Life tables of annual life expectancy and risk factors for mortality in cats in the UK.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present study were to generate the first life tables for the UK companion cat population overall as well as broken down by sex and breed status, and to quantify associations between mortality and traits such as sex, neuter status, breed status and body weight in relation to mortality. METHODS: Life table construction and modelling included data on 7936 confirmed deaths in cats under primary veterinary care at clinics participating in the VetCompass Programme in 2019. The life tables were built for cats overall, female and male cats, and crossbred and purebred cats. Multivariable generalised linear regression models were generated to explore the risk factors for a shortened lifespan. RESULTS: Life expectancy at age 0 for UK companion cats overall was 11.74 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.61-11.87). The probability of death at each year interval increased with age from year interval 3-4, with the probability value not exceeding 0.05 before year 9. Female cats (12.51 years; 95% CI 12.32-12.69) had a 1.33-year longer life expectancy than male cats (11.18 years; 95% CI 11.01-11.38) at age 0. Among the 12 breeds (including crossbred) analysed, Burmese and Birman had the longest life expectancy at year 0, showing 14.42 years (95% CI 12.91-15.93) and 14.39 years (95% CI 12.87-15.91), respectively. Sphynx had the shortest life expectancy at year 0 among the analysed breeds at 6.68 years (95% CI 4.53-8.83). Being entire, purebred and with a non-ideal body weight were significantly linked to a decreased lifespan. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The life tables presented here for companion cats in the UK overall, by sex, and by crossbred and purebred cats can contribute to a better understanding of the life trajectory of cats, helping with evidence-based decision-making for cat owners and the veterinary profession. We have also provided an updated life expectancy at age 0 for various cat breeds for 2019 and showed evidence of the association between non-ideal weight and a decreased lifespan.

Target Trial Emulation: Does surgical versus non-surgical management of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs cause different outcomes?

Target trial emulation applies design principles from randomised controlled trials to the analysis of observational data for causal inference and is increasingly used within human epidemiology. Using anonymised veterinary clinical data from the VetCompass Programme, this study applied the target trial emulation framework to determine whether surgical (compared to non-surgical) management for cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture in dogs causes improved short- and long-term lameness and analgesia outcomes. The emulated target trial included dogs diagnosed with CCL rupture between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 within the VetCompass database. Inclusion in the emulated trial required dogs aged ≥ 1.5 and < 12 years, first diagnosed with unilateral CCL rupture during 2019 and with no prior history of contralateral ligament rupture or stifle surgery. Dogs were retrospectively observed to have surgical or non-surgical management. Informed from a directed acyclic graph derived from expert opinion, data on the following variables were collected: age, breed, bodyweight, neuter status, insurance status, non-orthopaedic comorbidities, orthopaedic comorbidities and veterinary group. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to adjust for confounding, with weights calculated based on a binary logistic regression exposure model. Censored dogs were accounted for in the IPTW analysis using inverse probability of censoring weighting (IPCW). The IPCWs were combined with IPTWs and used to weight each dog's contribution to binary logistic regression outcome models. Standardized mean differences (SMD) examined the balance of covariate distribution between treatment groups. The emulated trial included 615 surgical CCL rupture cases and 200 non-surgical cases. The risk difference for short-term lameness in surgically managed cases (compared with non-surgically managed cases) was -25.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) -36.7% to -15.9%) and the risk difference for long-term lameness -31.7% (95% CI -37.9% to -18.1%). The study demonstrated the application of the target trial framework to veterinary observational data. The findings show that surgical management causes a reduction in short- and long-term lameness compared with non-surgical management in dogs.

Dental disease in companion rabbits under UK primary veterinary care: Frequency and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Some prior evidence has suggested that lop-eared rabbits and those with brachycephalic skull conformations have a higher dental disease risk. This retrospective cohort study reports the frequency and conformational risk factors for primary-care veterinary diagnosis with dental disease in companion rabbits in the UK. METHODS: Anonymised VetCompass clinical records were manually reviewed to confirm dental disease cases. Risk factor analysis used multivariable binary logistic regression modelling. RESULTS: From 161,979 rabbits under primary veterinary care in 2019, the 1-year period prevalence of overall dental disease was 15.36% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.78-15.96). The prevalence of dental disease affecting incisors was 3.14% (95% CI: 2.87-3.44), and for cheek teeth it was 13.72% (95% CI: 13.17-14.29). Neither lop-eared conformation nor brachycephalic skull conformation was significantly associated with increased odds of dental disease. Dental disease odds increased as age increased and decreased as bodyweight increased. LIMITATIONS: This study retrospectively accessed clinical records, so breed names may sometimes be imprecise. CONCLUSION: The high overall prevalence of dental disease represents a major welfare concern for all companion rabbits, regardless of conformation. This information can be used to encourage regular routine dental assessment of rabbits of all conformations to promote earlier diagnosis, paying particular attention to older rabbits and those with low bodyweight.

Post-exercise management of exertional hyperthermia in dogs participating in dog sport (canicross) events in the UK.

Exercise is a common trigger of heat-related illness (HRI) events in dogs, accounting for 74% of canine HRI cases treated under primary veterinary care in the United Kingdom. However, few empirical studies have evaluated the effectiveness of differing cooling methods for dogs with exertional hyperthermia or HRI. This study aimed to prospectively evaluate effects of ambient conditions and post-exercise management practices (cooling methods and vehicular confinement) on the post-exercise temperature change of dogs participating in UK canicross events. Canine temperature was recorded at three intervals post-exercise: as close as possible to 0- (immediately post-exercise), 5-, and 15-min post-exercise. Ambient conditions and post-exercise management were recorded for 115 cooling profiles from 52 dogs. In 28/115 (24.4%) profiles, the dog's temperature increased during the first 5-min post-exercise. Overall, 68/115 (59.1%) profiles included passive cooling (stood or walked outside), 35 (30.4%) active cooling (cold-water immersion or application of a cooling coat), and 12 (10.4%) involved no cooling and were immediately housed in vehicles. No dogs developed hypothermia during the study and no adverse effects were observed from any cooling method. In hyperthermic dogs, overall post-exercise body temperature change was significantly negatively associated (i.e. the dogs cooled more) with 0-min post-exercise body temperature (ß = -0.93, p < 0.001), and not being housed in a vehicle (ß = -0.43, p = 0.013). This study provides evidence cold-water immersion (in water at 0.1-15.0 °C) can be used to effectively and safely cool dogs with exertional hyperthermia. Progressive temperature increases in many dogs - even after exercise has terminated - supports the message to "cool first, transport second" when managing dogs with HRI. When transporting dogs post-exercise or with HRI even after active cooling, care should be taken to cool the vehicle before entry and promote air movement around the dog during transport to facilitate ongoing cooling and prevent worsening of hyperthermia during travel.

Demography, commonly diagnosed disorders and mortality of guinea pigs under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2019-A VetCompass study.

INTRODUCTION: Guinea pigs are popular as domestic pets but there is limited information on the health of the wider pet population. This study aimed to report demography, commonly diagnosed disorders and mortality of guinea pigs under UK primary veterinary care. METHODS: Diagnosis and mortality information on guinea pigs was extracted from anonymised UK primary-care clinical records in VetCompass. RESULTS: From 51,622 guinea pigs under primary veterinary care during 2019, a specific breed was not recorded in 50,098 (97.05%). Of guinea pigs with information recorded, 23,206 (47.33%) were female and 25,828 (52.67%) were male. There were 1,020 (2.08%) neutered and 48,014 (97.92%) entire. Median adult bodyweight overall was 1.05kg (interquartile range [IQR] 0.90-1.19, range 0.40-2.66). From a random sample of 3,785/51,622 (7.33%) guinea pigs, the most prevalent disorders were overgrown nail(s) (n = 1,005, 26.55%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 25.15-27.99), dermatophytosis (228, 6.02%, 95% CI 5.29-6.83) and corneal ulceration (189, 4.99%, 95% CI 4.32-5.74). Among the 30 most common disorders, females showed predisposition for 3 disorders and males showed predisposition for 5 disorders. The disorder with the youngest age of affected animals was dermatophytosis (1.11 years) while weight loss had the oldest age of affected animals (4.64 years). From 757 recorded deaths, the median age at death overall was 4.03 years (IQR 2.56-5.44, range 0.17-10.00). Among deaths with a recorded cause, the most common causes of death were anorexia (n = 82, 13.87%, 95% CI 11.19-16.93), collapsed (58, 9.81%, 95% CI 7.54-12.50) and peri-anaesthetic death (20, 3.38%, 95% CI 2.08-5.18). CONCLUSIONS: These results can assist veterinarians and owners by providing demographic, disorder and mortality benchmarks that support improved clinical care and welfare outcomes in guinea pigs. Many common disorders in guinea pigs were husbandry related.

'All I do is fight fires': Qualitative exploration of UK veterinarians' attitudes towards and experiences of pre-purchase consultations regarding brachycephalic dogs.

BACKGROUND: Demand for brachycephalic dogs has dramatically increased over the past decade, despite growing evidence of strong associations between brachycephaly and severe, chronic disease. Positive post-purchase attitudes of owners towards brachycephalic dogs are highly intractable, facilitated by normalisation of breed-related disease and strong dog-owner bonds. Veterinarian-led pre-purchase consultations (PPCs) have been promoted as an opportunity to influence acquisition decisions regarding brachycephalic dogs. METHODS: Using reflexive thematic analysis, this qualitative study investigated veterinarians' attitudes towards, and experiences of, engaging in PPCs for brachycephalic dogs. RESULTS: Veterinarians described significant structural barriers, such as lack of time and staff, and perceptual barriers, such as perceived futility, negative outcomes of PPCs and public distrust in the profession, that combine to inhibit many veterinarians from offering or delivering brachycephalic PPCs. Some of these barriers are intractable at an individual-veterinarian level and lead to moral distress due to conflicts between veterinarians' responsibilities to animal welfare versus clients' and business needs, with resultant censorship of authentic views on brachycephalic ownership compromising professional integrity and autonomy. LIMITATIONS: Wider views and/or experiences may exist outside of the sampled population. CONCLUSION: Stronger veterinary leadership, including from the RCVS, BVA and veterinary corporates, is now urgently required to build profession-wide solutions that overcome the barriers identified to create public-facing consensus and innovative solutions to the 'brachycephalic crisis'.

English Cocker Spaniels under primary veterinary care in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections.

BACKGROUND: The English Cocker Spaniel (ECS) is one of the most popular dog breeds in the UK but information on disorder predisposition and protection is limited. Using anonymised veterinary clinical data from the VetCompass™ Programme, this study aimed to compare disorder predisposition and protection between the ECS and the remaining dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK during 2016. Electronic patient records for random samples of ECS and non-ECS were reviewed. The most common disorders diagnosed during 2016 were extracted and compared using multivariable logistic regression, controlling for confounders. RESULTS: The analysis included random samples of 2510/10,313 (24.3%) ECS and 7813/326,552 (2.39%) non-ECS. After accounting for confounding by age, sex, bodyweight within breed-sex, insurance status and veterinary practice group, the ECS had increased odds of 21/43 (48.85%) disorders at fine-level precision, with highest odds for aural discharge (odds ratio (OR) 14.66, 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.73-30.90, P <  0.001) and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (OR 7.64, 95% CI: 4.33-14.14, P <  0.001) and lowest odds for atopic dermatitis (OR 0.14, 95% CI: 0.05-0.31, P <  0.001) and allergy (OR 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06-0.28, P <  0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence for strong predisposition to aural and ocular disorders and protection from hypersensitivity disorders in the ECS. These results can aid dog owners, breeders, and veterinarians to better monitor health in ECS, and promote earlier diagnosis with improved prognosis. Further, the results can help breeding organisations establish key priorities the health-based reforms of the ECS.

Impacts of Puppy Early Life Experiences, Puppy-Purchasing Practices, and Owner Characteristics on Owner-Reported Problem Behaviours in a UK Pandemic Puppies Cohort at 21 Months of Age.

Problem behaviours are a leading cause of relinquishment and euthanasia of young dogs. Previous research has identified associations between owner-reported problem behaviours and risk factors, including how dogs were acquired as puppies, early socialisation experiences, and owners' experience levels. Puppies acquired during the 2020 phase of the UK COVID-19 pandemic ("Pandemic Puppies") were more likely to be exposed to many of these risk factors compared to puppies acquired in 2019; however, consequences for their adult behaviour are, as yet, unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the impact of these early-life and provenance-based risk factors, in addition to owner management strategies (including training methods) into early adulthood, upon adult dog behaviour aged 21 months. An online longitudinal cohort study of n = 985 Pandemic Puppies was conducted, recruited from a cohort of n = 4369 puppies originally surveyed in November-December 2020, which included data on how and why they were acquired and their socialisation/habituation experiences <16 weeks of age. Nearly all owners (96.7%) reported that their dog had exhibited at least one problem behaviour up to 21 months of age (median: 5; IQR: 3-7). Almost one third of dogs (30.9%) were reported to have displayed separation-related behaviours. Multivariable linear regression modelling revealed that owners reporting more problem behaviours were more likely to use multiple aversive training techniques (e.g., physical punishment), the use of which was notably high in this population (82.3%) compared to previous studies. Attendance at online puppy classes was the sole protective factor against owner use of aversive training methods. Almost one third of owners had underestimated how hard training their dog would be; this view was more likely among first-time owners. Urgent efforts are required to support this vulnerable population of dogs, including providing owner education regarding humane training techniques, to improve canine emotional health and avoid future relinquishment and/or behavioural euthanasia.

Demography, common disorders and mortality of Shih Tzu dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK.

BACKGROUND: Shih Tzus are a popular dog breed in the UK although there is relatively little reported information on their health. This study aimed to characterise the demography, common disorders and mortality of Shih Tzus under primary veterinary care during 2016 in the UK using de-identified clinical records from the VetCompass™ Programme. RESULTS: The study population of 336,865 dogs under veterinary care during 2016 included 11,082 Shih Tzus (3.3%). The median age was 4.1 years (IQR: 2.1-7.1, range: 0.3-20.4) and mean adult bodyweight was 7.9 kg (SD: 1.9 kg). Annual proportional births increased from 2.2% of all dog births in 2005 to 3.8% in 2013, dropping to 3.3% by 2016. From a random subset of 2,423 Shih Tzus that had information extracted on disorders diagnosed during 2016, the most prevalent fine-level precision disorders were periodontal disease (n = 229, prevalence 9.5%, 95% CI: 8.4-10.7), anal sac impaction (180, 7.4%, 95% CI: 6.5-8.5) and ear disorders (134, 5.5%, 95% CI: 4.7-6.5). The most prevalent grouped-level precision disorders were cutaneous (n = 402, prevalence: 16.6%, 95% CI: 15.2-18.1), dental (322, 13.3%, 95% CI: 12.0-14.7), and ophthalmological (289, 11.9%, 95% CI: 10.7-13.3). Males were more likely than females to be diagnosed with skin disorders (P = 0.007) and musculoskeletal disorders (P = 0.010) while females were more likely than males to be diagnosed with hernias (P = 0.005). The median age of death was 12.7 years (IQR 8.7-14.3, range 2.0-19.9) and did not differ statistically between males and females. The most common grouped causes of death were enteropathy (7.9%, 95% CI: 3.9-15.4), heart disease (7.9%, 95% CI: 3.9-15.4) and poor quality of life (7.9%, 95% CI: 3.9-15.4). CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal disease, anal sac impaction and ear disorders were identified as common health issues. Shih Tzus had higher prevalence of anal sac impaction, umbilical hernias and eye problems than reported previously in dogs overall, suggesting potential predispositions. Shih Tzus appear to be relatively long-lived compared to previous reports of lifespan in dogs overall. The results can inform veterinarians and owners on priority disorders for monitoring to protect welfare. Oral hygiene was highlighted as a healthcare priority.

The Shih Tzu is a popular small breed of dog in the UK. However, there is little information on common health conditions affecting this breed. This study aimed to describe the demography, common disorders, and causes of death of Shih Tzus in the UK in 2016 using the VetCompass™ Programme, which holds a database of anonymized clinical records of dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in the UK.The study included 11,082 Shih Tzus (3.3%) from 336,865 dogs under veterinary care in the UK in VetCompass™ in 2016. The popularity of the Shih Tzu increased slightly from 2005 to 2013 but showed signs of decline towards 2016. The average age of Shih Tzus in the study was 4.1 years and the average adult bodyweight was 7.9 kg. The most common disorders affecting Shih Tzus in the study were periodontal disease (inflammation of the gums and tissue around the teeth, affecting 9.5% of Shih Tzus), anal sac impaction (7.4%) and ear disorders (5.5%). Male Shih Tzus were more likely than females to have skin and musculoskeletal disorders (conditions affecting bones, muscles and joints), while female Shih Tzus were more likely be diagnosed with hernias (when internal tissues push out through weakened muscle tissues). Shih Tzus had higher prevalence of anal sac impaction, umbilical hernias and eye problems than previously reported in dogs overall, suggesting potential predispositions. The average age at death of Shih Tzus was 12.7 years of age and the most common causes of death were enteropathy (gastrointestinal diseases causing signs such as diarrhoea and vomiting, 7.9%), heart disease (7.9%) and poor quality of life (7.9%).This study demonstrated the value of analysis of veterinary clinical records to increase our understanding of common health problems affecting dogs in the UK. The results can help both current and prospective Shih Tzu owners, and veterinarians, in prioritising preventative healthcare for Shih Tzus. For example, the most common disorder in Shih Tzus was periodontal disease, suggesting that increased preventative dental checkups and toothbrushing could improve welfare, especially if implemented from an early age.

Is it now time to iron out the wrinkles? Health of Shar Pei dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK.

BACKGROUND: The Shar Pei is a common dog breed with a distinctive appearance caused by hyaluronosis that has been linked with several health conditions. Anonymised primary-care veterinary clinical records were explored to extract data on the demography, common disorders and mortality of Shar Pei in the UK in 2013. RESULTS: The study population of 455,557 dogs included 1913 (0.42%) Shar Pei. The mean adult bodyweight was 22.26 kg. The most prevalent fine-level precision disorders were entropion (prevalence 17.88%, 95% CI: 16.16-19.59), otitis externa (16.36%, 95% CI: 14.70-18.02), ear disorders (6.69%, 95% CI: 5.57-7.81), aggression (5.23%, 95% CI: 4.23-6.22), and pyoderma (4.29%, 95% CI: 3.38-5.19). The most prevalent disorder groups were ophthalmologic (prevalence = 22.27%, 95% CI: 20.40-24.13), dermatological (21.01%, 95% CI: 19.19-22.84), aural (18.66%, 95% CI: 16.92-20.41), traumatic injury (7.53%, 95% CI: 6.35-8.71) and behavioural (7.21%, 95% CI: 6.05-8.37). The median longevity of 190 Shar Pei that died during the study period was 7.28 years (IQR 5.04-10.05, range 0.04-15.04). Of 184 deaths with a recorded method of death, 157 (85.33%) deaths involved euthanasia and 27 (14.67%) deaths were unassisted. Among 136 (71.58%) deaths with a recorded biomedical cause of death, the most common causes of death at group level precision were neoplasia (15.44%, 95% CI: 9.37-21.51), renal disorders (13.24%, 95% CI: 7.54-18.93), and behavioural disorders (11.03%, 95% CI: 5.76-16.29). CONCLUSIONS: Almost one fifth of Shar Pei receive veterinary care each year for entropion, a condition linked strongly with the extreme conformation of thickened and folded skin and bristly hair that characterises the Shar Pei breed. Several other common disorders are also linked to hyaluronosis. Current UK legislation can help support efforts to avoid breeding or acquiring animals with extreme conformations and to promote adequate veterinary care for already-owned animals with extreme conformations.

The Shar Pei dog breed is instantly recognisable by their copious loose folded skin and bristly coat, with Shar Pei translating from Chinese as 'sand paper skin'. Although originally a fighting, hunting and guarding dog in China, the Shar Pei breed was re-invented in the US as a companion animal in the late 1970s where a more wrinkled and heavy-set American 'meat mouth' variety replaced the traditional 'bone mouth' variety originally popular in China. However, the underlying disease of hyaluronosis that causes the characteristic extreme appearance of the Shar Pei has also been linked with several other health problems in the breed such as in-turned eyelids (entropion) and ear disease. Using anonymised veterinary clinical records collected within the VetCompass Programme at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), Shar Pei made up 0.4% of all dogs in the UK in 2013 and had an average adult bodyweight of 22 kg. The most common specific disorders diagnosed in Shar Pei were in-turned eyelids (17.88%), ear infection (16.36%), ear problems (6.69%), aggression (5.23%), and skin infection (4.29%). Among the 30 most common specific disorders, females were more likely to show in-turned eyelids and conjunctivitis, while males were more likely to show aggression and infected paws. Once the disorders were grouped, the most common disorder groups were eye disorders (22.27%), skin (21.01%), ear (18.66%), traumatic injury (7.53%), and behavioural (7.21%). The average lifespan of Shar Pei was 7.28 years. The most common causes of death were cancer (15.44%,), kidney disorders (13.24%), and behavioural disorders (11.03%). This study highlights that almost one fifth of the breed receive veterinary care each year for in-turned eyelids that can lead to extreme pain and are linked to the thickened and folded skin that humans find so appealing in this breed. Current UK legislation can help support concerted efforts from all animal welfare stakeholders to avoid breeding or acquiring animals with these and other extreme conformations and to promote adequate veterinary care for already-owned animals with extreme conformations.

Target trial emulation: Do antimicrobials or gastrointestinal nutraceuticals prescribed at first presentation for acute diarrhoea cause a better clinical outcome in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK?

Target trial emulation applies design principles from randomised controlled trials to the analysis of observational data for causal inference and is increasingly used within human epidemiology. Veterinary electronic clinical records represent a potentially valuable source of information to estimate real-world causal effects for companion animal species. This study employed the target trial framework to evaluate the usefulness on veterinary observational data. Acute diarrhoea in dogs was used as a clinical exemplar. Inclusion required dogs aged ≥ 3 months and < 10 years, presenting for veterinary primary care with acute diarrhoea during 2019. Treatment strategies were: 1. antimicrobial prescription compared to no antimicrobial prescription and 2. gastrointestinal nutraceutical prescription compared to no gastrointestinal nutraceutical prescription. The primary outcome was clinical resolution (defined as no revisit with ongoing diarrhoea within 30 days from the date of first presentation). Informed from a directed acyclic graph, data on the following covariates were collected: age, breed, bodyweight, insurance status, comorbidities, vomiting, reduced appetite, haematochezia, pyrexia, duration, additional treatment prescription and veterinary group. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to balance covariates between the treatment groups for each of the two target trials. The risk difference (RD) of 0.4% (95% CI -4.5% to 5.3%) was non-significant for clinical resolution in dogs treated with antimicrobials compared with dogs not treated with antimicrobials. The risk difference (RD) of 0.3% (95% CI -4.5% to 5.0%) was non-significant for clinical resolution in dogs treated with gastrointestinal nutraceuticals compared with dogs not treated with gastrointestinal nutraceuticals. This study successfully applied the target trial framework to veterinary observational data. The findings show that antimicrobial or gastrointestinal prescription at first presentation of acute diarrhoea in dogs causes no difference in clinical resolution. The findings support the recommendation for veterinary professionals to limit antimicrobial use for acute diarrhoea in dogs.

Cooling Methods Used to Manage Heat-Related Illness in Dogs Presented to Primary Care Veterinary Practices during 2016-2018 in the UK.

The management of heat-related illness (HRI) in dogs has received limited attention in the veterinary literature, especially regarding effective cooling methods. Guidelines published in 2016 for prehospital management of dogs with HRI advised "cool first, transport second", and recommended using cold-water immersion and evaporative cooling (water application with air movement) as the optimal approaches to reduce the patient's temperature. The current retrospective cross-sectional observation study analysed electronic patient records from the VetCompass programme to describe the cooling methods used in dogs with HRI presented to primary care veterinary practices during 2016-2018. Of 623 HRI events identified, 341 (54.74%, 95% CI 50.81-58.60%) included information on cooling in their clinical record. Of these, 74/341 (21.70%, 95% CI 17.65-26.38%) were cooled prior to transport for veterinary care. Overall, 23.97% (95% CI 19.24-29.44%) were cooled using one of the two recommended cooling methods, whilst the most common cooling method recorded was the application of wet towels (51.31%, 95% CI 45.34-57.24%). Canine cooling guidance and messaging in both the public and veterinary sectors requires urgent review to ensure that the most effective cooling methods are promoted because delays to canine temperature reduction worsen patient outcomes.

Is UK Puppy Purchasing Suffering a Long COVID Effect? Ongoing Negative Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic upon Puppy Purchase Motivations and Behaviours in 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in acquisitions of puppies in the UK, dubbed the "Pandemic Puppy" phenomenon. In addition to an increased demand for puppies, widespread changes to both why and how puppies were purchased during this period compared to pre-pandemic 2019 purchases were documented, many of which threatened canine welfare (e.g., puppies being collected away from their place of birth, without seeing their mother). This study aimed to explore which changes to the pre-purchase and purchase motivations and behaviours of UK owners who purchased a puppy aged <16 weeks in the 2020 phase of the COVID-19 pandemic had persisted into 2021 or had returned to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. An online survey was conducted during February to April 2022 from which 2080 valid responses were analysed ("2021 puppies") and compared with previously collected data from comparable cohorts in 2019 (n = 1148, "2019 puppies") and 2020 (n = 4369, "Pandemic Puppies"). While the majority of the peak pandemic changes documented in 2020 had returned to their 2019 pre-pandemic baseline, others persisted into 2021. Multinomial logistic regression models revealed that the shifts during 2020 towards owners viewing their puppy pre-purchase over video calls or via video recordings/photos rather than in-person and towards collecting their puppy from outside of their breeders' property rather than inside had persisted into 2021 and had not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Year-on-year significant rises in the number of puppies sold with a passport were documented between 2019 and 2021, with over 1 in 10 2021 puppies having been sold with a passport, the figure more than doubling since 2019. An increasing number of these puppies sold with a passport were under the minimum legal age for import at sale. Going forward, these concerning changes require further monitoring and human behaviour change interventions to tackle, including increased buyer awareness but also legislative approaches to prevent the greatest harm.

Dog breeds and conformations in the UK in 2019: VetCompass canine demography and some consequent welfare implications.

INTRODUCTION: Growing concerns over health and welfare impacts from extreme phenotypes in dogs have created an urgent need for reliable demographic information on the national breed structures of dogs. METHODS: This study included all dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK during 2019 at practices participating in VetCompass. Demographic data on these dogs were analysed to report on the frequency of common breeds and also to report on conformation, bodyweight, sex and neuter associations with these breeds. RESULTS: The study included 2,237,105 dogs under UK veterinary care in 2019. Overall, 69.4% (n = 1,551,462) were classified as purebred, 6.7% (149,308) as designer-crossbred and 24.0% (536,335) as nondesigner-crossbred. Across 800 unique breed names, the most frequent breeds at any age were nondesigner-crossbred (n = 536,335, 24.0%), Labrador Retriever (154,222, 6.9%) and Jack Russell Terrier (101,294, 4.5%). Among 229,624 (10.3%) dogs aged under one year, the most frequent breeds were nondesigner-crossbred (n = 45,995, 20.0%), French Bulldog (16,036, 7.0%) and Cockapoo (14,321, 6.2%). Overall, based on breed characteristics, 17.6% (395,739) were classified as brachycephalic, 43.1% (969,403) as mesaticephalic and 8.3% (186,320) as dolichocephalic. Of 1,551,336 dogs that were classifiable based on breed, 52.6% (815,673) were chondrodystrophic. Of 1,462,925 dogs that were classifiable, there were 54.6% (n = 798,426) short haired, 32.6% (476,883) medium haired and 12.8% (186,934) long haired. Of 1,547,653 dogs that were classifiable for ear carriage, 24.5% (n = 379,581) were erect, 28.1% (434,273) were semi-erect, 19.7% (305,475) were v-shaped drop and 27.7% (428,324) were pendulous. Overall, there was a 1.09:1.00 ratio of male (n = 1,163,512; 52.2%) to female dogs (n = 1,067,552; 47.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Health and welfare issues linked to popular breeds with extreme phenotypes suggest that there is much work to do to help owners to make more welfare-friendly decisions when choosing which type of dog to own.

Dog breeds and conformations predisposed to osteosarcoma in the UK: a VetCompass study.

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone neoplasia that has high welfare consequences for affected dogs. Awareness of breed and canine conformational risk factors for osteosarcoma can assist with earlier diagnosis and improved clinical management. Study of osteosarcoma in dogs also offers translational value for humans. Anonymised clinical data within VetCompass on dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK were searched for osteosarcoma cases. Descriptive statistics reported overall and breed-specific prevalence. Risk factor analysis used multivariable logistic regression modelling. RESULTS: From 905,552 study dogs, 331 osteosarcoma cases were confirmed yielding a one-year period prevalence of 0.037% (95% CI: 0.033-0.041). Breeds with the highest annual prevalence were the Scottish Deerhound (3.28%, 95% CI 0.90-8.18), Leonberger (1.48%, 95% CI 0.41- 3.75), Great Dane (0.87%, 95% CI 0.43- 1.55) and Rottweiler (0.84%, 95% CI 0.64-1.07). The median age at diagnosis was 9.64 years (IQR: 7.97-11.41). Following multivariable modelling, 11 breeds showed increased odds of osteosarcoma compared with crossbred dogs. Breeds with the highest odds included Scottish Deerhound (OR 118.40, 95% CI 41.12-340.95), Leonberger (OR 55.79, 95% CI 19.68-158.15), Great Dane (OR 34.24, 95% CI 17.81-65.83) and Rottweiler (OR 26.67, 95% CI 18.57-38.29). Compared with breeds with mesocephalic skull conformation, breeds with dolichocephalic skull conformation (OR 2.72, 95% CI 2.06-3.58) had increased odds while breeds with brachycephalic skull conformation showed reduced odds (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.32-0.80). Chondrodystrophic breeds had 0.10 times the odds (95% CI 0.06-0.15) compared with non-chondrodystrophic breeds. Increasing adult bodyweight was associated with increasing odds of osteosarcoma. CONCLUSIONS: The current study cements the concept that breed, bodyweight and longer leg or longer skull length are all strong risk factors for osteosarcoma in dogs. With this awareness, veterinarians can update their clinical suspicion and judgement, breeders can select towards lower-risk animals, and researchers can robustly define more useful study populations for fundamental and translational bioscience.

Osteosarcoma describes a serious bone tumour. Affected dogs often show a bony or soft tissue swelling with severe pain. Canine and human osteosarcoma show similar patient characteristics, clinical course and tumour biology that make studies on canine osteosarcoma highly valuable to inform on the human disease. This study aimed to interrogate anonymised veterinary clinical data from the VetCompass Programme to explore whether demographic information on dogs such as breed, bodyweight and body shape could be useful to predict osteosarcoma. VetCompass shares anonymised veterinary clinical records for welfare-focused research. This study explored the records of 905,552 dogs under veterinary care in 2016 to identify all cases of osteosarcoma. Advanced statistical methods were used to evaluate links between demographic factors and the risk of osteosarcoma. From the overall study population of 905,552 dogs, there were 331 osteosarcoma cases identified to show a one-year period prevalence of 0.037%. The breeds with the highest frequency of osteosarcoma were the Scottish Deerhound (3.28%), Leonberger (1.48), Great Dane (0.87%), Rottweiler (0.84%) and Greyhound (0.62%). Eleven breeds showed increased risk of osteosarcoma compared with crossbred dogs. Breeds with the highest risk included Scottish Deerhound (× 118.40 times risk), Leonberger (× 55.79), Great Dane (× 34.24) and Rottweiler (× 26.67). Aging was progressively and strongly associated with increasing risk of osteosarcoma. Dogs weighing heavier that the average for their breed had 1.65 times the risk than animals weighing below the breed average. Insured dogs had 1.71 times the risk of being diagnosed with osteosarcoma compared with uninsured dogs which may indicate higher levels of healthcare given to insured dogs compared to uninsured dogs. Chondrodystrophic (short-legged) breeds had 0.10 times the risk of osteosarcoma compared with non-chondrodystrophic breeds. Compared with breeds with mesocephalic (average length) skull conformation, breeds with dolichocephalic (long) skull conformation (× 2.72) had increased odds of osteosarcoma while breeds with brachycephalic (short) skull conformation showed reduced risk (× 0.50). This study cements the concept that breed, bodyweight and longer leg or longer skull length all predispose to osteosarcoma in dogs. With this awareness, veterinarians can update their clinical suspicion and judgement, breeders can select towards lower-risk animals, and researchers can define more useful study populations for better research.

A Review of Clinical Outcomes, Owner Understanding and Satisfaction following Medial Canthoplasty in Brachycephalic Dogs in a UK Referral Setting (2016-2021).

Brachycephalic breeds have increased in popularity despite growing awareness of their predisposition to a wide range of conformation-related diseases. The extreme facial conformation of many popular brachycephalic breeds compromises their ocular surface health, increasing the risk of painful corneal ulceration. Medial canthoplasty (MC) is a surgical procedure to address ocular abnormalities in brachycephalic dogs, which are collectively referred to as brachycephalic ocular syndrome (BOS). This study retrospectively reviewed the records of dogs recommended MC at a referral hospital between 2016 and 2021. A questionnaire was designed to identify owners' perceptions pre- and post-operatively. From 271 brachycephalic dogs recommended MC, 43.5% (118/271) underwent surgery and 72.0% (85/118) were Pugs. The majority of dogs (73.7%, 87/118) that underwent surgery had current or historical corneal ulceration. Follow-up was available in 104 dogs, of which 5.7% (6/104) had corneal ulceration post-operatively. Sixty-four owners completed the questionnaire and reported post-operative corneal ulceration in 12.5% of dogs (8/64), reduced ocular discharge (70.8%, 34/48), reduced ocular irritation (67.7%, 21/31) and less periocular cleaning (52.5%, 32/61). Owners were satisfied with the clinical (85.9%, 55/64) and cosmetic (87.5%, 56/64) outcome. In conclusion, MC has high clinical relevance for the surgical management of BOS, restoring functional conformation and improving the quality of life of affected dogs.

Demography and disorders of English Cocker Spaniels under primary veterinary care in the UK.

BACKGROUND: The English Cocker Spaniel (ECS) is a common family dog in the UK. This study aimed to describe demography, morbidity, and mortality in ECS under primary veterinary care in the UK during 2016 using data from the VetCompass™ Programme. This study hypothesised that the prevalence of aggression is higher in male than female ECS, and higher in solid-coloured than bi-coloured ECS. RESULTS: English Cocker Spaniels comprised 10,313/336,865 (3.06%) of dogs under primary veterinary care during 2016. The median age was 4.57 years (inter-quartile range (IQR) 2.25-8.01) and the median adult bodyweight was 15.05 kg (IQR 13.12-17.35). The annual proportional birth rate was relatively stable between 2.97-3.51% from 2005-2016. The most common specific diagnoses were periodontal disease (n = 486, prevalence 20.97%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 19.31-22.62), otitis externa (n = 234, 10.09%, 95% CI: 8.87-11.32), obesity (n = 229, 9.88%, 95% CI: 8.66-11.09), anal sac impaction (n = 187, 8.07%, 95% CI: 6.96-9.18), diarrhoea (n = 113, 4.87%, 95% CI: 4.00-5.75), and aggression (n = 93, 4.01%, 95% CI: 3.21-4.81). The prevalence of aggression was higher in males (4.95%) than in females (2.87%) (P = 0.015) and in solid-coloured (7.00%) than in bi-coloured dogs (3.66%) (P = 0.010). The median age at death was 11.44 years (IQR 9.46-13.47) and the most common grouped causes of death were neoplasia (n = 10, 9.26%, 95% CI: 3.79-14.73), mass-associated disorders (n = 9, 8.33%, 95% CI: 4.45-15.08), and collapse (n = 8, 7.41%, 95% CI: 3.80-13.94). CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal disease, otitis externa, and obesity are identified as the most common health issues for ECS, and neoplasia and mass-associated disorders as the most common reasons for death. The prevalence of aggression was higher in males and solid-coloured dogs. The results can aid veterinarians in giving evidence-based health and breed choice information to dog owners and highlights the importance of thorough oral examination and body condition score evaluation during routine veterinary examination of ECS.

The English Cocker Spaniel (ECS) is a popular family dog in the UK, but there is limited information regarding common disorders affecting the breed. The goal of this study was to describe demography (age, sex, neuter, and bodyweight), disease occurrence, lifespan, and reasons for death in ECS by using data from the VetCompass™ Programme. The VetCompass™ Programme collects information from anonymised clinical records of dogs attending first-opinion veterinary practices in the UK. This study hypothesised that aggression is more common in males than in females, and in solid-coloured than in bi-coloured ECS dogs.English Cocker Spaniels comprised 10,313/336,865 (3.06%) of dogs under primary veterinary care during 2016. Breed popularity did not vary much from 2005 to 2016, comprising around 3% of all dogs born each year. The average age of dogs in 2016 was 4.57 years and the average adult bodyweight was 15.05 kg. The most common disorders were periodontal disease (infection of the tissues that hold the teeth in place, affecting 20.97% of the dogs), inflammation of the external ear canal (10.09%), obesity (9.88%), anal sac impaction (8.07%), diarrhoea (4.87%), and aggression (4.01%). Aggression was more common in males (4.95%) than in females (2.87%) and in solid-coloured (7.00%) than in bi-coloured (3.66%) dogs. The frequency of aggression also varied across the four most common solid colours (black, liver, golden, red), with golden-coloured dogs showing the most aggression (12.08%). The average lifespan was 11.44 years and the most common cause of death was tumours.This study shows that first-opinion clinical records can help us to understand and enhance breed health. The results can guide veterinarians in giving breed-adapted information to owners of ECS and help breeders to optimise breeding decisions. Further, this information can be used by future ECS owners to make more informed decisions when acquiring a dog if avoidance of aggression is a key priority. Periodontal disease was the most common condition affecting the breed, which highlights the importance of regular veterinary dental checks and as well as tooth brushing in ECS.

Epidemiology of mammary tumours in bitches under veterinary care in the UK in 2016.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information on the epidemiology of canine mammary tumours. This study aimed to estimate the incidence and risk factors for mammary tumours in UK bitches. METHODS: A nested case-control study was conducted within VetCompass to estimate the frequency and risk factors for clinically diagnosed mammary tumours during 2016 (VetCompass study). A second case-control study explored further breed associations for cases confirmed histopathologically compared to the VetCompass controls (laboratory study). Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between risk factors and mammary tumours. RESULTS: The incidence of mammary tumours was 1340.7/100,000 per year (95% confidence interval: 1198.1-1483.3). A total of 222 clinical cases (VetCompass study) and 915 laboratory cases (laboratory study) were compared to 1515 VetCompass controls in the two analyses. In the VetCompass study, Springer and Cocker Spaniels, Boxers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Lhasa Apsos had increased odds of developing mammary tumours. Neutering was associated with reduced odds, while odds increased with increasing age and a history of pseudopregnancy. In the laboratory study, increasing age was associated with greater odds of mammary tumours, and the breeds most at risk were similar to those identified in the VetCompass study. LIMITATIONS: The timing of neutering was not consistently available. Comparing laboratory cases to VetCompass controls provided only exploratory evidence for the breed associations identified. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides an update on the frequency of canine mammary tumours.