RESPIRATORY FUNCTION GRADING SCHEME

Have you heard about the respiratory function grading (RFG) scheme?

Yesterday I spent the day at the DogsNSW grounds in Orchard Hills with Dr Arthur House and numerous other vets, to become an accredited assessor for the RFG scheme. Keep reading to find out more …

The RFG scheme for brachycephalic dogs was developed by the Cambridge University BOAS research team. Kennel clubs around the world are adopting this scheme to detect the presence and severity of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome using an exercise tolerance test.

Currently, the test is only validated for French bulldogs, Pugs and British Bulldogs and can only be performed by veterinarians who have undergone further training to be an assessor (I have just completed this training).

Dogs are examined for the presence of respiratory signs at rest, then they are trotted for 3 minutes and re-examined at the end of the test.

Dogs are graded as:

0 - “clinically” unaffected

1 - mild

2 - moderate

3 - severe

The objectives of the scheme are:

* To identify dogs at risk/subject to BOAS. Grade II and III are considered clinically BOAS-affected and they require management and/or treatment.

* Give breeders the best available information in terms of the appropriateness of using a dam/sire in a breeding programme. Grade 3 dogs should be removed from breeding programs.

* To provide data and statistics in terms of BOAS to monitor the frequency and progress in the breed affected for ongoing research for the overall improvement of the relevant breeds.

It is important to note that the grading scheme is not used as a singular diagnostic tool but rather a way of assessing the severity of respiratory distress in brachycephalic dogs. A thorough physical examination, history, clinical signs, exercise tests, diagnostic imaging, and other tests are still essential to make an assessment.

Contact me for more info!