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Get a GRIHP! on Breed Health

A Globally Relevant Integrated Health Profile (GRIHP) describes the Big Picture of health on (all) conditions that are of interest within a breed and is intended to inform owners, breeders, and those counseling them. Health Strategies are breed-specific recommendations and requirements developed by Health Strategy Providers (HSPs) including, e.g., kennel clubs, breed clubs, and veterinary organizations. Health strategies may encompass detailed descriptions of breed history and development, evidence/ statistics on conditions of interest, health/temperament screening suggestions or official programs, and more, depending on the breed, the HSP, the country, and/or specific organizations.

The Big Picture for a breed should include information not only on conditions, that have a genetic or other screening tests available, but also all conditions that may impact the health, behaviour/temperament, well-being, and welfare of individuals and breed populations; ideally accompanied by an indication of the relative importance of each item, which may involve commonness, severity, and other factors. In some countries, kennel and breed clubs have created breed-specific, comprehensive strategies to determine the current situation for the breed, including disease and population statistics, and describe actions for a sustainable future. For some breeds, in other countries, clubs may simply have a list of recommended disease tests and/or health evaluations - and that is a good start.  Bringing together available information internationally will highlight similarities and differences or the health situation for breeds, role model some of the great work being done, and provide tools and inspiration for those wanting to work on breed health.  

Depending on the breed, these Get a GRIHP! articles may include:

•     Breed nomenclature and description of types and characteristics
•     Health and welfare issues, including:
  •         statistics on common and high risk conditions
  •         available health, genetic and other screening tests that are recommended or required
•     Population statistics from various countries; statistics on trends in popularity
•     Management strategies and recommendations for owners and breeder,s as well as, resources to support veterinary-client communication.