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Genetic Welfare Problems of Companion Animals

An information resource for prospective pet owners

Welfare of dogs

`The Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC) welcomes this website'. 
Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior

The UFAW genetic welfare problems site has been produced with kind support in memory of Rosa Cliff Ward and her niece Barbarie Penelope Davies, long-time supporters of UFAW

In recent years, concern has been growing about the prevalence of genetics-related health and welfare conditions in some companion animals. This website is aimed at informing breeders and prospective owners about the incidence, duration and severity of conditions in various breeds to allow purchasers to make informed choices. This should have benefits for those purchasers, who may be spared the expense and concern of looking after an animal in poor health. More importantly, choosing and breeding from animals that are less likely to suffer from these conditions should improve the welfare of many animals in future generations by reducing the incidence and severity of these diseases.

This resource is a work in progress and is being updated as and when time and funds allow. Non-inclusion of a breed or condition at this time does not necessarily mean that the condition is not a problem or that the breed has no genetic disorders.

If you would like to help increase the number of conditions that are covered and/or the number of breeds for which known conditions are detailed, so as to help to tackle the issue of genetic health problems in companion animals and bring improvements, then we need your support. 

If you are concerned about the health of an existing pet, please consult your veterinarian.

For more information on what this site is about, the genetic welfare problem, what you can do as a pet buyer, see the Overview.

For information on a particular breed first select a species below or from the menu on the left. This will take you to a page where you can select a particular breed.