Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Common health problems found in retired racing Greyhounds from a web
By Lord, Linda K et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2007·Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Results of a web-based health survey of retired racing Greyhounds.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A survey of 747 retired racing Greyhounds found that many of these dogs face health issues, with a 15% mortality rate over two years. The most common causes of death were cancer, particularly osteosarcoma, which affected 28 dogs. Other prevalent health problems included skeletal issues, skin disorders, and digestive problems. This information can help pet owners and veterinarians understand the health risks associated with retired racing Greyhounds and encourage regular check-ups for early detection and treatment of these conditions.
People also search for: Greyhound health problems · osteosarcoma in dogs · retired racing Greyhound care · common diseases in Greyhounds · Greyhound cancer symptoms
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adoption of retired racing Greyhounds has become increasingly popular during the past decade. To date, research has focused on the physiologic and clinicopathologic peculiarities of Greyhounds but there is little published information on disease prevalence in the breed. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of disease in retired racing Greyhounds. ANIMALS: In this study, 747 Greyhounds were used. METHODS: A standardized survey method was used, and survey responses were collected by an Internet survey. Owners could answer a survey for every Greyhound that they had owned since January 1, 2005. RESULTS: Of the 692 eligible participants, 441 (63.7% response rate) completed surveys for 747 Greyhounds. The mortality rate for Greyhounds within the 2-year period was 15% (113 of 747 died). The most common cause of death reported was cancer (66 dogs, 58%), and the most common type of cancer listed as the cause of death was osteosarcoma (28 dogs, 25%). The most commonly reported groups of diseases or disorders were skeletal (232 dogs, 33%), skin (197 dogs, 28%), digestive (132 dogs, 18%), cancer (94 dogs, 13%), and endocrine (85 dogs, 11.9%). Forty-five percent of Greyhounds diagnosed with cancer and 6% of the overall population had osteosarcoma. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The results of this study can be used by veterinary researchers to continue to investigate the most common diseases in this population. As more retired racing Greyhounds enter the pet population, the results of this study will help educate veterinarians and owners about the most prevalent diseases in the breed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18196733/