The Impact of Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy on Dogs' Quality of Life and Dog-Owner Relationship.

Veronica Marchetti,Valeria Mariotti,Eleonora Gori,Angelo Gazzano,Chiara Mariti

doi:10.3390/vetsci8080166

Abstract

This research was aimed at evaluating the impact of canine chronic enteropathies on dogs’ quality of life (QoL), their behavior, and owner–dog relationship. Forty-four dogs suffering from primary chronic enteropathies were assessed on the first visit with a veterinary gastroenterologist and on the first follow-up visit using a 1–10 visual scale to evaluate five features of QoL, the Canine Chronic Enteropathy Clinical Activity Index, the Lexington Attachment to Pet Scale, and the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire. They were compared to a control group of 49 healthy dogs and to a group of 50 dogs suffering from cancer. QoL and severity of enteropathy were negatively associated; enteropathic dogs on the first visit had a lower QoL than healthy dogs for all features and a lower general QoL than cancer patients; enteropathic dogs on the follow-up visit improved significantly for general QoL, health QoL, and interaction QoL. Higher levels of attachment between the owner and the dog were obtained for dogs affected by chronic enteropathies. Finally, dogs showed higher scores for separation-related behaviors and contact/attention behaviors on the first visit than on the subsequent follow-up. As in human medicine, chronic enteropathies have a strong negative impact on dogs.

Highlights

Dogs have shared their life and story with human beings for several thousands of years [1] and today are considered, by most of their owners, family members
Oncologic dogs resulted older and with a higher weight compared to both enteropathic dogs (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively) and healthy dogs (p < 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively)
The data of the current study suggest that quality of life (QoL), dog behavior, and dog–owner relationship are affected by the presence of a chronic enteropathy in dogs

Summary

Introduction

Dogs have shared their life and story with human beings for several thousands of years [1] and today are considered, by most of their owners, family members. Much more attention is paid to dog welfare, both from a physical and from a psychological point of view, by owners as well as by service providers (veterinary surgeons, nutritionists, etc.). In veterinary medicine, both a more specialistic knowledge and a more holistic and multidisciplinary approach to diseases are required, especially in canine gastroenterology, due to its connections with other veterinary branches and its relevance. A particular subgroup of enteropathies has to be considered, represented by a more serious condition characterized by an intestinal loss of proteins (protein-losing enteropathy), which in some cases may be responsive to diet but more frequently is responsive to immunosuppressive therapies

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