The Big Pet Diabetes Survey: Perceived Frequency and Triggers for Euthanasia

Abstract

Current pet diabetes mellitus (DM) treatment necessitates the active daily involvement of owners and can be costly. The current study aimed to investigate the owner population which opts for euthanasia instead of DM treatment. A survey was designed using multiple feedback steps and made available online to veterinarians world-wide. A total of 1192 veterinarians completed the survey and suggested a median one in 10 diabetic pets are euthanased at diagnosis; a further median one in 10 within one year because of lack of success or compliance. Perceived most important motivating factors included “presence concurrent disease” (45% respondents); “costs” (44%); “animal age” (37%); “problems obtaining adequate control” (35%); “pet welfare” (35%); and “impact owner’s lifestyle” (32%). Cats in Canadian (odds ratio (OR) 2.7), Australian (OR 2.3), rural (OR 1.6) and mixed (OR 1.7) practices were more likely to be euthanased because of DM diagnosis, while cats presented to referral/university were less likely to be euthanased (OR 0.6). Dogs were more likely to be euthanased because of DM in Canadian (OR 1.8), rural (OR 1.8) and mixed (OR 1.6) practices. The survey results suggest that benefit exists in improved DM education with emphasis on offering a choice of treatment styles ranging from intense and expensive to hands-off and cheap.

Development and evaluation of a health‐related quality‐of‐life tool for dogs with Cushing's syndrome

“…There are no studies currently that have quantitatively examined risk factors associated with a poorer HRQoL in dogs with Cushing's syndrome. A recent study examined the factors affecting euthanasia decisions in dogs with diabetes mellitus finding age, concurrent disease, and costs were considered of high importance by clinicians . It could be assumed that similar factors would have been associated with the HRQoL of dogs with Cushing's syndrome.…”

“You can be blind because of loving them so much”: The impact on owners in the United Kingdom of living with a dog with osteoarthritis

“…Depression, anxiety, stress and a sense of a reduced quality of life were also found to be prevalent in American owners of ill pets [14], whilst social isolation, guilt, worry and responsibility were described by Danish owners of ill pets interviewed by Christiansen [11]. Negative impacts on the lifestyle of owners were considered by 32% of respondent veterinary surgeons to be a cause of euthanasia in dogs with diabetes mellitus [40]. Freeman [41] described similar physical labour associated with caring for physically incapacitated dogs with severe spinal cord disease.…”

Concise Review: Canine Diabetes Mellitus as a Translational Model for Innovative Regenerative Medicine Approaches

“…Assuming an overall population of 70 million dogs in U.S. only in 2012 , we predict a minimum of 165,000 diabetic dogs in U.S. only. A recent large‐scale survey had further indicated that 1/10 diabetic dogs are being euthanized at the time of DM diagnosis, and 1/10 more will be euthanized within a year . With an estimated $70 per month expenses on insulin only, a (conservative) projected ∼$110 million per year market value is estimated.…”

“…Moreover, based on a 2.5 million canine patient's database, the prevalence of DM in dogs had increased in 79.7% since 2006 (Benfield's State of Pet Health, 2016 Report). Assuming an overall population of 70 million dogs in U.S. only in 2012 [1], we predict a minimum of 165,000 diabetic dogs in U.S. only. A recent large-scale survey had further indicated that 1/10 diabetic dogs are being euthanized at the time of DM diagnosis, and 1/10 more will be euthanized within a year [2].…”