Abstract
BackgroundAccording to Swedish animal insurance data, Irish Wolfhounds (IW) are 29 times more likely to die from cardiac causes than the baseline breed. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has a high prevalence in the breed and the disease has been shown to be hereditary in IW. Few studies address respiratory diseases in IW, but reports suggest that the incidence of pneumonia is high. Respiratory diseases are reported as a common cause of death in the breed along with cardiac, neoplastic, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate mortality, morbidity and lifespan in Swedish IW through a questionnaire-based study. Focus was on DCM and pneumonia and potential association between these diseases. Questionnaires were sent to owners of purebred IW registered in the Swedish Kennel Club, born during 2006–2008. Owners were asked for information concerning occurrence of disease, results of clinical examinations, treatments, cause and date of death.ResultsOverall response rate was 38% (105 completed questionnaires). Median lifespan was 2720 days (7.5 years). Males had shorter lifespan than females (median 2523 and 2836 days, respectively), P = 0.02. The most common causes of death were neoplastic disease (24%), cardiac disease (18%) and respiratory disease (16%). The percentage of dogs with pneumonia on at least one occasion during their lifetime was 37%, with a majority experiencing recurrent episodes (53%). The median lifespan was shorter for dogs affected by pneumonia on at least one occasion (2629 days), compared to dogs without history of pneumonia (2804 days) (P = 0.04), whereas the lifespan did not differ between dogs with or without a diagnosis of DCM. No sex predisposition was found regarding DCM or pneumonia.ConclusionsThis study showed that DCM and pneumonia are common conditions in IW in Sweden, and that dogs affected by pneumonia have a shorter lifespan than those without history of pneumonia. Considering the results from this study and previous studies regarding these diagnoses in IW; cardiac and respiratory disease should be given further attention in the course of improving the general health of the breed.
Highlights
According to Swedish animal insurance data, Irish Wolfhounds (IW) are 29 times more likely to die from cardiac causes than the baseline breed
The aim of this study was, to investigate mortality, morbidity and lifespan in Swedish IW through a questionnaire-based study, with special focus on Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and pneumonia and potential associations between the diseases, using the Swedish Kennel Club (SKK) registration database as source of dog and owner related information. Study design This retrospective study was performed by distributing a questionnaire (Additional file 1: Questionnaire) to owners of purebred IW born between January 1st 2006 and December 31st 2008 registered in the SKK (460 dogs)
There were questions concerning history of DCM or pneumonia, clinical signs observed by the owner and more specific questions whether heart and thorax of the dog had been examined by a veterinarian, and if the dog was subject to ongoing medical treatment as well as if potential pneumonias were recurrent
Summary
According to Swedish animal insurance data, Irish Wolfhounds (IW) are 29 times more likely to die from cardiac causes than the baseline breed. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has a high prevalence in the breed and the disease has been shown to be hereditary in IW. Respiratory diseases are reported as a common cause of death in the breed along with cardiac, neoplastic, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal diseases. According to Swedish insurance data, IW were 29 times more likely to die from cardiac disorders, compared to the baseline breeds defined as and including all breeds, except 10 high risk breeds and the 10 most common breeds [1]. Swedish insurance data has shown that median age at death in IW with cardiac disease was 7.5 years [12]. Regarding mode of inheritance in IW, a major gene model with a sex-dependent allele effect has been suggested [6], and another study suggested that multiple loci were potentially associated with DCM in this breed [14]
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