| dc.description.abstract | Background: The popularity of brachycephalic dog breeds has increased significantly in the recent period as a result of their external characteristics, but
there are more and more concerns about their well-being. Possible genetic
disorders strongly influence the animal's health, the conditions and costs of
animal keeping, which must ultimately be reflected in the legal regulations.
Objectives: Our aims were to 1) study the veterinary and legal background of
genetic disorders in dogs, especially Brachycephal Obstructive Airways Syndrome, 2) examine the experiences and attitudes of the owners and 3) explore
the opinions and experiences of breeders of the dog breeds concerned in
Hungary.
Materials and Methods: Specialized surveys were conducted through social
media from 15 June to 15 August 2022, the target groups were the keepers of
brachycephalic dogs (n = 1620) and dog breeders of the affected breeds (n = 135).
Results and Discussion: Based on the questionnaire survey, when choosing
brachycephalic dogs, appearance is a more important aspect than taking into
account the genetic abnormalities characteristic of the breed. The most common
way of purchasing dogs was without a pedigree (44.9%, n = 727). Based on the
survey, 11.4% of dogs purchased without a pedigree suffer from brachycephalic
syndrome, 26.5% were treated for eye disorders and 9% were diagnosed with
elbow, shoulder or hip joint dysplasia. For dogs purchased with a pedigree, the
rates are very similar (11.3%, 30% and 9.4%). Although, according to Hungarian
law, breeding dogs with hereditary diseases is animal cruelty, almost a third
of the dog breeders who filled out the questionnaire (30.4%) are not aware of
this. Based on the literature and questionnaire surveys, it would be necessary
to regulate the selection of dogs for breeding and to inform dog keepers more
effectively in order to ensure animal welfare. | en_US |
