Summary results of the Purebred dog Health Survey for Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers for 2004
A total of 824 forms were sent out to Wheaten owners in January 2004, and 380 returned, representing 505 live dogs, a 46.1% response rate.
This represented 2.77% of all breed returns.
Mortality data - Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers:
A total of 111 deaths were reported and this represents 0.7% of all deaths reported in the survey (111/15,881).
The median age at death for Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers was 12 years and 6 months (min = 6 months, max = 17 years) and this was higher than the overall median of 11 years and 3 months.
Mortality data - all breeds:
Deaths were reported for 165 breeds. The median age at death overall was 11 years and 3 months (minimum = 2 months, maximum = 23 yrs and 5 months.
Only 20% of dogs remained alive at 14 years of age and this had fallen to <10% by 15 years.
Table 1 Causes of death by organ system/category for SCWT
Cause of death | No | % | Most common specific causes in descending order |
Cancer | 29 | 26.1 | Type unspecified (liver, mammary); carcinoma |
Old Age | 23 | 20.7 | Old age & age combinations |
Other | 10 | 9.0 | Uncodeable |
Urologic | 9 | 8.1 | Kidney failure; PLN; glomerulonephritis; incontinence |
Combinations | 8 | 7.2 | |
Neurologic | 5 | 4.5 | Seizures; myelopathy; spinal paralysis |
Behaviour | 4 | 3.6 | Aggression; unspecified behavioural problem |
Cardiac | 4 | 3.6 | Heart attack; heart failure |
Cerebral vascular | 4 | 3.6 | Stroke or cerebral vascular accident |
Gastrointestinal | 4 | 3.6 | Gastric dilatation/volvulus (GDV); PLE; unspecified |
Trauma | 3 | 2.7 | Road traffic accident |
Unknown | 3 | 2.7 | |
Endocrine | 1 | 0.9 | Diabetes mellitus |
Hepatic | 1 | 0.9 | Liver failure |
Musculoskeletal | 1 | 0.9 | Arthritis |
Poisoning | 1 | 0.9 | |
Respiratory | 1 | 0.9 | Respiratory disease unspecified |
Total | 111 | 100.0 | |
Table 2 Distribution of gender and neuter status for 502 SCWT with reported gender and
neuter status.
There was no association between gender and neuter status.
Neuter Status |
Gender | Intact | Neutered |
Totals |
Female | 158 | 135 | 293 (58%) |
Male | 116 | 93 | 209 (42%) |
Total | 274 (55%) | 228 (45%) | 502 (100%) |
Table 3 Disease conditions by organ system/category for SCWT
Dermatologic | No | % | Most common specific conditions |
Dermatologic | 39 | 14.9 | Dermatitis; sebaceous cysts; fading nose pigment, pyotraumatic dermatitis |
Aural | 34 | 13 | Otitis externa |
Gastrointestinal | 30 | 11.5 | Colitis; diarrhoea; inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); vomiting & diarrhoea; pancreatitis. |
Musculoskeletal | 21 | 8 | Arthritis (hindlimbs, shoulders, spine, rest); stiff joints; CHD; patellar luxation |
Cancer | 18 | 6.9 | Unspecified (mammary, rest); carcinoma (mammary; tail); basal cell tumour, lymphoma |
Immune mediated | 17 | 6.5 | Food allergy; flea allergy; atopy; gluten-sensitive enteropathy; allergy unspecified |
Benign neoplasia | 16 | 6.1 | Lipoma; unspecified; adenoma; cysts |
Reproductive | 15 | 5.7 | False pregnancy; dystochia (physical blockage); agalactia; inability to breed; mastitis, pyometra |
Respiratory | 14 | 5.3 | Kennel cough; asthma; coughing; upper respiratory tract infection |
Urologic | 13 | 5 | Incontinence (unspec. after spay); cystitis; uroliths (unspecified); PLN; urethral obstruction |
Cardiac | 11 | 4.2 | Heart murmur (unspecified grade2, without clinical signs); heart valve condition |
Ocular | 7 | 2.7 | Cataracts; conjunctivitis; entropion; trichiasis; corneal ulcer |
Unknown | 7 | 2.7 | Undiagnosed illness |
Other | 5 | 1.9 | Uncodeable |
Neurologic | 4 | 1.5 | IVDD; seizures |
Behaviour | 3 | 1.1 | Unspecified; aggression |
Trauma | 3 | 1.1 | Hindlimb; forelimb |
Anal Gland | 2 | 0.8 | Anal sacculitis |
Endocrine | 2 | 0.8 | Hypothyroidism |
Haematopoietic | 1 | 0.4 | Anaemia unspecified |
Total | 262 | 100 | |
Reproduced by kind permission of the Kennel Club
Report from the Kennel Club/British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee.
Source : The KC/BSAVA Scientific Committee Purebred Dog Health Survey Questionnaire.
Author: Dr Vicki Adams of the Animal Health Trust.
For 2014 Results - click here