An epidemiological approach to prevention and control of three common heritable diseases in canine pedigree breeds in the United Kingdom

This paper reviews recent epidemiological research in the United Kingdom for controlling deafness in Dalmatians, glaucoma in flat coated retrievers and great Danes and hip dysplasia in flat coated retrievers, Newfoundlands, Gordon setters and Labrador retrievers. These studies assessed the prevalence of the disease, identified the factors affecting prevalence, and developed predictive statistical models of offspring/parent relationships. For each disease/breed combination, the research identified those sires and dams that might justifiably be regarded as suitable/unsuitable as potential parents in a selective breeding strategy to control or prevent the disease. Future progress in the control of these diseases is likely to come from greater understanding of their mode of inheritance. Insight, even for these complex diseases, can be derived from further detailed statistical evaluation of datasets such as those described in this paper.