The domestic dog is the most phenotypically variable mammalian species on earth but there is limited evidence on the overall health patterns within the subset of giant dog breeds. A VetCompass cohort study design was used to report the demography, one-year prevalence of common disorders and mortality of giant breed dogs under UK primary veterinary care during 2019. Giant breed dogs from 29 breeds combined to comprise 28,345 (1.26

OBJECTIVE:To describe a population of dogs and cats with cancer admitted to the ICU and identify risk factors affecting survival. DESIGN:Prospective, observational cohort study between December 2022 and September 2023. SETTING:Veterinary referral teaching hospital. ANIMALS:Thirty-eight cats and 114 dogs. INTERVENTIONS:All ICU admissions were recorded. For patients with a confirmed or presumed cancer diagnosis, reason for ICU admission, clinicopathologic data, diagnostic imaging results, treatments, survival to discharge and at 90 days postdischarge, and date of death, if applicable, were recorded. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:The prevalence of ICU patients with cancer was 13.6% (165/1214 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 11.7-15.7]). A definitive diagnosis was obtained in 106 patients (73.7% [28/38] cats, 68.4% [78/114] dogs). Hematologic neoplasia was the most frequent cancer in cats (64.3% [18/28]), while carcinoma was the most frequent in dogs (37.2% [29/78]). The most frequent reasons for ICU admission were respiratory distress (31.6% [12/38] cats, 20.2% [24/114] dogs) and cardiovascular instability (21.1% [8/38] cats, 20.2% [23/114] dogs). Survival to discharge was 56.6% (44.7% [17/38] cats, 60.5% [69/114] dogs) and at 90 days was 30.6% (21.1% [8/38] cats, 33.9% [37/109] dogs). In the multivariable Cox regression model, oncologic ICU admission was associated with increased hazard of death compared with nononcologic admission (hazard ratio [HR]: 6.06, 95% CI: 2.39-15.36; p < 0.001); surgical treatment was associated with reduced hazard compared with medical treatment (HR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.11-0.38; p < 0.001); chemotherapy was associated with reduced hazard compared with no chemotherapy (HR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.22-0.73; p = 0.003); and normal albumin concentration in dogs was associated with reduced hazard compared with hypoalbuminemia (HR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.26-0.72; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS:Cancer was common in this ICU population (prevalence 13.6%). Mortality was high (69.4% 3 months postdischarge), with 88% of deaths resulting from euthanasia.

Progress in clinical practice, research, and teaching needs a common language. Agreement among veterinary endocrinologists on definitions of concepts related to Cushing’s syndrome (CS) and hypoadrenocorticism is lacking. After a successful inaugural cycle on diabetes mellitus terminology, project Agreeing Language in Veterinary Endocrinology (ALIVE) held a second cycle, with simplified methodology, and brought together 10 experts of the European Society of Veterinary Endocrinology (ESVE) and the Society of Comparative Endocrinology (SCE). It employed a four-round modified Delphi Method to generate draft definitions and try and achieve consensus. A final round used an endorsement survey of the expert-generated definitions distributed to the ESVE and SCE memberships, seeking a simple majority endorsement. A minimum of 20% membership participation was sought. The 10 experts achieved 100% consensus on the definition of 35 adrenal disease-associated concepts, including disease definitions, diagnostic criteria, and test definitions, a disease classification system for CS and hypoadrenocorticism, and a clinical scoring system for CS. Definitions were subsequently assessed by 78 ESVE and SCE members (26% of combined memberships). All definitions achieved a simple majority, ranging from 83.1 to 100%. ALIVE proved effective in creating a body of terminology for adrenal disease in companion animals, which met the overall approval of a majority of those participating in the endorsement phase. The prospective use of these definitions could help improve comparability and standards for adrenal disease research, education, and clinics.

The Yorkshire Terrier is a long-established and commonly owned dog breed. This study aimed to explore anonymised primary-care veterinary clinical data from the VetCompass Programme to characterise the demography, common disorders and longevity of the general population of Yorkshire Terriers in the UK in 2016. Yorkshire Terriers composed 28,032 (3.10

INTRODUCTION:Natural eyelid conformation is essential for normal function and health of the ocular surface. However, many modern dog types are deliberately bred for abnormal eyelid conformation associated with severe health and welfare issues. This study aimed to report the prevalence, demographic risk factors and clinical management under primary veterinary care for conformational eyelid disorders in dogs. METHODS:The study explored the anonymised clinical records of all dogs under UK primary veterinary care within the VetCompass Programme during 2019. Risk factor analysis used multivariable logistic regression modelling. RESULTS:From 2,250,417 dogs under primary veterinary care in 2019, the analysis included a random sample of 3,029 confirmed conformational eyelid disorder cases that included 2,752 (90.86%) entropion and 344 (11.36%) ectropion cases. After accounting for the subsampling process, the annual prevalence for overall conformational eyelid disorder in dogs was 0.36% (95% CI: 0.35-0.37). The annual prevalence for entropion in dogs overall was 0.33% (95% CI: 0.32-0.34). Breeds with highest annual prevalence for entropion were Shar-Pei (15.41%, 95% CI 14.00-16.91), Chow Chow (9.28%, 95% CI 7.64-11.14) and Neapolitan Mastiff (6.88%, 95% CI 3.02-13.14). The estimated annual prevalence for ectropion in dogs overall was 0.04% (95% CI: 0.04-0.05). Breeds with the highest annual prevalence for ectropion were Neapolitan Mastiff (4.30%, 95% CI 1.41-9.77), Saint Bernard (1.72%, 95% CI 0.86-3.05) and Basset Hound (1.59%, 95% CI 0.94-2.49). Surgical management was carried out for 414/2275 (18.20%) of the incident (2019) entropion cases and 12/305 (3.93%) of the incident (2019) ectropion cases. CONCLUSIONS:Normalisation of conformation-related health issues in certain high profile dog breeds have been discussed as a canine welfare priority for over half a century. The current results suggest that substantial work remains to be done to ensure good innate health for all dogs.

Target trial emulation applies design principles from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to the analysis of observational data, potentially replicating RCT results in real-world settings. The EPIC trial reported that pimobendan delays the onset of congestive heart failure (CHF) and extends survival in dogs with preclinical degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD). The current study aimed to explore the extent to which target trial emulation approximates the EPIC trial results in a primary-care setting. Grade IV/VI murmur diagnosis was defined as the treatment intervention stage. There were 928 dogs ≥ 6 years and ≤ 15 kg at first grade IV/VI murmur diagnosis recorded from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2018 in the VetCompass database included in the study. A causal inference “target trial emulation” approach using VetCompass anonymised clinical data was designed to replicate the EPIC trial with adaptation for a primary-care setting and to address immortal time bias, confounding bias and loss to follow-up. After bias adjustments to establish causal effects using observational data, the 5-year CHF cumulative incidence was lower in dogs prescribed pimobendan (34.1%, 95% CI 26.5–42.0) than dogs not prescribed pimobendan (56.3%, 95% CI 52.8–59.8). Dogs prescribed pimobendan had 311 fewer days of health lost to CHF (95% CI 224–395 days) within 5 years. Dogs prescribed pimobendan lived longer (adjusted mean survival time 1051 days, 95% CI 967–1125) than dogs not prescribed pimobendan (905 days, 95% CI 871–940 days). This study demonstrates that target trial emulation within veterinary research can replicate findings from RCTs. Clinically, the current findings suggest that preclinical grade IV murmur diagnosis may offer an appropriate intervention stage to begin pimobendan therapy in dogs with presumed DMVD.

Beagles are a popular companion animal dog breed and are generally stated to be a healthy breed. This VetCompass study aimed to report the demography, common disorders and mortality of Beagles under primary veterinary care in the UK. Anonymised clinical records within VetCompass were followed over time to extract disorder and mortality data during 2019 on Beagles under primary veterinary care in the UK. Beagles comprised 19,906 (0.88

Little information has been published on the recorded disorders of pet chelonia. This cohort study aimed to report on demography, commonly recorded disorders and mortality recorded in chelonia under UK primary veterinary care in 2019. Electronic health records on a random sample of chelonia in VetCompass during 2019 were reviewed to extract species, recorded disorder and mortality data. Of 2,040 chelonia reviewed, 1,923 (94.26%) were recorded as tortoises, 74 (3.63%) terrapins and 43 (2.11%) turtles. Of the 811 (42.17%) tortoises with species information recorded, the most common species were Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni) (311, 38.35%), Horsfield's tortoises (Testudo horsfieldii) (259, 31.94%) and Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoises (154, 18.99%). The most commonly recorded disorders were beak abnormalities (16.72%), overgrown nails (11.47%) and shell abnormalities (9.80%). The most common recorded causes of death were "disorder undiagnosed" (44.55%), dog bite (5.45%) and anorexia (3.96%). Of 178 deaths with age recorded, the median age at death was 7.32 years (IQR 2.50-15.14). Short temporal windows within the clinical records and often limited clinical workups were a frequent limitation to the precision of the recorded disorder terms. This is the largest study of chelonia to date. It has highlighted the most commonly recorded disorders of chelonia of which many are often linked to husbandry.

BackgroundAcute diarrhoea is a common canine veterinary presentation in the UK. This study aimed to report the incidence, demographic risk factors and clinical management for acute diarrhoea diagnosed under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2019.MethodsA cohort study design with a cross-sectional analysis was applied to anonymised VetCompass clinical data. Risk factor analysis used multivariable logistic regression modelling.ResultsThe analysis included a random sample of 1,835 confirmed incident acute diarrhoea cases in 2019 from an overall study population of 2,250,417 dogs. After accounting for subsampling, the estimated one-year incidence risk for acute diarrhoea in dogs overall was 8.18% (95% CI: 7.83-8.55). Of the first acute diarrhoea event in 2019 for the 1,835 cases, 1473 (80.27%) had only one physical visit for veterinary care related to the acute diarrhoea. The most common comorbid clinical signs with acute diarrhoea included vomiting (n = 812, 44.25%), reduced appetite (508, 27.68%) and lethargy (444, 24.20%). Overall, 538 (29.32%) cases were recorded as haemorrhagic diarrhoea. The most common clinical managements were probiotics (n = 1094, 59.62%), dietary management (807, 43.98%), antibiosis (701, 38.20%) and maropitant (441, 24.03%). Six breeds showed increased odds of acute diarrhoea compared with crossbred dogs: Maltese (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.25-3.77), Miniature Poodle (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.19-3.95), Cavapoo (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.32-3.25), German Shepherd Dog (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.29-2.22), Yorkshire Terrier (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.15-1.98) and Cockapoo (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.05-1.74). The odds of diagnosis increased in dogs aged under 3 years and dogs aged over 9 years, compared to dogs aged 4-5 years.ConclusionsThis study confirms acute diarrhoea as a common clinical condition in dogs managed under primary veterinary care, with 1-in-12 dogs diagnosed each year. The identified breed predispositions suggest some genetic element to the condition. The clinical outcomes following veterinary care appear to be very positive, with over 80% of acute diarrhoea cases not receiving a second veterinary visit. However, antibiotic use remained frequent, despite years of recommendation to the contrary and raises concerns about unnecessary antibiotic therapy for this condition.

BACKGROUND:Tail injuries in dogs can severely impact welfare and pose clinical challenges. This study aimed to describe the annual incidence and clinical management of tail injury in UK dogs under primary care and identify risk factors. METHODS:A nested case‒control design was used within a cohort of dogs under primary care in the UK in 2019. Clinical records were automatically searched and manually verified to identify incident tail injury cases and extract management data. Multivariable logistic regression was then used to evaluate associations between potential risk factors and tail injury diagnosis. RESULTS:The analysis included 285 tail injury cases and 285,000 randomly selected controls. The estimated annual incidence risk for tail injury was 0.23%. Increased odds of injury were observed in boxers, English springer spaniels and cocker spaniels; dogs aged less than 2 years; male entire, male neutered and female neutered dogs; working and gundog breeds; and dogs weighing between 20 and 30 kg. Systemic analgesia and antibiosis were prescribed in 45.6% and 32.6% of cases, respectively. Surgical amputation was undertaken in 9.1% of cases. LIMITATIONS:This study relied on retrospective electronic health record data. Only factors consistently recorded in clinical records were available. CONCLUSION:Tail injury is relatively uncommon but carries serious welfare risks. Identifying high-risk groups offers valuable insights for veterinarians, breeders and policymakers.

BACKGROUND:Domestic rabbit breeds vary substantially from the wild rabbit body type. However, little is known about how the conformation of pet rabbits influences their health. METHODS:Data were extracted from VetCompass anonymised clinical records of rabbits under UK primary veterinary care during 2019. RESULTS:The study included 162,107 rabbits. Based on 88,693 rabbits with relevant breed information recorded, skull shape was classified as brachycephalic (79.69%), mesaticephalic (16.80%) and dolichocephalic (3.51%). Based on 83,821 rabbits with relevant breed information recorded, ear carriage was classified as lop-eared (57.05%) and erect-eared (42.95%). From a random sample of 3933 rabbits, the most prevalent disorders recorded overall were overgrown nail(s) (28.19%), overgrown molar(s) (14.90%) and obesity (8.82%). Compared to those with a mesaticephalic skull shape, brachycephalic rabbits had lower odds of obesity, anorexia and gastrointestinal stasis and higher odds of perineal faecal impaction, tear duct abnormality and haircoat disorder. Compared to erect-eared rabbits, lop-eared rabbits had higher odds of perineal faecal impaction and tear duct abnormality. LIMITATION:A large proportion of records with incomplete breed information hindered full analysis for breed-related and conformation-related attributes. CONCLUSION:Limited evidence for major links between skull shape or ear carriage conformations and overall disorder risk suggests that factors such as husbandry or even just living life as a domesticated species may be bigger drivers of common health issues in pet rabbits in the UK.

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to report the prevalence and risk factors for tick infestation in dogs in the UK based on anonymised electronic patient records. Materials and MethodsClinical records of dogs under veterinary care in 2016 at clinics participating in the VetCompass Programme were followed over a 5-year period to identify cases of tick infestation. Risk factor analysis used multivariable logistic regression modelling. ResultsThe study included 905,553 dogs. From a random sample, 1903 tick infestation cases were identified. The estimated 5-year (2014 to 2018) period prevalence was 2.03% (95% confidence interval: 2.00 to 2.06). Sixteen breeds showed increased odds compared with non-designer-crossbreed dogs. Breeds with the highest odds included Cairn terrier (odds ratio 2.86, 95% confidence interval 1.64 to 4.98), standard poodle (odds ratio 2.80, 95% confidence interval 1.25 to 6.29) and Goldendoodle (odds ratio 2.63, 95% confidence interval 1.17 to 5.91). Six breeds showed reduced odds, with lowest odds shown by Staffordshire bull terrier (odds ratio 0.35, 95% confidence interval 0.25 to 0.50), Rottweiler (odds ratio 0.35, 95% confidence interval 0.15 to 0.85) and Chihuahua (odds ratio 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.26 to 0.55). Males had 1.24 (95% confidence interval 1.13 to 1.36) times the odds of females. Compared with non-designer-crossbred dogs, designer-crossbreed dogs had increased odds (odds ratio 1.81, 95% confidence interval 1.52 to 2.15). Compared with breeds with short coats, breeds with medium length coats (odds ratio 2.20, 95% confidence interval 1.96 to 2.48) showed increased odds. Breeds with V-shaped drop and pendulous ear carriage had higher odds compared with breeds with erect ear carriage. Clinical SignificanceThese findings provide an evidence base for veterinary professionals to raise awareness of tick infestation as a preventable disorder in dogs in the UK and to support more effective prevention and therapeutic protocols based on targeted approaches.

Target trial emulation applies design principles from randomised controlled trials to the analysis of observational data for causal inference and is increasingly used within human epidemiology. Using anonymised veterinary clinical data from the VetCompass Programme, this study applied the target trial emulation framework to determine whether surgical (compared to non-surgical) management for cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture in dogs causes improved short- and long-term lameness and analgesia outcomes.The emulated target trial included dogs diagnosed with CCL rupture between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 within the VetCompass database. Inclusion in the emulated trial required dogs aged ≥ 1.5 and < 12 years, first diagnosed with unilateral CCL rupture during 2019 and with no prior history of contralateral ligament rupture or stifle surgery. Dogs were retrospectively observed to have surgical or non-surgical management. Informed from a directed acyclic graph derived from expert opinion, data on the following variables were collected: age, breed, bodyweight, neuter status, insurance status, non-orthopaedic comorbidities, orthopaedic comorbidities and veterinary group. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to adjust for confounding, with weights calculated based on a binary logistic regression exposure model. Censored dogs were accounted for in the IPTW analysis using inverse probability of censoring weighting (IPCW). The IPCWs were combined with IPTWs and used to weight each dog’s contribution to binary logistic regression outcome models. Standardized mean differences (SMD) examined the balance of covariate distribution between treatment groups.The emulated trial included 615 surgical CCL rupture cases and 200 non-surgical cases. The risk difference for short-term lameness in surgically managed cases (compared with non-surgically managed cases) was -25.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) -36.7% to -15.9%) and the risk difference for long-term lameness -31.7% (95% CI -37.9% to -18.1%).The study demonstrated the application of the target trial framework to veterinary observational data. The findings show that surgical management causes a reduction in short- and long-term lameness compared with non-surgical management in dogs.

There is growing evidence supporting clinically important associations between age at neutering in bitches and subsequent urinary incontinence (UI), although much of this evidence to date is considered weak. Target trial emulation is an innovative approach in causal inference that has gained substantial attention in recent years, aiming to simulate a hypothetical randomised controlled trial by leveraging observational data. Using anonymised veterinary clinical data from the VetCompass Programme, this study applied the target trial emulation framework to determine whether later-age neutering (≥ 7 to ≤ 18 months) causes decreased odds of early-onset UI (diagnosed < 8.5 years) compared to early-age neutering (3 to < 7 months). The study included bitches in the VetCompass database born from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2012, and neutered between 3 and 18 months old. Bitches were retrospectively confirmed from the electronic health records as neutered early or later. The primary outcome was a diagnosis of early-onset UI. Informed from a directed acyclic graph, data on the following covariates were extracted: breed, insurance status, co-morbidities and veterinary group. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to adjust for confounding, with inverse probability of censoring weighting accounting for censored bitches. The emulated trial included 612 early-age neutered bitches and 888 later-age neutered bitches. A pooled logistic regression outcome model identified bitches neutered later at 0.80 times the odds (95% CI 0.54 to 0.97) of early-onset UI compared with bitches neutered early. The findings show that later-age neutering causes reduced odds of early-onset UI diagnosis compared with early-age neutering. Decision-making on the age of neutering should be carefully considered, with preference given to delaying neutering until after 7 months of age unless other major reasons justify earlier surgery. The study is one of the first to demonstrate successful application of the target trial framework to veterinary observational data.

Objectives The aims of the present study were to generate the first life tables for the UK companion cat population overall as well as broken down by sex and breed status, and to quantify associations between mortality and traits such as sex, neuter status, breed status and body weight in relation to mortality. Methods Life table construction and modelling included data on 7936 confirmed deaths in cats under primary veterinary care at clinics participating in the VetCompass Programme in 2019. The life tables were built for cats overall, female and male cats, and crossbred and purebred cats. Multivariable generalised linear regression models were generated to explore the risk factors for a shortened lifespan. Results Life expectancy at age 0 for UK companion cats overall was 11.74 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.61−11.87). The probability of death at each year interval increased with age from year interval 3–4, with the probability value not exceeding 0.05 before year 9. Female cats (12.51 years; 95% CI 12.32–12.69) had a 1.33-year longer life expectancy than male cats (11.18 years; 95% CI 11.01–11.38) at age 0. Among the 12 breeds (including crossbred) analysed, Burmese and Birman had the longest life expectancy at year 0, showing 14.42 years (95% CI 12.91–15.93) and 14.39 years (95% CI 12.87–15.91), respectively. Sphynx had the shortest life expectancy at year 0 among the analysed breeds at 6.68 years (95% CI 4.53–8.83). Being entire, purebred and with a non-ideal body weight were significantly linked to a decreased lifespan. Conclusions and relevance The life tables presented here for companion cats in the UK overall, by sex, and by crossbred and purebred cats can contribute to a better understanding of the life trajectory of cats, helping with evidence-based decision-making for cat owners and the veterinary profession. We have also provided an updated life expectancy at age 0 for various cat breeds for 2019 and showed evidence of the association between non-ideal weight and a decreased lifespan.

Background The English Cocker Spaniel (ECS) is one of the most popular dog breeds in the UK but information on disorder predisposition and protection is limited. Using anonymised veterinary clinical data from the VetCompass™ Programme, this study aimed to compare disorder predisposition and protection between the ECS and the remaining dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK during 2016. Electronic patient records for random samples of ECS and non-ECS were reviewed. The most common disorders diagnosed during 2016 were extracted and compared using multivariable logistic regression, controlling for confounders. Results The analysis included random samples of 2510/10,313 (24.3%) ECS and 7813/326,552 (2.39%) non-ECS. After accounting for confounding by age, sex, bodyweight within breed-sex, insurance status and veterinary practice group, the ECS had increased odds of 21/43 (48.85%) disorders at fine-level precision, with highest odds for aural discharge (odds ratio (OR) 14.66, 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.73–30.90, P < 0.001) and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (OR 7.64, 95% CI: 4.33–14.14, P < 0.001) and lowest odds for atopic dermatitis (OR 0.14, 95% CI: 0.05–0.31, P < 0.001) and allergy (OR 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06–0.28, P < 0.001). Conclusions This study provides evidence for strong predisposition to aural and ocular disorders and protection from hypersensitivity disorders in the ECS. These results can aid dog owners, breeders, and veterinarians to better monitor health in ECS, and promote earlier diagnosis with improved prognosis. Further, the results can help breeding organisations establish key priorities the health-based reforms of the ECS.

Background Shih Tzus are a popular dog breed in the UK although there is relatively little reported information on their health. This study aimed to characterise the demography, common disorders and mortality of Shih Tzus under primary veterinary care during 2016 in the UK using de-identified clinical records from the VetCompass™ Programme. Results The study population of 336,865 dogs under veterinary care during 2016 included 11,082 Shih Tzus (3.3%). The median age was 4.1 years (IQR: 2.1–7.1, range: 0.3–20.4) and mean adult bodyweight was 7.9 kg (SD: 1.9 kg). Annual proportional births increased from 2.2% of all dog births in 2005 to 3.8% in 2013, dropping to 3.3% by 2016. From a random subset of 2,423 Shih Tzus that had information extracted on disorders diagnosed during 2016, the most prevalent fine-level precision disorders were periodontal disease ( n = 229, prevalence 9.5%, 95% CI: 8.4–10.7), anal sac impaction (180, 7.4%, 95% CI: 6.5–8.5) and ear disorders (134, 5.5%, 95% CI: 4.7–6.5). The most prevalent grouped-level precision disorders were cutaneous ( n = 402, prevalence: 16.6%, 95% CI: 15.2–18.1), dental (322, 13.3%, 95% CI: 12.0–14.7), and ophthalmological (289, 11.9%, 95% CI: 10.7–13.3). Males were more likely than females to be diagnosed with skin disorders ( P = 0.007) and musculoskeletal disorders ( P = 0.010) while females were more likely than males to be diagnosed with hernias ( P = 0.005). The median age of death was 12.7 years (IQR 8.7–14.3, range 2.0–19.9) and did not differ statistically between males and females. The most common grouped causes of death were enteropathy (7.9%, 95% CI: 3.9–15.4), heart disease (7.9%, 95% CI: 3.9–15.4) and poor quality of life (7.9%, 95% CI: 3.9–15.4). Conclusions Periodontal disease, anal sac impaction and ear disorders were identified as common health issues. Shih Tzus had higher prevalence of anal sac impaction, umbilical hernias and eye problems than reported previously in dogs overall, suggesting potential predispositions. Shih Tzus appear to be relatively long-lived compared to previous reports of lifespan in dogs overall. The results can inform veterinarians and owners on priority disorders for monitoring to protect welfare. Oral hygiene was highlighted as a healthcare priority.