Dog Breeds:  What you need to know

 
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Staying up to date with common, let alone rare, health risks in susceptible dog breeds can be difficult.  In this regular feature, our Educational Partner, International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD) signposts resources on a particular breed and highlights breed-specific diseases.

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Breed-specific information supports medical decisions and client communication through helping to suggest or confirm diagnoses, helping owners make sense of ‘Why my pet?’, and informing anticipatory guidance and preventive medicine. For example, owners of a dog that dies from cancer may want to know whether it was related to its breed. The image offers data to help with this discussion.

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Owners identify strongly with their breed (even if it is a ‘-doodle’ or other mix) and, if they have bought a pedigree dog, the breeder likely alerted them to specific care needs and health concerns. The internet and pet food marketing may have convinced them that they must buy food formulated for their breed. Vets must be sensitive to clients’ concerns and able to address breed-specific issues. However, owners need to understand that with more than 400 breeds and types, veterinarians cannot be expert on all. Directing owners to excellent, evidence-based resources online is needed to keep everyone on the same page.

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Dr Brenda Bonnett, IPFD CEO, says:

[blockquote author=”” link=”” target=”_blank”]
IPFD is continually expanding its breed-specific resources on DogWellNet.com and is working with WSAVA and other partners to develop more tools to help vets, clients, and their pets. See this article “Breed-Specific Questions, Answers, Tools and Resources”, which links to information on highest risk conditions; available genetic tests for diagnosis, breeding decisions, and multi-drug sensitivity; other screening tests; caretakers need-to-know; and more. [/blockquote]

[blockquote author=”” link=”” target=”_blank”]During 2021 we will continue to provide in-depth information on individual breeds to WSAVA members – see the Get a GRIHP! example below – but should you need information on other breeds, please feel free to access the many resources on DogWellNet.com.[/blockquote]
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The International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD) is a non-profit working for dog health, well-being, and welfare. This article has been prepared by its CEO, Dr Brenda Bonnett, DVM PhD

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More resources to help you:

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