C-Sections at the Kennel Club

A Mastiff gets a c-section.

A study paid for by The Kennel Club, and published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice notes that in some breeds, the vast majority of dogs are now born cesarean.

The study looked at 151 breeds that reported on at least 10 litters. A total of 13,141 bitches, whelping 22,005 litters, were included in the analysis. The frequency of cesarean sections was estimated as the percentage of litters, by breed.

The top ten breeds for cesareans were:

• Boston Terrier (92.3%) (#19 AKC breed in 2009)



• Bulldog (86.1%) (#7 AKC breed in 2009)



• French Bulldog (81.3%) (#24 AKC breed in 2009)



• Mastiff (64.6%) (#27 AKC breed in 2009)



• Scottish Terrier (59.8%) (#52 AKC breed in 2009)



• Miniature Bull Terrier(52.4%) (#125 AKC Breed)



• German Wirehaired Pointer (47.8%) (#74 AKC breed in 2009)



• Clumber Spaniel (45.2%) (#128 AKC breed in 2009)



• Pekingese (43.8%) (#53 AKC breed in 2009)



• Dandie Dinmont Terrier (41.4%) (#151 AKC breed in 2009)

What's the cost of a c-section on a dog? Anywhere from $500 to $1,200 or more.

There were only seven breeds for which there were no reported cesareans. These were the Australian Silky Terrier, Curly Coated Retriever, German Pinscher, Hamiltonstovare, Irish Terrier, Pharaoh Hound, and the Portuguese Water Dog.

• Related Links:
  ** For Veterinarians, Silence Has Been Golden
  ** French Bulldogs: Unfit for the Most Basic Functions
  ** Scottie: A Healthcare Basketcase Wins Westminster
  ** Bulldogs: How Did We Come to Select for Defect
  ** The Boston Terrier: Defective by Design
  ** Rosettes to Ruin
  ** Most and Least Inbred Dog in the AKC
  ** Danger: Market Forces at Work
  ** Inbreeding Analysis by Breed
  ** Genetic Diseases by Breed
  ** Dog Longevity Data
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