The Kennel Club is urging participation in its upcoming multi-breed health screening days, organised to enable owners and breeders to protect their dog’s health and make responsible and informed breeding decisions.
The health screening assessments available are:
- The Kennel Club and University of Cambridge Respiratory Function Grading Scheme assessment, for Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs, to detect BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome) and provide advice for owners and breeders, carried out by approved assessors. More information about the scheme is available on The Kennel Club website.
- The Kennel Club Heart Scheme assessments for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, to detect signs of heart murmurs and mitral valve disease and provide advice for breeders, carried out by cardiologists. More information about the scheme is available on The Kennel Club website.
Two clinics will be running Respiratory Function Grading (RFG) Scheme assessments and are available for booking now:
At: Highbury Hall, Highbury Lane, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 6LE
On: Sunday 20 November 2022
By: RFG Approved Assessor Charlotte Gray and bookable via The Kennel Club website (£40 per session)
Or,
At: Whitecross Community & Recreation Centre, Lexden Street, Warrington WA5 1PT
On: Monday 12 December 2022
By: RFG Approved Assessor Gemma Holloway, and bookable via The Kennel Club website (£50 per session)
Additionally, one health screening clinic will be running Heart Scheme assessments:
At: Whitecross Community & Recreation Centre, Lexden Street, Warrington WA5 1PT
On: Monday 12 December 2022
By: Cardiologists Hannah Stephenson and Emily Dutton, and bookable via The Kennel Club website (£70 per session)
There are limited appointments available which will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and all clinics can be booked online via The Kennel Club website. If you have any questions, please email Health (The Kennel Club) .
Bill Lambert, Health, Welfare and Breeder Services Executive at The Kennel Club, said: “It’s crucial that all breeders use the tools available to them to help protect the health of their puppies and have a positive impact on dog health overall – and these clinics provide the opportunity to do so.
“The health team at The Kennel Club can answer any questions that you have about the screening schemes available, including how they work and the potential outcomes, and can also give advice on how you might apply this knowledge when choosing to breed your dogs.
“We really do urge all those who care about the health of their breed to have their dogs routinely screened. There are only a few appointments left so we encourage those interested to book in now to avoid disappointment.”
For those unable to make these multi-breed health screening clinics, but would like to know more about other upcoming clinics, please visit The Kennel Club find a health testing clinic webpage.
Further information about dog health and screening is available on The Kennel Club website.