Researchers determine if mutts are healthier than purebreds

Researchers at the University of California-Davis challenged the theory that purebred dogs are more prone to genetic disorders than mixed breed dogs. They studied 27,254 dogs with inherited disorders over a five-year period. The theory that purebred dogs are more susceptible to inherited diseases only holds true for 10 out of the 24 disorders studied.

Source: Dogs Naturally, October 7, 2016.

Some of the conclusions include:

• The prevalence of disorders among purebred and mixed-breed dogs varied with the condition. Some conditions (14) have a clear distinction between purebred and mixed-breed dogs and others (10) show no difference.
• The results gave insight into the ability of breeding practices to reduce prevalence of disease. Reliable genetic tests or screening at a young age could reduce some disorders in the dog population as a whole.
• The researchers also commented that some disorders may require breed registry intervention to reduce selection pressures that contribute to a certain disorder in a breed.
• “Recently derived breeds” or breeds from similar lineages were more susceptible to certain disorders that affect all closely related purebreds.
• Disorders with equal prevalence in purebreds or mixed breeds seemed to be more ancient mutations that are widely spread through the dog population.