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Many English and French bulldogs develop breathing difficulties, and the flat faces of these breeds have long been thought to be responsible, but now a gene mutation in these dogs suggests that face shape isn鈥檛 the only culprit.

Jeffrey Schoenebeck at the University of Edinburgh, UK, and his colleagues have found a mutation in a gene called ADAMTS3, which is also present in Norwich terriers.

Norwich terriers often suffer from similar breathing problems even though they have proportional noses.

The team analysed DNA from more than 400 Norwich terriers, and also checked the dogs鈥� airways for signs of disease.

The team found a significant association between the gene mutation and the likelihood of a Norwich terrier having a breathing problem called upper airway syndrome.

鈥淢utation in the gene affects development and maintenance of the lymphatic system,鈥� says Schoenebeck. In humans, the gene mutation is associated with fluid retention and swelling.

The team thought that dogs with the gene could be predisposed to swelling in the upper airways that may result in breathing problems, so went on to check other breeds.

Of the 24 English bulldogs the team analysed, 19 were found to have two copies of the mutated gene, while of 99 French bulldogs the team looked at, 17 carried one copy of the gene while three had two mutated copies.

Skull shape is still a contributing factor to the breathing problems common in English bulldogs, French bulldogs and also pugs, says Schoenebeck. Because of their squished faces, they have a disproportionate amount of soft tissue around their nostrils, which affects air flow.

Schoenebeck says the mutation could be used to develop genetic screening tests for breeders. Selectively breeding out the mutated gene may be difficult in English bulldogs, because it may result in problems relating to a lack of genetic diversity, he adds.