Beloved dog breed may disappear due to health problems

10 TV COLUMBUS OH ^ | 29 JULY 2016 | 10 TV

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The future of a favorite dog breed, the English bulldog, may be in jeopardy, a new genetic study suggests.

Too much inbreeding has left bulldogs without the diversity needed in their gene pool, putting the health of future pups at risk, researchers from the University of California, Davis, reported in the journal Canine Genetics and Epidemiology.

"The English Bulldog truly is a breed in trouble," they report. "Inbreeding ... has brought the breed to a crisis point."

The scientists came to their conclusion after completing the first broad-based assessment of the breed's genetic diversity using DNA. The study's lead author Niels Pedersen, distinguished professor emeritus at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine's Center for Companion Animal Health, told CBS News, "There are a whole litany of different problems associated with their structure and inbreeding. We were not surprised to find they did lack genetic diversity."

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Georgetown Hoyas and WWE tag-team British Bulldogs deeply saddened.

[ConservativeMind]

Well, when you breed sisters to brothers for generations to get a “breed,” you have to expect problems.

We don’t even allow marriage with first cousins in most or all of the US, to my knowledge.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

My parent's neighbor has an English Bulldog. She is a very sweet dog who often comes over to visit. Smart too. She knows that she can come in their yard while they are out but she makes no attempt to go into any of the other neighbors yards.

[Yaelle]

Almost all breeds have too many recessive genes. It is time for breeders to seriously think about health first, and let a similar breed into their breeding and stop focusing on looks over health. I love dog breeds. But each one needs get with science (I believe in science, lol) and open the breed qualifications to include some mixing every so often.

[buwaya]

Reintroduce bull-baiting and only breed from winners.
That will sort it out.

[RoosterRedux]

English bulldogs are forever. Uga!

[odawg]

I read that the breeders want to return the bulldog’s mouth back to its original shape. It wasn’t always recessed like it is now.

[bimboeruption]

“Inbreeding ... has brought the breed to a crisis point.”

Hopefully the same thing will happen to muzzies.

As for the British Bulldogs...I hope they can be saved. They are a handsome and intelligent breed.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

I worry about Briards too. They were decimated during WWl, and the gene pool is pretty small.

[RoosterRedux]

Wonderful breed.

I say this as a cat person (who from time to time considers a dog addition to the family).

[COBOL2Java]

My next-door neighbors have a miniature bulldog. She is the sweetest thing.

[Tijeras_Slim]

If it’s not a Basenji, it’s just a dog.

[luckymom]

I know this to be very true. In spite of being warned about bulldog health issues, we bought one from a “reputable breeder” whose bulldogs were highly awarded in the show ring. Fortunately, we were emptynesters, and had put our three kids through college, because the vet bills were beyond the pale. After every surgery she had, we thought okay, she'll be better now. After every new attempt to curb her allergies, we thought that's going to make her more comfortable. Unfortunately, that never happened and we finally vowed that we wouldn't put her, us, or our bank account through any more surgeries. When she slipped on our stairs and hurt her hip or leg, we knew it was time to say goodbye. She was a very sweet girl, and I miss her snorts and wiggles, but she was miserable for too many of her 5 years. I'm not basing this only on my bulldog, my sons also have had two, and they didn't fare any better. It's sad to know that the more a bulldog fits “the look”, the less healthy they generally are.

[CrazyIvan]

Just yesterday I saw an English Bulldog sitting on the porch playing a banjo.

[DAC21]

Those Pups go for a ton of money $2,000 plus often. Never understood it, especially that breed. Go save a life at a shelter for $100 with mixed genes and probable better health and longevity. They have just as much love to give.

[Pollster1]

“Yesterday, I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I’ll never know.”

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Our neighbour has one and he’s an ol’ sweetheart.

[upchuck]

Stupid breeders. Always trying to second guess nature. Deserve what they are getting.

Poodle breeders have the same problem. Just not as serious yet.

[ChildOfThe60s]

My daughter has a couple of rescues. One is what we believe to be a pit bull / mountain cur mix. She’s not especially smart, but she is such a sweetie. A real people dog. If you want to feel loved without reservation, she’s the one. She’s been a very strong & healthy dog.

[headstamp 2]

Had a friend with one a number of years ago. I have never seen a dog with so many health problems in my life.

The dog finally died at about 6 years old and many thousands of dollars in vet bills.