13-11-2009

This report was published at the beginning of November 2009.  The Parliamentary Group was formed following the concerns surrounding pedigree dog health after the controversial Pedigree Dogs Exposed television programme was aired last year (2008).

The report makes interesting reading.  There's a summary at the beginning which lists its findings.

This could be great news for dogs in general if the recommendations are taken on board by everybody involved in dog breeding in the UK and it confirms the research I have been carrying out for the last year into Bracco Italiano health and breeding ethics in the UK. 

I ask again that all potential puppy purchasers ensure that both dam and sire have been hip and elbow scored and eye tested clear prior to breeding.  These are the MINIMUM recommended health tests for the breed. Ask for copies of the certificates for clarification.   

The reason for health testing recommendations is the rising number of health problems in the breed including glaucoma, cataracts, elbow displasia.  While it is important to hip score, we are lucky that at the present time the Bracco Italiano has a breed mean score of 16 (down from 19 in 2008) which means that currently we don't appear to have a significant problem with hips.  Good news for a heavy working gundog but bad news if we are now seeing a rise in cases of elbow displasia and eye problems!!!!

AGPAW Report on Pedigree Dog Health