Picking a Pedigree How to Choose a Healthy Puppy or Kitten

The issue of congenital problems in popular breeds of dogs and cats is now much more public than a decade ago, yet brachycephalic breeds of dogs, hairless cats, and munchkin cats continue to grow in popularity. The purpose of Picking a Pedigree is to raise public awareness of what constitutes a healthy pet, to inform what the medical implications of inherited features are, and describe the human-influenced breeding practices that have created manufactured problems for the sake of appearance and arbitrary breed standards. Picking a Pedigree is a book that all responsible prospective pet owners should read before making a decision on acquiring a new puppy or kitten.

Emma Milne is a veterinary surgeon, patron of Dogs Trust and RWAF, and ambassador for AWF.