Utvärdering av möjligheten att införa en plattform för djurägarinitierad dödsfallsrapportering av hundar samt därpå baserad forskning och avelsurval
There are about 700 000 dogs in Sweden. Roughly 70 % of the dogs are purebred and registered in the database at the Swedish Kennel Club (SKC). The database includes records of birth date, pedigree, offspring and results from e.g. veterinary examinations related to genetic health programs.Every year approximately 10% of the dogs die; most are euthanized by a veterinarian. Dog mortality data is stored as digital medical records at animal clinics and in insurance databases.Dog owners tend to register their puppy in the SKC, but they rarely report that the dog has passed away. A dog registered in the SKC database is handled as being alive until it is either reported dead or 20 years have passed. This means that the records of most registered dogs are out of date and that the total number of live dogs registered in the SKC database is unknown.In order to properly evaluate a genetic health program, birth, health and mortality data is required. Combining SKC data, including birth date and examination results with mortality data such as date and cause of death, would provide the necessary information.The main purpose of this study was to present and evaluate the possibilities of introducing the concept of ?dog mortality reporting?, meaning that animal clinic personnel report to the SKC as required by the pet owner. The work included describing a solution, or platform, that can be used for entry and analysis of canine mortality data. Another purpose was to analyse if and how this platform could be used for research and planned breeding.Information was gathered mainly by interviewing people at the SKC, animal clinics, insurance companies as well as breeders and dog owners. Questions in writing were sent to software vendors and to the Swedish Board of Agriculture.One conclusion was that it most likely would be possible to introduce ?dog mortality reporting? in Sweden, provided that the SKC is successful in informing and motivating both breeders/dog owners and veterinarians/employees at animal clinics around the country.Mortality data could then be transferred from the Veterinary Practice Management Software at the clinic to the SKC database and be presented e.g. through the SKC web site. The SKC database, including mortality data, would then provide a data source that can be used for selection of breeding stock, evaluating genetic health programs and various studies regarding canine mortality.