In this CAM Live episode, Dr. Rowena Packer joins Hannah Capon to discuss her 2012 research on how dog owners often perceive breed-related health issues as “normal.” This perception can delay diagnosis and treatment and contribute to the continued breeding of dogs with extreme physical traits. The conversation focuses on the welfare consequences of conformational disorders, the caregiver burden, and how changing owner education and perception could lead to better outcomes. Rowena shares insight from her academic work and practical suggestions for improving veterinary communication around these issues.

Published 2023 – https://youtu.be/nktzMyjR4bo

Brief Bio

Rowena is the Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the Royal Veterinary College, London. Rowena leads a research group exploring diverse topics in this area, including the impact of chronic and inherited disorders on dog behaviour and welfare, the impact of owner knowledge, attitudes and behaviour on canine welfare, and caregiver burden. Rowena has co-authored >90 peer reviewed papers and book chapters and co-edited the textbook ‘Health and Welfare of Brachycephalic (Flat-faced) Companion Animals’ (2021). Rowena holds a PhD from the Royal Veterinary College (2013) which explored the impact of extreme conformation on canine health. Rowena is a founding member of Brachycephalic Working Group and the Legal Advisory Group on Extreme Conformation in Dogs.

RVC profile: https://www.rvc.ac.uk/about/our-people/rowena-packer

Key Takeaways

1. Many owners mistake clinical signs of inherited disorders as typical breed traits, delaying diagnosis and care.

2. Extreme conformations can contribute to a wide range of health and behavioural problems, including chronic pain.

3. Vets should proactively educate owners on the difference between breed standards and actual welfare concerns.

4. Breed-driven expectations contribute to caregiver burden and complicate decision-making.

5. Open access research and better communication are key tools in challenging the normalisation of suffering.

Relevant Links

Original 2012 paper – https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225280218

Follow-up studies:

– https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0219918

– https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0237276

– https://www.mdpi.com/2813-9372/1/3/32

This podcast is in relation to this paper - Packer, R. M. A., Hendricks, A. & Burn, C. C. (2012) Do dog owners perceive the clinical signs related to conformational inherited disorders as ‘normal’ for the breed? A potential constraint to improving canine welfare. Animal Welfare 21, 81-­93

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Stay tuned to learn how early detection can make a significant difference in managing OA in younger dogs.