TeamMate: A Longitudinal Study of New Zealand Working Farm Dogs. II. Occurrence of Musculoskeletal Abnormalities
Musculoskeletal injury and disease are common in dogs, and a major cause of retirement in working dogs. Many livestock farmers rely on dogs for the effective running of their farms. However, the incidence of musculoskeletal disease has not been explored in working farm dogs. Here we explore the occu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2020.00624/full |
| _version_ | 1819228922085113856 |
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| author | Katja E. Isaksen Lori Linney Helen Williamson Nick J. Cave Elizabeth J. Norman Naomi Cogger |
| author_facet | Katja E. Isaksen Lori Linney Helen Williamson Nick J. Cave Elizabeth J. Norman Naomi Cogger |
| author_sort | Katja E. Isaksen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Musculoskeletal injury and disease are common in dogs, and a major cause of retirement in working dogs. Many livestock farmers rely on dogs for the effective running of their farms. However, the incidence of musculoskeletal disease has not been explored in working farm dogs. Here we explore the occurrence of musculoskeletal abnormalities in 323 working farm dogs that were enrolled in TeamMate, a longitudinal study of working farm dogs in New Zealand. All dogs were free of musculoskeletal abnormalities on enrolment to the study and were present for at least one follow-up examination. During the follow-up period, 184 dogs (57%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 52%−62%) developed at least one musculoskeletal abnormality during 4,508 dog-months at risk, corresponding to 4.1 dogs (95% CI = 3.5–4.7) with recorded abnormalities per 100 dog-months at risk. The most common abnormalities were reduced range of motion and swelling of the carpus or stifle, while the hip was the most common site of pain. No major differences in incidence rate (IR) between sexes or types of dogs were observed, though Huntaways had a slightly lower rate of carpal abnormalities than Heading dogs (IR ratio = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.3–1.0). Eighty-one of 119 dogs (68%, 95% CI = 60%−76%) that had a first musculoskeletal abormality developed a second abnormality. The most common type of abnormality that was seen in the same dog more than once was reduced range of motion in the carpus (14 of 119 dogs, 12%, 95% CI = 6%−18%). Although we do not provide data on diagnoses, the high incidence rate of recorded musculoskeletal abnormalities and dogs' high activity mean it is likely that working farm dogs are at a high risk of conditions that could impair their welfare and reduce the lengths of their working careers. Preventing and managing musculoskeletal injury and illness should be a priority for owners and veterinarians caring for working farm dogs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T11:04:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8d969620fda340ac9ec853189c0f3183 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T11:04:58Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-8d969620fda340ac9ec853189c0f31832022-12-21T17:49:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692020-10-01710.3389/fvets.2020.00624535402TeamMate: A Longitudinal Study of New Zealand Working Farm Dogs. II. Occurrence of Musculoskeletal AbnormalitiesKatja E. Isaksen0Lori Linney1Helen Williamson2Nick J. Cave3Elizabeth J. Norman4Naomi Cogger5School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New ZealandVetlife, Timaru, New ZealandVetlife, Timaru, New ZealandSchool of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New ZealandCollege of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New ZealandSchool of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New ZealandMusculoskeletal injury and disease are common in dogs, and a major cause of retirement in working dogs. Many livestock farmers rely on dogs for the effective running of their farms. However, the incidence of musculoskeletal disease has not been explored in working farm dogs. Here we explore the occurrence of musculoskeletal abnormalities in 323 working farm dogs that were enrolled in TeamMate, a longitudinal study of working farm dogs in New Zealand. All dogs were free of musculoskeletal abnormalities on enrolment to the study and were present for at least one follow-up examination. During the follow-up period, 184 dogs (57%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 52%−62%) developed at least one musculoskeletal abnormality during 4,508 dog-months at risk, corresponding to 4.1 dogs (95% CI = 3.5–4.7) with recorded abnormalities per 100 dog-months at risk. The most common abnormalities were reduced range of motion and swelling of the carpus or stifle, while the hip was the most common site of pain. No major differences in incidence rate (IR) between sexes or types of dogs were observed, though Huntaways had a slightly lower rate of carpal abnormalities than Heading dogs (IR ratio = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.3–1.0). Eighty-one of 119 dogs (68%, 95% CI = 60%−76%) that had a first musculoskeletal abormality developed a second abnormality. The most common type of abnormality that was seen in the same dog more than once was reduced range of motion in the carpus (14 of 119 dogs, 12%, 95% CI = 6%−18%). Although we do not provide data on diagnoses, the high incidence rate of recorded musculoskeletal abnormalities and dogs' high activity mean it is likely that working farm dogs are at a high risk of conditions that could impair their welfare and reduce the lengths of their working careers. Preventing and managing musculoskeletal injury and illness should be a priority for owners and veterinarians caring for working farm dogs.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2020.00624/fullmusculoskeletallongitudinalTeamMateincidenceworking dogsherding dogs |
| spellingShingle | Katja E. Isaksen Lori Linney Helen Williamson Nick J. Cave Elizabeth J. Norman Naomi Cogger TeamMate: A Longitudinal Study of New Zealand Working Farm Dogs. II. Occurrence of Musculoskeletal Abnormalities Frontiers in Veterinary Science musculoskeletal longitudinal TeamMate incidence working dogs herding dogs |
| title | TeamMate: A Longitudinal Study of New Zealand Working Farm Dogs. II. Occurrence of Musculoskeletal Abnormalities |
| title_full | TeamMate: A Longitudinal Study of New Zealand Working Farm Dogs. II. Occurrence of Musculoskeletal Abnormalities |
| title_fullStr | TeamMate: A Longitudinal Study of New Zealand Working Farm Dogs. II. Occurrence of Musculoskeletal Abnormalities |
| title_full_unstemmed | TeamMate: A Longitudinal Study of New Zealand Working Farm Dogs. II. Occurrence of Musculoskeletal Abnormalities |
| title_short | TeamMate: A Longitudinal Study of New Zealand Working Farm Dogs. II. Occurrence of Musculoskeletal Abnormalities |
| title_sort | teammate a longitudinal study of new zealand working farm dogs ii occurrence of musculoskeletal abnormalities |
| topic | musculoskeletal longitudinal TeamMate incidence working dogs herding dogs |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2020.00624/full |
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