Page 11 - RVC Clinical Connections - Spring 2025
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Research News
CALCULATING STANDARD INCIDENCE AND RISK DEMOGRAPHY, DISORDERS
BODYWEIGHTS FOR FACTORS FOR INSULINOMA AND MORTALITY OF
COMPANION SPECIES IN DOGS BEAGLES IN THE UK
Standard bodyweights offer several An RVC study has reported incidence This VetCompass study reported the
uses in companion animal species, risk, breed predispositions and other demography, common disorders and
including evaluation of drug utilisation, demographic risk factors for insulinoma mortality of beagles under primary care in
epidemiological monitoring, development diagnosed in dogs in the UK. the UK. Anonymised clinical records were
of nutritional guidelines and optimising The VetCompass study drew on followed over time to extract disorder and
insurance premiums. anonymised electronic health records from mortality data during 2019.
Current methods of deriving mean dogs under primary veterinary care during The most diagnosed specific disorders
species bodyweights from health records 2019. were obesity (24.27%), periodontal disease
are unlikely to reflect the mean bodyweight Multivariable logistic regression analysis (17.78%), overgrown nail(s) (11.61%), otitis
of the whole population as they rely on adult evaluated demographic risk factors for externa (11.18%) and anal sac impaction
patients and rarely include measurements insulinoma diagnosis. Of 2,250,741 study (10.59%).
of juvenile animals that haven鈥檛 reached a dogs, 278 were confirmed as insulinoma The median age at death was 11.28
stable adult bodyweight. cases at any date. The estimated 2019 years for 322 beagle deaths recorded
This study aimed to improve the accuracy incidence risk was 0.003% (95% CI 0.002鈥� during the study period. The most common
of standard population-level species 0.004%). grouped causes of death were neoplasia
bodyweights through the development of a Compared to crossbreeds, predisposed (19.26%), mass (13.18%), poor quality of
prediction modelling approach to estimate breeds included Dogue de Bordeaux, life (12.84%) and brain disorders (6.76%)
point mean population bodyweight in German pointer, flat-coated retriever, boxer
dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. Data and West Highland white terrier.
obtained from the VetCompass database
included bodyweight measurements from
around three million dogs, two million cats,
220,000 rabbits and 62,000 guinea pigs,
across 1,800 UK veterinary practices.
The Labrador retriever showed
decreased odds for insulinoma diagnosis.
Being a terrier breed and being a breed
predisposed to other endocrine cancers
were associated with increased odds for
Loess models were used to identify the insulinoma diagnosis. Their disorder profile suggests the beagle
age at which juvenile animals transitioned Other risk factors associated with breed should not be considered to have an
from growth to stable adult bodyweight. increased odds for insulinoma diagnosis extreme conformation.
Linear mixed effects models to predict included being female neutered, and being The findings also suggests that owners
juvenile growth were calibrated such that between 9 and 15 years of age. and veterinary teams should put special
predicted cessation of growth matched This is the first study to report the emphasis on care related to bodyweight
that observed in the Loess models. The epidemiology of insulinoma in dogs under control and dental hygiene in the breed.
prediction models were then used to adjust primary veterinary care. It provides crucial Their median age at death of 11.70 years
bodyweight measurements obtained from leads for further research in the epidemiology suggests reasonable overall health but
records of juvenile patients. This allowed and aetiology of canine insulinoma and neoplasia is a common biomedical cause of
historical measurements to be included possible links between canine insulinoma death in beagles.
for estimation of a point mean population with other endocrine cancers. The results
bodyweight on a specified target date. can also help vets identify dogs at greater
risk of insulinoma.
Research paper: Becker, S.D., O鈥橬eill, D.G., Research paper: O'Neill, D.G., Schiksnis, M.R.,
Frosini, S.-M., Stapleton, L.E., Hughes, D.M. and Brodbelt, D.C., Church, D.B., Goldberg, S. and
Brodbelt, D.C. (2025) 'Calculation of standard Research paper: Kraai, K., O'Neill, D.G., Davison, Engdahl, K.S. (2025) 'Beagles kept as companion
L.J., Brodbelt, D.C., Galac, S. and Buishand, F.O.
bodyweights for dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs', animals in the UK 鈥� demography, disorders and
(2025) 'Incidence and risk factors for insulinoma
PLoS One, 20(2), e0318734 diagnosed in dogs under primary veterinary care in the mortality', Companion Animal Health and Genetics,
UK', Scientific Reports, 15(1), 2463 12(1), 1
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