Surveillance of a vomiting outbreak in dogs in the UK using owner‐derived and internet search data

Woolley, Charlotte; Handel, Ian; Bronsvoort, Barend M. deC.; Schoenebeck, Jeffrey J.; Clements, Dylan

doi:10.1002/vetr.308

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…During a recent vomiting outbreak in dogs in the UK, the vomiting incidence rates reported by Dogslife, an owner-based longitudinal cohort study, were over double the equivalent vomiting consultation rates reported by SAVSNET [ 60 , 61 ]. This can be explained by Dogslife reports showing that only one third of vomiting episodes led to a veterinary consultation [ 62 ]. Unfortunately, surveillance systems that rely on primary care data are particularly likely to be affected by bias during lockdown restrictions, due to vast decreases in the number of owners taking their pets to the veterinarian [ 63 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a cohort of Labrador retrievers in England

et al. 2022

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have affected the welfare and health of dogs due to surges in adoptions and purchases, changes in the physical and mental health and financial status of dog owners, changes in dogs’ lifestyle and routines and limited access to veterinary care. The aims of this study were to investigate whether COVID-19 restrictions were associated with differences in Labrador retrievers’ lifestyle, routine care, insurance status, illness incidence or veterinary attendance with an illness, who were living in England and enrolled in Dogslife, an owner-based cohort study. Longitudinal questionnaire data from Dogslife that was relevant to the dates between the 23rd of March and the 4th of July 2020, during COVID-19 restrictions in England, were compared to data between the same dates in previous years from 2011 to 2019 using mixed regression models and adjusted chi-squared tests. Results Compared with previous years (March 23rd to July 4th, 2010 to 2019), the COVID-19 restrictions study period (March 23rd to July 4th 2020) was associated with owners reporting increases in their dogs’ exercise and worming and decreases in insurance, titbit-feeding and vaccination. Odds of owners reporting that their dogs had an episode of coughing (0.20, 95% CI: 0.04–0.92) and that they took their dogs to a veterinarian with an episode of any illness (0.58, 95% CI: 0.45–0.76) were lower during the COVID-19 restrictions compared to before. During the restrictions period, owners were less likely to report that they took their dogs to a veterinarian with certain other illnesses, compared to before this period. Conclusions Dogslife provided a unique opportunity to study prospective questionnaire data from owners already enrolled on a longitudinal cohort study. This approach minimised bias associated with recalling events prior to the pandemic and allowed a wider population of dogs to be studied than is available from primary care data. Distinctive insights into owners’ decision making about their dogs’ healthcare were offered. There are clear implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions for the lifestyle, care and health of dogs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%