Featured Experts

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 Biography

Dr. Jane Ladlow is a European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery at Granta Veterinary Specialists, with over 20 years in soft tissue surgery. She developed the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme for BOAS in French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, and Pugs. 

Awards: BSAVA Simon Award, BVA Chiron Award.

Dr. Ladlow's work focuses on non-invasive assessments for brachycephalic breeds. Listen to her podcast on BOAS: Apple Podcasts.

Dr. Ladlow is an Honorary Member of the French Bulldog Foundation of America. We are excited to bring her work and voice to our shared cause.

In the world of veterinary health, few practitioners blend compassion, innovation, and expertise quite like Maeg Berkowitz. As the founder of Chiropractic Dogtor in the Bay Area, California, Berkowitz has dedicated her career to helping animals—particularly dogs—regain mobility and quality of life through non-invasive techniques. With credentials including an MBA, she specializes in treating conditions like Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), a debilitating spinal issue that affects many breeds, especially French Bulldogs. Her approach emphasizes holistic healing, rehabilitation, and preventive care, often turning around cases where euthanasia was considered the only option.

BOAS & Respiratory Function Grading Scheme (RFGS) Expert Certified OFA RFGS Evaluator

Dr. Julia Ziegler is a dedicated veterinarian and certified evaluator for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) Respiratory Function Grading Scheme (RFGS). Based in North Carolina at  Animal Hospital of Statesville  on South Main (and its sister location), she specializes in brachycephalic airway health with a strong focus on improving quality of life for French Bulldogs and other flat-faced breeds.

Her expertise centers on Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) — a progressive condition involving multiple anatomical challenges that restrict airflow. Dr. Ziegler provides clear, practical education on how BOAS affects our dogs and how the non-invasive RFGS test offers an objective way to assess respiratory function, guide breeding decisions, support surgical planning, and track improvements through management like weight control.

In her recent in-depth webinar for the French Bulldog Foundation of America, “Inside BOAS: What Every French Bulldog Owner & Breeder Should Know,” Dr. Ziegler delivered over an hour of valuable insight into the disease process, real-world impacts on daily life, and actionable strategies for breeders and owners. The session included an engaging Q&A that addressed common questions from the community.

Dr. Ziegler’s approach is compassionate and solution-oriented. She emphasizes that the goal isn’t perfection, but steady progress toward healthier, happier French Bulldogs through informed, responsible breeding and proactive health management.

We are deeply grateful to Dr. Ziegler for sharing her time, knowledge, and dedication with the FBDFA community. Her contributions directly support our mission: Health Above All Else — through education, advocacy, and promoting responsible, health-focused breeding.

Expertise Areas:

• Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)
• Respiratory Function Grading Scheme (RFGS) testing & interpretation
• Breeding recommendations using RFGS grading
• Airway management and improvement strategies
• Education for owners, breeders, and enthusiasts

More educational webinars, clinics, and resources featuring experts like Dr. Ziegler are coming soon. Join the FBDFA community to stay informed and help build a healthier future for French Bulldogs.

Dr. Hubbard is Fear Free Certified, SOUND Ultrasound trained, and currently enrolled in CRI Canine Rehabilitation Therapist training. Her professional interests include dentistry, rehabilitation, and soft tissue surgery.

Dr. Carly Hubbard is originally from Louisville, KY. She received her B.A. in Biology from Transylvania University in Lexington, KY then attended the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine (War Eagle!) where she earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she moved to Dallas, TX and spent 3 years further honing her skills in a fast paced, 24/7 emergency clinic. Her clinical experience makes her an invaluable addition to the team!

Dr. Hubbard discovered her passion for sports medicine as a student athlete at Transylvania. She is excited to have the ability to combine her passion for sports with the veterinary field. Dr. Hubbard lives with her boyfriend, David, in Brentwood with their two retired racing greyhounds, Ajax and Travis, as well as their crazy cats, Willow and Henry. Outside of work, Dr. Hubbard enjoys swimming and is always on the hunt for the next triathlon. 

Board-Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist

Dr. Danielle Paglia is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (DACVO). She earned her B.S. in Animal Biology from the University of Florida and her DVM from Mississippi State University. She completed her internship and specialty training at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and UC Davis.

Dr. Paglia currently practices at Eye Care for Animals in Austin, Texas. Her special interests include brachycephalic ocular syndrome, eyelid reconstruction, and client education—areas of particular importance to French Bulldog owners and breeders.

Date: August 28 Time: 10:00 AM CT Format: Recorded interview to be uploaded to the French Bulldog Foundation of America YouTube channel

We will be asking 3–4 follower-submitted questions, followed by board questions and a presentation from Dr. Paglia.

Submit your questions for Dr. Paglia — we want to hear what matters most to you about French Bulldog eye health.

We are grateful to Dr. Paglia for generously donating her time and expertise to support education through the Foundation.

Professor, Associate Department Head
William A. Roach ’55 Family Chair in Small Animal Clinical Sciences

Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Dr. Kelley Thieman Mankin is a board-certified small animal soft tissue surgeon whose work sits at the intersection of airway health, surgical safety, and practical tools breeders can actually use. She earned her DVM from the University of Missouri in 2006, completed a rotating internship at the University of Tennessee, then a combined master’s degree and surgical residency at the University of Florida before joining the Texas A&M faculty in 2011. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal) in 2012.

At TAMU she has built the Small Animal Teaching Hospital’s soft tissue and minimally invasive surgery service, taught laparoscopic and thoracoscopic techniques nationwide, and led departmental work first as Chief Medical Officer (2021–2024) and now as Associate Department Head. Her research and teaching focus on surgical site infection prevention, wound management, and brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). Many of her papers are written so general practitioners can apply them immediately.

That BOAS focus is why she is such a strong fit for FBDFA. She is an OFA-listed Respiratory Function Grading (RFG) assessor in Texas and has published on in-person versus remote RFG scoring in brachycephalic dogs. She is also a frequent educator on the RFG scheme itself—how the 0–3 grades work, what they mean for breeding decisions, and why an objective airway exam belongs in a health-first program.

For the 2026 ABKC Nationals OFA clinic hosted with FBDFA, Dr. Thieman Mankin will provide RFG evaluations plus basic cardiac and patella exams. Her TAMU colleague Dr. Ashley B. Saunders, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)—Professor, Assistant Department Head for Teaching, and Ch’en Chair in Cardiovascular Research—will offer Advanced Cardiac evaluations. Together they give exhibitors a rare one-stop clinic: airway grading from a surgeon who studies BOAS, plus both screening and specialist-level cardiac work from one of the country’s leading veterinary cardiology programs.

Dr. Thieman Mankin’s professional stance matches FBDFA’s “Health Above All Else” standard: measure what matters, publish what practitioners can use, and give breeders objective data instead of guesswork.