Page 11 - Clinical Connections - Autumn 2022

Research News

THE TRUE RISKS OF FLAT-FACED DOGS AT MOST COMMON DISORDERS
ANAESTHESIA IN DOGS HIGHEST RISK OF SKIN OF PET HAMSTERS
FOLD DERMATITIS
An RVC VetCompass study revealed a RVC VetCompass research has revealed
relatively low risk of death from sedation RVC VetCompass research has found the 20 most common disorders in pet
and general anaesthetics for dogs in the that some popular flat-faced dog breeds, hamsters. Despite their popularity, little
UK. This up-to-date information can improve including the English bulldog, French research has been done into hamster
shared decision-making between veterinary bulldog and pug, are at the highest risk of health. Often purchased by parents as short-
professionals and owners. skin fold dermatitis. The study highlights that commitment pets, hamsters are brought to
The paper, ‘Mortality Related to General although seeming ‘cute’ to many humans, vets less frequently than other companion
Anaesthesia and Sedation in Dogs under folded skin on dogs has high health and animals. They can also often be difficult to
UK Primary Veterinary Care’, which was welfare implications. handle and may hide signs of illness. These
published in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Skin fold dermatitis is caused by friction, factors have made it hard to get good health
Analgesia, used data from more than excessive moisture and lack of ventilation data.
150,000 dogs attending first opinion deep in folds of skin. It often results in
practices around the UK. pain throughout a dog’s life. The welfare Hamsters in the UK: Health and life
The study examined the overall risk of importance has risen over the past decade expectancy
death for each dog with at least one sedation due to dramatically rising popularity of some Hamsters are hugely popular as pets in the UK and worldwide. Despite this, very
little is published about their health. As a prey species, hamsters ‘hide’ signs of
and/or anaesthesia procedure. Anaesthesia flat-faced dog breeds. Obesity and chronic illness to protect themselves from predators so owners need to be extra vigilant
to spot illness.
related to neutering was a specific focus skin disease can also predispose to skin fold This study aimed to investigate the common
disorders and causes of death of hamsters in the
UK. This information can help owners recognise
as these procedures are so common and dermatitis. common illnesses and understand typical
durations of lifespan.
Average age at
anaesthetic risk is a real concern for owners. The study included anonymised veterinary hamsters in death of hamsters The average age
Number of
at death
Among sedation/anaesthesia procedures clinical records on more than 900,000 UK study in the study
carried out for any reason, the risk was 14 dogs under veterinary care. The results 16,605 1.75 2.0 years
Males
years
deaths in 10,000 dogs within two weeks, showed that a formal diagnosis of skin (21 months) 1.67 years
Females
of which 10 deaths per 10,000 were within fold dermatitis was recorded in one in 300
48 hours. For neutering surgeries in dogs, dogs each year (0.37% of dogs diagnosed Most common hamster species
this risk was much smaller, with one death annually). However, certain breeds showed The Syrian (golden) hamster (73.45%) was the common species in the UK, followed by
related to sedation and/or anaesthesia in much higher levels. Djungarian (winter white dwarf) (13.77%) and Roborovski hamsters (6.35%).
10,000 neuter procedures. No association Breeds with the highest annual proportion Syrian hamster
was found between the age of puppies at of skin fold dermatitis diagnoses were Owners and vets have largely had to rely
the time of neutering and risk. English bulldog (6.1%); French bulldog on personal experience, small research
Roborovski hamster
Djungarian hamster
Factors associated with increased risk (2.7%) and pug (2.1%). Overall, 1.0% of studies and anecdotal reports. However, the
of sedation and anaesthetic-related death all brachycephalic dogs were affected VetCompass research fills knowledge gaps.
included: compared to 0.3% of dogs with the typical The study, the largest in the world to date,
medium-length skull. Purebred dogs had an investigated anonymised veterinary clinical
• Older age increased risk (x2.5) of skin fold dermatitis records of a random sample of almost 4,000
Hamster Disorders
• Poorer overall health compared to crossbred dogs. hamsters.
Most common disorders diagnosed in hamsters in the UK
• More urgent surgeries The breeds with the highest predisposition From a list of the 20 most common
‘Wet tail’*
• Certain breeds such as Rottweilers (compared to cross bred dogs) for skin fold disorders across all hamster species, the
Disorder not diagnosed
Bite injuries from other hamsters
and West Highland white terriers dermatitis were English bulldog (x49.1 times most common disorders were ‘wet tail’
On
average,
Overgrown nails
hamsters had
compared with mixed breeds risk), French bulldog (x25.9), pug (x16.3), (diarrhoea or liquid discharge) (7.33%),
one disorder
Overgrown incisor teeth
diagnosed
The most
in their
basset (x10.7), cocker spaniel (x7.5), Shar bite injuries from other hamsters (5.88%),
Traumatic injury
common causes
lifetime.
of deaths were ‘wet
Abdominal lump
The team also investigated whether Pei (x6.4), boxer (x4.6) and Cavalier King overgrown nails (4.13%), overgrown front
tail’* (7.88%), abdominal
lump (6.40%), cancerous
Conjunctivitis growth (5.38%) and
difficulty breathing
brachycephalic breeds were associated Charles spaniel (x4.5). teeth (3.98%) and traumatic injury (3.80%).
Eye discharge
(3.99%).
with higher risk. Surprisingly, longer-nosed Considering which part of the body was Awareness of these findings on one of
Diarrhoea
‘dolichocephalic’ breeds showed four times affected, breeds with extreme flat faces the UK’s most popular small pets can help
6
7
8
3
4
5
1
2
0
Percentage of hamsters affected (%)
the odds of sedative/anaesthetic-related (English bulldog, French bulldog and pug) owners know what conditions to look out
death compared with medium-length nose showed high levels of facial, nasal, and for and help set realistic expectations for
*In the context of this study, ‘wet tail’ describes any liquid discharge
or soiling around the back-end of the hamster.
dogs, whereas no additional risk was seen periocular locations. The lips were the hamster lifespans. The average lifespan
CONCLUSIONS:
in flat-faced breeds. dominant location in the spaniel breeds was 1.75 years.
Awareness of The high frequency
of nail, dental and
(Cocker spaniel and Cavalier King Charles) typical age of death trauma problems
of 1.75 years can
highlights the
help build realistic
expectations for
Research paper: Shoop-Worrall, O'Neill, and the West Highland white terrier. owners (especially importance of good
Research paper: O’Neill et al. (2022)
diet, exercise and
husbandry to keep
children).
Viscasillas and Brodbelt (2022) ‘Mortality related ‘Demography, disorders and mortality of pet
hamsters healthy.
to General Anaesthesia and Sedation in Dogs under UK hamsters under primary veterinary care in the UK in
Substantially
shorter average
Primary Veterinary Care’. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Research paper: O’Neill et al (2022) ‘Ironing out 2016’. Journal of Small Animal Practice can encourage
This research
lifespans for female
hamsters suggests
Analgesia. the wrinkles and folds in the epidemiology of skin that owners should owners with sick
hamsters to seek
fold dermatitis in dog breeds in the UK’. Nature be vigilant for age- prompt veterinary
related health
Scientific Reports problems earlier in attention.
female hamsters.
CLICK TO READ THE FULL STUDY
O’Neill et al. (2022) “Demography, disorders and mortality of pet hamsters under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2016” Journal of Small Animal Practice
RVC VetCompass https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass carries out welfare research based on anonymised clinical information shared from over 30%
of UK veterinary practices. We are very grateful to the owners and veterinary professionals who contribute to VetCompass research.
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