This came via the Sheltie list, originally from a goat list. I thought it had some very good points (especially regarding exaggeration in breeding). Linda R. (wade through the headers!) Subj: SS-BREE: Purebreds Date: 97-05-06 22:18:56 EDT From: [log in to unmask] (Shannon Smith Beltran) To: [log in to unmask] This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------12A0A2564D5 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Just thought I'd pass this along. It's off the goats list but it's about dogs (though I have found many on the goats list with shelties and many on the shelties list with goats!)! --------------12A0A2564D5 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Received: from felicity.it.wsu.edu (felicity.it.wsu.edu [134.121.1.12]) by intergate.icoe.k12.ca.us (8.8.5/8.8.0) with ESMTP id LAA06974 for <[log in to unmask]>; Tue, 6 May 1997 11:08:14 -0700 (PDT) Received: from host (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by felicity.it.wsu.edu (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id LAA05988; Tue, 6 May 1997 11:04:42 -0700 (PDT) Received: from wright.aps.uoguelph.ca (wright.aps.uoguelph.ca [131.104.112.4]) by felicity.it.wsu.edu (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id JAA03887 for <[log in to unmask]>; Tue, 6 May 1997 09:13:59 -0700 (PDT) Received: by wright.aps.uoguelph.ca (1.38.193.4/16.2) id AA29107; Tue, 6 May 1997 12:13:57 -0400 Message-Id: <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 12:13:57 -0500 (EDT) Sender: [log in to unmask] Precedence: bulk From: "K. Nadarajah" <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Linebreeding/inbreeding Content-Type: text X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL22] X-Listprocessor-Version: 7.2 -- ListProcessor by CREN To goats-list: I thought this item that was released to-day by the: CANADIAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION to the (CNW) Canada NewsWire nwes might be of interest to the list. Copyright/CVMA&CNW, May 6, 1997. --------------------------------- Nada. ************************************************************************** GENETIC DEFECTS IN PETS - A NIGHTMARE FOR PET OWNERS Veterinarians use Animal Health Week to Sensitize Public to Genetic Defects in Animals OTTAWA, May 6 /CNW/ - Stop and think before you buy that cute new pure bred puppy. Does this particular breed of dog have a predisposition for certain genetic disorders? Canine hip dysplasia has been around for decades, not to mention heart defects, ocular abnormalities, skin allergies and behaviour problems - most of these disorders are a result of ``linebreeding'' or poor genetic selection. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association recognizes that prospective pet owners should be more aware of some of the common genetic pitfalls when selecting their new pet. ``The frustration and despair for the owners of genetically unhealthy pets becomes a daily concern for the veterinary practitioner,'' comments Dr. Kelly-Leigh Thomas, Chair of the CVMA's Animal Welfare Committee. ``Veterinarians want to encourage the development of adequate protection for breeds that appear to be headed toward extinction through exaggeration of the very characteristics that initially made the breed so attractive and cute.'' Genetic defects in dogs are of two general types. The first type results from an unpredictable genetic accident such as a heart or eye defect. In natural populations the significance of these defects is greatly diluted by random breeding. In pure-bred dogs, however, the public demand for increased predictability in appearance and behaviour of each breed has caused breeders to mate closely related dogs. Unfortunately, this practice of ``linebreeding'' also serves to greatly increase the risk of mating two animals that carry the same hidden genetic defect, thus giving the offspring a ``double dose'' of defective genes. The second type of genetic defect is associated with the exaggeration of structural features or physical attributes. Centuries of human intervention have created the extremes in body design or behaviour which can result in problems. The excessively wrinkled skin of the modern Shar pei, for example, predisposes the animal to lifelong skin disease and often requires surgical removal of some facial skin just so the dog can see! The pushed-in faces of dogs like the bulldog and Pekinese predisposes these breeds to various respiratory disorders. ``What we need to do is pay more attention to the health implications of breeding practices,'' comments Dr. Brian Wilcock, a veterinary pathologist at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. ``Many conscientious dog breeders are making a real effort to eliminate the random genetic diseases like eye diseases and heart defects, but it is much more difficult to convince breeders to start changing some of the basic anatomic features that are predisposing the dogs to disease. Bulldogs will be just as appealing if their faces are a little longer and their chests a little bit narrower, and then we may not have to do Caesarean sections with virtually every pregnancy. Prospective dog owners have the right to expect 12-15 years of health from their pets, but in too many breeds, the prevalence of genetic disease, either accidental or created by human intervention, creates the expectation of disease rather than health.'' The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association has identified animal welfare advocacy as one of its top priorities. Genetic defects comes high on the list of animal welfare issues that need to be addressed immediately. As a first step, the CVMA will be developing an information database of genetic defects commonly found in dogs. This database will be accessible to the public on the Internet, and a synopsis will be available in booklet form. This publication follows the existing CVMA publication A Commonsense Guide to Selecting a Dog or Cat, which deals primarily with matching a pet's temperament and needs with the potential owner's lifestyle parameters. The CVMA highlights the importance of animal health and welfare during national Animal Health Week, May 4-10,1997. For further information: Julia Gdowski, CVMA, (613) 236-1162 ************************************************************************** **************************************** Dr. Nada K. Nadarajah * CGIL, Dept of Animal & Poultry Sci. * University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario * N1G 2W1. Canada. * e-mail:[log in to unmask] * Tel. 519-824-4120 Ext. 6683 * Fax. 519-836-9873 or 519-767-0573 * ****************************************