A study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science disputes the belief that purebred dogs are at a higher risk for health problems than mixed breeds.
A Texas A&M University survey of 27,531 dog owners demonstrated that while certain breeds have a higher incidence of particular diseases, purebreds and mixed breeds are relatively equal in the overall frequency of health issues.
“There are several well-known diseases that frequently occur in specific dog breeds,” said Dr. Kate Creevy, the Dog Aging Project’s chief veterinary officer and a professor in Texas A&M’s department of small animal clinical sciences. “This has helped perpetuate the misconception that all purebred dogs are more prone to disease, but that is not the case.”
The top 10 medical conditions in the 25 most popular purebreds included:
- Dental calculus
- Dog bites
- Extracted teeth
- Giardia
- Osteoarthritis
- Seasonal allergies
- Ear infection
- Heart murmur
- Fractured teeth
- Cataracts
The top conditions for mixed breeds were similar, except for heart murmurs and cataracts, which were replaced by broken toenails and chocolate toxicity.
The study also found that the lifetime prevalence of pets with no owner-reported medical conditions was higher in the purebred population (22.3%) than among mixed breeds (20.7%).
“People should consider many factors when choosing a dog, including environment, lifestyle, social interactions and physical activity,” Dr. Creevy said. “Dental disease, allergies and osteoarthritis are among the most common conditions for all dogs, and planning for preventive veterinary care and medical care as the dog ages is prudent.”
The study is published at bit.ly/3URUIcH.