Boyd et al. (2018) analyzed electronic patient records from primary-care veterinary practices in England, covering the years 2009–2014, to examine causes of death in dogs under three years old. The study found that 33.7% of deaths in this age group were linked to undesirable behaviors (UBs), a proportion higher than deaths caused by road traffic accidents or gastrointestinal issues.
Risk analysis revealed that male dogs had 1.40× higher odds of dying from a UB compared to females, while neutered dogs had 1.94× higher odds compared to intact dogs. Aggression emerged as the most prevalent UB leading to mortality. Despite this, only 10.3% of cases had veterinary referrals recommended, and a mere 3% received interventions such as nutraceuticals, pheromones, or pharmacological treatments.
The findings emphasize the need for better preventive strategies, early intervention, and education for veterinarians, trainers, and owners. By addressing the emotional motivations underlying these behaviors and promoting humane management approaches, the welfare and survival rates of young dogs could be significantly improved.
Source: Boyd, C. A., Jarvis, S., McGreevy, P., Heath, S., Church, D., Brodbelt, D., & O’Neill, D. (2018). Mortality resulting from undesirable behaviours in dogs aged under three years attending primary-care veterinary practices in England. Animal Welfare. Authors: Caitlin A. Boyd, Sarah Jarvis, Paul McGreevy, Sarah Heath, David Church, David Brodbelt, Dan O’Neill.
