An online health survey of Dogue de Bordeaux owners and breeders with special emphasis on cardiac disease

A questionnaire-based study was undertaken to assess health problems affecting the Dogue de Bordeaux breed of dog and, in particular, the potential impact of cardiac disease. An online survey tool was used to design a questionnaire for Dogue de Bordeaux owners and breeders. After 1 year of response time, information was collected on 278 dogs owned by 215 individuals, mostly based in the United Kingdom. Of the 278 dogs, veterinary attention had been sought for chronic skin disease in 63 (22.7%), lameness in 43 (15.5%), gastrointestinal signs in 37 (13.3%) and neoplasia in 28 (10.1%). Cardiac disease was reported in 13/278 dogs (4.7%). At the time of completion of the survey, 55 (19.8%) dogs were dead, 17 (31%) of which were reported to have died suddenly and unexpectedly. Respondents expressed interest in a formal cardiac health screening scheme in the Dogue de Bordeaux breed, but would be reluctant to volunteer for such a scheme if information on disease detected during screening was open access. The incidence of sudden unexpected death was high; although there was no corroboration that the sudden deaths were related to cardiac disease, a possible connection should be explored further.