Kennel Club promotes health screening days
Screenings enable breeders to make responsible and informed breeding decisions.
The Kennel Club is encouraging dog owners and breeders to attend its upcoming multi-breed health screening days, to learn more about their dogs' health.
Available screenings are The Kennel Club and University of Cambridge Respiratory Function Grading (RFG) Scheme Assessment, and The Kennel Club Heart Scheme assessments.
The RFG Scheme assessment detects Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) in bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs, while the Heart Scheme assessments detect signs of heart murmurs and mitral valve disease in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Bill Lambert, health, welfare and breeder services executive at The Kennel Club, said: “It’s crucial that all breeders use the tools available to them to help protect the health of their puppies and have a positive impact on dog health overall – and these clinics provide the opportunity to do so.
“The health team at The Kennel Club can answer any questions that you have about the screening schemes available, including how they work and the potential outcomes, and can also give advice on how you might apply this knowledge when choosing to breed your dogs.
“We really do urge all those who care about the health of their breed to have their dogs routinely screened. There are only a few appointments left so we encourage those interested to book in now to avoid disappointment.”
The upcoming RFG Scheme assessments are taking place in Kent on 20 November 2022, and Warrington on 12 December 2022.
Heart Scheme assessments will also be available on 12 December 2022 at Warrington.
Clinics can be booked online via The Kennel Club website, and appointments are allocated on a first come, first served basis. The Kennel Club health team is available to contact on health@thekennelclub.org.uk for any questions.
RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.
