In this episode of the WSAVA Podcast, Dr Ernie Ward speaks with Professor Sorrel Langley-Hobbs and Dr Becky Murphy about the welfare, ethical, and clinical challenges created by extreme conformation in companion animals. Together, they examine how veterinarians can support individual patients while influencing the wider culture of responsible breeding.

Professor Sorrel Langley-Hobbs begins by exploring the growing burden of hereditary orthopaedic disease in cats - from hip dysplasia in Maine Coons to osteochondrodysplasia in Scottish Folds and limb deformities emerging in designer crosses. She explains how pattern recognition, radiographic screening, and genetic testing can help differentiate inherited from acquired conditions. Drawing parallels with canine orthopaedics, she stresses the need for clearer breed standards, better breeder engagement, and open conversations about neutering and quality of life - particularly for brachycephalic breeds such as the Persian, where respiratory and ocular disease are now widespread.

Dr Becky Murphy then shifts focus to dogs, describing how clinicians can ethically navigate breeding requests involving extreme conformation. She outlines the value of objective testing, including the Cambridge Respiratory Function Grading Scheme for brachycephalic dogs, and how to use both DNA and phenotypic screening data to guide breeding decisions. She discusses the practical differences between preservation and indiscriminate breeders, emphasises collaborative but firm communication, and advocates for a global shift toward prevention-focused, positive messaging that rewards function over form.

Together, these conversations call for veterinarians to act as both clinicians and advocates - treating the individual while championing healthier standards for the next generation.

Resources & Links

• WSAVA Hereditary Disease Committee
• WSAVA Educational Resources
• PawPeds - Breed Specific
• International Cat Care - Persian Cats and Brachycephaly
• The Kennel Club (UK) – Health Testing & Screening Guidance
• Cambridge BOAS Respiratory Function Grading Scheme

Contributors

Dr Ernie Ward, DVM, CVFT – Veterinarian, author, speaker and media personality; Co-founder & Chief Veterinary Officer, VerticalVet; Chair of the WSAVA Strategic Advisory Committee; Founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) and World Pet Obesity Association (WPOA).

LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Website

Professor Sorrel Langley-Hobbs – Professor of Feline Orthopaedics, Bristol Veterinary School; clinician and researcher specialising in feline musculoskeletal disease; co-editor of textbooks on feline orthopaedic and surgical disease; international speaker and educator.

LinkedIn | ORCID

Dr Becky Murphy – Companion-animal veterinarian, governance leader and business owner specialising in genetics, theriogenology and welfare-led breeding. President of the NZVA Companion Animal Veterinarians (CAV); member of the WSAVA Hereditary Disease Committee; founder and director of TCI GlenBred; former Dogs NZ Canine Health & Welfare Officer.

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This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

In this episode of the WSAVA Podcast, host Wolfgang Dohne brings us two in-depth conversations that reveal how hidden genetic factors shape common clinical problems in cats and dogs. He first speaks with veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Ursula Dietrich, who explores the genetic and conformational influences behind feline ocular disease. Later, he is joined by veterinary dermatologist Dr. Patrick Hensel to discuss hereditary contributions to canine atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions.

Dr. Ursula Dietrich shares her expertise on the challenges posed by brachycephalic cat breeds, where exaggerated conformation can lead to chronic corneal ulcerations, impaired tear film quality, and painful conditions such as corneal sequestrum and entropion. She highlights how some ocular diseases, once considered rare, are now emerging in clusters within popular breeds, including Maine Coons. Dr. Dietrich explains how responsible breeding practices and vigilant clinical monitoring can help reduce suffering, while also reflecting on genetic retinal degenerations and cataracts where tests now exist—or are under development—to guide breeding choices and early diagnosis.

In the second half, Dr. Patrick Hensel turns the spotlight to canine skin disease, particularly atopic dermatitis. Drawing from decades of clinical and research experience, he explains the multifactorial genetic and environmental interactions that drive allergic skin disease in dogs. From skin barrier defects to immune dysregulation and neuroinflammation, Dr. Hensel outlines the pathophysiology that makes management so complex. He also provides a practical framework for diagnosis and treatment, stressing the importance of ruling out parasites and infections, conducting elimination diets, and integrating modern therapeutics with immunotherapy for long-term control. He discusses breed predispositions, the lack of definitive genetic tests, and the ongoing international research efforts to establish biomarkers that may one day guide breeding and therapy.

Together, these conversations underscore the responsibility veterinarians share in recognising genetic patterns, guiding breeders, and supporting clients with realistic advice on lifelong management. By examining the genetic backdrop of both ocular and dermatological disease, this episode encourages practitioners to think more critically about hereditary influences in everyday cases.

Resources & Links

• WSAVA Hereditary Disease Committee
• WSAVA Educational Resources
• The London Cat Clinic – Feline Ophthalmology Services
• Tierdermatologie Basel
• International Committee on Allergic Diseases of Animals (ICADA)

Contributors:

• Wolfgang Dohne DrMedVet MRCVS — Former President of FECAVA, international veterinary educator, and author of Blue Vet Diary
• Dr. Ursula Dietrich Dr.med.vet., Dipl. ACVO, Dipl. ECVO, MRCVS, FHEA — Independent Consultant in Veterinary Ophthalmology
  The London Cat Clinic
• Dr. Patrick Hensel Dr.med.vet., Dipl. ECVD, Dipl. ACVD — Veterinary Dermatologist and Founder, Tierdermatologie Basel
  LinkedIn

Click here for the full transcript

This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

What does it really mean to create healthy dog and cat breeds in the 21st century? In this episode, host Yaiza Gomez Mejias speaks with two leading voices working at the frontlines of breeding, welfare, and behaviour: Helle Friis Proschowsky, Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen, and Lucy Hoile, feline behaviourist and author. Together, they explore the challenges of pedigree breeding, hybrid cats, and the shifting role of veterinarians in shaping the future of animal welfare.

Helle Friis Proschowsky opens the discussion with insights from her recent horizon topic paper “A new future for dog breeding”, co-authored with international colleagues including Dan O’Neill, James Serpell, and Brenda Bonnett. She explains how modern dog breeding practices evolved, the problems of exaggerated conformation and inherited disease, and how Denmark’s newly implemented legislation seeks to raise health standards across all breeders—not just kennel clubs or commercial operations. Proschowsky emphasises the need for veterinarians to become confident breeding counsellors, with continuing education in genetics and welfare assessment, while also acknowledging the importance of sensitive communication with breeders.

In the second half, Lucy Hoile brings the conversation into the world of cats—particularly hybrid breeds such as Bengals and Savannahs. Drawing on her work as a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist, she highlights the ethical concerns around early-generation hybrid breeding, including the welfare of domestic cats paired with wild species. Lucy describes the behavioural challenges hybrids may pose in the home—from territorial aggression to chronic stress—and outlines how physical and social environments must be adapted if these cats are to thrive. She argues that hybrids demand dedicated, knowledgeable guardianship and raises the question of whether such breeding should continue at all.

By the end of the episode, listeners are left with a powerful call: breeding choices carry profound welfare implications, and veterinary professionals, policymakers, and owners alike share responsibility for ensuring the next generations of dogs and cats live healthier, happier lives.

Resources & Links

• WSAVA Hereditary Disease Committee
• WSAVA Educational Resources
• Proschowsky HF, Arendt ML, Bonnett BN, Bruun CS, Czycholl I, Fredholm M, O’Neill D, Serpell JA, Sandøe P (2025). A new future for dog breeding. Animal Welfare 34: e1. Read the paper
• BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome) functional testing – University of Cambridge
• International Cat Care – behaviour and choosing the right cat

Contributors:

• Yaiza Gomez Mejias MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats) — Veterinary Community Co-ordinator, International Cat Care Veterinary Society
• LinkedIn | X
• Helle Friis Proschowsky DVM, PhD — Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen; Member, WSAVA Hereditary Disease Committee
• LinkedIn | ORCID
• Lucy Hoile MSc CCAB — Feline Behaviourist; Author of The Book Your Cat Wishes You Would Read
• Website | LinkedIn | X | Instagram

This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.