English Cocker Spaniels under primary veterinary care in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections

Background: The English Cocker Spaniel (ECS) is one of the most popular dog breeds in the UK but information on disorder predisposition and protection is limited. Using anonymised veterinary clinical data from the VetCompass™ Programme, this study aimed to compare disorder predisposition and protection between the ECS and the remaining dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK during 2016. Electronic patient records for random samples of ECS and non-ECS were reviewed. The most common disorders diagnosed during 2016 were extracted and compared using multivariable logistic regression, controlling for confounders.Results: The analysis included random samples of 2510/10,313 (24.3%) ECS and 7813/326,552 (2.39%) non-ECS. After accounting for confounding by age, sex, bodyweight within breed-sex, insurance status and veterinary practice group, the ECS had increased odds of 21/43 (48.85%) disorders at fine-level precision, with highest odds for aural discharge (odds ratio (OR) 14.66, 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.73–30.90, P < 0.001) and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (OR 7.64, 95% CI: 4.33 –14.14, P < 0.001) and lowest odds for atopic dermatitis (OR 0.14, 95% CI: 0.05–0.31, P < 0.001) and allergy (OR 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06–0.28, P < 0.001).Conclusions: This study provides evidence for strong predisposition to aural and ocular disorders and protection from hypersensitivity disorders in the ECS. These results can aid dog owners, breeders, and veterinarians to better monitor health in ECS, and promote earlier diagnosis with improved prognosis. Further, the results can help breeding organisations establish key priorities the health-based reforms of the ECS.

背景：英国可卡犬（English Cocker Spaniel, ECS）是英国最受欢迎的犬种之一，但目前有关其疾病易感性与保护性的研究资料仍较为匮乏。本研究依托VetCompass™项目的匿名化兽医临床数据，旨在对比2016年英国初级兽医护理体系下，英国可卡犬与其余犬只的疾病易感性及保护性差异。研究回顾了英国可卡犬与非英国可卡犬的随机样本电子病历，提取2016年确诊的最常见疾病，并通过控制混杂因素的多变量逻辑回归（multivariable logistic regression）模型开展对比分析。结果：本研究最终纳入的随机样本包括2510/10313（24.3%）的英国可卡犬，以及7813/326552（2.39%）的非英国可卡犬。在控制年龄、性别、品种-性别内体重、保险状态及兽医诊所组别等混杂因素后，英国可卡犬在43种精细分类层级的疾病中有21种（48.85%）的发病比值比（odds ratio, OR）升高，其中耳部流脓（OR=14.66，95%置信区间（confidence interval, CI）：7.73–30.90，P<0.001）与干燥性角结膜炎（keratoconjunctivitis sicca）（OR=7.64，95%CI：4.33–14.14，P<0.001）的发病风险最高，特应性皮炎（atopic dermatitis）（OR=0.14，95%CI：0.05–0.31，P<0.001）与过敏症（allergy）（OR=0.14，95%CI：0.06–0.28，P<0.001）的发病风险最低。结论：本研究证实，英国可卡犬对耳部与眼部疾病具有显著易感性，而对超敏性疾病具有保护性。上述结果可协助犬主、繁育者及兽医更好地监测英国可卡犬的健康状况，助力早期诊断以改善预后。此外，本研究结果还可帮助繁育组织明确英国可卡犬健康改革的核心优先级。