Health Matters. . . . .

Report on the results of the Schnauzer Health Survey 2009

1. 1. General Overview

The self-completion survey results covering all three breeds of Schnauzers were positive and extremely valuable as a starting point following on from the data provided by the Kennel Club (KC), the synopsis of the All Breed Health Survey together with the relevant breed specific Survey data of 2008. In many of the responses throughout all three breeds, there were small percentage response rates and as Market Research experts indicate, to drill down into small percentage responses (0.5% of the total) could lead to misleading assumptions. The results therefore will be reported on in a general manner.

The total combined response was 570 respondents sending details of 734 Schnauzers.  Miniature Schnauzers achieved a response rate from 358 respondents providing data for 422 live dogs; Schnauzers achieved a response from 72 respondents with data for 118 live dogs and Giants achieved a response rate from 140 respondents providing data for 194 live dogs.

The total response for all 3 sizes split 33.9% males to 66.1% females (Miniature Schnauzers 29% / 71%: Schnauzers 46% / 54%: Giants 37% / 63%). The majority of dogs are vaccinated annually with a response rate of 77% and 95.6% of all respondent dogs receive some form of medication against parasites annually .

Overall, 95.5% of all respondents indicated that their Schnauzers were in a healthy condition (Miniature Schnauzers 98.6%: Schnauzers 96.6%: Giants 88%).

Question 5 asked respondents to self report on any health defects and the data indicated  relatively small percentages with 7.5% of respondents reporting that their Schnauzer had a ‘defect’. It is worth highlighting here, that the health defect may not necessarily affect the health status of the dog. Specific Giant health ‘defects’ included retained testicles (6.3%); teeth - unspecified (4.74%); blindness (1%). The breed split of respondents answering this question (same sort of responses) was Miniature Schnauzers 6.6%: Schnauzers 17.8%: Giants 12%.

Only 7.9% of Giant owners highlighted unusual or undesirable behaviour problems in the breed (compared to Miniature Schnauzers (16.1%) or Schnauzers (6.8%).

In Giants, ‘aggressive’ and ‘timid’ behaviour received the same percentage (2.1%) and ‘destructive’ was reported by 4.2%. The main difference between the breeds on this question is simply that 4.5% of Miniature Schnauzer owners reported their dogs to be ‘noisy’.

1. 2. Specific Observations

2.1 Miniature Schnauzers

14% of dogs were reported to be suffering from one or more disease conditions (60 dogs from the 422), the areas highlighted therefore, should be given some further consideration.

The joint second most common category of disease reported was heart disease and eye conditions with 1.7% of the dogs suffering from one or more disease in this category. Heart diseases commonly reported being heart murmurs in puppies and young adults.
 

Cancers made up the third most common category of disease reported in the breed and accounted for 1% of dogs

2.2 Schnauzers

18% of Schnauzers were reported as having one or more disease conditions. The most common reported category of disease was cancer with 5% and with no one form of cancer appearing to be identified over any other.
 

The second most common category of disease reported was heart disease and accounted for 3.4% of dogs. As with the Miniature Schnauzer, the common reports being heart murmurs in puppies and young adults.

The category of bone / skeletal disease made up the third most common with 1.7% of dogs.

2.3 Giants

The top category with 5.3% reported being epilepsy. All the current research papers available suggest that there is insufficient evidence to investigate this condition further as to whether there is any predisposition to this condition in the breed. Researchers suggest that at least 20 affected samples are required to start any mapping process within the breed.

The second most common category of disease reported was hypothyroidism and accounted for 3.6% of dogs. The reporting sample is once again small, but does support the breed prevalence data (2007) from the tests carried out in Michigan State University, USA where it is suggested that congenital hypothyroidism should be considered as having a predisposition in Giant Schnauzers. Further work needs to be done in this country before any such conclusions can be drawn and therefore these results must be interpreted with caution.
 

The joint third most reported condition was cancers and heart disease and accounted for 3.2% of dogs within each category. Once again, no one form of cancer seems to be identified over any other. Heart murmurs in puppies and young adults being the most commonly reported.

3. Conclusions

These results are the start of a planned journey to continue to monitor the health status of all three Schnauzer breeds and where indicated and agreed, put plans and recommendations in place. From these results and general observations, the data would indicate that we should be investigating more carefully, any reported incidence of epilepsy and cancer in Giants, which show up in our Schnauzer Breeds survey at  5.3% and 3.2% respectively (against the KC/BSAVA survey ‘norm’ of 2.6% and 1.79%). Schnauzers’ results too should be investigated for Cancer, with our survey showing the incidence in that size at 5%.

3.1 Miniature Schnauzers

•  Request notification from owners / breeders of any heart disease and diagnosed cancers in order to build up a greater understanding of the prevalence of the conditions.
• Hold an annual breed specific survey of all Club members, analyse the data against previous results and track any significant changes
•  Continue to monitor the breed for Hereditary Cataracts and recommend precautionary eye screening for any dog used in a breeding programme
• Breed Clubs together with the KC should identify and publicise the availability of any DNA tests relevant to any specific condition / disease

• The following  eye conditions should be checked before breeding           (Hereditary Cataract and Multifocal Retinal Dysplasia, with all litters eye screened)

• Request notification from owners / breeders of any dogs with diagnosed epilepsy, cancers and heart disease in order to build up a greater understanding of the prevalence of the conditions.

• Hold an annual breed specific survey of all Club members, analyse the data against previous results and track any significant changes

• Breed Clubs together with the KC should identify and publicise the availability of any DNA tests relevant to any specific condition / disease.

Chris Ellingworth

E-mail: doncleve@talktalk.net

tel:       01909 591291

Link to Health Survey 2011