The Kennel Club’s health team is hosting a free webinar for owners, breeders and veterinary professionals who would like to find out more about brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), a progressive breathing disorder that can impair a dog’s ability to exercise, play, eat and sleep.
The webinar, part of a series organised by The Kennel Club’s health team, is taking place via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 20 September 2023 from 7 – 8:30pm and will explore what research has told us to date about the condition, symptoms, possible treatment options, and methods of reducing risk – including details of The Kennel Club and University of Cambridge Respiratory Function Grading (RFG) scheme. Those interested in attending the webinar can register here.
The webinar includes a presentation from specialist Dr Jane Ladlow, a leading expert in brachycephalic health and chief assessor of the RFG scheme. This presentation will be followed by a question and answer session, giving attendees a chance to put forward their queries and experiences for discussion (questions can also be pre-submitted at the time of registration).
BOAS has been identified in brachycephalic breeds – breeds with flat, wide-shaped heads. Abnormalities in the airway of some brachycephalic dogs can partially obstruct the passage of air through the nose and throat, making it difficult for them to breathe normally. More information about BOAS is available on The Kennel Club website.
The Kennel Club and University of Cambridge developed its RFG scheme in 2019 to assess Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs for BOAS. It aims to advise owners if their dog is affected and gives guidance to breeders so they can make informed decisions to lower the risk of producing affected puppies and improve the health of future generations. The scheme, which is based on research at the University of Cambridge funded by The Kennel Club and The Kennel Club Charitable Trust, will be discussed in more detail during the webinar, including the evidence behind the scheme, how it works and how owners can access the scheme. Information is also available online at thekennelclub.org.uk/RFGS
Following a huge increase in popularity of some brachycephalic dogs and the launch of The Kennel Club’s report ‘Play Your Part: Breeding, Buying and Bringing up Brachycephalic Dogs Better’ earlier this month urging collaboration on the health issues this demand has caused, this webinar is part of The Kennel Club’s commitment to improving brachycephalic dog health. More information about what The Kennel Club is doing to protect and improve brachycephalic dog health is available at thekennelclub.org.uk/brachyhub or by emailing Health (The Kennel Club)
The Kennel Club’s health-focused webinar series have so far this year explored other canine conditions such as epilepsy, colour dilution alopecia and osteosarcoma, as well as the science of DNA testing for health, with experts, researchers, owners and breeders. The webinars aim to raise awareness of various canine health concerns, explore research and future studies, improve diagnosis and outlook, and support dogs affected with the condition, and their owners.
Past webinars can be watched on The Kennel Club’s YouTube channel.