Fit2Breed, matchmaking for healthily bred dogs

Unfortunately, many pedigree dogs and cats struggle with hereditary diseases or suffer from harmful external features. "In many cases, these diseases and disorders are not easily treatable, whereas, with a responsible breeding policy, they would be preventable," says Hille Fieten of Utrecht University's Expertise Centre Genetics. "This can be achieved if consumers, breeders, vets and politicians work together."

Like my fellow vets, I unfortunately see many animals in the practice that have not been bred in a healthy way

"Like my fellow vets, I unfortunately see many animals in the practice that have not been bred in a healthy way," says Ingrid Noteboom from AnimalCare veterinary practice in Harderwijk. "Prime examples of this are short snouts. But there are also dogs and cats with bowed legs, animals that suffer from headaches because their heads are too small and skin complaints due to too many folds, to name but a few."

Notenboom thinks this is a terrible thing. "It sometimes feels as though owners don’t really think about what they’re doing at all when they buy an animal. All they care about is what the animal looks like. And often, they don’t have the patience to wait a little for a litter that’s been bred in a responsible way."

Hereditary traits

It is, however, crucial to find out more about the dog or cat that you are buying, and not just its external features. In some breeds, you will be lucky if a dog gets to six or seven years of age, says Noteboom. "Clearly, breeders don’t deliberately select for traits that an animal suffers from. But if you don't recognise the problem or keep using a male that turns out to carry an inherited disease, it will be everywhere. If you don't want to impose restrictions or conduct research, you will ruin a breed."

Fortunately, there are also a lot of breeders who actually try their best and show that things can be done differently. Noteboom herself has had two Kooikerhondjes for eight years. This is an old Dutch breed of dog. They are beautiful, sensitive and lively dogs that were traditionally used to lure ducks towards a duck decoy. "They’re great! But they can sometimes be a bit of a challenge," she laughs.

Openly sharing information

Worldwide, there are some 12 to 15 thousand Kooikers. And there are certainly challenges in terms of population management. Especially in terms of inbreeding and prevention of hereditary diseases. "Over the past few years, I’ve noticed how openly and honestly most breeders of Kooikerhondjes deal with this and share information," says Noteboom. As a vet herself, she was asked by the Dutch Kooikerhondje association, VHNK, to serve on the health and information committee. "There are all kinds of activities. Such as an annual breeding meeting where we present all the statistics on diseases. We urge people to report illnesses. Clearly, it’s awful if your pup has a serious disease. But we try to create an atmosphere where something like this isn’t regarded as a criminal record."

During the annual 'young dogs day', Noteboom takes saliva samples so she can have a DNA profile made. This is similar to how many breeders have long participated in DNA testing by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. "It’s a culture that has grown over the years. I think that’s a wonderful thing."Based on the information made available, researchers Peter Leegwater and Paul Mandigers from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine have identified several DNA mutations that cause hereditary diseases in Kooikerhondjes. DNA tests are available for this, so these diseases can now be effectively controlled in the breed.

Fit2Breed

Thanks to DNA test results, recorded disease data, screening test results and pedigree data, a wealth of information is now available. "All those data have now been brought together in one programme," says Hille Fieten of the Expertise Centre Genetics at Utrecht University. "Fit2Breed uses data from Kooiker populations worldwide. A comprehensive population analysis was carried out on this basis. I am quite proud of that. Through collaboration between breeders and researchers, we can really move from treating disease to preventing it.”

Among other things, Fit2Breed provides an interactive pedigree, where interested parties can see all dogs and common ancestors are pointed out. The programme also has a breeding module in which test pairings can be performed. A breeder then gets a risk assessment for the offspring. In addition, Fit2Breed gives advice on males that can be used to breed with. Males that are genetically, or based on a pedigree analysis, as unrelated to the bitch as possible appear at the top of the list.

We jokingly call it a kind of Tinder for dogs

Tinder for dogs

"We jokingly call it a kind of Tinder for dogs," says Kerstin Ueckert, president of VHNK. She is delighted with Fit2Breed. "The collaboration between our association and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has existed for many years. Together with sister associations abroad, we supplied the data, and the faculty supplied the research. As a result, we now know a lot. But that also makes it far more complicated to make good risk assessments when breeding. The days when you made a pedigree on the back of a beer mat, so to speak, are really over.
Fit2Breed can play a crucial role. Even abroad, there is much enthusiasm among sister associations, says Ueckert. "It really is unique in the world."

Moral obligation

According to Hille Fieten, the collaboration around the Kooikerhondje is a great example of what can be done. "And I think it’s also a moral obligation to really take advantage of all the options together. Unfortunately, there’s still a lot to do." She points to recent research by Paul Mandigers into a neurological disorder of the spinal cord (syringomyelia) in Dutch and Danish Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. "It occurs in 39 to 46 per cent of the dogs. PhD student Citlalli Limpens has now shown that this figure would drop dramatically if breeders avoided using dogs with SM and only bred with dogs that are more than three years old, as the disease does not manifest itself until later. Prevention is better than cure, as they say. So let’s do it!"

Society also demands it. The government recently imposed new rules on the breeding of companion animals, in the case of extremely short-snouted dogs, for example. After it had been demonstrated that brachycephalic (flat faced) dogs can suffer from all kinds of health problems, such as shortness of breath, the Ministry asked staff from the Expertise Centre Genetics to draw up criteria. Based on this, in 2019, the Ministry banned the breeding of dogs that do not meet these criteria. In 2023, the temporary exception for breeding extremely flat-faced dogs in combination with a dog with a longer snout also lapsed. Outgoing Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Adema called the new rule "an important step" in the breeding of healthy dogs.

Our country is leading the way internationally in this regard. At the beginning of this year, Adema wrote to the House saying that the Netherlands is committed to bringing knowledge of harmful characteristics to the attention of other Member States. "That's a great thing," says Fieten. At the same time, she believes we need to take follow-up steps in the Netherlands. "Currently, the dogs still arrive in the Netherlands through imports, as some consumers keep asking for these types of dogs. That’s why we need to work together to create a culture where we no longer find it acceptable to buy a dog or cat with harmful external features."

We need to create a culture where we no longer find it acceptable to buy a dog or cat with harmful external features

PETscan

In this culture change, Fieten sees a crucial role for vets. "Vets can advise consumers and breeders. And as a profession, we can ensure that we collect and analyse new information on inherited diseases. We’ve developed special software for this purpose: PETscan."

The program is now available at more than 90 per cent of veterinary practices. Suppliers of software for practice management systems recognise the importance of a programme like PETscan for the health of companion animals. The vet can use PETscan free of charge for recording diagnoses. This enables nationwide monitoring of inherited disorders. "This provides us with a wealth of information," says Fieten. "It brings about a real cycle of improvement: vets, together with consumers and breeders, collect the necessary data. Scientists can analyse those data and ensure that any information and advice that we provide is properly backed up by data. We can then apply that knowledge with DNA testing and programmes like Fit2Breed. The result: companion animals that are bred in a healthy way."

An important question now is: can we get everyone on board? Fieten: "The example of the Kooikerhondje inspires me to go the extra mile. And I’m optimistic, too. I recently conducted a survey among vets. Over five hundred colleagues took the trouble to complete it. People are really enthusiastic about being part of the change!" But she, more than anyone, understands that the workload among vets is high and that they are keen to avoid any additional red tape. "It’s up to us to ensure that vets spend as little time as possible on this and can find as much useful information as possible. That’s our goal. With the aim: better health and better animal welfare."

Text: Maarten Post

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