Measuring Progress: Science and the Dog

Measuring Progress: Science and the Dog

Dog breeding in the 21st century remains rooted in the adherence to written “standards of perfection.” Although many breeders today view themselves as artists, breeding decisions are increasingly made with the help of information gathered through research and development. “Health testing” allows breeders to determine if potential sires and dams are likely to pass on disorders which are known to exist within a particular breed. Carriers are identified and judiciously used, and affected dogs are typically neutered and removed from the gene pool. Simple enough, but knowledge gained through science is constantly evolving. New studies reveal new information, and what was once accepted as scientific fact can be overturned by a “theory change” brought about by new evidence and more accurate data.

A hundred years ago, breeders were only beginning to utilize science as a tool. In 1932, the Ralston Purina Company published the first edition of the Purina Dog Book as a way of sharing information gathered at their own “experimental kennels.” The book includes chapters on feeding and management, vitamins and medicines, and common dog maladies such as diarrhea and distemper. Much of the information published seems obvious today, but it was undoubtedly useful to breeders and pet owners who were just beginning to view dogs as family members. In the chapter titled, “Keeping Dogs in the Home,” novices were encouraged with sound advice, including: “The home dog requires just the same vitamin supply for his health as any other dog.” Thanks to the efforts of dog food manufacturers like Purina, the average dog owner was able to experience the benefits of knowledge gained through scientific research.

By mid-century, research was underway at veterinary colleges to provide greater understanding of life-saving inoculations. Thanks to the combined efforts of researchers at universities and dog food manufacturers, studies revealed the usefulness of vaccines to combat not only distemper but also infectious hepatitis and leptospirosis. Additional research provided information previously unknown about conditions such as alopecia and the treatment of fungal infections, intestinal parasites, and even snakebites. Cancers, such as bone tumors in large dogs, and heart disease were just beginning to be understood as well. In a project funded by the United States Public Health Service at the University of Pennsylvania’s Veterinary School, researchers examined all dogs brought into the college’s animal hospital with an electrocardiogram. If a dog was suspected of heart disease, a urinalysis was conducted and a chest x-ray was taken. Interestingly, mid-century science offered conflicting reports on the safety of x-rays on puppies in utero.

As the 20th century was in full swing, pet owners relied upon science-based research for their own health and that of their companion animals. Purebred dogs experienced their heyday at this time, and breed-specific books provided plenty of useful information. The popular “How to Raise and Train” series, published by T.F.H. Publications, Inc., was among the most widely read. These paperback guides contained chapters on breed history and “special training” needs, and offered advice on breeding, caring for the mother and her puppies, and how to maintain a dog’s good general health. In addition to providing information on diseases such as distemper, hepatitis, and leptospirosis, rabies was addressed with a sober warning: after symptoms have appeared, no cure is possible. Thankfully, mandatory nation-wide vaccination programs eliminated rabies in dogs in the US by 2007—though cases have been documented since due to unregulated overseas “rescues” being imported.

Advances in science continue to benefit all dogs nearly one hundred years after Purina published their original dog book. The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) lead the way in advancing scientific discoveries in canine health by funding research projects and recording their results respectively. The Dog Genome Project has ushered in DNA tests that reveal how unique genes influence both phenotype and genotype. And the collaborative “One Health” approach to medicine recognizes the interconnectedness of people, animals, and the environment by promoting joint research in veterinary medicine, public health, and the environmental sciences. Our dogs (and ourselves) enjoy the possibility of greater health thanks to science-based research, but the pursuit of knowledge continues… and the more we know, the more we realize we still have more to learn.