A recent statement from the Irish Kennel Club (IKC) outlined changes regarding the registration of Bulldog, Pug and French Bulldog pups going forward:
“The Irish Kennel Club is committed to protecting the health of pedigree breeds through promoting responsible breeding practices.
From 1st January 2024, all puppies registered with the Irish Kennel Club from Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs will be endorsed “Not to be bred from”.
This endorsement will be lifted by the Irish Kennel Club, free of charge, on the successful completion of a BOAS test, with a result of 2 or less currently being acceptable.”
So what is a BOAS test and what does this mean?
BOAS (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome) is a breathing problem which is unfortunately prevalent in the aforementioned breeds of dogs and is assessed using a respiratory function grading scheme. Dogs can be assessed from the age of twelve months and it is good practice to test any dogs which may be used for breeding every two years as BOAS is a complex syndrome and the ways in which it can affect a dog may change over the dog’s lifetime.
Have you ever noticed how Bulldogs, Frenchies and Pugs sometimes appear to pant very heavily or have very noisy breathing? A common issue for these breeds is where soft tissue in the nose and throat is excessive and partially obstructs the airway. This can reduce a dog’s ability to play, eat and exercise. An inability to cool down is another potential side effect.
A BOAS test is carried out by a specially trained vet who will generally use a stethoscope to listen to the dogs breathing while they are relaxed and then following a period of exercise, the dog will be assessed again, at which time the vet will use a list of criteria to give a grading.
Grading
There are four grades available with the IKC accepting results of 2 or less.
Grade 0: Your dog is clinically unaffected and is currently free of respiratory signs of BOAS. If your dog is under two years old, it is suggested they have an annual health check, as BOAS can develop later in life.
Grade 1: Your dog is clinically unaffected but does have mild respiratory signs linked to BOAS. These signs do not affect their exercise performance. If your dog is under two years old, it is suggested they have an annual health check, as BOAS can develop later in life.
Grade 2: Your dog is clinically affected and has moderate respiratory signs of BOAS that should be monitored and may require veterinary treatment.
Grade 3: Your dog is clinically affected and has severe respiratory signs of BOAS and should be seen by your own vet for a thorough veterinary examination with treatment. It is not recommended that you breed from your dog.
Why BOAS matters?
Here at Dogstop we advocate for responsible, ethical breeding and firmly believe that people should only mate health tested dogs in order to improve the breed. In our opinion, BOAS testing and accompanying IKC endorsements are a step in the right direction towards more responsible breeding.
While the way that BOAS is inherited is not fully understood or entirely predictable and a puppy from two health tested, unaffected parents may still produce a dog with BOAS, the risk of this occurring can be reduced through health screening before any potential mating.
Breeding from a dog with a Grade 3 result, even unknowingly, has a high risk of producing puppies which may grow up to be affected by BOAS and this will have a serious impact on their health and welfare.
What can you do?
Before purchasing any puppy you should always research the breed and educate yourself on ailments which are common to your chosen breed and then ask the breeder if they have tested the dogs they have mated for these issues beforehand.
If you are concerned your dog may be affected by BOAS or would like to book in for an assessment, please contact your vet.