THE OBJECTIVES OF THE FRENCH BULLDOG HEALTH SCHEME ARE:

1. Aim to make Breeders, Judges & puppy buyers aware of the opportunities that there are to work with the Kennel Club on health related issues and remind them that a dogs health would be the most important consideration in any decision they make.
2. The majority of pedigree dogs currently live without any illness which is detrimental to their quality of life. The aim is to increase this, to every single dog having the opportunity of a healthy life.
3. Halting the trend towards exaggeration in certain breeds encouraging participation in and funding of research into health testing.
4. To educate judges
5. To develop further the Accredited Breeder Scheme

FRENCHIE HEALTH LEVELS

1. There is currently no recognised health testing in the UK
2. American databases show 95.1% of Frenchie's spines showed abnormalities.
3. Frenchies in line with other dogs have changed over the last 40 years e.g. length of backs and tails have shortened.

FRENCH BULLDOG CLUB OF ENGLAND ACTIONS TO DATE

CLUB SUPPORT TO BE OFFERED TO THE MEMBERS

The club will look to organise a health clinic where these tests may be carried out

HEART TESTING

The Club will arrange for a cardiologist to visit at a future club event. Cost is expected to be approx. £10 per dog (1/3 of the cost if visiting a cardiologist independently).

EYE TESTING

ANIMAL HEALTH TRUST TEST FOR HEREDITARY CATARACTS

Price £72.00 www.aht.org.uk Forms may be downloaded or collected from Club events. Kits for taking cheek swabs are available by phoning 01638 555621 or email: swab.request@aht.org.uk.

Swabs may also be available at club events.

MICRO CHIP/TATTOO

Brian King (Kingsline) will attend Frenchie shows/events offering his Micro chipping service. Cost £15.00 (£2 of each microchip donated to Frenchie Health Scheme).  This may also be obtained through your veterinary surgery.

BREATHING

Basic breathing test to ascertain any signs of difficulty or stress after a short period of exercise.

HEARING

A basic hearing test can be carried out by your veterinary surgeon. • Further testing to BAER standard (Brainstem auditory evoked response) is available from the Animal Health Trust. Information can be found on their website www.aht.org.uk – Cost £16.00 + vat

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS

Can be made by the individual through their veterinary surgeon such as Patella-Putnam scored test – Spine x-rays • DSM-DNA swabs – Hips x-rays

PATELLA

PUTNAM SCORING – Graded 1-4 via clinical assessment – Through your veterinary surgeon (preferably an orthopaedic specialist). • Approx cost (consultation charge) – £20-25.00 + vat

SPINE X RAYS

The preferred format for these x rays is to use a digital facility allowing transmission via email.  There is also possible assessment of x rays by tapping into the American spinal database (to be confirmed)

DEGENERATIVE SPINAL MYELOPATHY

Offered by the orthopaedic foundation for animals www.offa.org – (exclusive license arrangement with the University of Missouri (USA)).  Order forms are available via the internet. Test kit includes FTA card, collection swab & mailing labels (foam tipped applicator swabs for collection of the DNA cheek sample are applied to the FTA card for submission)

Degenerative Myelopathy Research

The fee for each test is $65 and includes the test kit, laboratory processing, and subsequent registration in the OFA databases.  This is part of an ongoing collaborative Degenerative Myelopathy research project involving scientists at the University of Missouri & the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard University.  In addition there are FREE DNA tests for DM offered to dogs meeting one of the following criteria:

Any dog (any breed) diagnosed as potentially affected with DM by a veterinary surgeon.

All dogs 10 years of age or older from the following breeds ONLY:

FURTHER INFORMATION SOURCES

Books

Internet

French Bulldog Health Scheme

How your French Bulldog can participate:

Step 1. Health Report

Book an appointment for your French Bulldog to have an initial ‘Health Report’ by a designated vet. Details available from the French Bulldog Clubs

Step 2. Bronze Level Certificate.

For your French Bulldog to be eligible for the Bronze Certificate, he/she must meet the following criteria -

• KC Registration
• Micro Chip / permanent tattoo identification
• Normal results achieved for the basic Heart, Breathing and Hearing tests during initial ‘Health Report’ examination.

Step 3. Silver Level Certificate

For your French Bulldog to be eligible for the Silver Certificate, he/she must meet the following criteria -

• To have obtained the Bronze Certificate
• DNA test HC HSF4 for Hereditary Cataracts (Clear result)
• Putnam Patella test score (0, 1 or 2 scores acceptable at present)
• Cardiologist Heart test. (normal)

Step 4. Gold Level Certificate

For your French Bulldog to be eligible for the Gold Certificate, he/she must meet the following criteria -

To have obtained the Bronze and Silver level certificates

BVA Hip Score Spine X-ray

Crufts qualification (normally 1st, 2nd or 3rd in Minor Puppy ,Puppy, Junior, Post Graduate, Limit, Open, or Veteran classes at a Championship show )

At the present time there is no criteria available to evaluate what is the norm for French Bulldog hips or spines. The decision to breed from individual dogs remains with the owner and the knowledge obtained from these tests.

Step 5. Elite Level Certificate

For your French Bulldog Stud dog or Brood bitch to be eligible for the Elite Certificate, he/she must meet the following criteria -

• To have obtained the Bronze, Silver and Gold level certificates
• To have obtained a KC Stud Book number (1st in Limit , 1st or 2nd in Open Class, Junior Warrant, CC or Res CC gained at a Championship show)
• 2 progeny to have obtained the Bronze Certificate
• 1 progeny to have obtained the Silver Certificate
• 1 progeny to have obtained the Gold Certificate

(Progeny = 4 individual puppies from a minimum of 2 litters)

SUMMARY

We (the owners and breeders), the veterinary profession and the KC want healthier dogs but there is nothing currently set up for our Frenchies. This proposed scheme means that the responsibility remains with the individual to test or not ,as participation remains voluntary at the present time.

FBCE will help and will continue be actively involved to promote healthier French Bulldogs but we need your support and participation in this Scheme.