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French bulldog most popular puppy breed despite health concerns
French bulldogs are often associated with long-term, serious health conditions.

Result highlights concerning trend for exaggerated body shapes.

New research has revealed that the French bulldog has become the most popular puppy in the UK, despite the serious health conditions associated with the breed.

The study, led by the Royal Veterinary College’s (RVC's) VetCompass programme, investigated the popularity of different dog breeds, body weights, body shapes and sexes in the UK.

The data has been released in an effort to help owners make informed decisions when choosing a dog breed, as well as helping policymakers to protect the health and welfare of dogs and their owners.

This was the biggest epidemiological research sample of UK dogs assembled, consisting of 2,237,105 dogs in first-opinion veterinary care in 2019.

Among the puppies under one year of age in the sample, after crossbreeds (20 per cent), French bulldogs were the most popular (seven per cent) followed by cockapoos (6.2 per cent).

This is of particular concern in the veterinary industry, as it highlights a trend for dogs bred to have extreme body shapes, which can cause substantial harm to the health and welfare of the dog.

The most popular UK puppy breed, French bulldogs, are brachycephalic and are often associated with long-term, serious health conditions including breathing difficulties and eye, skin and spinal problems.

However, researchers suspect that the flat face, short spine and deficient or absent tail that cause these health conditions are popular with the public, who may be unaware of the serious health risks and increased medical costs that accompany this extreme body shape.

Meanwhile designer breeds such as cockapoos are often believed to make better pets, trigger fewer allergic reactions in owners and be easier to look after, which are claims that are not yet substantiated by evidence.

Dr Dan O’Neill, associate professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology at the RVC, and lead author of the paper, said: “With 800 dog breeds available in the UK, this VetCompass study shows there are still plenty of healthy breeds to choose from that do not suffer from extreme body shapes such as flat faces, skin folds or absent tails. Despite this, many UK owners are still persuaded by social influences and trends into acquiring dogs with extreme body shapes that are likely to result in serious health issues during much of their dogs’ lives.

“The advice is to stop and think before buying a dog with an extreme body shape.”

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Free bloat webinar planned for dog owners

News Story 1
 The Kennel Club is inviting dog owners to attend a free webinar on gastric dilation-volvulus syndrome, also known as bloat.

Part of its health webinar series, the session will take place from 7pm to 8pm on 12 November. It will explore what scientific research has revealed about causes, symptoms, breed susceptibilities, diagnostic approaches, and treatment options, as well as looking at what future research could uncover.

The talk will be hosted by Mark Dunning, professor of small animal internal medicine at the University of Nottingham, and will include a 30-minute Q&A session.

Places can be booked here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
FIVP to represent independent practices at London Vet Show

The Federation of Independent Veterinary Practices (FIVP) will be at stand (S05) at this year's London Vet Show.

The not-for-profit organisation will be explaining how its expertise and resources can help independent practices to thrive in a competitive industry. It will also share how it has been representing independent practices in the ongoing CMA investigation.

On Thursday, FIVP member Steve Carter will be available to discuss how veterinary surgeons and nurses can pursue practice ownership.

FIVP will also be offering independent practices three months of free membership if they sign up at the stand.

Rita Dingwall, FIVP business development manager, said: "It's a wonderful opportunity to discuss our representation in the CMA enquiry and connect with like-minded individuals who share our passion for independent practice."