BOAS testing with Dr. Arthur House BSc BVMS Ph. D. Cert SAS DECVS

The University of Cambridge and the Kennel Club (UK) Respiratory Function Grading (RFG) Scheme provides an assessment for DOGS AUSTRALIA brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome.

The test objectively measures the severity of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome in dogs and helps in making a clinical diagnosis.

The intent of the scheme is also to improve understanding of the condition, increase awareness, and ultimately reduce the incidence of BOAS, the scheme has been accepted widely around the world as a viable way of repeatable way of grading dogs for respiratory function. Dogs Australia (ANKC) and the affiliated State and Territory Bodies are the peak body in Australia responsible for Registering Pure Bred dogs.  Dogs Australia is a not-for-profit organisation advocates for the preservation of purebred dogs and uses evidenced based research to ensure that Members are kept to a high ethical standard when breeding.

Passionate dedicated breeders strive to produce the healthiest possible puppies.  They are assisted in doing this with the research and health schemes promoted by Dogs Australia – and where necessary the inclusion of the schemes in their Code of Ethics to ensure members adhere to the scientific advances in health for our dogs.  Breed clubs like the French Bulldog Club of NSW also play an important role in consulting with Dogs Australia when an advance leads to a change in breeding practices. And once the scientists have determined a valuable diagnostic tool or test we are vital in promoting the change and updating our Breeding Practice Code.

As part of the agreement with the Kennel Club, Dogs Australia has appointed Dr. Arthur House BSc BVMS Ph. D. Cert SAS DECVS as Australia’s Chief Assessor for the RFG Scheme, an internationally recognised specialist small animal surgeon in both Australia and Europe. Arthur recently visited the UK to be briefed on the supervision of the Scheme by Dr. Jane Ladlow the Cambridge University Principal Investigator into Non-invasive Assessment of Respiratory Function in Unrestrained Conscious Brachycephalic Dogs Pre and Post Upper Airway Surgery.

Dr. Ladlow recently gave evidence to the Norwegian Court of appeal on the ban of Bulldog breeding which lead to the restrictions being lifted.

Dr. House is currently training veterinarians around the country to become approved assessors to carry out respiratory function grading, a number have already been trained and appointed in Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia, and in conjunction with the State and Territory Member Bodies, training will take place in other states in coming months. The response to the launch of the RFG Scheme in Australia has been excellent and the National British Bulldog Breed Council is instituting respiratory function grading as one of its health screening tests. The objectives of the scheme in Australia are;

1. To identify dogs at risk/subject to BOAS to allow for the best care and treatment for managing such conditions.
2. To give the breeder/owner the best available information in terms of the appropriateness of using a dam/sire in a breeding program.
3. To give other breeders the information resource of dogs affected and unaffected by BOAS to allow for the selection of the most suitable stock for breeding purposes.
4. To provide data and statistics in terms of BOAS to monitor the frequency and progress in the breed affected for ongoing research for the overall improvement of the relevant breeds.

This video has recently been released which provides a great overview of the Scheme.

For further information: orchid@dogsaustralia.org.au