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Kennel Club Charitable Trust pledges £269k towards research into brachycephalic breeds
New research will look into respiratory problems and neurological issues that affect flat-faced breeds.

Researchers hope to develop new screening schemes for flat-faced dogs

In an effort to advance vital research into brachycephalic dog health, the Kennel Club Charitable Trust has pledged £269k to help researchers broaden their work to look at a wider range of flat-faced breeds.

For the last ten years, researchers at the University of Cambridge have been investigating brachycephalic health, with funding from the Charitable Trust.

This research led to the development of The Kennel Club/University of Cambridge Respiratory Function Grading Scheme - which assesses bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). More than 700 dogs have been screened through the scheme since its launch.

This donation will help expand the research and will allow researchers to extend their work to look at a further 13 brachycephalic breeds, including boxer, Chihuahua, Pomeranian, King Charles spaniel Shih Tzu and Pekingese.

Researchers hope that this new research will lead to the development of further screening schemes to help reduce the risk of breeders producing affected dogs.

As well as looking at how each breed is affected by respiratory problems - and how this relates to their conformation, internal physiology and genetics – the research team will also be investigating neurological issues in relevant breeds, such as Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia.

Jane Ladlow, European and royal college specialist in small animal surgery who leads the research said: “As flat-faced dogs become increasingly popular, it’s more important than ever that we try to understand the complex and wide-ranging factors that lead to some of these dog becoming unwell.

“The next steps in our research will help us understand more about the relationship between respiratory issues and neurological problems, and how these issues relate to the structure of affected dogs.

She continued: “Our previous research has shown that the solution to these health problems isn’t always simple and that breathing issues in these dogs can vary dramatically, not only between breeds, but within them as well.”

The £269k donation will provide a solid foundation for this research, but the Kennel Club Charitable Trust stresses that more support is needed to further enhance these investigations and welcomes donations from breed clubs and individuals invested in the wellbeing of these breeds.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.