In addition, inbreeding has other negative effects on the animals’ health (called inbreeding depression) including fertility problems, reduced survival and fitness of offspring, and weakened immune systems. Examples include Polycystic Kidney Disease in Persian cats (leading to kidney failure), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Maine Coon cats and Mitral Valve Disease in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (both diseases leading to heart failure), and spinal abnormalities in British and French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers and pugs. Inbred animals are more likely to have genetic defects and inherited diseases, which can be extremely detrimental to their health and welfare. However, the effects of inbreeding accumulate within closed populations (e.g., within purebred breeds) and negative consequences can result from breeding parents who are too genetically similar. Inbreeding has been the foundation for the development of pedigree(pure bred) breeds as it results in offspring who are predictably similar, because of the fact that their genetic similarity maintains specific traits from a common ancestor (i.e., the genetic similarity of dogs of the Labrador breed means they look the same they look like a Labrador). Inbreeding has been a common practice in companion animals (and other domesticated species) as it increases the likelihood that animals will share desired traits such as their physical characteristics because they are genetically similar.
Inbreeding reduces the genetic variation within that breed or population. Inbreeding is the mating of related individuals who have one or more ancestors in common.
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