Page 11 - Clinical Connections - Summer 2019

Issue: Summer 2019
Research News
3,857
MINIATURE SCHNAUZERS ANALYSED
PARLIAMENTARY BRIEFING CO-AUTHORED BY RVC POSTGRAD
Fourth year PhD student Alana Dowling co-authored a research briefing for parliamentarians as part of her three-month science policy internship at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST).
POST research briefings, known as a POSTnotes, are four-page summaries of public policy issues.These briefings are an important aspect of the political process as they provide MPs and Lords with knowledge of key issues before they reach the top of the political agenda.
Alana, who is in the RVC’s Molecular Immunology Group, co-produced
the POSTnote titled ‘Reservoirs of Antimicrobial Resistance’ (AMR).
It evaluates the main reservoirs of antimicrobial resistant microbes arising from the use of antimicrobials in humans and other animals. It describes the current reporting mechanisms
for AMR data in both human and veterinary medicine in the UK.
The timing of Alana’s POSTnote coincided with the government’s
release of the ‘UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2019 to 2024’ and the ‘UK 20-year vision
for antimicrobial resistance’.The POSTnote concludes by highlighting commitments made in the action
plan aimed at improving upon the quality and quantity of AMR data currently reported, with the intention of informing more targeted approaches for tackling AMR.
To read the full POSTnote see: https://
researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ ResearchBriefing/Summary/POST-PN-0595
MOST COMMON DISORDER AFFECTING THE BREED WAS DENTAL DISEASE
FEMALES WERE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE DENTAL DISEASE, BE OVERWEIGHT AND HAVE
HEART MURMURS
11.7 YEARSAVERAGE LIFESPAN OF MINIATURE SCHNAUZERS
MINIATURE SCHNAUZER SHINES IN AVERAGENESS
An RVC VetCompassTM study has revealed that the miniature schnauzer is one of
the most average dog breeds in the UK, suggesting it might be a good choice for many aspiring owners.
The averageness of the miniature schnauzer means it lacks major specific breed-related health problems. It just has the typical common problems that affect dogs in general. These include dental disease, obesity, anal sac impaction, vomiting and ear infection.
The research, which was the largest ever study of the breed, analysed 3,857 miniature schnauzers from a population of more than 450,000 dogs across the UK.The study found that the average lifespan of miniature schnauzers was 11.7 years, close to the average of 12 for dogs overall.
The most common disorder affecting the
breed was dental disease (affecting 17.4%). This is similar to that of other similarly-sized breeds such as the Cavalier King Charles spaniel (15.2%) and Border terrier (17.6%).
The findings underline that owners of miniature schnauzers – and dogs in general – should pay special attention to dental care, weight management, anal sac issues and making sure their dogs eat a healthy diet.
The study found that females were more likely to have dental disease, be overweight and have heart murmurs. Males were found to be more prone to diarrhoea and claw injury.The most common causes of death were neoplasia (14.7%), collapse (13.3%), mass-associated disorder (10.7%) and brain disorder (10.7%).
https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/news/miniature-
schnauzer-one-of-the-most-average-dogs-in-the-uk- according-to-new-research
LINKS BETWEEN OSTEOARTHRITIS IN DOGS AND HUMANS
An international research team, led by the RVC, has for the first time identified key similarities between osteoarthritis in dogs and in humans.
Their findings, published in Nature Reviews Rheumatology, suggest the similarities are partly due to the shared lifestyles and environments of dogs and humans; however similar anatomies and disease physiology also contribute.
The researchers made their discoveries by conducting a comprehensive review
of literature related to osteoarthritis. From the scrutiny of over 230 peer reviewed studies, the team amalgamated the research into a single article ‘Spontaneous dog osteoarthritis — a One Medicine vision’. It was identified that both dogs and humans share the most common areas for the development of osteoarthritis: the knee, hip, shoulder and elbow.
The pain experienced by both dogs and humans with osteoarthritis also has a common basis, leading the researchers to
believe the neurophysiology of dogs and humans is also linked.
The review was headed up by Richard Meeson and Andrew Pitsillides from
the RVC, working in conjunction with bioengineers, human rheumatologists
and veterinary research clinicians from University College London, the University of Portsmouth, the University of Edinburgh and Cornell University.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41584-019- 0202-1
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