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Prevalence of disease in dogs purchased from an animal rescue shelter
Author(s) -
Wells D. L.,
Hepper P. G.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.144.2.35
Subject(s) - medicine , vomiting , nasal discharge , veterinary medicine , animal assisted therapy , animal welfare , pediatrics , environmental health , pet therapy , surgery , biology , ecology
Northern Ireland was investigated. A postal questionnaire was completed by 556 people who had purchased a dog from the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (uspcA) to provide information on the diseases suffered by their dog. The majority of the dogs (53.7 per cent) had an ailment, the most common being coughing and diarrhoea. Of the respondents who returned their dog to the uspcA, 92 per cent did so because the animal was unhealthy. Stray dogs were more likely to have an ailment than unwanted dogs, specifically coughing, and/or skin problems. More puppies suffered from parvovirus, vomiting, and/or diarrhoea than did juveniles or adults. Adult dogs were more likely to have a cough than juveniles or puppies. There was no association between the sex of the dogs and their ailments.