S6 E3: Every Breath They Take - Inside the Innate Health Assessment with Prof Dan O'Neill

The Innate Health Assessment tool developed by Prof Dan O'Neill and a team from the Royal Veterinary College has been described as revolutionary. In a podcast dedicated to the sustainability of horse sport from a welfare perspective, why are we talking about flat-faced dogs? Because we humans do things to and with animals in our lives that are not always in the animals' best interests, and breeding dogs for extreme conformation is one of those things. The IHA is designed to encourage responsible breeding of dogs so that future generations can lead full and happy lives, free from pain and discomfort. Dr Dan O’NeillProfessor of Companion Animal Epidemiology, RVCMVB BSc(Hons) GPCert(SAP) GPCert(FelP) GPCert(Derm) GPCert(B&PS) PGCertVetEd FHEA MSc(VetEpi) PhD FRCVSFollowing 22 years in general (mainly small animal) veterinary practice, Dan moved across to academia in 2009 to gain a PhD at the RVC developing VetCompass to harness the power of veterinary clinical records to understand companion animal health at scale. He has remained at the RVC and co-leads the VetCompass™ Programme. With over 185 peer-reviewed papers, he also co-authored the books ‘Breed Predispositions to Disease in Dogs and Cats’ and ‘Health and Welfare of Brachycephalic (Flat-faced) Companion Animals’. He is a founding member of the UK Brachycephalic Working Group, the UK Legal Advisory Group on Extreme Conformation in Dogs and the International Collaborative on Extreme Conformation in Dogs. Dan was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2018, the BSAVA Blaine Award for Advancement of Small Animal Science in 2019, the International Canine Health Award from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust in 2021, the UK All Party Parliamentary Group ‘Phillippa Robinson Dog Welfare Award’ in 2024 and the RCVS Impact Award in 2025.   In this conversation, Dan O'Neill discusses his journey from general veterinary practice to academia, highlighting the impact of the 'Pedigree Dogs Exposed' documentary on his career pivot. He introduces Vet Compass, a research initiative aimed at improving animal health through data collection and analysis and the provision of evidence-based support for veterinary practices. The discussion delves into the challenges of traditional veterinary practices, the importance of evidence-based medicine, and the role of human perceptions in animal welfare. O'Neill emphasizes the need for a shift in thinking towards innate health in animals, advocating for a more humane approach to breeding and care. NOTE: The original Pedigree Dogs Exposed BBC documentary from 2008 that was the lightbulb moment for Dan is no longer available but its follow-up Pedigree Dogs Exposed: Three Years On is available on Prime Video.