Cross-sectional survey of 43,517 dogs in the Dog Aging Project identifies owner-reported lifetime prevalence and characteristics of gastrointestinal disease

Sarah M. Schmid Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN

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 DVM, DACVIM https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9383-3591
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Jessica M. Hoffman Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Augusta University, Augusta, GA

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 PhD
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Emily N. Gould Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

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 DVM, PhD, DACVIM https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2961-2452
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Alaina Moon Specialty VetMed, Olympia, WA

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Kate E. Creevy Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

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 DVM, DACVIM https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4169-374X , Dog Aging Project Consortium

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence of and characteristics associated with owner-reported gastrointestinal (GI) disease in companion dogs within the US.

METHODS

Cross-sectional owner-reported survey study of 43,517 dogs enrolled in the DAP between December 26, 2019, and December 31, 2022. Dogs were grouped on the basis of having an owner-reported GI disorder (ORGID) versus not having that ORGID at any point in their history (control group). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between dog characteristics and ORGIDs with prevalence ORs (PORs).

RESULTS

Of the 43,517 dogs in the DAP Pack, 30,677 (70%) had no history of ORGIDs and 12,840 (30%) had at least 1 ORGID. The most common ORGIDs included infectious diseases (7,580 of 43,517 [17%]), chronic diarrhea (1,316 [3%]), foreign bodies (1,086 [2%]), anal sac impactions (1,031 [2%]), pancreatitis (857 [2%]), inflammatory GI disease (615 [1%]), chronic vomiting (519 [1%]), and acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (388 [1%]). Compared to controls, dogs with noninfectious ORGIDs had greater odds of having a history of being castrated (POR, 2.55; 95% CI, 2.29 to 2.85), underweight (POR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.47 to 1.70), or fed primarily canned food (POR, 2.51; 95% CI, 2.21 to 2.85) or receiving probiotics (POR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.58 to 1.81) or nonprescription GI medications (POR, 4.06; 95% CI, 3.80 to 4.33).

CONCLUSIONS

Dog owners in the US recruited from the general public reported a high prevalence of GI disorders in their dogs. Infectious and noninfectious ORGIDs were reported with approximately equal frequency.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Dogs with ORGIDs were more likely to have a history of receiving probiotics or nonprescription GI medications, which may indicate that owners are changing lifestyle practices to accommodate these GI disorders, although future longitudinal research is needed.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence of and characteristics associated with owner-reported gastrointestinal (GI) disease in companion dogs within the US.

METHODS

Cross-sectional owner-reported survey study of 43,517 dogs enrolled in the DAP between December 26, 2019, and December 31, 2022. Dogs were grouped on the basis of having an owner-reported GI disorder (ORGID) versus not having that ORGID at any point in their history (control group). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between dog characteristics and ORGIDs with prevalence ORs (PORs).

RESULTS

Of the 43,517 dogs in the DAP Pack, 30,677 (70%) had no history of ORGIDs and 12,840 (30%) had at least 1 ORGID. The most common ORGIDs included infectious diseases (7,580 of 43,517 [17%]), chronic diarrhea (1,316 [3%]), foreign bodies (1,086 [2%]), anal sac impactions (1,031 [2%]), pancreatitis (857 [2%]), inflammatory GI disease (615 [1%]), chronic vomiting (519 [1%]), and acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (388 [1%]). Compared to controls, dogs with noninfectious ORGIDs had greater odds of having a history of being castrated (POR, 2.55; 95% CI, 2.29 to 2.85), underweight (POR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.47 to 1.70), or fed primarily canned food (POR, 2.51; 95% CI, 2.21 to 2.85) or receiving probiotics (POR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.58 to 1.81) or nonprescription GI medications (POR, 4.06; 95% CI, 3.80 to 4.33).

CONCLUSIONS

Dog owners in the US recruited from the general public reported a high prevalence of GI disorders in their dogs. Infectious and noninfectious ORGIDs were reported with approximately equal frequency.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Dogs with ORGIDs were more likely to have a history of receiving probiotics or nonprescription GI medications, which may indicate that owners are changing lifestyle practices to accommodate these GI disorders, although future longitudinal research is needed.

Supplementary Materials

    • Supplementary Table S1 (PDF 171 KB)
    • Supplementary Table S2 (PDF 168 KB)
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