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Kennel Club research into the genetic health of pedigree dogs
Where did the domestication of dogs start?
Pyometra
Passive smoking… for dogs
Kennel Club research into the genetic health of pedigree dogs
Data from the pedigree records of dogs held by the Kennel Club have been analysed to find out about the genetic diversity in 215 different pedigree dog breeds. The research aims to help breeders to improve the health of dogs by ensuring that dogs maintain sustainable levels of genetic diversity (i.e. that they do not become too inbred). Maintaining genetic diversity is important to minimalise the risk of dogs developing diseases, and to ensure the welfare of dog populations as a whole.
Although all dogs will share common ancestors, selection for admirable characteristics such as good health and temperament can mean that some dogs will have particularly close ancestors in their breeding. This causes a loss of genetic diversity which can lead to the negative effects of inbreeding (such as an increased risk of dogs developing disease).
Kennel Club data from 1980 – 2014 has been analysed and the research has found that the rate of inbreeding has reduced in most breeds of dog since 2000, which is good news for many pedigree dog breeds! This reduced rate of inbreeding corresponds with an increased public awareness of the risk of inbreeding in dogs, and the development of tools to help reduce this risk, such as the Kennel Club’s Mate Select service. Mate Select helps breeders find out how closely related dogs are and the risk associated with a potential mating (please click here to find out more). Changes to the pet passport scheme have also made it easier for dogs from abroad (which are less likely to be as closely related) to enter the UK, which may also have contributed to the reduction in inbreeding reported.
The research will be used to help breeders create schemes which will continue to slow the decline of genetic diversity within their breed. To find out more about this research, please click here.
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Where did the domestication of dogs start?
Dogs have been domesticated for centuries, but the exact timing of when this happened, and where, has been debated many times over the years. Recent research has used genetic data from nearly 5,400 dogs, 549 of which were village dogs (free-ranging dogs that live around human settlements). The evidence from this research suggests that dogs were domesticated in Central Asia, possibly in the areas we now know as Mongolia and Nepal.
Dogs are the first species to be domesticated, and it is thought that they descended from the Eurasian grey wolf around 15,000 years ago. Today, dogs can be separated into two groups: village dogs (which make up the majority of the world’s dog population), and approximately 400 pure breeds. Village dogs have more genetic diversity and are much wider spread geographically than purebred dogs, so a larger amount of information can be gathered about the origin of dogs by looking at their genes.
The research looked at purebred dogs from 161 breeds, and village dogs from 38 countries. In Southwest and East Asia, and in India, dogs were found to have high levels of genetic diversity due to large population sizes and how close these areas are to Central Asia. In the South Pacific and in the Neotropics, indigenous dogs have been replaced mostly by European dogs. In Africa dogs have been found to have various degrees of indigenous African and European ancestry.
The study tried to find evidence of dog domestication in different parts of the world (as it is feasible that domestication could have taken place independently in different regions). However, evaluation of the dogs’ DNA suggested that they have all originated in a single place.
The debate on the exact origins of the domestication of dogs is likely to continue, whether it began in Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East or in East Asia. Further research looking at the DNA from the remains of dogs in archaeological sites may shed more light on where the domestication of dogs began.
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Pyometra
Pyometra is a disease which affects female dogs where their uterus becomes infected. It can occur at any time, but usually develops at some point after the bitch has had a season (oestrus) as the hormonal changes during oestrus result in the reproductive tract becoming slightly more open, which allows bacteria to enter the reproductive tract. The hormonal changes also cause the lining of the uterus to become thickened, and in older dogs, this thickening can be associated with the development of small cysts, which provide an ideal environment for bacteria to proliferate in. Finally the hormonal changes which occur after oestrus also prevent the uterus from contracting normally, and thus impair the ability of the uterus to expel fluid and bacteria which have accumulated.
Pyometra typically occurs in middle aged and older entire bitches, and is a serious and potentially life threatening condition. If the cervix remains open during the infection (called an “open pyometra”) then discharge may be observed on or around the vulva, or where the dog has laid. In many cases the cervix is closed (called a “closed pyometra”), which results in the fluid and bacteria accumulating in the uterus without signs of discharge. Affected dogs will often have a fever, lethargy and anorexia, an increase in their drinking and/or urination, and other signs such as vomiting and diarrhoea. Dogs with closed pyometra can deteriorate very rapidly because of the accumulating bacteria. The diagnosis is not always straightforward, as many other diseases can cause similar signs. The enlarged uterus may be palpated by a veterinarian, and X-rays or an ultrasound scan can help to differentiate from other causes of abdominal organ enlargement.
Ideally pyometra is treated by the surgical removal of the infected uterus and ovaries. This is more difficult than a routine neutering procedure as affected dogs can often be seriously ill because of the bacterial infection, and the uterus and associated blood vessels may be much larger than normal. Pyometra can be treated medically, but this is generally not advised as the success rate, particularly for closed pyometra, may be low and there is a high risk of recurrence. If you are ever concerned that your dog might have signs suggestive of a pyometra, you should contact your veterinarian immediately for advice.
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Passive smoking… for dogs
We are all well aware of the health problems which cigarette smoke causes, not just for the people who are smoking, but also for those exposed to cigarette smoke indirectly (second-hand or passive smoking). For example, children who are exposed to second-hand smoke have a higher risk of developing multiple diseases such as cot death, asthma, meningitis, coughs and colds and middle ear infections.
But what about the effects of smoking on our dogs? There is now considerable evidence to show that dogs are at risk of developing health problems because of passive smoking too. A number of studies have reported that dogs living with smokers were more likely to develop nasal tumours and / or lung cancers than dogs who lived in households where no-one smokes. Regular exposure to cigarette smoke also increases the risk of dogs developing allergic skin disease (atopic dermatitis). There may be many more risks for dog health associated with passive smoking, which simply have not been found yet.
So what have we found out about the effects of smoking in the Dogslife study so far? Approximately 18% of Dogslife participants reported that they smoke, which is similar to the levels of smoking seen in the general population. Dogs of owners who smoked were likely to gain slightly more weight after 1 year of age than dogs of owners who didn’t smoke. Given the importance of passive smoking to human health, we will certainly be evaluating if smoking is associated with the development of different types of disease in Dogslife dogs in the future.
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