Labrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders
Abstract Background Labrador retrievers are reportedly predisposed to many disorders but accurate prevalence information relating to the general population are lacking. This study aimed to describe demography, mortality and commonly recorded diseases in Labrador retrievers under UK veterinary care....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-10-01
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| Series: | Canine Genetics and Epidemiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40575-018-0064-x |
| _version_ | 1818283272985116672 |
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| author | Paul D. McGreevy Bethany J. Wilson Caroline S. Mansfield Dave C. Brodbelt David B. Church Navneet Dhand Ricardo J. Soares Magalhães Dan G. O’Neill |
| author_facet | Paul D. McGreevy Bethany J. Wilson Caroline S. Mansfield Dave C. Brodbelt David B. Church Navneet Dhand Ricardo J. Soares Magalhães Dan G. O’Neill |
| author_sort | Paul D. McGreevy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Labrador retrievers are reportedly predisposed to many disorders but accurate prevalence information relating to the general population are lacking. This study aimed to describe demography, mortality and commonly recorded diseases in Labrador retrievers under UK veterinary care. Methods The VetCompass™ programme collects electronic patient record data on dogs attending UK primary-care veterinary practices. Demographic analysis covered all33,320 Labrador retrievers in the VetCompass™ database under veterinary care during 2013 while disorder and mortality data were extracted from a random sample of 2074 (6.2%) of these dogs. Results Of the Labrador retrievers with information available, 15,427 (46.4%) were female and 15,252 (53.6%) were male. Females were more likely to be neutered than males (59.7% versus 54.8%, P < 0.001). The overall mean adult bodyweight was 33.0 kg (SD 6.1). Adult males were heavier (35.2 kg, SD 5.9 kg) than adult females (30.4 kg, SD 5.2 kg) (P < 0.001). The median longevity of Labrador retrievers overall was 12.0 years (IQR 9.9–13.8, range 0.0–16.0). The most common recorded colours were black (44.6%), yellow (27.8%) and liver/chocolate (reported from hereon as chocolate) (23.8%). The median longevity of non-chocolate coloured dogs (n = 139, 12.1 years, IQR 10.2–13.9, range 0.0–16.0) was longer than for chocolate coloured animals (n = 34, 10.7 years, IQR 9.0–12.4, range 3.8–15.5) (P = 0.028). Of a random sample of 2074 (6.2%) Labrador retrievers under care in 2013 that had full disorder data extracted, 1277 (61.6%) had at least one disorder recorded. The total number of dogs who died at any date during the study was 176. The most prevalent disorders recorded were otitis externa (n = 215, prevalence 10.4%, 95% CI: 9.1–11.8), overweight/obesity (183, 8.8%, 95% CI: 7.6–10.1) and degenerative joint disease (115, 5.5%, 95% CI: 4.6–6.6). Overweight/obesity was not statistically significantly associated with neutering in females (8.3% of entire versus 12.5% of neutered, P = 0.065) but was associated with neutering in males (4.1% of entire versus 11.4% of neutered, P < 0.001). The prevalence of otitis externa in black dogs was 12.8%, in yellow dogs it was 17.0% but, in chocolate dogs, it rose to 23.4% (P < 0.001). Similarly, the prevalence of pyo-traumatic dermatitis in black dogs was 1.1%, in yellow dogs it was 1.6% but in chocolate dogs it rose to 4.0% (P = 0.011). Conclusions The current study assists prioritisation of health issues within Labrador retrievers. The most common disorders were overweight/obesity, otitis externa and degenerative joint disease. Males were significantly heavier females. These results can alert prospective owners to potential health issues and inform breed-specific wellness checks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T00:34:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3c1bb1583f6a406288e295907487714a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-6687 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T00:34:17Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Canine Genetics and Epidemiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3c1bb1583f6a406288e295907487714a2022-12-22T00:05:15ZengBMCCanine Genetics and Epidemiology2052-66872018-10-015111310.1186/s40575-018-0064-xLabrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disordersPaul D. McGreevy0Bethany J. Wilson1Caroline S. Mansfield2Dave C. Brodbelt3David B. Church4Navneet Dhand5Ricardo J. Soares Magalhães6Dan G. O’Neill7Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of SydneySydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of SydneyFaculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of MelbournePathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary CollegeClinical Sciences and Services, The Royal Veterinary CollegeFaculty of Science, The University of SydneyUQ Spatial Epidemiology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of QueenslandPathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary CollegeAbstract Background Labrador retrievers are reportedly predisposed to many disorders but accurate prevalence information relating to the general population are lacking. This study aimed to describe demography, mortality and commonly recorded diseases in Labrador retrievers under UK veterinary care. Methods The VetCompass™ programme collects electronic patient record data on dogs attending UK primary-care veterinary practices. Demographic analysis covered all33,320 Labrador retrievers in the VetCompass™ database under veterinary care during 2013 while disorder and mortality data were extracted from a random sample of 2074 (6.2%) of these dogs. Results Of the Labrador retrievers with information available, 15,427 (46.4%) were female and 15,252 (53.6%) were male. Females were more likely to be neutered than males (59.7% versus 54.8%, P < 0.001). The overall mean adult bodyweight was 33.0 kg (SD 6.1). Adult males were heavier (35.2 kg, SD 5.9 kg) than adult females (30.4 kg, SD 5.2 kg) (P < 0.001). The median longevity of Labrador retrievers overall was 12.0 years (IQR 9.9–13.8, range 0.0–16.0). The most common recorded colours were black (44.6%), yellow (27.8%) and liver/chocolate (reported from hereon as chocolate) (23.8%). The median longevity of non-chocolate coloured dogs (n = 139, 12.1 years, IQR 10.2–13.9, range 0.0–16.0) was longer than for chocolate coloured animals (n = 34, 10.7 years, IQR 9.0–12.4, range 3.8–15.5) (P = 0.028). Of a random sample of 2074 (6.2%) Labrador retrievers under care in 2013 that had full disorder data extracted, 1277 (61.6%) had at least one disorder recorded. The total number of dogs who died at any date during the study was 176. The most prevalent disorders recorded were otitis externa (n = 215, prevalence 10.4%, 95% CI: 9.1–11.8), overweight/obesity (183, 8.8%, 95% CI: 7.6–10.1) and degenerative joint disease (115, 5.5%, 95% CI: 4.6–6.6). Overweight/obesity was not statistically significantly associated with neutering in females (8.3% of entire versus 12.5% of neutered, P = 0.065) but was associated with neutering in males (4.1% of entire versus 11.4% of neutered, P < 0.001). The prevalence of otitis externa in black dogs was 12.8%, in yellow dogs it was 17.0% but, in chocolate dogs, it rose to 23.4% (P < 0.001). Similarly, the prevalence of pyo-traumatic dermatitis in black dogs was 1.1%, in yellow dogs it was 1.6% but in chocolate dogs it rose to 4.0% (P = 0.011). Conclusions The current study assists prioritisation of health issues within Labrador retrievers. The most common disorders were overweight/obesity, otitis externa and degenerative joint disease. Males were significantly heavier females. These results can alert prospective owners to potential health issues and inform breed-specific wellness checks.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40575-018-0064-xVetCompass™Electronic patient recordBreedPedigreePurebredDog |
| spellingShingle | Paul D. McGreevy Bethany J. Wilson Caroline S. Mansfield Dave C. Brodbelt David B. Church Navneet Dhand Ricardo J. Soares Magalhães Dan G. O’Neill Labrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders Canine Genetics and Epidemiology VetCompass™ Electronic patient record Breed Pedigree Purebred Dog |
| title | Labrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders |
| title_full | Labrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders |
| title_fullStr | Labrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders |
| title_full_unstemmed | Labrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders |
| title_short | Labrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders |
| title_sort | labrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the uk demography mortality and disorders |
| topic | VetCompass™ Electronic patient record Breed Pedigree Purebred Dog |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40575-018-0064-x |
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