough genetic diversity in the breed.

"The English bulldog has reached the point where popularity can no longer excuse the health problems that the average bulldog endures in its often brief lifetime," study lead author Niels Pedersen, of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine’s Center for Companion Animal Health, said in a journal news release.

What many fail to realize, according to veterinarian Dr. Fraser Hale of Hale Veterinary Clinic in Guelph, ON -  an outspoken critic of bulldog breeding who is on a mission to motivate his industry to better educate the public – is that perpetuating the bulldog industry is nothing short of animal cruelty and a preservation of archaic tradition.

“The pet-owning public needs to recognize it is too inhumane to ask an animal to live its life in such a dysfunctional and deformed body,” said Hale, who asserts that the lack of public education on the cruel and sad lives of bulldogs may be so far behind that perhaps legislation (much like dog fighting) and heavy public education campaigns may be the only way to drastically make a difference.

“People who don’t understand what that ‘bulldog look’ imposes to the animal may see them as ‘cute’, but if they knew the reality, they would likely just see them as sad.”

Referring to bulldogs as ‘bad by design’ and a ‘failed human experiment’, Hale sees the only solution is to care for the remaining bulldogs and to stop breeding, letting the breed die out.

Hale said he thinks the veterinary industry has ‘a lot to answer to’ with respect to better educating people on the sad life led by bulldogs.

He cites a host of health problems including (but not limited to): brachycephalic upper airway issues; horrible dental/oral anatomy/health; orthopedic issues; and skin-fold dermatitis.

The breed is completely man-made and cannot whelp without human interference by way of a caesarean delivery.

“How fair is it to breed an animal that can’t even deliver naturally?” points out Dr. Danny Joffe of Associate Vet Clinics in Calgary.

Joffe, who emphasized that these multitude of health problems exists in both English and French bulldogs (who also suffer from inflammatory brain disease), said that he cautions any of his veterinary clients who choose to purchase a bulldog to at the very least get pet insurance (although some companies won’t insure bulldogs) and to watch their pet’s weight with vigilance, as any added weight puts a strain on their respiratory system and can accelerate their arthritis.

Joffe said other breeds to be mindful of various health problems include the Irish wolfhound (bone cancer and heart trouble) and Bernese mountain dogs (cancer), but that ‘no other breeds have the problems suffered by bulldogs’.

For Hale, the movement toward public education of the pain and suffering that bulldogs are inevitably left with is out of step with modern-day advocacy campaigns against declawing and tail docking.

He is hoping the veterinary industry will help influence bulldog breeding as a socially unacceptable trend of the past and that celebrity endorsements of bulldogs will cease.

By Lindsay Seewalt

Lindsay is an experienced journalist and mother of three whose heart and home is always open to a four-legged friend. With her Corgi, Angie, as household editor-in-chief, Lindsay gives back to the animal planet through the written word on anything and all ado about pets. She is passionate about topics regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, which she aims to instill in both her readers and children to be compassionate animal lovers who are conscious and considerate that furry friends around the globe deserve a voice.

WELFARE - Adopt or Shop?

Released last month, the ‘Horrible Hundred 2016’ by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is the fourth annual report naming bad puppy mill breeders, cited for unsanitary facilities, improper care of animals and ‘repeat offenders’ who continue to fail to adhere to USDA inspector requirements.

It’s part of the HSUS Stop Puppy Mills Campaign asking individuals to pledge to not shop at stores selling puppies and adopt their next pet rather than, knowingly or unknowingly, purchase a puppy that may be from a puppy mill.

But for some pet owners, there are many reasons to purchase a dog – including allergies that result in the need for a hypoallergenic breed; negative past experiences, including aggression, from poorly handled shelter dogs; the desire to do showing or competitions requiring knowledge about a dog’s lineage and athletic capabilities; and personal preference.

Advocates for the ‘always adopt’ approach remain steadfast that through careful research, there is a suitable rescue for every individual.

“Our advice is to always adopt - don’t buy a dog or other animal companion,” said Emily Pickett, program coordinator for the Vancouver Humane Society. “There is a good chance that dogs bought at pet stores or online come from puppy mills.”

Puppy mill breeders mainly operate through selling online or through pet stores, and further prompt advocates calling for tougher legislation that would prevent pet stores from purchasing from noted offenders.

The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) president and CEO Mike Bober responded to the ‘Horrible Hundred 2016’.

While acknowledging that the list is informative, the official stance of PIJAC is that banning puppy sales altogether, as is the stance of HSUS, is not the best approach:

“We disagree with the HSUS position that puppy mills ‘will end for good only when consumers become educated and stop buying puppies.’  While adopting a shelter pet is a wonderful option for many, it is not for everyone including those with allergies and other circumstances that require a certain breed. Their right to find their perfect pet should not be taken away.

“We in the responsible pet industry are proud to support legislation establishing meaningful sourcing restrictions, rather than well-intentioned but counter-productive sales bans. In this way, we are working to preserve pet choice and transparency while ensuring the health and well-being of companion animals.”

Bober states that while the list is informative, ‘it does nothing to improve animal welfare or to shut down illegal, unregulated puppy mills who actively avoid legally-required licensing and inspection’.

For Pickett, the challenge with legislation pertaining to the regulation of breeders is difficulty in enforcement.

“The British Columbia government recently announced they will be adopting a regulation under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, outlining generally accepted management practices for cat and dog breeders in B.C. and are looking into legislation that will require breeders to be licensed. While in theory this may sound promising, it will prove very difficult to enforce and will not eradicate the pet overpopulation and homelessness issue,” she said.

According to Pickett, around 1.2M dogs (and 1.4M cats) are euthanized annually in the U.S.. With numbers like these, the culprit is certainly overpopulation: pet owners not spaying or neutering, as well as breeders.

Because of these numbers, Pickett she feels there has to be some accountability put on to dog owners choosing breeders over shelters.

“As long as there are animals in need of homes in shelters and rescues, it’s unconscionable that others should continue to be bred and sold.”

Consumers end up in the middle of this issue - wanting to do the right thing, wanting to find a physically and mentally healthy pet, and wanting to find the perfect dog for their family.

For individuals facing this dilemma, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies recommends adoption first. But if that doesn’t work, they provide detailed information about how to find a responsible breeder so consumers can be confident they aren’t supporting puppy mills.

The Top Dog Store in Calgary had adopted a new retail model to help build consumer confidence in their puppies.

Potential pet owners can also visit B4UGETAPET to help plan for their new addition and determine the best pet for them. 

By Lindsay Seewalt

Lindsay is an experienced journalist and mother of three whose heart and home is always open to a four-legged friend. With her Corgi, Angie, as household editor-in-chief, Lindsay gives back to the animal planet through the written word on anything and all ado about pets. She is passionate about topics regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, which she aims to instill in both her readers and children to be compassionate animal lovers who are conscious and considerate that furry friends around the globe deserve a voice.

CVMA Statement on Quebec Commercial Dog Breeding Facility Investigation

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) is aware of media reports of the alleged unethical and abusive activities of a commercial dog breeding operation near Shawville, Quebec. The CVMA encourages the animal protection authorities in Quebec to conduct a thorough investigation into this facility and the alleged incidents.

The CVMA has concerns with commercial breeding facilities that meet the National Companion Animal Coalition (NCAC) definition of a ‘puppy mill’. A puppy mill is defined as a high-volume, substandard dog breeding operation, which sells purebred or mixed-breed dogs to unsuspecting buyers. Some of the characteristics common to puppy mills are:

· Sub-standard health and/or environmental issues;

· Sub-standard animal care, treatment and/or socialization;

· Sub-standard breeding practices which lead to genetic defects or hereditary disorders;

· Erroneous or falsified certificates of registration, pedigrees and/or genetic background

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