Prevalence of neurological diseases associated with cervical pain and/or signs of cervical myelopathy in French bulldogs: a retrospective analysis of 105 cases.

Introduction: French bulldogs can be affected by several neurological diseases, with myelopathies representing the most frequent cause of neurological signs. Studies focusing on the epidemiology of cervical diseases in this breed are lacking. This study aims to describe the prevalence of neurological pathologies responsible for cervical pain and/or signs of cervical myelopathy, assuming that intervertebral disc herniation represents the most common disease; a second aim was to evaluate how often different pathologies coexist in this spinal region in French bulldogs. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records from the database of a single referral center (AniCura I Portoni Rossi Veterinary Hospital-Zola Predosa, Bologna, Italy) was performed, including French bulldogs presented for neck pain and/or neurological deficits consistent with cervical myelopathy. Clinical and imaging data were reviewed and used as inclusion criteria. Based on the number of MRI-diagnosed diseases, the eligible dogs were divided into three groups. Results: One hundred five French bulldogs met the inclusion criteria. The most commonly diagnosed condition was an intervertebral disc herniation (66.9%), followed by C2 idiopathic hypertrophic ganglioneuritis (15.1%), cervical syringomyelia (11.5%), congenital osseous malformations (1.4%), spinal arachnoid diverticula (1.4%), neoplasms (1.4%), steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (0.7%), traumatic vertebral fractures (0.7%), and other (0.7%). For the vast majority of dogs (75/105) a single pathology was diagnosed, with intervertebral disc herniations accounting for 86.7% of cases, involving C3-C4 IVD most commonly. In the remaining 30 dogs, two or three different and concurrent diseases were detected. Among these 30 dogs, intervertebral disc herniations still remained the most diagnosed condition, in combination with C2 idiopathic hypertrophic ganglioneuritis and syringomyelia in 19 and seven cases, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study highlight that different pathologies can affect the cervical spinal cord in French bulldogs, with intervertebral disc herniations representing the most frequent condition, as previously described in the veterinary literature. In almost a third of cases, different pathologies can coexist at the cervical level. However, for cases in which different pathologies are present at the same time, it is not always possible to clearly establish their clinical significance.

From "Husky" to "Bulldog"- behavioural correlates between castration and breed groups in the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris).

Neutering dogs is a widespread method and is carried out for various behavioural and husbandry reasons. This study's main objective is to investigate the behavioural correlations between neutering and the breed of male dogs. In order to possibly find breed-dependent differences in the behaviour of intact and castrated dogs, a differentiation between two clades - the "Huskies"(chow chow, shar pei, akita/shiba inu, alaskan malamute, siberian/alaskan husky) and the "Bulldogs" (german boxer, english/french bulldog, old english mastiff, boston terrier, english bull terrier, staffordshire bull terrier, american staffordshire terrier), based on Parker et al. [1], was made.Using an online questionnaire,, 31 neutered and 37 intact male dogs from the clade "Huskies" and 30 neutered and 38 intact male dogs from the clade "Bulldogs", participated in the study (N = 136).The survey included detailed questions on the dogs' personality and any associated issues as well as a behavioural anamnesis. Further questions relating to four of the "big five" personality dimensions based on the "Budapest questionnaire" by Turcsán et al. from 2011 [2] were also added.The results show, that neutered males from both breed clades more frequently displayed aggression toward humans than intact males (multinomial logistic regression, p = 0.002). When it came to aggression towards other dogs, it was the "Huskies" that differed significantly from the "Bulldogs"(multinomial logistic regression, p = 0.04) with being more aggressive. There were also significant differences in stress-related behaviour depending on castration status and breed (multinomial logistic regression, p < 0.001; Cramer's V = 0.33) and only the castration status had an impact on the significance (multinomial logistic regression, p < 0.001). The analysis also revealed significance for stress-indicating behaviour with dependence on neutering status (multinomial logistic regression, p < 0.001) and showed that stress as well as uncertainty are significantly more common in neutered dogs depending on breed and neutering status (multinomial logistic regression, p < 0.001; Cramer's V = 0.42), in that only neutered "Bulldogs" were stressed, but more "Huskies" overall.According to the Budapest questionnaire data, the "Bulldog" clade had considerably greater extraversion scores overall (ordinal regression, p < 0.001) than the "Huskies".Our findings highlight the risks and potential negative effects of neutering. Gonadectomy in no way substitutes for the dog receiving the necessary socialization, training, or bonding. Although in some circumstances it might have a favourable impact on the dog's behaviour, it should not be seen as a panacea for unwanted behaviour. Given that not all behaviours are influenced by sex hormones, every castration decision must be weighed up individually.

Quantitative evaluation of middle ear radiopacity in French bulldogs using X-ray imaging.

Background: Radiographic examination of the middle ear in French bulldogs can be challenging due to their small ear cavity and thick walls. Quantifying opacity on radiographic images is required to determine normal or abnormal results. Aim: To quantify the radiographic opacity of the middle ear in French bulldogs and create a threshold for objective diagnosis. Methods: A study was conducted on 32 French Bulldogs using radiographic images. Significant difference tests were performed on the ears of patients with unilateral and bilateral middle ear filling on computed tomography. A threshold was established for detecting left-right asymmetry in the same individuals. In addition, comparisons were made between the filling and nonfilling middle ear groups to establish a threshold of pixel values that could determine single middle ear filling and nonfilling for different patient images. Results: Significant differences were observed in the left-right difference in max, left-right difference in max-ave, and left-right ratio of max-ave between unilateral and bilateral filling groups. The max-ave left-right ratio had the highest area under the curve value with a cutoff of 1.077% and 92.3% sensitivity. The item that showed a significant difference between middle ear groups with and without filling was corrected for nasopharyngeal pixel values with a cutoff of 1.028% and 85% sensitivity. Conclusion: Pixel value ratios in the middle ear region can detect asymmetries in ear densities. The max value in the region compared to the same image's nasopharyngeal region can determine the filling. Combining individual ear evaluations and symmetry improves accuracy.

Prevalence of middle ear effusion in French bulldogs without clinical signs of otic disease: A retrospective study of magnetic resonance imaging (2017-2022).

BACKGROUND: Canine middle ear effusion (MEE) is usually asymptomatic, being an incidental finding when computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head is performed for other reasons unrelated to otic disease. The clinical relevance of the presence of material in the tympanic bulla (TB) remains uncertain, and more detail about its prevalence and appearance in MRI are required. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of presence of material within the TB of French bulldogs (FB) with no clinical signs suggestive of otitis (externa, media or interna) that underwent high-field MRI for other medical reasons. ANIMALS: Two hundred fifty-two TB of 126 FB were included in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nonexperimental retrospective study in which MRI images were evaluated by a board-certified veterinary radiologist. RESULTS: Fifty-eight per cent of the dogs had material in the TB lumen (46% of the TB) and 59% were bilaterally affected. The signal intensity of this material related to the grey matter was variable on T1w and mainly hyperintense on T2w sequences. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: FB are predisposed to MEE. This is important when assessing imaging studies of TB of FB with chronic otitis externa, as high percentage of cases may have concurrent MEE. MRI findings in FB with MEE are characterised by a hyperintense signal to the grey matter on T2w in most cases and variable on T1w sequences.

Intraoperative temporary internal iliac arterial occlusion (Polat's technique) for severe placenta accreta spectrum: A description of the technique and outcomes in 61 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To report the results of prophylactic use of intraoperative temporary internal iliac arterial occlusion by Bulldog clamps in patients clinically diagnosed with abnormally invasive placenta. METHODS: This retrospective study included 61 patients diagnosed with FIGO grade 3 abnormally invasive placenta between January 2018 and March 2022. After transfundal incision and fetal delivery, bilateral temporary internal iliac arterial occlusion by Bulldog clamps was performed in all patients. The grades 3b and 3c group underwent cesarean hysterectomy whereas selected cases of grade 3a abnormally invasive placenta underwent fertility-preserving procedures. Preoperative and postoperative findings were compared. RESULTS: Cesarean hysterectomy was performed in 50 (82%) patients and cesarean plus conservative procedures were performed in 11 (18%) patients. Intraoperative blood replacement was not performed in 83.6% of all patients. Mean blood loss was 1.37 ± 0.53 L (range 0.5-2.5) in all patients. Estimated blood loss was significantly higher in cesarean hysterectomy group. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups in terms of peroperative blood replacement, bladder, and ureteral injury. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic bilateral temporary internal iliac arterial occlusion by Bulldog clamps should be performed in cases of grade 3 abnormally invasive placenta. Fertility-preserving steps may be undertaken safely in selected cases with this approach.

Fly-catching syndrome responsive to a gluten-free diet in a French Bulldog.

OBJECTIVE: Fly-catching syndrome (FCS) is a rare condition typically characterized by episodes during which affected dogs bite or lick the air and jump for no apparent reason. Among veterinary literature, obsessive-compulsive disorders, focal epileptic seizures, and underlying gastrointestinal diseases were considered the most likely triggering causes. Recently, gluten-sensitive dyskinesia has been described in dogs, but it has never been reported to be associated to FCS. ANIMAL: A 6-year-old male French Bulldog. CLINICAL PRESENTATION, PROGRESSION, AND PROCEDURES: The dog was presented for a 2-month history of episodes characterized by sudden onset of jumping while trying to catch something in the air without impaired consciousness or autonomic signs. The episodes could be interrupted by the owner and lasted several minutes. The dog suffered from chronic gastrointestinal signs. The neurological examination was within normal limits except for the episodes suggestive of FCS during the consultation. The serological test for anti-gliadin immunoglobulin G (AG IgG) and anti-transglutaminase-2 immunoglobulin A (ATG-2 IgA) antibodies resulted above the reference range (3.092 and 0.929, respectively; normal range < 0.6). TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: An exclusively gluten-free diet was started. Complete resolution of the episodes was reported during a 3-month follow-up. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of FCS associated to positive AG IgG and ATG-2 IgA antibodies responsive to a gluten-free diet. The typical manifestation of the episodes and response to diet support the hypothesis that FCS may be associated to gastrointestinal disorders. However, more studies are needed in order to confirm this hypothesis.

Arcanobacterium canis strain DSM 25104 isolated from an English bulldog suffering from otitis externa: complete genome sequence.

Many species of the genus Arcanobacterium are known as opportunistic pathogens and have been isolated in association with infectious diseases in humans and animals. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of another opportunistic pathogenic representative, namely Arcanobacterium canis, isolated from the otitis externa of an English bulldog.

Bulldog Scalp Syndrome.

Bulldog scalp syndrome or cutis verticis gyrata (CVG) is a rare cutaneous disorder with an incidence of just 0.026 to 1 per 100,000 population and cosmetic problems should not be ignored as they can affect the quality of life of patients in social and psychological aspects. In CVG the scalp thickens to form folds resembling sulci and gyri just as the skin fold of bulldog. It is a clinical diagnosis with various etiologies. It is classified as primary essential or nonessential and secondary CVG. It can manifest with symptoms ranging from mild to severe intensity. Cosmetic problems are the major concern that can affect patients' social and psychological health. If the folds are heavy, they can cause mass symptoms. Thus, surgery remains the definitive treatment option for improving the cosmetic appearance. Both our cases have different etiologies, however, were managed surgically with removal of skin folds (gyrae) and scoring of aponeuroses of the scalp followed by stretching of the scalp and closure to improve appearance. The surgical team as well as patients were satisfied with the appearance of the scalp after healing. CVG though a rare disease with various etiologies is a benign condition with good prognosis with no reports of malignant transformation so far.

Apgar Score for Newborn Dog Viability Assessment: Differences between English and French Bulldogs Born via Cesarean Section.

Even if largely used in canine neonatology, some questions about the Apgar Score (AS) arose. Notably, considering the breed-oriented modifications of the score are needed, slight changes of the score were reported for English (EBs) and French bulldogs (FBs). The present study aimed to evaluate the possible differences between neonatal viability of the two breeds assessed by AS in puppies born via cesarean section. The results obtained from 99 puppies born alive and without malformations (EB = 47, FB = 52) showed significant (p < 0.001) differences in the median AS (seven in EB vs. eight in FB), with Grimace (p < 0.05 for sub-score 0 and p < 0.001 for sub-score 2) and Attitude (p < 0.05) being differently sub-scored between the two breeds. In the 89 alive puppies at 7 days of age, the same difference in the median AS was observed (p < 0.001), and only Grimace was differently sub-scored between the two breeds (p < 0.05 for sub-score 0 and p < 0.01 for sub-score 2). These results suggest that low Grimace could be an intrinsic characteristic of EB newborns, but it could negatively affect the neonatal adaptation process of EBs, providing an indication for focused neonatal assistance. Neonatal mortality at 7 days of age was higher in EBs than in FBs (17 vs. 3.8%, respectively), which deserves further investigations. The study provides further evidence that breed-oriented ASs are needed for a better evaluation and assistance of purebred puppies at birth.

Radiographic determination of the tracheal indices at caudal cervical, thoracic-inlet, and intra-thoracic trachea in non-bulldog brachycephalic breeds without evidence of cardiorespiratory disease.

BACKGROUND: Congenital tracheal hypoplasia is a component of airway syndrome affecting a wide variety of brachycephalic dog breeds. Several radiographic procedures were utilized to assess vertical tracheal diameter (VTD) in dogs. The objective of this study was to calculate the tracheal indices at the caudal cervical, thoracic-inlet, and intra-thoracic tracheal regions on the right lateral thoracic radiograph to further establish a screening protocol for diagnosis of tracheal hypoplasia in non-bulldog brachycephalic breeds. Dogs without clinical or radiographic evidence of tracheal, respiratory, or cardiovascular abnormalities were investigated. The absolute and average VTDs were normalized by manubrium length (ML), thoracic-inlet distance (Ti-D), and proximal 3rd rib width (PR3-W). Manubrium-tracheal index (M-TI), thoracic inlet-tracheal index (Ti-TI), and proximal R3-tracheal score (PR3-TS) were calculated. Correlations between averaged VTD and each of the normalizing parameters (ML, Ti-D, and PR3-W), and between M-TI and each of the previously established procedures (Ti-TI and PR3-TS) were determined. RESULTS: Eighty healthy subjects met the inclusion criteria for the study. There were significant differences (P ≤ 0.0001) among the means of absolute and normalized VTDs at the 3 tracheal levels. The smallest VTD was identified at the thoracic inlet. The average tracheal diameter showed a better correlation with ML (rs=0.81, P < 0.0001) compared to Ti-D and PR3-W. There was a strong correlation (rs=0.83, P < 0.0001) between the averaged M-TI and Ti-TI. CONCLUSION: Radiographic M-TI could be an alternative to traditional procedures to assess the tracheal lumen in non-bulldog brachycephalic dogs. M-TI < 0.39, < 0.30, or < 0.34 at caudal cervical, thoracic inlet, or intrathoracic trachea, respectively, may indicate tracheal hypoplasia in non-bulldog brachycephalic breeds. Screening of tracheal diameter using M-TI should be recommended. However, further investigation of non-bulldog brachycephalic breeds with cardiac and/or respiratory disease is indicated.

Clinical, magnetic resonance imaging, surgical features and comparison of surgically treated intervertebral disc extrusion in French bulldogs.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) extrusion (IVDE) is the most reported neurological condition in French bulldogs (FBD). The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate neurological grade, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), surgical findings and short-term recovery in surgically treated FBD diagnosed with IVDE referred to a single institution between January 2020 and March 2022 and to compare cervical and thoracolumbar IVDE. Data was gathered from medical records and analysed via Fischer's Exact-Test and Kruskal Wallis-tests. Statistical significance was assumed when p < 0.05. Thirty-nine FBD were diagnosed with IVDE. Cervical IVDE (C-IVDE) was diagnosed in 11/39 cases; the C3-C4 IVD space was the most commonly affected site (5/11). Thoracolumbar IVDE (TL-IVDE) was diagnosed in 28 cases; the L3-L4 IVD space was the most commonly affected site (7/28). At admission, C-IVDE was significantly associated with less severe neurological grade (grade 1-2) compared to TL-IVDE (grade 2-5) (p < 0.001). The extruded IVD material (EIVDM) was hypointense in T2w images in 11/11C-IVDE vs. 2/28TL-IVDE, and hypointense in T1w images in 10/11C-IVDE vs. 1/28TL-IVDE. The EIVDM was hyperintense in T2w images in 0/11C-IVDE vs. 26/28TL-IVDE and iso-to-hypointense in T1w images in 1/11C-IVDE vs. 27/28TL-IVDE (p < 0,001). The EIVDM extended over ≥2 IVD spaces in 0/11C-IVDE vs. 19/28TL-IVDE (p < 0,001). 10/11C-IVDE underwent single ventral slot, 1/11C-IVDE underwent unilateral cervical hemilaminectomy. All TL-IVDE underwent unilateral hemilaminectomy and 19/28TL-IVDE underwent unilateral hemilaminectomy over ≥2 IVD spaces (p < 0,001). Haemorrhagic EIVDM was noticed intraoperatively in 1/11C-IVDE vs. 28/28TL-IVDE (p < 0,001). Spinal cord compression was mild in 2/11C-IVDE and 3/28TL-IVDE; moderate in 9/11C-IVDE and 16/28TL-IVDE; severe in 0/11C-IVDE and 8/28TL-IVDE. There was no spinal cord compression in 1/28TL-IVDE with foraminal IVDE. There was no statistical difference between spinal cord compression and IVDE location (p = 0.112). The mean time to improvement was 1.1 day in C-IVDE (range 1-2 days). 90.1% of C-IVDE improved within the first 24 h. The mean time to improvement was 2.1 days in TL-IVDE (range from 1 day to 4 days). All dogs that did not improve (5/39) were grade 5 TL-IVDEs at presentation. In FBD, TL-IVDE tended to cause higher grade of neurological dysfunction, tended to result in compression of neural structures over multiple IVD spaces and required more extensive surgical treatment than C-IVDE.

A Case of Urinary Bladder Malakoplakia in a Young French Bulldog: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Issues.

A 3-month-old female French Bulldog presented with hematuria, severe pollakiuria, and urinary incontinence lasting for 1.5 months. Broad-spectrum empirical antibiotic therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were initiated by the referring veterinarian. Due to a lack of improvement, the dog was referred. At referral examination, urinary clinical signs persisted (hematuria, severe pollakiuria) and a firm bladder was noted. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed severe, diffuse bladder wall thickening with a significant reduction in the bladder lumen. Urinary tract endoscopy showed whitish exophytic proliferations throughout the entire bladder wall. Histological bladder wall analysis led to a diagnosis of bladder malakoplakia. Prolonged antibiotic therapy with fluoroquinolones was prescribed and resulted in clinical remission despite persistent bacteria in the bladder wall. This report describes a case of successfully medically managed bladder malakoplakia, a very rare condition in veterinary medicine, well documented in humans.

The Genetics of Canine Pulmonary Valve Stenosis.

There have been recent advancements in understanding the genetic contribution to pulmonary valve stenosis (PS) in brachycephalic breeds such as the French Bulldog and Bulldog. The associated genes are transcriptions factors involved in cardiac development, which is comparable to the genes that cause PS in humans. However, validation studies and functional follow up is necessary before this information can be used for screening purposes.

Evaluation of the value of genetic testing for cystinuria in the Danish population of English bulldogs.

Cystinuria is a genetic disease that can lead to cystine urolith formation. The English bulldog is the dog breed most frequently affected. In this breed, three missense mutations have been suggested to be associated with cystinuria: c.568A>G and c.2086A>G in SLC3A1 and c.649G>A in SLC7A9. In this study, the occurrence of these three mutations in the Danish population of English bulldogs was investigated. Seventy-one English bulldogs were genotyped using TaqMan assays. The dogs' owners were given questionnaires concerning the medical histories of their dogs. Allele frequencies of 0.40, 0.40, and 0.52 were found for the mutant alleles in the three loci: c.568A>G, c.2086A>G, and c.649G>A, respectively. For both mutations in SLC3A1, a statistically significant association was found between cystinuria and homozygosity for the G allele among male, English bulldogs. For the mutation in SLC7A9, there was no statistically significant association between homozygosity for the mutant allele and cystinuria. Due to high allele frequencies, limited genetic diversity, continued uncertainty about the genetic background of cystinuria, and more severe health problems in the breed, selection based on genetic testing for the mutations in SLC3A1 cannot be recommended in the Danish population of English bulldogs. However, results of the genetic test may be used as a guide to recommend prophylactic treatment.

Recurrence rate of intervertebral disc disease in surgically treated French Bulldogs: a retrospective study (2009-2019).

BACKGROUND: Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a common diagnosis and well-investigated pathological condition in French Bulldogs with neurological deficiencies. However there is currently only one recently published retrospective descriptive study looking for recurrence rates of IVDD in French Bulldogs. Medical reports of French Bulldogs with a first episode of IVDD and surgical treatment were evaluated and reviewed for clinical signs of recurrence. Risk factors for Total-Recurrence, Cervical- and Thoracolumbar-Recurrence were evaluated by means of logistic regression models. The aim of this study was to assess frequency and risk factors associated with the recurrence of IVDD in French Bulldogs. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-seven French Bulldogs with a first episode of IVDD and surgical treatment were evaluated. 52.7% (67/127) of these patients showed signs of recurrence. The recurrence rate in the cervical spine was slightly lower (47%) compared to the thoracolumbar spine (56.6%). A significant association with recurrence could be found for the factor age: French Bulldogs with a first episode of IVDD ≤ 3 years seem to be prone for Total-Recurrence (P = 0.002) and Cervical-Recurrence (with ORs ranging from 0.02 to 0.03 for patients older than 3 years). 50% of the recurrences (median) occurred within the first 12 month after the first episode of IVDD. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence of IVDD can be expected in more than half of French Bulldogs affected by IVDD. Especially young French Bulldogs are prone for recurrence in cervical spine. Almost every fourth patient with IVDD suffers from a recurrence within 12 months. Future dog owners should be informed about the risk of IVDD and the early onset of recurrences in French Bulldogs.

Congenital porto-pulmonary shunt in a dog.

Background: Congenital extra-hepatic porto-systemic shunts (CEPS) are a non-rare vascular anomaly observed in dogs, most commonly in small and toy pure breeds. Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) examination is considered the gold standard imaging modality for the diagnosis of anomalous vascular connections. Case Description: An anomalous congenital porto-pulmonary shunt was incidentally diagnosed in a 5-year-old French Bulldog. The anomalous vessel originated from the ventral aspect of the portal vein and went cranially towards the esophageal hiatus, entering the lobar vein of the caudal left pulmonary lobe. The dog did not show any significant clinical or computed tomography angiography-perceived hepatic abnormalities and no signs of portal hypertension were evidenced. No case of porto-pulmonary shunt in veterinary medicine have ever been reported, while in humans it was rarely described secondarily to portal hypertension, severe hepatopathies or complex cardiac malformations. Conclusion: CTA must be considered the best imaging modality for the diagnosis also of unusual CEPS and in the author's opinion the congenital porto-pulmonary shunt described in the patient was of little or no clinical relevance.

A clue to the etiology of disorders of sex development from identity-by-descent analysis in dogs with cryptic relatedness.

Disorders of sex development (DSDs) are discrepancies between sex chromosomes and phenotypical sex. Quite common forms of DSD in canine populations include testicular and ovotesticular XX DSDs with a normal set of sex chromosomes. The objective of this study was to identify genes and putative harmful variants for canine XX DSDs. I have reanalyzed data from the whole-genome sequencing of 11 XX DSD French Bulldogs and six XX DSD American Staffordshire Terriers. Identity-by-descent analysis revealed cryptic relatedness in affected French Bulldogs. Causative genes were sought in chromosomal segments shared identical-by-descent by close relatives. In French Bulldogs, the reanalysis identified 19 regions of importance with a total length of just 65.9 Mb. Variant filtering within the regions implicated AKAP2, PIWIL1, POLR3A and SH2D4B as genes that may be involved in individual cases of testicular and ovotesticular XX DSD in French Bulldogs and American Staffordshire Terriers.

Prevalence of incidental humeral intracondylar fissures in brachycephalic breed dogs in CT studies.

Humeral intracondylar fissures (HIF) have been predominantly reported in spaniel breeds and proposed to be possible risk factors for humeral condyle fractures (HCF). We hypothesized that the prevalence of incidental HIF in French Bulldogs may be greater than that of other brachycephalic breeds. A retrospective, observational, prevalence study was performed using CT examinations of French bulldogs and other brachycephalic breed dogs presenting for an unrelated condition. Two European College of Veterinary Diagnostic and Imaging-certified radiologists reviewed the images of the humeral condyles of these dogs. A classification system was devised to grade the findings. We considered a Score 1 to be normal, Score 2 to have centralised sclerosis, Score 3 to have a partial fissure and Score 4 to have a complete fissure. A total of 228 elbows were reviewed from 122 dogs. Of this population, 145 elbows were from French Bulldogs, 54 were from Pugs, and the remainder were from a mix of other brachycephalic breeds. The prevalence of HIF (score 3 or 4) in elbows of the French bulldog, pug and other breed groups was 6.9% (CI 2.8-11%), 5.6% (CI 0-11.7%), and 3.4% (CI 0-10.15%), respectively. At a dog level, the prevalence of HIF (score 3 or 4 present in at least one elbow) was found to be 11.8% (CI 4.6-19%) in French Bulldogs, 11.1% (CI 0-22.9%) in Pugs, and 5.26% (CI 0-15%) in the other breed group. There was no significant difference between the breed groups. The inter-reviewer reliability for CT scoring of HIF based on Cohen's weighted kappa was low at 0.19.

Comparison of habitual physical activity in French Bulldogs, Pugs and normocephalic dogs by accelerometry.

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is a major welfare concern in flat-faced dog breeds. As BOAS causes respiratory difficulties and exercise intolerance, it can reduce dogs' daily quality of life (QOL). However, evaluation of QOL in dogs is difficult, and many owners perceive BOAS signs as 'normal' for the breed. Accelerometers that measure frequency, duration and intensity of activities can offer an objective way of evaluating dogs' daily activity and thereby deliver potential insights into QOL. The aim of this study was to assess habitual physical activity of 48 brachycephalic and 23 non-brachycephalic dogs using accelerometers. The accelerometers were used for one week and owners filled in a questionnaire regarding their dog's well-being and activities. Veterinary-assessed BOAS grading for brachycephalic dogs was determined. Compared with controls, more severely affected French Bulldogs and Pugs had significantly lower total activity counts and spent less time in high activity. In Pugs, mildly affected dogs were also less active, but age can be a contributing factor here, as older age decreased activity in Pugs and controls showed a wider age range. In French Bulldogs, those dogs with no or mild signs of BOAS did not differ from controls regarding their daily activity. In conclusion, accelerometers were easy to use for objective measurement of daily activity in bracycephalic dogs, although a degree of discomfort due to the collar was reported. Results showed that BOAS signs were associated with decreased habitual physical activity. These findings emphasise the importance of actions taken to reduce incidence of BOAS in brachycephalic breeds.

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome: much more than a surgical problem.

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is a chronic, lifelong, debilitating, primarily obstructive airway disease which adversely affects the quality of life of many popular dog breeds. Respiratory restriction in bulldog breeds, pugs and Boston terriers frequently co-exist with pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, many brachycephalic dogs that appear clinically normal are, in fact suffering from chronic hypoxia and its systemic consequences. Concurrent gastroesophageal reflux-associated conditions, sleep disorders and systemic hypertension further impact the welfare of affected dogs. Acceptance of BOAS and associated clinical signs as being 'normal for the breed' is common amongst owners. While surgical correction of the upper airway is the mainstay of treatment, the provision of subsequent, frequently lifelong medical management is equally important for the maintenance of an acceptable quality of life, at least for some affected patients. Here we review the current knowledge concerning brachycephaly, combine it with shared clinical experience in the management of this debilitating condition, and discuss ethical considerations and the responsibility of veterinarians to contribute public education and to support appropriate breed standards for animals under our care.