Assessment of quality of life of dogs with thoracolumbar myelopathy through owners’ perspectives

Sarangan, Meera (2023) Assessment of quality of life of dogs with thoracolumbar myelopathy through owners’ perspectives. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Thoracolumbar myelopathy is a common cause of neurological disorders in dogs, with a significant impact on animals’ quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to achieve the following objectives; (1) to document signalment and clinical signs of dogs affected with thoracolumbar myelopathy, (2) to assess dog owners’ perception of the QOL of their dogs with thoracolumbar myelopathy, (3) Compare between veterinarians and dog owners’ assessment of the QOL. A survey was conducted among 20 dog owners. Case files of dogs with thoracolumbar myelopathy were retrieved from the University Veterinary Hospital (UVH) and reviewed to obtain the owners’ contact details, signalment, etiologic diagnosis and veterinarian-assigned scores. Owners were contacted via phone calls to assess their perception of their dogs’ QOL and a modified Frankel score from the owners’ perspective was obtained. The veterinarian-assigned scores were available in the case files. Data were analysed by descriptive statistics and computing Kappa (Kp) and correlation coefficient in SPSS. Results depicted that most of the recorded cases consisted of local breed (35%), and most of the affected dogs were between the ages of 5-7 years old (35%). Most respondents voted that their dogs’ QOL was severely affected due to thoracolumbar myelopathy (65%). Most owners also agreed that the available treatment options for their dogs’ conditions are limited (65%). A moderate level of agreement (Kp = 0.592) between the veterinarians’ assigned score and the owners’ perception of their dogs’ QOL reflects the discrepancy between both subjects. No significant correlation was observed between the challenges faced by the owners and the severity of their dogs’ QOL. In conclusion this study emphasized the importance of considering both clinical assessment and owners’ perspectives when evaluating the QOL of dogs suffering from thoracolumbar myelopathy. The findings encourage a collaborative approach between veterinarians and owners to improve the holistic care of dogs with thoracolumbar myelopathy, eventually aiming for an improvement in the QOL and the treatment options for these patients.

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Depositing User:	Ms Nurhaznita Mahmood
Date Deposited:	30 Sep 2024 06:46
Last Modified:	30 Sep 2024 06:46
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2067

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