Page 11 - Clinical Connections - Autumn 2024

Research News

DESIGNER CROSSBREEDS COMMON HEALTH ISSUES IN LATER-AGE SPAYING
ARE NO HEALTHIER THAN PET RABBITS REDUCES RISK OF URINARY
PUREBRED DOGS INCONTINENCE IN BITCHES
RVC research has explored unnatural body
RVC research had debunked the widespread shapes in rabbits and revealed strong links An RVC study has revealed that delaying
belief that ‘designer’ crossbreeds are between inadequate diet and exercise with spaying of bitches until between seven and
healthier than ‘purebred’ dogs. poorer health. 18 months causes a 20% reduction in the
The study with over 9,000 owners is the As the largest study of its kind on pet risk of early-onset urinary incontinence,
largest ever undertaken into the health of rabbits, the RVC’s VetCompass team compared with spaying between three and
designer crossbreed dogs. explored the body shape of 162,017 rabbits six months.
The research revealed that the overall under first opinion veterinary care during The findings will help vets make better
health of three common designer 2019. evidence-based recommendations on the
crossbreeds (cockapoo, Labradoodle and The results showed that 79.7% of rabbits optimal timing of spaying, whilst taking into
Cavapoo) is largely similar to their parent with breed information recorded were account other spaying factors.
purebred breeds. classified as short-headed (brachycephalic), RVC VetCompass researchers studied
The study enables prospective dog 16.8% as medium-headed (mesaticephalic) the anonymised clinical records from more
owners to use robust evidence when and only 3.51% as long-headed than 30,000 bitches under first-opinion
deciding which type of dog to acquire. (dolichocephalic). veterinary care in the UK and born between
The UK has seen a significant increase in 2010 to 2012.
demand for designer crossbreeds over the
past decade, with many now surpassing the
popularity of their parent breeds.

Long-headed rabbits are most similar in
body shape to wild rabbits, showing just The data included a random sample of
how much humans have changed the rabbit 1,500 bitches spayed between three and 18
companions kept as pets today from their months. Of these, 612 (40.8%) bitches were
original natural conformation. spayed between three and six months and
For example, more cockapoos (653,597) The researchers examined the clinical 888 (59.2%) at seven to 18 months.
were owned in the UK in 2023 than either records of a random sample of 3,933 rabbits The analytic methods used novel
cocker spaniels (562,951) or poodles to identify the most common disorders statistical methods of causal inference to
(105,369). diagnosed in UK first opinion practice as balance the two groups of bitches across
Demand has been driven by beliefs overgrown nails (28.19%), overgrown other characteristics, including breed,
that designer crossbreeds are somehow molars (14.9%) and obesity (8.82%). Each veterinary group, insurance status and
breeding out harmful health effects caused of these can be linked to limited exercise chronic illnesses. This meant that the
by inbreeding in purebred dogs. However, and unnatural diets. only remaining difference between the
the study revealed that the risk for the 57 Insights from the research will support two groups was when they were spayed,
most common disorders in cockapoo, ongoing efforts to enhance pet rabbit welfare mimicking a randomised controlled trial.
Labradoodle and Cavapoo did not differ in the UK. The insights can help owners to The results showed that bitches spayed
from their purebred parent breeds in 86.6% recognise and prevent common disorders between seven and 18 months had 0.80
of the disorder comparisons. and provide veterinary professionals with times the likelihood of developing early-
more information around the causes of onset urinary incontinence compared with
commonly diagnosed disorders. bitches spayed earlier.
Research paper: Bryson GT, O’Neill DG, Brand
CL, Belshaw Z, Packer RMA (2024) ‘The doodle
dilemma: How the physical health of ‘Designer- Research paper: O'Neill DG, Williams A, Brodbelt Research paper: Pegram, C., Diaz-Ordaz, K.,
Brodbelt, D. C., Chang, Y., Hall, J. L., Church, D.
DC, Church DB, Hedley J. (2024)
crossbreed’ Cockapoo, Labradoodle and Cavapoo ‘Conformation‐associated health in pet rabbits in the B. and O’Neill D.G. (2024). ‘Later-Age Neutering
dogs’ compares to their purebred progenitor breeds'.
UK: A VetCompass cohort study’. Veterinary Record Causes Lower Risk of Early‐Onset Urinary
PLOS ONE 19(8): e0306350 Incontinence Than Early Neutering – A VetCompass
Target Trial Emulation Study’. PLOS ONE

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