The influence of breed standard related disorders and inheritable diseases in pedigree dogs on differential diagnoses and the diagnostic process.

Abstract

In first opinion veterinary practice differential diagnoses play an important role in the diagnostic process. Many differential diagnoses exist for the different animal species and breeds treated by a veterinarian. In dogs, a special situation might be of importance. Influenced by the manners of (in)breeding, mainly based on selection of breed characteristics, inheritable disorders might appear in a much higher frequency in pedigree dogs compared to crossbreeds. In this study general differential diagnoses per organ system are set up based on the VeNom Codes, literature search and interviews with specialists of the University Clinic for Companion animals (UKG). These general lists of differential diagnoses per organ system are compared to data collected from databases of first and secondary care clinics for the Chihuahua, Labrador, French Bulldog and crossbreeds. Analysis of these data shows that breed is influential on the differential diagnosis and the diagnostic process in first opinion practice.