Founded 1978
With all living beings, whether human or canine, health issues and illnesses can occur. BGVs come from long established rustic stock bred for work therefore, overall, they are robust and healthy hounds with few problems. However, this is not to say they do not exist. As with any breed (or even crossbreeds) some health issues have arisen.
The BGV Club has a Health Sub-Committee which takes breed health extremely seriously and works hard on your behalf. The Sub-Committee reports directly to the main Committee and, if there is evidence of any growing health problem in the breed, immediate action is taken to investigate. For many years, the Club worked closely with the Animal Health Trust, who gathered DNA samples etc., on our behalf, allowing known problems to be researched thoroughly and steps to be taken to eradicate them from the breed. Closure of the AHT in July 2020 and pending the new Canine Genetics arrangements the Club's efforts continue to progress work towards this aim.
Fiona Buchanan- Breed Health CoordinatorFiona Buchanan 07795 068860 tarmachangbgv@gmail.com Peter Marks- Epilepsypmark1262@aol.com or 01235 831217 Mrs Debbie O'Briendebbie.obrien@btinternet.com or 07772 005731 Gavin Robertson- General Healthgavinpbgv@aol.com 01491 836103
BREED HEALTH AND CONSERVATION PLAN The Breed Health and Conservation Plan ensures that all health concerns are identified through evidence-based criteria. The plans provide breeders with useful information and resources to support them in making balanced breeding decisions that make health a priority. It takes a complete view of breed health and includes information about: · known inherited conditions · complex conditions (i.e. those involving many genes and environmental effects such as nutrition or exercise levels) · conformational concerns · population genetics This project is run by, and in collaboration with, The Kennel Club with the aim of gathering all available health information and data and compiling it into a single document. This in turn forms a basis to create a strategy to tackle any health priorities in the PBGV and GBGV.
If you have any concerns about your BGV's well-being which appear to be related to any of the known health problems in the breed, let us know. We are here to support you.
