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appreciated in context.

      Abbreviation

      DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid

      1 Ackerman, L. (2011). The Genetic Connection: A Guide to Health Problems in Purebred Dogs, 2e. Lakewood, CO: AAHA Press.

      2 Ackerman, L. (2019). The skinny on genes: what you should know about genetic testing. AAHA Trends 35 (6): 39–42.

      3 Ackerman, L. (2020). Proactive Pet Parenting: Anticipating pet health problems before they happen. Problem Free Publishing.

      4 Baker, L., Muir, P., and Sample, S.J. (2019). Genome‐wide association studies and genetic testing: understanding the science, success, and future of a rapidly developing field. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255 (10): 1126–1136.

      5 Bell, J., Cavanagh, K., Tilley, L., and Smith, F. (2012). Veterinary Medical Guide to Dog and Cat Breeds. Jackson, WY: Teton NewMedia.

      6 Shaffer, L.G., Geretshlaeger, A., Ramirez, C.J. et al. (2019). Quality assurance checklist and additional considerations for canine clinical genetic testing laboratories: a follow‐up to the published standards and guidelines. Human Genetics: 501–508.

       Emma Goodman Milne, BVSc, M RCVS

       Inde pendent Veterinary Surgeon, France

      3.5.1 Summary

      In many countries around the world, breeds of pet animals, notably dogs, cats, and rabbits, are becoming more and more extreme in their body shapes. Examples of such extremes could be short legs, long backs, very long ears, excessive hair or hairlessness, pronounced skinfolds, bulging or sunken eyes and, perhaps the most well‐recognized, the brachycephalic or flat‐faced animals. All these extremes lean away from natural selection and evolution and can be associated with a wide spectrum of disease and life‐altering issues. These range from very mild to immediately life‐threatening. The veterinary team can make a big difference both throughout the animal's life but also by being involved right from the point of prepurchase decision making.

      3.5.2 Terms Defined

      Conformation: The shape or dimensions of an animal.

      Entropion: An eyelid that turns inwards and rubs on the eyeball.

      Exophthalmos: Abnormal bulging or protrusion of the eyeball.

      Inbreeding: The breeding of closely related individuals.

      Pyoderma: An infection in the skin.

      3.5.3 The Origin of the Problem

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      Source: Photo courtesy of Dr David Gould.

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      Source: Photo courtesy of Dr David Gould.

      Source: Photo courtesy of Andy Moores.

image

      Source: Photo courtesy of Andy Moores.

      3.5.4 Consequences of Extreme Conformation

      There is also a secondary or indirect (knock‐on) effect for society because many of the extreme or quirky breeds are popular in advertisements and movies so demand goes up. This can increase the number of unscrupulous breeders and production farms and the number of unwanted puppies and kittens. Equally, as these dogs and cats age and owners realize they cannot afford the increased costs of healthcare, more and more animals are abandoned or relinquished, and end up in adoption centers or simply dumped on the streets.

      3.5.5 What the Veterinary Team Can Do

      3.5.5.1 Make Sure You All Agree!

      Many practices have policies on lots of different things like drugs, procedures, hygiene and so on but subjects like ethics and welfare can get forgotten. Some members of the team may have very strong

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