Krankheitsinzidenzen des Hundes - Der Einfluss des Alters sowie von Geschlecht, Größe und Rasse

Disease Incidences in Dogs – Dependency on Age, Sex, Size and Breed A Retrospective Study Based upon all In-Patient Dogs at the First Clinic for Internal Veterinary Medicine in Munich 1991 – 1997 This retrospective study is based upon the case files of all in-patient dogs treated at the First Clinic for Internal Veterinary Medicine of the Ludwig - Maximillians University in Munich within the period from 1991 and 1997. Data from 6005 patients, totalling 14056 diagnoses is listed and evaluated. The sex ratio (male : female) is 1.1 : 1 (i. e. almost balanced). 10.3 % of the male and 35.3 % of the female dogs were castrated. The population was composed of 164 breeds, which were classified into 15 breed groups for the analysis. The average age of the patients increased during the period investigated. Correlations between age and sex and height and breeds, respectively, have been observed. The multimorbidity increased significantly with the age. Additionally, the height and the breed of the patients also affected it. The multimorbidity of big dogs was lower than that of small dogs. Poodles, Dachshunds and Spaniels showed the highest multimorbidity, Labradors/Retrievers the lowest one. The following observations were made: Age-related tendencies: Infectious diseases (especially virus infections) were observed predominantly in young animals as well as (endo-) parasites and inflammatory respiratory tract diseases. Young adult dogs commonly experienced poisoning and injuries. Diseases of the heart, the liver, the pancreas, the endocrine and the reproductive system, diseases of the kidneys and the eyes, variations in body weight and tumors were typical in older animals. Dermatological diseases, diseases of the ears, the nervous system, the digestive tract, the blood and the hematopoetic system as well as diseases of the lymphatic organs had a higher prevalence with increasing age. Nevertheless there are variations within special disease groups regarding the age-relationship. For example, ear parasites and the disease complex “encephalitis/meningitis/myelitis" affected predominantly young adult dogs. The age-predilection of vaginitis and balanoposthitis did not correspond to its disease group (vaginitis: decreasing incidence with increasing age; balanoposthitis: incidence decreased after age of nine). Gastroenteritis occurred less often in older dogs. Hypothyroidism was most prevalent in middle-aged dogs (six to nine years). Sex predilections: Female dogs were predisposed to variations in body weight, poisoning, endocrine diseases and also – but only slightly - to diseases of the respiratory tract. Male dogs appeared to be at increased risk for heart diseases, diseases of the nervous and the digestive system, for malformations and injuries. Infectious diseases, parasites, diseases of the reproductive and the immune system were more often diagnosed in intact than in castrated dogs. Diseases of the skin, the liver, the nervous and the metabolic system, the pancreas, tumors, variations in body weight and injuries occurred predominantly in castrated animals. Height-specific predilections: Diseases of the eyes, the liver, the heart, the digestive tract, the pancreas and endocrine diseases and deformities were more common in smaller dogs. Big dogs were prone to infectious diseases, skin, ear and circulation diseases as well as to gynecologic/andrologic, blood and hematologic diseases, diseases of the lymphatic and the immune system. Parasites and variations in body weight were also more often diagnosed in bigger dogs. Renal diseases showed no height disposition, but they were often diagnosed in giant breeds. Diseases of the nervous system occurred rarely in giant breeds. Tumors were strikingly more common in bigger than in smaller dogs. Breed predilections: The disposition of big dogs for infectious diseases and parasites correlated with the breed predilection (Greyhounds, Retrievers/hunting dogs). Pomerians, Boxers and the German shepherd were prone to dermatological diseases. Pendulous-eared dogs and Rottweilers were predisposed to ear diseases. Spaniels, Poodles and Terriers had ophthalmologic problems more often than other breeds. Bernese Mountain Dogs showed a high incidence for diseases of the kidneys and the lower urinary tract. Cocker Spaniels and Boxers developed tumors much more frequently. Poodles, Terriers, Spaniels and Dachshunds were predisposed to diseases of the pancreas as well as to diseases of the heart and the endocrine system. Terriers and Pinchers/Schnauzers often revealed diseases of the liver and the gallbladder. Hunting dogs (Irish Setters) suffered more commonly from gynecologic and andrologic diseases. Diseases of the nervous system affected especially Cocker Spaniels, West Highland White Terriers and Boxers. Brachycephalic breeds had a high incidence in deformities.

Level thesis:degree_level

thesis.doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität

Year

2003

Author dc:creator

• Salzborn, Claudia

Repository record source_url

https://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/1579/

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de:1579