Evaluation of vehicular trauma in dogs: 239 cases (January-December 2001).
OBJECTIVE
To describe a population of dogs with vehicular trauma and to determine whether age, type and severity of injury, or preexisting disease were associated with outcome.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
239 dogs evaluated at a university referral hospital after vehicular trauma over a 12-month period.


METHODS
Patient characteristics, including age, outcome, animal trauma triage (ATT) score, treatments performed, hospital stay, cost, and preexisting disease, were recorded from medical records of dogs that had vehicular trauma. Dogs were assigned to a young, middle-aged, or geriatric age group. Categoric and continuous variables were compared between survivors and nonsurvivors to identify possible associations.


RESULTS
239 dogs (126 males and 113 females) were evaluated following vehicular trauma during 2001: young (n = 149), middle-aged (68), and geriatric (22). The median ATT score was 3 (range, 0 to 15). Sixteen dogs had preexisting disease. Hospital stay ranged from < 1 to 28 days (median, 3 days). Cost ranged from $77 to $10,636 (median, $853). Two hundred six dogs were discharged. Twenty-six dogs were euthanatized, and 7 died. Dogs that died or were euthanatized had significantly higher ATT scores. The ATT score also was associated with a significantly higher cost of care. Dogs with multiple injuries had significantly higher ATT scores, had increased cost of care, and were significantly more likely to die or be euthanatized.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased injury severity in dogs was associated with increased mortality rates and higher cost of treatment.
Streeter
Elizabeth M
EM
Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
Rozanski
Elizabeth A
EA
Laforcade-Buress
Armelle de
Ad
Freeman
Lisa M
LM
Rush
John E
JE
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006762:Hospitals, Animal / Q000191:economics*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*