Canine Brachycephaly: Anatomy, Pathology, Genetics and Welfare

Ekenstedt, Kari J.; Crosse, Katherine R.; Risselada, Marije

doi:10.1016/j.jcpa.2020.02.008

Cited by 45 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Pugs are considered as a breed with extreme brachycephaly, with very low craniofacial ratios (CFR) that are evident phenotypically as a very flat face in the living dogs (mean CFR = 0.08 in two separate UK populations) [ 19 , 48 ]. The extremely flattened faces and heads of Pugs have been associated with respiratory disorders, including BOAS [ 19 , 48 ], as well as upper respiratory tract disorders in general [ 22 , 56 ]. As a brachycephalic breed, although it was unsurprising to find a higher prevalence and odds ratio for BOAS in the current study for Pugs, the scale of these differences was notable.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health of Pug dogs in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections

et al. 2022

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Background Pugs are a brachycephalic dog breed that has become phenomenally popular over recent decades. However, there is growing concern about serious health and welfare issues in the breed. To augment the evidence-base on the comparative health of Pugs, this study aimed to compare the odds of common disorders between Pugs and all remaining dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK during 2016. A cross-sectional study design of VetCompass clinical records was used to estimate the one-year (2016) period prevalence for the disorders most commonly diagnosed in Pugs and non-Pugs. Risk factor analysis applied multivariable logistic regression modelling methods to compare the odds of 40 common disorders between Pugs and non-Pugs. Results From a study population of 905,544 dogs, the analysis included random samples of 4308 Pugs and 21,835 non-Pugs. Pugs were younger (2.36 years, range 0.07–16.24 vs 4.44 years, range 0.01–20.46, p < 0.001) and lighter (8.95 kg, range 5.00–13.60 vs. 14.07 kg, range 1.41–85.00, p < 0.001) than non-Pugs. Pugs had 1.86 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.72 to 2.01) times the adjusted odds of diagnosis with ≥1 disorder than non-Pugs. Pugs had significantly increased adjusted odds for 23/40 (57.5%) common disorders. These included: brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (odds ratio [OR] 53.92; 95% CI 36.22 to 80.28), stenotic nares (OR 51.25; 95% CI 24.93 to 105.37) and corneal ulceration (OR 13.01; 95% CI 10.50 to 16.11). Conversely, Pugs had significantly reduced adjusted odds of 7/40 (17.5%) common disorders compared to non-Pugs. These included: heart murmur (OR 0.23; 95% 0.13 to 0.14), lipoma (OR 0.24; 95% CI 0.11 to 0.55) and aggression (OR 0.31; 95% CI 0.21 to 0.47). Conclusions The current study highlights that predispositions outnumber protections between Pugs and non-Pugs for common disorders, suggesting some critical health welfare challenges to overcome for Pugs. Highly differing heath profiles between Pugs and other dogs in the UK suggest that the Pug has diverged substantially from mainstream dog breeds and can no longer be considered as a typical dog from a health perspective.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health of Pug dogs in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections

et al. 2022

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“…Image distortion originating from the frontal sinuses had the greatest influence in our study regardless of species and weight classification, contradicting our hypothesis that susceptibility artifacts originating from anatomical structures are more prone in animals with low body weight. The size of the frontal sinus and the shape of the frontal bones are widely variable among dog and cat breeds, from absent in brachycephalic breeds to voluminous in dolichocephalic breeds ( 22 , 28 , 29 ). The results show that significantly more severe image distortion is present in dogs with a non-brachycephalic skull conformation at the level of the frontal sinus than in brachycephalic dogs, confirming that skull conformation has an influence on the extent of the artifacts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intracranial Lesion Detection and Artifact Characterization: Comparative Study of Susceptibility and T2*-Weighted Imaging in Dogs and Cats

et al. 2021

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Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), an MRI sequence for the detection of hemorrhage, allows differentiation of paramagnetic and diamagnetic substances based on tissue magnetic susceptibility differences. The three aims of this retrospective study included a comparison of the number of areas of signal void (ASV) between SWI and T2*-weighted imaging (T2*WI), differentiation of hemorrhage and calcification, and investigation of image deterioration by artifacts. Two hundred twelve brain MRIs, 160 dogs and 52 cats, were included. The sequences were randomized and evaluated for presence/absence and numbers of ASV and extent of artifacts causing image deterioration by a single, blinded observer. In cases with a CT scan differentiation of paramagnetic (hemorrhagic) and diamagnetic (calcification) lesions was made, SWI was performed to test correct assignment using the Hounsfield Units. Non-parametric tests were performed to compare both sequences regarding detection of ASV and the effect of artifacts on image quality. The presence of ASV was found in 37 SWI sequences and 34 T2*WI sequences with a significant increase in ASV only in dogs >5 and ≤ 15 kg in SWI. The remaining weight categories showed no significance. CT examination was available in 11 cases in which 81 ASV were found. With the use of phase images, 77 were classified as paramagnetic and none as diamagnetic. A classification was not possible in four cases. At the level of the frontal sinus, significantly more severe artifacts occurred in cats and dogs (dogs, p < 0.001; cats, p = 0.001) in SWI. The frontal sinus artifact was significantly less severe in brachycephalic than non-brachycephalic dogs in both sequences (SWI, p < 0.001; T2*WI, p < 0.001). In conclusion, with the advantages of better detection of ASV in SWI compared with T2*WI and the opportunity to differentiate between paramagnetic and diamagnetic origin in most cases, SWI is generally recommended for dogs. Frontal sinus conformation appears to be a limiting factor in image interpretation.

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“…There were 11/43 (25.6 %) specific-level disorders that showed worryingly high high levels of predisposition (ultra-predispositions) with odds over 4 times higher compared with non-French Bulldogs. Several of these ultra-predispositions have previously been linked with aspects of extreme conformation in the breed, including stenotic nares (aOR 42.14) [ 63 , 64 ], BOAS (aOR 30.89) [ 65 ], skin fold dermatitis (aOR 11.18) [ 66 ], dystocia (aOR 9.13) [ 20 ] and corneal ulceration (aOR 4.38) [ 59 ]. Taking a positive view from the association with conformation for this list of ultra-predispositions, it could be argued that awareness of the high contribution of extreme conformation to poor health in French Bulldogs offers substantial potential to reduce the probabilities of these disorders by redesigning the breed away from these extremes of conformation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Taking a positive view from the association with conformation for this list of ultra-predispositions, it could be argued that awareness of the high contribution of extreme conformation to poor health in French Bulldogs offers substantial potential to reduce the probabilities of these disorders by redesigning the breed away from these extremes of conformation. Selection away from high-risk conformational traits such as skin folds could reap multiple health benefits to the breed, reducing risks of both skin fold dermatitis and corneal ulcers [ 59 , 66 ], while selection for less extremely brachycephalic muzzle lengths could reduce BOAS and corneal ulcer risk, particularly if combined with selection for wider nostrils for the former [ 59 , 67 ]. Achieving such conformational changes at a population level for French Bulldogs requires ‘buy-in’ from a wide range of stakeholders including breeders who make the mating selection decisions, and kennel clubs who publish breed standards [ 60 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

French Bulldogs differ to other dogs in the UK in propensity for many common disorders: a VetCompass study

O'Neill

Packer

Francis

et al. 2021

Canine Genet Epidemiol

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Background The French Bulldog is a highly popular dog breed but is linked with many serious health issues. A holistic view of breed health in French Bulldogs would assist efforts to appreciate the overall health strengths and weaknesses in the French Bulldog and to take appropriate steps to mitigate these. Based on random sampling of French Bulldogs and non-French Bulldogs under primary veterinary care during 2016 within the VetCompass Programme, a cohort study design was used to estimate the one-year (2016) period prevalence of the most commonly diagnosed disorders in each group. Risk factor analysis used multivariable logistic regression modelling methods. Results The analysis included 2,781 French Bulldogs and 21,850 non-French Bulldogs. French Bulldogs were younger (1.51 years, IQR 0.86 – 2.77 vs. 4.48 years, IQR 1.94 – 8.14) (p < 0.001) and lighter (12.45 kg, IQR 11.00 – 14.03 versus 13.80 kg, IQR 8.10 – 25.12) (p < 0.001) than non-French Bulldogs. Of 43 common specific-level disorders across both groups, French Bulldogs had significantly increased adjusted odds of 20/43 (46.5 %) disorders and significantly reduced adjusted odds of 11/43 (25.6 %) disorders compared to non-French Bulldogs. Highly predisposed disorders in French Bulldogs included stenotic nares (OR 42.14; 95 % CI 18.50 to 95.99; p < 0.001), Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (OR 30.89; 95 % CI 20.91 to 45.64; p < 0.001), aural discharge (OR 14.40; 95 % CI 9.08 to 22.86; p < 0.001), skin fold dermatitis (OR 11.18; 95 % CI 7.19 to 17.40; p < 0.001) and dystocia (OR 9.13; 95 % CI 5.17 to 16.13; p < 0.001). At a grouped-level of diagnostic precision, French Bulldogs had increased adjusted odds of 12/32 (37.5 %) disorders and reduced adjusted odds of 6/32 (18.8 %) disorders compared to non-French Bulldogs. Conclusions These results identified ultra-predispositions with worryingly higher odds in French Bulldogs for several disorders, suggesting that the health of French Bulldogs has diverged substantially from, and may be lower than, the health of the wider non-French Bulldog population. Many of these predispositions are closely associated with the conformational extremes that define the French Bulldog breed. Shifting the typical conformation of the French Bulldog population towards a more moderate phenotype is proposed as a logical opportunity to reduce the serious health issues endemic in the French Bulldog breed.

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Canine Brachycephaly: Anatomy, Pathology, Genetics and Welfare

Cited by 45 publications

References 13 publications

Health of Pug dogs in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections

Health of Pug dogs in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections

Intracranial Lesion Detection and Artifact Characterization: Comparative Study of Susceptibility and T2*-Weighted Imaging in Dogs and Cats

French Bulldogs differ to other dogs in the UK in propensity for many common disorders: a VetCompass study

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