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All Outputs (77)

Researcher, research thyself? Mapping the landscape of canine health and welfare research funding provided by UK not-for-profit organisations from 2012–2022 (2024)
Journal Article
O'Neill, D., Skipper, A. M., & Packer, R. M. . A. (2024). Researcher, research thyself? Mapping the landscape of canine health and welfare research funding provided by UK not-for-profit organisations from 2012–2022. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 19(5), e0303498. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303498

Background Research into canine health and welfare is supported by Government, charitable and private UK funding organisations. However, there is no current overall visibility or coordination of these funding activities, potentially compromising opti... Read More about Researcher, research thyself? Mapping the landscape of canine health and welfare research funding provided by UK not-for-profit organisations from 2012–2022.

Re-evaluating the placebo response in recent canine dietary epilepsy trials (2024)
Journal Article
Schmidt, T., Meyerhoff, N., Meller, S., Twele, F., Charalambous, M., Berk, B., Law, T., Packer, R., Zanghi, B., Pan, Y., Fischer, A., & Volk, H. (2024). Re-evaluating the placebo response in recent canine dietary epilepsy trials. BMC Veterinary Research, 20(1), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-04066-z

The placebo response is a common phenomenon. Limited evidence is available about its magnitude in canine epilepsy trials, even though it can significantly influence the efficacy evaluation of new treatments. It was hypothesised that the placebo respo... Read More about Re-evaluating the placebo response in recent canine dietary epilepsy trials.

Impacts of Puppy Early Life Experiences, Puppy-Purchasing Practices, and Owner Characteristics on Owner-Reported Problem Behaviours in a UK Pandemic Puppies Cohort at 21 Months of Age (2024)
Journal Article
Brand, C., Brand, C., O'Neill, D., Belshaw, Z., Dale, F., Merritt, B., Clover, K., Tay, M., Pegram, C., & Packer, R. (2024). Impacts of Puppy Early Life Experiences, Puppy-Purchasing Practices, and Owner Characteristics on Owner-Reported Problem Behaviours in a UK Pandemic Puppies Cohort at 21 Months of Age. Animals, 14(2), 336. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020336

Problem behaviours are a leading cause of relinquishment and euthanasia of young dogs. Previous research has identified associations between owner-reported problem behaviours and risk factors, including how dogs were acquired as puppies, early social... Read More about Impacts of Puppy Early Life Experiences, Puppy-Purchasing Practices, and Owner Characteristics on Owner-Reported Problem Behaviours in a UK Pandemic Puppies Cohort at 21 Months of Age.

Is UK Puppy Purchasing Suffering a Long COVID Effect? Ongoing Negative Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic upon Puppy Purchase Motivations and Behaviours in 2021 (2023)
Journal Article
Brand, C., Packer, R., Brand, C., Belshaw, Z., Pegram, C., Dale, F., Stevens, K., & O'Neill, D. (2023). Is UK Puppy Purchasing Suffering a Long COVID Effect? Ongoing Negative Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic upon Puppy Purchase Motivations and Behaviours in 2021. Animals, 13(13), 2186. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132186

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in acquisitions of puppies in the UK, dubbed the “Pandemic Puppy” phenomenon. In addition to an increased demand for puppies, widespread changes to both why and how puppies were purchased during this period compar... Read More about Is UK Puppy Purchasing Suffering a Long COVID Effect? Ongoing Negative Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic upon Puppy Purchase Motivations and Behaviours in 2021.

A Review of Clinical Outcomes, Owner Understanding and Satisfaction following Medial Canthoplasty in Brachycephalic Dogs in a UK Referral Setting (2016–2021) (2023)
Journal Article
Andrews, A. L. M. M., Youngman, K. L., Packer, R. M. A., O’Neill, D. G., & Kafarnik, C. (in press). A Review of Clinical Outcomes, Owner Understanding and Satisfaction following Medial Canthoplasty in Brachycephalic Dogs in a UK Referral Setting (2016–2021). Animals, 13(12), 2032. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13122032

How much is that doodle in the window? Exploring motivations and behaviours of UK owners acquiring designer crossbreed dogs (2019-2020) (2022)
Journal Article
Burnett, E., Brand, C. L., O’Neill, D. G., Pegram, C. L., Belshaw, Z., Stevens, K. B., & Packer, R. M. A. (2022). How much is that doodle in the window? Exploring motivations and behaviours of UK owners acquiring designer crossbreed dogs (2019-2020). Canine Medicine and Genetics, 9(1), https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-022-00120-x

Demand for intentional crosses of purebred dog breeds, often labelled ‘designer crossbreeds’ (e.g., Labrador Retriever X Poodle, the ‘Labradoodle’), has recently increased in the UK. This study aimed to explore this phenomenon by comparing pre-purcha... Read More about How much is that doodle in the window? Exploring motivations and behaviours of UK owners acquiring designer crossbreed dogs (2019-2020).

Who's Getting a Head Start? Mesocephalic Dogs in Still Images Are Attributed More Positively Valenced Emotions Than Dogs of Other Cephalic Index Groups (2022)
Journal Article
Brincat, B., McGreevy, P., Bowell, V., & Packer, R. (2022). Who's Getting a Head Start? Mesocephalic Dogs in Still Images Are Attributed More Positively Valenced Emotions Than Dogs of Other Cephalic Index Groups. Animals, 12(1), https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12010049

Simple Summary Elements of a dog's appearance in still images affect how positively human observers interpret that individual's personality. Given that this may influence caregiving and other aspects of dog ownership, it is important to examine this... Read More about Who's Getting a Head Start? Mesocephalic Dogs in Still Images Are Attributed More Positively Valenced Emotions Than Dogs of Other Cephalic Index Groups.

Metabolic fingerprinting of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy receiving a ketogenic medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil (2022)
Journal Article
Berk, B., Ottka, C., Law, T., Packer, R., Wessmann, A., Bathen-Nothen, A., Jokinen, T., Knebel, A., Tipold, A., Lohi, H., & Volk, H. (2022). Metabolic fingerprinting of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy receiving a ketogenic medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.935430

Consumption of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) has been shown to improve seizure control, reduce behavioural comorbidities and improve cognitive function in epileptic dogs. However, the exact metabolic pathways affected by dietary MCT remain poorly... Read More about Metabolic fingerprinting of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy receiving a ketogenic medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil.

English Bulldogs in the UK: a VetCompass study of their disorder predispositions and protections (2022)
Journal Article
O’Neill, D. G., Skipper, A., Packer, R. M. A., Lacey, C., Church, D. B., Brodbelt, D. C., & Pegram, C. (2022). English Bulldogs in the UK: a VetCompass study of their disorder predispositions and protections. Canine Medicine and Genetics, 9(1), https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-022-00118-5

Background
The English Bulldog has risen sharply in popularity over the past decade but its distinctive and extreme conformation is linked to several serious health conditions. Using multivariable analysis of anonymised veterinary clinical data from... Read More about English Bulldogs in the UK: a VetCompass study of their disorder predispositions and protections.

Urinary Neurotransmitter Patterns Are Altered in Canine Epilepsy (2022)
Journal Article
Schmidt, T., Meller, S., Talbot, S., Berk, B., Law, T., Hobbs, S., Meyerhoff, N., Packer, R., & Volk, H. (2022). Urinary Neurotransmitter Patterns Are Altered in Canine Epilepsy. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.893013

Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disease in humans and dogs. Epilepsy is thought to be caused by an imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. Intact neurotransmitters are transported from the central nervous system to... Read More about Urinary Neurotransmitter Patterns Are Altered in Canine Epilepsy.

Pandemic Puppies: Demographic characteristics, health and early life experiences of puppies acquired during the 2020 phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK (2022)
Journal Article
Brand, C. L., O’Neill, D. G., Belshaw, Z., Pegram, C. L., Stevens, K. B., & Packer, R. M. (2022). Pandemic Puppies: Demographic characteristics, health and early life experiences of puppies acquired during the 2020 phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Animals, https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12050629

The UK recorded sharp rises in puppy purchasing during the 2020 phase of the COVID-19 pan-demic, with many first-time dog owners purchasing puppies to improve their mental health dur-ing this challenging period. Government restrictions to movement an... Read More about Pandemic Puppies: Demographic characteristics, health and early life experiences of puppies acquired during the 2020 phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.

How much is that doodle in the window? Exploring motivations and behaviours of owners acquiring a designer crossbreed dog in the UK 2019-2020 (2022)
Journal Article
Burnett, E., Brand, C. L., O'Neill, D. G., Pegram, C. L., Belshaw, Z., Stevens, K. B., & Packer, R. M. A. How much is that doodle in the window? Exploring motivations and behaviours of owners acquiring a designer crossbreed dog in the UK 2019-2020. Manuscript submitted for publication

Background
Demand for intentional crosses of purebred dog breeds, often labelled ‘designer crossbreeds’ (e.g., Labrador Retriever X Poodle, the ‘Labradoodle’), has recently increased in the UK. This study aimed to explore this phenomenon by comparin... Read More about How much is that doodle in the window? Exploring motivations and behaviours of owners acquiring a designer crossbreed dog in the UK 2019-2020.

Owner Reported Management Of Interictal Anxiety Behaviours In Canine Epilepsy (2022)
Journal Article
Hobbs, S., Blackwell, E., Wetz, K., & Packer, R. (2022). Owner Reported Management Of Interictal Anxiety Behaviours In Canine Epilepsy. Veterinary Record, https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.1321

Background
Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) is the most common chronic neurological condition in dogs, that can be associated with inter-ictal (between seizure) anxiety (IIA). It is unclear how owners manage their pet’s IIA, including how much veterinary su... Read More about Owner Reported Management Of Interictal Anxiety Behaviours In Canine Epilepsy.

Veterinary drug therapies used for undesirable behaviours in UK dogs under primary veterinary care (2022)
Journal Article
Pegram, C., Craven, A., Packer, R., Jarvis, S., McGreevy, P., Warnes, C., Church, D., Brodbelt, D., & O'Neill, D. (in press). Veterinary drug therapies used for undesirable behaviours in UK dogs under primary veterinary care. PLoS ONE, 17, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0261139

Undesirable behaviours (UBs) in dogs are common and important issues with serious potential welfare consequences for both the dogs and their owners. This study aimed to investigate the usage of drug therapy for UBs in dogs and assess demographic risk... Read More about Veterinary drug therapies used for undesirable behaviours in UK dogs under primary veterinary care.

Owner compliance in canine epilepsy (2021)
Journal Article
Booth, S., Meller, S., Packer, R., Farquhar, R., Maddison, J., & Volk, H. (2021). Owner compliance in canine epilepsy. Veterinary Record, 188(4), 262-269. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.16

Background: Poor medication compliance by human epilepsy patients is one of the leading causes of treatment failure and increased seizure frequency. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyse owner compliance in pharmacological treatment of... Read More about Owner compliance in canine epilepsy.