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Outputs (44)

Dental disease in rabbits under UK primary veterinary care: Clinical management and associated welfare impacts (2025)
Journal Article
Jackson, M., O'Neill, D., Hedley, J., Brodbelt, D., & Burn, C. (2025). Dental disease in rabbits under UK primary veterinary care: Clinical management and associated welfare impacts. Veterinary Record, https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.5326

Background: Dental disease is painful and highly prevalent in companion rabbits, but current veterinary management techniques and clinical welfare implications are little described.
Methods: Anonymised VetCompass clinical records were manually revi... Read More about Dental disease in rabbits under UK primary veterinary care: Clinical management and associated welfare impacts.

Behavioural Engagement of Holstein Friesian Dairy Cattle with Different Mounting Techniques for Salt Licks as Environmental Enrichment (2025)
Journal Article
McLaughlin, D., & Blackie, N. (2025). Behavioural Engagement of Holstein Friesian Dairy Cattle with Different Mounting Techniques for Salt Licks as Environmental Enrichment. Animals, 15(5), 701. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15050701

With increasing numbers of dairy farms adopting zero-grazing systems, there is a growing need for indoor environmental enrichment methods. Enrichment is necessary to meet industry requirements and fulfil behavioural motivations, such as oral manipula... Read More about Behavioural Engagement of Holstein Friesian Dairy Cattle with Different Mounting Techniques for Salt Licks as Environmental Enrichment.

Calculation of standard bodyweights for dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs (2025)
Journal Article
O'Neill, D., Becker, S. D., Frosini, S.-M., Stapleton, L. E., Hughes, D. M., & Brodbelt, D. C. (2025). Calculation of standard bodyweights for dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. PLoS ONE, 20(2), e0318734. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0318734

Standard bodyweights are an essential component of calculations that summarise many
population-level measures in companion animals, including the defined daily doses for
veterinary species (DDDVet) reporting antimicrobial usage. Standard species bo... Read More about Calculation of standard bodyweights for dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs.

Beagles kept as companion animals in the UK – demography, disorders and mortality (2025)
Journal Article
O'Neill, D., Schiksnis, M. R., Brodbelt, D. C., Church, D. B., Goldberg, S., & Engdahl, K. S. (2025). Beagles kept as companion animals in the UK – demography, disorders and mortality. Companion Animal Health and Genetics, 12(1), https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-024-00140-9

Background Beagles are a popular companion animal dog breed and are generally stated to be a healthy breed.
This VetCompass study aimed to report the demography, common disorders and mortality of Beagles under primary
veterinary care in the UK. Ano... Read More about Beagles kept as companion animals in the UK – demography, disorders and mortality.

Canine Separation-Related Behaviour at 6 months of Age: Dog, Owner and Early-Life Risk Factors Identified Using the ‘Generation Pup’ Longitudinal Study (2024)
Journal Article
Dale, F., Burn, C., Murray, J., & Casey, R. (2024). Canine Separation-Related Behaviour at 6 months of Age: Dog, Owner and Early-Life Risk Factors Identified Using the ‘Generation Pup’ Longitudinal Study. Animal Welfare Journal, 33, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1017/awf.2024.56

Separation-related behaviours (SRBs) in dogs (Canis familiaris) often indicate poor welfare. Understanding SRB risk factors can aid prevention strategies. We investigated whether early-life experiences and dog-owner interactions affect SRB developmen... Read More about Canine Separation-Related Behaviour at 6 months of Age: Dog, Owner and Early-Life Risk Factors Identified Using the ‘Generation Pup’ Longitudinal Study.

Impact of Lameness on Brush Use in a Loose-Housed Dairy System (2024)
Journal Article
Burton, Y. I., & Blackie, N. (2024). Impact of Lameness on Brush Use in a Loose-Housed Dairy System. Ruminants, 4(3), 375-386. https://doi.org/10.3390/ruminants4030027

This study focused on a group of 49 high-yielding dairy cows (primarily Holstein Friesians) and how their interactions with wall-mounted automated brushes correlated to their mobility (also described as lameness) score (AHDB 0–3 system. Of the 49 ani... Read More about Impact of Lameness on Brush Use in a Loose-Housed Dairy System.

Conformation-associated health in pet rabbits in the UK: A VetCompass cohort study (2024)
Journal Article
O'Neill, D., Williams, A., Brodbelt, D. C., Church, D. B., & Hedley, J. (2024). Conformation-associated health in pet rabbits in the UK: A VetCompass cohort study. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.4396

Abstract Background Domestic rabbit breeds vary substantially from the wild rabbit body type. However, little is known about how the conformation of pet rabbits influences their health. Methods Data were extracted from VetCompass anonymised clinical... Read More about Conformation-associated health in pet rabbits in the UK: A VetCompass cohort study.

Later-age neutering causes lower risk of early‐onset urinary incontinence than early neutering–a VetCompass target trial emulation study (2024)
Journal Article
O'Neill, D., Diaz-Ordaz, K., Pegram, C., Brodbelt, D. C., Chang, Y.-M., Hall, J. L., & Church, D. B. (2024). Later-age neutering causes lower risk of early‐onset urinary incontinence than early neutering–a VetCompass target trial emulation study. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 19(7), e0305526. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0305526

There is growing evidence supporting clinically important associations between age at neutering in bitches and subsequent urinary incontinence (UI), although much of this evidence to date is considered weak. Target trial emulation is an innovative ap... Read More about Later-age neutering causes lower risk of early‐onset urinary incontinence than early neutering–a VetCompass target trial emulation study.

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.

Epidemiology of heat-related illness in dogs under UK emergency veterinary care in 2022 (2024)
Journal Article
Beard, S., Hall, E. J., Bradbury, J., Carter, A. J., Gilbert, S., & O'Neill, D. G. (2024). Epidemiology of heat-related illness in dogs under UK emergency veterinary care in 2022. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.4153

Background: Dogs are exposed to increasing environmental risk for developing heat-related illness (HRI), with 2022 recorded as the hottest year to date in the UK and most of Europe. Methods: This study used VetCompass data to report the incidence ris... Read More about Epidemiology of heat-related illness in dogs under UK emergency veterinary care in 2022.

Life tables of annual life expectancy and risk factors for mortality in cats in the UK (2024)
Journal Article
O'Neill, D., Kendy Tzu-yun, T., Dave C, B., & David B, C. (2024). Life tables of annual life expectancy and risk factors for mortality in cats in the UK. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 26(5), 1098612X241234556. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612x241234556

ObjectivesThe aims of the present study were to generate the first life tables for the UK companion cat population overall as well as broken down by sex and breed status, and to quantify associations between mortality and traits such as sex, neuter s... Read More about Life tables of annual life expectancy and risk factors for mortality in cats in the UK.

The epidemiology of tick infestation in dog breeds in the UK (2024)
Journal Article
O'Neill, D., Komutrattananon, R., Hartley, A., Brodbelt, D., & Church, D. (2024). The epidemiology of tick infestation in dog breeds in the UK. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13727

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the prevalence and risk factors for tick infestation in
dogs in the UK based on anonymised electronic patient records.
Materials and Methods: Clinical records of dogs under veterinary care in 2016... Read More about The epidemiology of tick infestation in dog breeds in the UK.

An analysis of the welfare of fast-growing and slower-growing strains of broiler chicken (2024)
Journal Article
Nicol, C. J., Abeyesinghe, S. M., & Chang, Y.-M. (in press). An analysis of the welfare of fast-growing and slower-growing strains of broiler chicken. Frontiers in Animal Science, 5, https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2024.1374609

Due to concerns about the welfare of fast-growing (FG) strains of broiler chicken, animal welfare organisations have advocated the use of certain slower-growing (SG) strains that meet key welfare targets under test conditions. However, a widespread t... Read More about An analysis of the welfare of fast-growing and slower-growing strains of broiler chicken.

Target Trial Emulation: Does surgical versus non-surgical management of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs cause different outcomes? (2024)
Journal Article
Pegram, C., Diaz-Ordaz, K., Brodbelt, D. C., Chang, Y.-M., von Hekkel, A. F., Wu, C.-H., Church, D. B., & O’Neill, D. G. (2024). Target Trial Emulation: Does surgical versus non-surgical management of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs cause different outcomes?. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 106165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106165

Target trial emulation applies design principles from randomised controlled trials to the analysis of observational data for causal inference and is increasingly used within human epidemiology. Using anonymised veterinary clinical data from the VetCo... Read More about Target Trial Emulation: Does surgical versus non-surgical management of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs cause different outcomes?.

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.

Ear health and quality of life in pet rabbits of differing ear conformations: a UK questionnaire survey of signalment risk factors and effects on rabbit welfare and behaviour (2023)
Journal Article
Chivers, B., Keeler, M., & Burn, C. (2023). Ear health and quality of life in pet rabbits of differing ear conformations: a UK questionnaire survey of signalment risk factors and effects on rabbit welfare and behaviour. PLoS ONE, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0285372

The impacts of ear disease on animal welfare and behaviour are little documented. Ear disease may be common in rabbits, but difficult to recognise, and lop-ears have previously been indicated as a risk factor for ear disease. We aimed to better under... Read More about Ear health and quality of life in pet rabbits of differing ear conformations: a UK questionnaire survey of signalment risk factors and effects on rabbit welfare and behaviour.

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.