How Intensive Dog Breeding Led to a Wide Range of Health Issues

Paleontologist Danielle Dufault of Animalogic explained how intensive inbreeding and overbreeding lead to a wide range of health issues in dogs that were not previously present in the breed.

Customization can come at a cost. Our fixation with designing dogs iscausing health problems, deformities, andbehavioral issues for our furry friends. ...Have people ruined dogs?!

Dufault also talked about the history of dog domestication, their relationship to wolf, and the specific types of issues that have appeared in so-called designer dogs".

German Shepherds have hip and elbow issues because of people's preference for a slopped back.Labrador retrievers have joint problems becausetheir popularity...made them a very inbred breed.Cavalier king spaniels are also very inbred andmany have heart issues. ...Similarly, dobermans are prone to have a disease that affects the muscles of their hearts. Thiscan lead to heart failure. ...Collies and related breeds are prone to epilepsy and eye problems.Cocker Spaniels are also at risk of vision loss. Bernese dogs and golden retrievers have a veryhigh incidence of cancer.

There is hope, however, to give back to the dogs who have given so much to us.

But there is good news. Withgrowing awareness of these issues,countries around the globe are taking action to better regulate poor breeding practices. The UK, Canada, Denmark, the USA,and Australia are just a few of thecountries taking action to pass new laws and regulations to stop bad breeding practices.And innovative programs from vets and responsiblebreeders are being developed to restore the healthof our beloved companions.

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