Meteorological influence on the occurrence of gastric dilatation-volvulus in military working dogs in Texas.
Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a life-threatening condition in dogs and other species in which the stomach dilates and rotates on itself. The etiology of the disease is multi-factorial, but explicit precipitating causes are unknown. This study sought to determine if there was a significant association between changes in hourly-measured temperature and/or atmospheric pressure and the occurrence of GDV in the population of high-risk working dogs in Texas. The odds of a day being a GDV day, given certain temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions for that day or the day before, was estimated using logistic regression models. There were 57 days in which GDV(s) occurred, representing 2.60% of the days in the 6-year study period. The months of November, December, and January collectively accounted for almost half (47%) of all cases. Disease risk was negatively associated with daily maximum temperature. An increased risk of GDV was weakly associated with the occurrence of large hourly drops in temperature that day and of higher minimum barometric pressure that day and the day before GDV occurrence, but extreme changes were not predictive of the disease.
Moore
George E
GE
Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2027, USA. gemoore@purdue.edu
Levine
Michael
M
Anderson
Johnna D
JD
Trapp
Robert J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D013271:Gastric Dilatation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014731:Veterinary Service, Military / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014887:Weather
Vet J. 2005 Jan;169(1):97-101
15683769
J Nurse Midwifery. 1997 Jan-Feb;42(1):32-4
9037933
Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2001 Jul;15(3):287-9
11489158
J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 1998 Jan-Feb;34(1):64-73
9527432
J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2004 May-Jun;40(3):192-203
15131099
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2000 Jan 1;216(1):40-5
10638316
Am J Vet Res. 2002 Jan;63(1):47-52
16206779
Tierarztl Prax. 1982;10(2):203-8
7179254
J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 1997 May-Jun;33(3):197-204
9138229