Most dog breeds are highly inbred, contributing to a lifelong increase in disease and health care costs. New research confirms dog breeds with higher levels of inbreeding were more likely than other breeds to need additional veterinary care.
Study researchers found that the average inbreeding was close to 25 percent, which is similar to the amount of genetic similarity found between two human siblings. Those levels of shared genetic material are well above what would be considered safe for either humans or wild animal populations.
This study revealed that if dogs are of smaller size and not inbred, they are much healthier than larger dogs with high inbreeding.” – Danika Bannasch, DVM, PhD
Source: AAHA NEWStat, December 7, 2021. Link. From the study conclusions:
Careful management of breeding populations to avoid additional loss of existing genetic diversity, through breeder education and monitoring of inbreeding levels enabled by direct genotyping technologies, is essential.”
INSIGHTS: Media routinely cite shortages in dog availability. Hobby breeders, likely known by veterinary teams, are seeking to fill some of those voids and are often ignorant about inbreeding risks.
The presence of a non-spayed or intact dog needs to trigger a discussion about breeding options and risks of inbreeding.” – Kirk Augustine