1. The Demography, Longevity and Mortality of Bullmastiffs Attending Veterinary Practices in Australia.
- Author
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Carney, Abigail, Williamson, Peter, and Taylor, Rosanne M.
- Subjects
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DOG breeds , *EPIDEMIOLOGY , *DISEASE risk factors , *VETERINARY medicine , *AGE groups , *LONGEVITY - Abstract
Simple Summary: The disease investigation of companion animals is important for the clinical management of disease as well as the control of disease risk factors. The Bullmastiff is a giant brachycephalic dog breed which has been reported to have an increased risk of lymphoma, musculoskeletal and ocular disorders, as well as a shortened lifespan, although an in-depth disease investigation of the Bullmastiff has not been conducted. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive retrospective study of the breed, investigating the demography, longevity and mortality of Bullmastiffs attending veterinary practices in Australia over a ten-year period from 2008 to 2017. This was achieved through the systematic review of patient records from veterinary practices participating in the VetCompass research collaboration. This study described the demography, body weight, longevity and mortality of the Bullmastiff, revealing the study population to have a median age of 2.8 years and a mean body weight of 46.6 kg for males and 40.5 kg for females. The dogs had a median longevity of 8.5 years, and the major causes of mortality were mass lesions, old age and musculoskeletal, neurological and behavioural disorders. Desexing was found to significantly reduce the risk of mortality due to urogenital causes. The results of this study may assist in the veterinary care, health management, breeding guidelines and welfare of Bullmastiffs. The Bullmastiff is a giant breed of dog, and there is evidence the breed is predisposed to cancer and musculoskeletal disorders, though the disease investigation of the breed is limited. This study reports on the demography, longevity and mortality of Bullmastiffs attending veterinary practices in Australia over a ten-year period. VetCompass Australia collects patient data from veterinary practices across Australia for epidemiological analysis. All patient records of Bullmastiffs available in the VetCompass Australia database during this decade period were reviewed, with demographic information on the breed inclusive of coat colour, sex, neuter status, weight and location collated. Standardised veterinary diagnostic (VeNom) codes for the most appropriate cause of death were assigned to deceased dogs. The population comprised 2771 Bullmastiffs with an overall median age of 2.8 years. Within the group, 1259 were female (45.4%), 1491 were male (53.8%), and 21 dogs (0.8%) had no recorded sex or neuter status. Dogs grew rapidly in their first year, with an average gain of approximately 1 kg every 10 days. A slower growth rate continued in their second year, and growth plateaued as adulthood was reached, with the mean body weight of adult male dogs (46.6 kg) being heavier than that of females (40.5 kg). The age at death for the group was 8.5 years. The most common causes of death in the breed were mass lesions (28.2%), old age (9.9%), musculoskeletal-related disease (9.9%) and neurological (5.3%) and behavioural disorders (4.8%). Neutering was protective against mortality from urogenital causes (OR: 0.14; CI: 0.02–0.52; p = 0.003) and had a positive effect on longevity. This study provides demographic and health information on a population of Bullmastiffs attending veterinary practices in Australia, which will benefit evidence-based veterinary decisions for this breed. Additionally, the results may assist owners and breeders in making informed decisions on health risks and breeding programmes in the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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