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Engdahl K, Höglund O, Hedhammar Å, Hanson J, Bergström A. The epidemiology of osteochondrosis in an insured Swedish dog population. Prev Vet Med 2024; 228:106229. [PMID: 38795580 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Osteochondrosis (OC) is a focal disturbance of endochondral ossification due to a failure of blood supply to the epiphyseal growth cartilage. In dogs, OC most commonly affects the shoulder joint, followed by the elbow, tarsal, and stifle joints. The condition is associated with clinical signs such as lameness and pain and the prognosis varies depending on the affected joint. Most epidemiologic studies of OC in dogs were performed over 20 years ago, and updated estimates of disease incidence are lacking. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to provide population-based estimates of the incidence rate, cause-specific mortality rate, and age at diagnosis of appendicular OC (AOC, including OC of the shoulder, elbow, stifle, and tarsal joints) and stifle and tarsal OC separately, using data from Agria Djurförsäkring in Sweden (2011-2016). Further, the study aimed to evaluate the risk of OC in subgroups divided by breed and sex and describe previous, concurrent, and subsequent diagnoses of the affected joint in dogs with stifle or tarsal joint OC. The study population included just over 600,000 dogs, of which 685 were affected by AOC. Stifle joint OC (n = 113) was more common than tarsal joint OC (n = 80). The incidence rate of AOC was 3.77 (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.49-4.07) cases per 10,000 dog-years at risk, while the incidence rate of stifle and joint tarsal OC was 0.64 (95% CI: 0.53-0.77) and 0.43 (95% CI: 0.34-0.54) cases per 10,000 dog-years at risk, respectively. All breeds at increased risk of AOC were large or giant, and male dogs had an increased risk of AOC compared to female dogs (RR 1.76, 95% CI: 1.50-2.07, p < 0.001). The median age at first diagnosis during the study period was 0.74 (0.32-11.5) years for AOC, 2.62 (0.45-8.82) years for stifle joint OC, and 0.73 (0.35-7.35) years for tarsal joint OC. Of the dogs with stifle or tarsal joint OC, 30.2% and 15.0% had a previous diagnosis of stifle/tarsal joint pain or other unspecific clinical signs, respectively, and 13.8% of the dogs with stifle joint OC suffered subsequent cruciate ligament rupture. Osteochondrosis was the most common reason for euthanasia in the affected dogs. In total, 77 dogs were euthanised due to AOC during the study period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Engdahl
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7054, Uppsala 75007, Sweden.
| | - Odd Höglund
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7054, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | - Åke Hedhammar
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7054, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | - Jeanette Hanson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7054, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | - Annika Bergström
- AniCura Djursjukhuset Albano, Rinkebyvägen 21A, Danderyd 182 36, Sweden
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Roccaro M, Salini R, Pietra M, Sgorbini M, Gori E, Dondi M, Crisi PE, Conte A, Dalla Villa P, Podaliri M, Ciaramella P, Di Palma C, Passantino A, Porciello F, Gianella P, Guglielmini C, Alborali GL, Rota Nodari S, Sabatelli S, Peli A. Factors related to longevity and mortality of dogs in Italy. Prev Vet Med 2024; 225:106155. [PMID: 38394961 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Besides its translational value, an improved understanding of dog longevity and mortality is necessary to guide health management decisions, breed selection, and improve dog welfare. In order to analyse the lifespan of dogs in Italy, identify the most common causes of death, and evaluate possible risk factors, anonymised medical records were collected from 9 veterinary teaching hospitals and 2 public health institutions. Data regarding breed, sex, neuter status, age, diagnosis, and mechanism of death were retrieved. Cause of death (COD) was classified by pathophysiologic process (PP) and organ system (OS). Of the 4957 dogs that died between 2004 and 2020 included in the study, 2920 (59.0%) were purebred, 2293 (46.2%) were female, 3005 (60.6%) were intact, 2883 (58.2%) were euthanised. Overall median longevity was 10.0 years. Median longevity was significantly longer for crossbreds, females, neutered dogs, and small-sized breeds. The breeds with the highest median age at death were the Yorkshire terrier, English cocker spaniel, West Highland white terrier, Italian volpino, and Shih Tzu, whilst the American bulldog, English bulldog, American pit bull terrier, Bernese mountain dog and the Maremma and the Abruzzes sheepdog had the lowest median age at death. The most frequent COD by PP was neoplasia (34.0%), which occurred more frequently in large breeds, namely German shepherd, Labrador retriever and Boxer. Degenerative diseases mostly affected small-sized dogs like Miniature pinscher and Dachshund. Regarding the OS involved, diseases of the renal/urinary system were most frequently responsible for COD (15.0%), prevalently degenerative and inflammatory/infectious. Substantial variation in median longevity according to causes of death by PP and OS was observed. These data are relevant for breeders, veterinary practitioners, and owners, to assist breed selection, facilitate early diagnosis, guide choice when purchasing a purebred dog and making health management decisions, and ultimately improve dog welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Roccaro
- Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Corso D'Augusto 237, Rimini 47921, Italy.
| | - Romolo Salini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G.Caporale", Campo Boario, Teramo 64100, Italy
| | - Marco Pietra
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia 40064, Italy
| | - Micaela Sgorbini
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, via Livornese, San Piero a Grado, Pisa 56122, Italy
| | - Eleonora Gori
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, via Livornese, San Piero a Grado, Pisa 56122, Italy
| | - Maurizio Dondi
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Strada del Taglio 10, Parma 43126, Italy
| | - Paolo E Crisi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Via Villa Romita snc, Teramo 64100, Italy
| | - Annamaria Conte
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G.Caporale", Campo Boario, Teramo 64100, Italy
| | - Paolo Dalla Villa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G.Caporale", Campo Boario, Teramo 64100, Italy.
| | - Michele Podaliri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G.Caporale", Campo Boario, Teramo 64100, Italy
| | - Paolo Ciaramella
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, University of Naples Federico II, Via Delpino 1, Naples 80137, Italy
| | - Cristina Di Palma
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, University of Naples Federico II, Via Delpino 1, Naples 80137, Italy.
| | - Annamaria Passantino
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell'Annunziata, Messina 98168, Italy
| | - Francesco Porciello
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, Perugia 06126, Italy
| | - Paola Gianella
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, Grugliasco 10095, Italy
| | - Carlo Guglielmini
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, Legnaro 35020, Italy
| | - Giovanni L Alborali
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna, Via Bianchi 9, Brescia 25124, Italy
| | - Sara Rota Nodari
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna, Via Bianchi 9, Brescia 25124, Italy.
| | - Sonia Sabatelli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia 40064, Italy
| | - Angelo Peli
- Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Corso D'Augusto 237, Rimini 47921, Italy
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Melvin RL, Ruple A, Pearson EB, Olby NJ, Fitzpatrick AL, Creevy KE. A review of frailty instruments in human medicine and proposal of a frailty instrument for dogs. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1139308. [PMID: 37441560 PMCID: PMC10333704 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1139308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last few decades, frailty has become a pillar of research and clinical assessment in human gerontology. This complex syndrome, characterized by loss of physiologic reserves leading to decreased resilience to stressors, is of critical importance because it predicts higher risks of poor health outcomes, including mortality. Thus, identifying frailty among the elderly human population has become a key focus of gerontology. This narrative review presents current scientific literature on frailty in both humans and animals. The authors discuss the need for an accessible frailty instrument for companion dogs suitable for general use in veterinary medicine and the advances that would be facilitated by this instrument. A phenotypic frailty instrument for companion dogs, utilizing components that are easily collected by owners, or in the general practice setting, is proposed. The authors elaborate on the domains (physical condition, physical activity, mobility, strength, cognitive task performance, and social behavior), factors that will be included, and the data from the Dog Aging Project that inform each domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L. Melvin
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Audrey Ruple
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Elizabeth B. Pearson
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Natasha J. Olby
- Department of Clinical Sciences, NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | | | - Kate E. Creevy
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, United States
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Pepper BM, Chan H, Ward MP, Quain A. Euthanasia of Dogs by Australian Veterinarians: A Survey of Current Practices. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10050317. [PMID: 37235400 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10050317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Euthanasia techniques utilised by veterinarians impact the welfare of many dogs in their final moments. Despite euthanasia guidelines, little is known about euthanasia techniques used in practice. We administered an online survey of Australian veterinarians who had euthanised at least one dog in the previous 12 months. We found that 668 (96.8%) had euthanised a dog in the previous 12 months, almost all using intravenous pentobarbitone sodium (n = 651, 99.7%). For non-emergency euthanasia (n = 653), the majority (n = 442, 67.7%) administered a premedication or sedation prior to euthanasia versus less than half for emergency euthanasia (n = 286, 46.4%). Practices and views about euthanasia varied. Female veterinarians and veterinarians located in metropolitan regions were more likely to administer a premedication or sedation prior to non-emergency euthanasia (p < 0.05). Veterinarians in private mixed animal practices were less likely to administer a premedication or sedation prior to a non-emergency euthanasia (p < 0.05). For non-emergency and emergency euthanasia, veterinarians who worked in "other" practice types were more likely to administer a premedication or sedation than private companion animal practices (p < 0.05). The possible reasons for differences in euthanasia practices are explored, and scope for refinement is identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianne Marlene Pepper
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Hedia Chan
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Michael P Ward
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Anne Quain
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
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McNulty KE, Creevy KE, Fitzpatrick A, Wilkins V, Barnett BG, Ruple A. Development and Validation of a Novel Instrument to Capture Companion Dog Mortality Data: The Dog Aging Project End of Life Survey. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.01.535178. [PMID: 37034699 PMCID: PMC10081320 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.01.535178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Objective The researchers and clinicians within the Dog Aging Project (DAP), a longitudinal cohort study of aging in companion dogs, created and validated a novel survey instrument titled the End of Life Survey (EOLS) to gather owner-reported mortality data about companion dogs. Sample Bereaved dog owners who participated in the refinement, face validity assessment, or reliability assessment of the EOLS (n=42) and/or completed the entire survey between January 20 and March 24, 2021 (n=646). Procedures The EOLS was created and modified by veterinary health professionals and human gerontology experts using published literature, clinical veterinary experience, previously created DAP surveys, and feedback from a pilot study conducted with bereaved dog owners. The EOLS was subjected to qualitative validation methods and post-hoc free-text analysis to evaluate its ability to thoroughly capture scientifically relevant aspects of companion dogs' death. Results The EOLS was well-received with excellent face validity as assessed by dog owners and experts. The EOLS had fair to substantial reliability for the three validation themes: cause of death (kappa = 0.73; 95% CI [0.5-0.95]), perimortem quality of life (kappa = 0.49; 95% CI [0.26-0.73]), and reason for euthanasia (kappa = 0.3; 95% CI [0.08-0.52]) and had no need for any substantial content alterations based on free-text analysis. Clinical Relevance The EOLS has proven to be a well-accepted, comprehensive, and valid instrument for capturing owner-reported companion dog mortality data and has the potential to enhance veterinarians' ability to care for the aging dog population by illuminating their understanding of companion dogs' end-of-life experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kellyn E McNulty
- Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (College Station, TX)
| | - Kate E Creevy
- Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (College Station, TX)
| | - Annette Fitzpatrick
- University of Washington, Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Departments of Family Medicine and Epidemiology (Seattle, WA)
| | - Vanessa Wilkins
- Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (College Station, TX)
| | - Brian G Barnett
- University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery (Athens, GA)
| | - Audrey Ruple
- Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Health Sciences (Blacksburg, VA)
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Pugliese M, Falcone A, Alibrandi A, Zirilli A, Passantino A. Risk Factors Regarding Dog Euthanasia and Causes of Death at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Italy: Preliminary Results. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9100554. [PMID: 36288167 PMCID: PMC9608742 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9100554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The decision to request and proceed with euthanasia in a dog is complex and predictors of such decisions are important. This study investigates the risk factors (demographic and clinical) associated with the main clinical causes and methods of death (euthanasia or unassisted death) in a population of dogs. By comparing euthanasia to unassisted deaths, the authors assess causes of death to evaluate their relative impacts on decision-making to choose euthanasia compared with an unassisted death. For this, goal data from electronic medical records of dogs who had died (unassisted death and euthanasia), obtained from an Italian referral veterinary teaching hospital from 2010 to 2020, were analyzed. The causes of death were categorized by pathophysiological process and the organ system. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors that significantly affect the probability of undergoing euthanasia and to individuate independent significant predictors of euthanasia and unassisted death, respectively. Death rate by euthanasia was 40.7% (125/307), by died unassisted 50.8% (156/307), whilst only 8.5% of dogs (26/307) died accidentally. The main causes of death for euthanasia were due to neoplastic (75.6%), degenerative (64.3%), and congenital (60%) diseases. Furthermore, the findings reveal that in deaths by euthanasia, the significant risk predictors were female gender, age, and neoplastic and degenerative processes; while in unassisted deaths, the significant risk predictors were male gender, age, and infection/inflammatory conditions. These preliminary outcomes highlight the information of this study which may be used to evaluate strategic interventions and health promotion strategies to be implemented, with consequent welfare gains for the canine population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Pugliese
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Annastella Falcone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Angela Alibrandi
- Unit of Statistical and Mathematical Sciences, Department of Economics, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Agata Zirilli
- Unit of Statistical and Mathematical Sciences, Department of Economics, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Annamaria Passantino
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-90-676-6742
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Marchetti C, Cantoni AM, Ferrari L, Pisani GM, Corradi A. Use of the international classification of diseases (ICD)-11 method applied to veterinary forensic pathology for coding the cause and manner of death in wildlife. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:898721. [PMID: 35928107 PMCID: PMC9343983 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.898721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The growth of human population has led, in recent years, to increasingly frequent contacts with the wild animals with which we share the territory, sometimes leading to negative interactions with them. The purpose of the study is to apply the codes contained in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) method to investigate the cause and the manner of death, also to entrust the veterinarian with the task of recognizing and describing a suspected animal abuse as a sentinel indicator of violence toward humans and non-humans, thus expanding the concept of “One Health” from a forensic investigation perspective. The subjects recruited are wild mammals submitted for autopsy to the Pathology Unit of the Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Italy, from 2015 to 2018. The manner and the cause of death of 167 wild animals of 16 different species have been investigated. When possible, an on-site inspection where the corpse was found was performed. Injuries were classified according to the on-line 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases method. Section 22 (Injury, poisoning or certain other consequences of external causes) was used to record the “immediate cause of death” (cause of death) and Section 23 (External causes of morbidity or mortality) was used to record the “underlying cause of death” (manner of death) for each animal. In most cases, death occurred as a result of road trauma but in some cases, abuse and voluntary killing were investigated. The recognition of non-accidental injuries is particularly important for both the defense in court of animals and for the connection between crimes committed against animals and against humans, known as “The Link”. The use of the ICD-11 method, as a sort of summary of the autopsy report, was confirmed to be of great value for the clarity and simplicity of processing the data collected also by veterinary pathologists. The veterinary pathologists can use this evidence-based method with the aim of creating a national register and therefore, to understand the real extent of the human impact on wildlife and document it in a scientific and statistically usable way.
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