Why mixed breeds are healthier than purebreds

The researchers studied 27, dogs with inherited disorders to find some answers. So read on … the results may surprise you! Hybrid vigor is a term used in all kinds of breeding … not just for dogs. Even plants! And designer breeds … like goldendoodles, yorkipoos, puggles the list is almost endless are ever more popular. So breeders of these dogs are jumping on the hybrid vigor bandwagon.

A mule is an example of a true hybrid … a mix between a horse and a donkey. And health issues in these designer breeds abound. Some ancient breeds go back about years. A breed with a smaller gene pool would be more likely to have a recessive disorder. Before this study, most researchers looked at single disorders … and their tendency in specific breeds.

So they looked at the prevalence of inherited disorders in the dog population as a whole. They excluded non-domesticated canines like dingoes or wolves. And they viewed Pit Bulls separately. Because it was hard to confirm their purebred status. Then they matched these dogs to each affected dog for the disorders … and randomly selected the control dogs for each disorder.

From to , the researchers studied 27, dogs with inherited disorders at the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. But in this study … only one disorder was more likely in mixed-breed dogs than purebred.

That one disorder was cranial cruciate ligament rupture. The researchers remind us that this study evaluated dogs in a teaching hospital. That could have skewed the results because …. So a condition may get diagnosed at a higher rate than it would in the broader population of dogs.

Connect with us on Instagram passport2wildlife or on Twitter sawtoothlegacy! Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Purebred Dogs vs. They include:. Heart Disorders. Mitral valve dysplasia, ventricular septal defect, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and patent ductus arteriosus occurred at about the same rate in both purebred and mixed breed dogs.

Cancers, including osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, mast cell tumor and lymphoma, also occurred at about the same rate. Orthopedic Disorders. Patellar luxation dislocated kneecap was seen in both purebred and mixed breed dogs.

Eye Disorders. Both groups also suffered similar rates of lens luxation, a condition that happens when the clear lens located behind the iris of the eye becomes dislocated.

Endocrine Disorders. Disorders More Common in Purebred Dogs. Some disorders were more common in purebreds, although the chance that your dog will develop these disorders depends on its breed.

For example, large dogs like Saint Bernards and Great Danes are most likely to suffer from bloat. The disorders include:. Cranial cruciate ligament rupture was the only disorder more likely to occur in mixed breed dogs. Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are very popular family pets and are more likely to be afflicted in inherited disease conditions like skin allergies, ear infections and hip dysplasia.

Pugs, Bulldogs and other short-nosed breeds are also very popular, but unless they are carefully bred, can develop all sorts of inherited problems, such as heart disease, dental disease, skin problems and breathing problems. You can avoid purchasing a purebred or hybrid puppy with genetic diseases by only buying from reputable breeders who test for genetic diseases that are common in the puppies they are breeding. You will pay more for puppies that have been certified to be disease-free, but the old adage holds true here: You get what you pay for.

If you have a mixed breed dog and you want to know the genetic ancestry and any potential genetic diseases that he or she may be predisposed toward, the good news is that science is on your side.

Home Dog Care Center. Published: December 04, What Qualifies a Dog as a Purebred Dog? Mixed Breed Dogs and Hybrid Dog Breeds In contrast, mixed breed dogs aka mutts are defined as the offspring of dogs that are not from the same breed and usually have unknown ancestry.

Are Mutts Healthier Than Purebreds? Avoiding Health Issues With Purebred Dogs You can avoid purchasing a purebred or hybrid puppy with genetic diseases by only buying from reputable breeders who test for genetic diseases that are common in the puppies they are breeding.