From Genes to Traits

In this episode of the WSAVA Podcast, host Becky Murphy speaks with Dr Dan O’Neill about the evolving relationship between genetics, breed, and canine welfare, followed by Yaiza Gómez-Mejías in conversation with Dr Petra Černá on the importance of phenotypic screening in feline health. Together, these discussions explore how the traits we value today will determine the wellbeing of companion animals tomorrow.Dr Dan O’Neill begins by challenging how we define “breed” itself. Drawing on his work as Associate Professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College, he traces the modern concept of breed to its human origins in the late 19th century - a time when social prestige, aesthetics, and competition overtook biology. He explains how this cultural construction has shaped today’s diversity of dogs, often fixing harmful mutations and extreme conformations into the gene pool. Yet, he argues, because breed is a human invention, it can also be reinvented to prioritise health.In conversation with Becky Murphy, Dr O’Neill explores the difference between inherited and conformational disease, ultimately suggesting that the distinction may be artificial - all disease has an inherited component, whether behavioural, physical, or environmental. He calls on veterinarians to act as educators and advocates, engaging owners in honest and empathic dialogue about the health consequences of extreme conformation. He highlights the need for long-term cultural change, beginning with small, positive shifts: promoting healthy breeds on clinic social media, modelling good choices through the dogs veterinarians own themselves, and using non-judgmental language to encourage understanding rather than defensiveness.Turning from dogs to cats, Yaiza Gómez-Mejías and Dr Petra Černá discuss the challenges of phenotypic screening in feline practice. Dr Černá explains that while genetic tests are expanding, many inherited disorders in cats still require clinical screening through radiographs, echocardiography, and careful physical evaluation. She emphasises the importance of accessible, high-quality testing and the role of general practitioners in guiding breeders toward responsible decisions even when definitive genetic information is lacking. From hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to hip dysplasia, she underlines that phenotypic screening - despite its limitations - is vital to improving welfare, reducing hereditary disease, and supporting the ethical stewardship of breeding lines.Throughout the episode, both conversations reinforce the veterinarian’s unique position as a bridge between science, ethics, and the public. Whether discussing the reshaping of dog breeds or the evaluation of feline health, the message is clear: advancing welfare requires empathy, evidence, and the courage to rethink what we value in the animals who share our lives.Resources & Links• WSAVA Hereditary Disease Committee• WSAVA Educational Resources• Royal Veterinary College – Companion Animal Epidemiology• OFA – Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals• PawPeds – International Cat Health DatabaseContributorsDr Becky Murphy – Companion-animal veterinarian, governance leader, and business owner with a focus on genetics, theriogenology, and welfare-led breeding. President of the NZVA Companion Animal Veterinarians (CAV), member of the WSAVA Hereditary Disease Committee, and representative to the Companion Animals New Zealand (CANZ) Board. Founder and Director of TCI GlenBred, delivering evidence-based reproductive and genetic-health services to support responsible breeding.Dr Dan O’Neill MVB BSc (Hons) GPCert(SAP) GPCert(FelP) GPCert(Derm) GPCert(B&PS) PGCertVetEd FHEA MSc (VetEpi) PhD FRCVS – Associate Professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology, Royal Veterinary College. ProfileYaiza Gómez-Mejías MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats) – Veterinary Community Co-ordinator, International Cat Care Veterinary Society. LinkedIn | XDr Petra Černá PhD, DACVIM (SAIM), Dipl. ECVIM-CA, MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats), CertAVP (SAM-F), MRCVS, AFHEA, AdvCertFB – Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist, Colorado State University. LinkedIn | InstagramClick here to read the full transcript This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.