title: Surveillance of diarrhoea in small animal practice through the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET).
abstract: Using the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET), a national small animal disease-surveillance scheme, information on gastrointestinal disease was collected for a total of 76 days between 10 May 2010 and 8 August 2011 from 16,223 consultations (including data from 9115 individual dogs and 3462 individual cats) from 42 premises belonging to 19 UK veterinary practices. During that period, 7% of dogs and 3% of cats presented with diarrhoea. Adult dogs had a higher proportional morbidity of diarrhoea (PMD) than adult cats (P <0.001). This difference was not observed in animals <1 year old. Younger animals in both species had higher PMDs than adult animals (P < 0.001). Neutering was associated with reduced PMD in young male dogs. In adult dogs, miniature Schnauzers had the highest PMD. Most animals with diarrhoea (51%) presented having been ill for 2-4 days, but a history of vomiting or haemorrhagic diarrhoea was associated with a shorter time to presentation. The most common treatments employed were dietary modification (66% of dogs; 63% of cats) and antibacterials (63% of dogs; 49% of cats). There was variability in PMD between different practices. The SAVNET methodology facilitates rapid collection of cross-sectional data regarding diarrhoea, a recognised sentinel for infectious disease, and characterises data that could benchmark clinical practice and support the development of evidence-based medicine.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, UK; National Consortium for Zoonosis Research, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: University of Liverpool School of Veterinary Science, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gaskell
authors.affiliation: Institute of Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Coyne
authors.affiliation: Institute of Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.affiliation: Institute of Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Setzkorn
authors.affiliation: Institute of Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Radford
authors.affiliation: University of Liverpool School of Veterinary Science, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, UK. Electronic address: rtnorle@liv.ac.uk.
authors.forename: P-J M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Noble
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002415:Cats; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004285:Dogs; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Breed; Companion animal; Diarrhoea; SAVNET; Surveillance