A survey of diseases of working farm dogs in New Zealand

Figures & data

Table 1. Geographic distribution of 30 veterinary practices, and the presentations (visits) of working farm dogs throughout New Zealand, from April 2008 to April 2009.

Region	No. of practices	Visits
		n	%
East Coast	2	677	28.5
Manawatu-Wanganui	5	440	18.5
Canterbury	4	343	14.5
Southland	2	325	13.7
Hawke's Bay	3	195	8.2
Marlborough	2	112	4.7
Central Plateau	2	77	3.3
Taranaki	1	63	2.7
Wairarapa	2	55	2.3
Otago	1	38	1.6
Auckland	2	22	0.9
Waikato	2	13	0.6
Northland	1	10	0.4
West Coast	1	2	0.1
Total	30	2,372	100

Figure 1. Number of reported visits of working farm dogs presented to 30 veterinary practices throughout New Zealand, from April 2008 to April 2009, and stratified by month.

Table 2. Median age at presentation, and incidence of the most common reproductive conditions in Heading dogs and Huntaways presented to 30 veterinary practices in New Zealand, from April 2008 to April 2009. Percentages refer to the proportion of all dogs presenting with that condition.

Condition	n	Age (years)		Breed
				Heading dog		Huntaway
		Median	Range	n	%	n	%
Pyometra/endometritis	17	8.0	2.0–12.8	5	29	11	65
Mammary neoplasia	27	8.5	1.3–14.0	7	26	15	56
Vaginal prolapse	18	2.0	0.6–9.0	0	0	18	100
Vaginal hyperplasia	7	2.0	1.5–3.3	0	0	7	100
Mismating	41	5	1.0–11	19	46	14	34
Dystocia	15	6	2.0–11	7	47	8	53

Table 3. Summary results for working farm dogs presented with traumatic injuries at 30 veterinary practices in New Zealand, from April 2008 to April 2009, showing the location on the farm where the injury occurred, and the anatomical location.

Category	Location	Injuries
		n	%
Location on farm (n=553)	Paddock	289	52.2
	Fence	131	23.7
	Yards	72	13.0
	Road	36	6.5
	Race	23	4.2
	Shed	2	0.4
Anatomical location (n=655)	Foot	260	39.7
	Stifle	100	15.3
	Tarsus	68	10.4
	Head	58	8.8
	Abdomen	54	8.2
	Hip	31	4.7
	Thorax	26	4.0
	Carpus	22	3.4
	Elbow	19	2.9
	Spinal	12	1.8
	Shoulder	5	0.8

Table 4. Traumatic incidents occurring to working farm dogs presented to 30 veterinary clinics in New Zealand, from April 2008 to April 2009, stratified by general cause. A visit was classified as resulting in loss if it resulted in death, euthanasia, or retirement of the dog.

Category	Total visits		Visits resulting in loss
	n	%	n	%
Unknown	260	30.7	1	2
Injured by stock	170	20.0	21	41
Automotive	159	18.7	24	47
Fence	140	16.5	0	0
Dog bite/fight	99	11.7	0	0
Fall (no vehicle)	16	1.9	4	8
Gunshot	4	0.5	1	2
Total	848	100	51	100

Table 5. The most common non-traumatic causes of loss to working farm dogs presented to 30 veterinary clinics in New Zealand, from April 2008 to April 2009. A visit was classified as resulting in loss if it resulted in death, euthanasia, or retirement of the dog. Percentage refers to the proportion of all cases of loss.

System	Disease	n	%
Gastrointestinal disease	Gastric dilatation-volvulus	11	4
	Gastric ulceration/gastritis	3	1
	Constipation	5	2
	All causes	36	13
Degenerative joint disease	Hip	9	3
	Carpus/elbow	6	2
	Other	3	1
	All causes	18	7
Reproductive tract disease	Pyometra/metritis	3	1
	Mammary neoplasia	6	2
	Dystocia	3	1
	Mismating	3	1
	All causes	15	6
Cardiac disease	All causes	8	3
Poisoning	All causes	7	2