Health Risks and Pedigrees
Pedigree breeds are some of the most popular pets in the UK, with many dog breeders spread around the country in order to meet this demand. One problem with Pedigree breeding, however, is that health risks related to a specific breed are carried on genetically by the offspring, resulting in a continuation of these problems. Here at Animal Friends we’re discussing the common pedigree problems.
Health Issues
There are a number of major health issues that are associated with pedigree breeding, and unfortunately, many of them can be very detrimental to your animals’ health. Persistent problems such as cancer, arthritis (and through that, dysplasia) as well as diabetes and skin problems are not only incredibly painful for your pet, but also incredibly costly when it comes to vet bills, as these conditions will require repeated check-ups and medicine prescriptions. When buying a pedigree, remember that in the UK alone, 75% of all the dogs bought are pedigree, and in total this costs owners in Britain a staggering £10M per week in vets fees alone.
What can you do?
Aside from insuring your pet to help pay for vet bills, you should always ask the breeder any health issues the parents may have had – this will allow you some insight in what to expect, and will allow to know what signs to look out for rather than simply waiting for ‘anything’ to become a symptom. Remember that vets can advise how to alleviate any pain, so always seek advice from your vet whenever any problem occurs, or if you think something has changed with your pet – often a personality shift is the first sign something is wrong. Remember that ethical breeders will always be able to tell you the animal’s history, so you can always be aware of the health issues to look out for – by buying animals from ethical breeders we can stop the puppy and kitten farms that have no regard for the welfare of our animals.
Animal Friends Pet Insurance offers a wide range of comprehensive cover, and donates money to charity with every policy that is recommended to us. If you have a Pedigree and require cover from any potential health issues phone us now on 0845 55 70 300 or email us at info@animalfriends.co.uk to find out how we can help your animal friend today.
