Discussing Brachycephalic Health with Current and Prospective Dog Owners

Belshaw, Zoe; Wensley, Sean

doi:10.1201/9780429263231-5

Cited by 2 publications

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“…However, existing data indicate low demand and poor uptake for online veterinary consultations, so more effective marketing would be needed to support these new PPC services at a wider level (e.g., promotion by larger veterinary groups rather than reliance on individual veterinarian and/or practice initiatives). Together, these changes could increase client awareness of the veterinary professions as a source of advice on preventive health and pet acquisition, 45 in addition to the current perception of veterinary services as ‘firefighters’ for emergencies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…59 Consensus-based collective views on, and actions against, the serious harms of brachycephaly to dogs are likely to also benefit staff wellbeing. This is particularly important for those most vulnerable within the profession, such as recent graduates, who may be dissuaded from future welfare advocacy by early negative experiences or lack of organisational support on this issue, 45 and may not yet have developed the confidence and communication skills to 'speak out' without needing support from colleagues. The more widespread usage of waiting room educational resources, for example, imagery, videos and text from BVA's 'Breed to Breathe' campaign 21 could further support such individuals by communicating the wider ethos of the practice and profession before owners step foot in the consult room with them.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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‘All I do is fight fires’: Qualitative exploration of UK veterinarians’ attitudes towards and experiences of pre‐purchase consultations regarding brachycephalic dogs

Pound,

Farrow,

O'Neill

et al. 2024

Veterinary Record

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BackgroundDemand for brachycephalic dogs has dramatically increased over the past decade, despite growing evidence of strong associations between brachycephaly and severe, chronic disease. Positive post‐purchase attitudes of owners towards brachycephalic dogs are highly intractable, facilitated by normalisation of breed‐related disease and strong dog–owner bonds. Veterinarian‐led pre‐purchase consultations (PPCs) have been promoted as an opportunity to influence acquisition decisions regarding brachycephalic dogs.MethodsUsing reflexive thematic analysis, this qualitative study investigated veterinarians’ attitudes towards, and experiences of, engaging in PPCs for brachycephalic dogs.ResultsVeterinarians described significant structural barriers, such as lack of time and staff, and perceptual barriers, such as perceived futility, negative outcomes of PPCs and public distrust in the profession, that combine to inhibit many veterinarians from offering or delivering brachycephalic PPCs. Some of these barriers are intractable at an individual‐veterinarian level and lead to moral distress due to conflicts between veterinarians’ responsibilities to animal welfare versus clients' and business needs, with resultant censorship of authentic views on brachycephalic ownership compromising professional integrity and autonomy.LimitationsWider views and/or experiences may exist outside of the sampled population.ConclusionStronger veterinary leadership, including from the RCVS, BVA and veterinary corporates, is now urgently required to build profession‐wide solutions that overcome the barriers identified to create public‐facing consensus and innovative solutions to the ‘brachycephalic crisis’.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘All I do is fight fires’: Qualitative exploration of UK veterinarians’ attitudes towards and experiences of pre‐purchase consultations regarding brachycephalic dogs

Pound,

Farrow,

O'Neill

et al. 2024

Veterinary Record

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“…The drop in popularity in Shih Tzus coincides with the rise in popularity of other brachycephalic breeds such as the French Bulldog which experienced a six-fold increase in Kennel Club registrations from 2013 (6,990) to 2022 (42,538) [ 3 ]. Prospective puppy owners who are drawn to the appeal of brachycephaly may be more likely to buy a French Bulldog than other brachycephalic breeds (such as Shih Tzus) due to promotion of French Bulldogs in marketing, social media, film and television [ 36 ]. While Shih Tzu popularity appears to be declining, the increased popularity of brachycephalic breeds in recent years is particularly concerning due to the strong evidence that brachycephalic dog breeds are generally less healthy than non-brachycephalic breeds [ 37 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demography, common disorders and mortality of Shih Tzu dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK

Dale,

Brodbelt,

West

et al. 2024

Canine Med Genet

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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.

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Discussing Brachycephalic Health with Current and Prospective Dog Owners

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

‘All I do is fight fires’: Qualitative exploration of UK veterinarians’ attitudes towards and experiences of pre‐purchase consultations regarding brachycephalic dogs

‘All I do is fight fires’: Qualitative exploration of UK veterinarians’ attitudes towards and experiences of pre‐purchase consultations regarding brachycephalic dogs

Demography, common disorders and mortality of Shih Tzu dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK

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