Table 3.
Final multivariable generalised linear mixed model evaluating risk factors association with the number of ‘all disorders’ reported in 21-month old dogs between the first questionnaire in puppyhood (aged ≤ 7 months, in November/December 2020) and dogs aged 21-months (January to August 2022) amongst a cohort of UK Pandemic Puppies acquired < 16 weeks (n = 841 due to missing data across different categories).
| Variable | Category | Coefficient | Std. Error | 95% CI* | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sold under six weeks of age | No | Ref | |||
| Yes | 2.71 | 1.06 | 0.63 – 4.79 | 0.011 | |
| Sold without mother present | No | Ref | |||
| Yes | 0.30 | 0.12 | 0.06 – 0.54 | 0.013 | |
| †First-time dog owner | No | Ref | |||
| Yes | 0.35 | 0.12 | 0.12 – 0.58 | 0.003 | |
| Owner saw health test results of mother/father | No | Ref | |||
| Yes | 0.28 | 0.10 | 0.08 – 0.48 | 0.007 | |
| Owner reported dog had one or more disorders ‘soon after’ acquisition | No | Ref | |||
| Yes | 0.32 | 0.13 | 0.0 –0.58 | 0.015 | |
| Owner reported health issues they were concerned about (at time of first questionnaire) | No | Ref | |||
| Yes | 0.69 | 0.25 | 0.21–1.17 | 0.005 | |
| †Dog sex | Female | Ref | |||
| Male | 0.20 | 0.10 | 0.00 –0.39 | 0.047 | |
| † ‡Purebred status | Crossbred | Ref | |||
| Purebred | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.04–0.48 | 0.022 | |
| †Owner age | 18–24 years | 0.35 | 0.27 | –0.19–0.88 | 0.204 |
| 25–34 years | –0.07 | 0.15 | –0.36–0.23 | 0.658 | |
| 35–44 years | –0.24 | 0.15 | –0.53–0.05 | 0.098 | |
| 45–54 years | Ref | 0.049 | |||
| 55–64 years | –0.34 | 0.15 | –0.64 – (–0.05) | 0.023 | |
| 65–74 years | –0.42 | 0.18 | –0.78– (–0.06) | 0.022 | |
| ≥ 75 years | –0.36 | 0.41 | –1.16–0.45 | 0.382 | |
| †Dog insurance status at 21-months | Not insured | Ref | |||
| Insured | 0.07 | 0.15 | –0.24–0.37 | 0.669 | |
| †Breed | Crossbred | Ref | 0.456 | ||
| Border Collie | 0.10 | 0.38 | –0.64–0.84 | 0.782 | |
| Border Terrier | 0.04 | 0.39 | –0.71–0.80 | 0.910 | |
| Cavapoo | –0.10 | 0.43 | –0.95–0.75 | 0.821 | |
| Cockapoo | 0.21 | 0.30 | –0.38–0.79 | 0.487 | |
| Cocker Spaniel | 0.34 | 0.31 | –0.27–0.94 | 0.280 | |
| English Springer Spaniel | 0.42 | 0.41 | –0.40 – 1.23 | 0.314 | |
| Golden Retriever | 0.26 | 0.38 | –0.48–1.01 | 0.488 | |
| Labradoodle | 0.18 | 0.37 | –0.55–0.90 | 0.631 | |
| Labrador Retriever | 0.31 | 0.29 | –0.26–0.88 | 0.283 | |
| Miniature Smooth-Haired Dachshund | –0.14 | 0.38 | –0.88–0.59 | 0.703 | |
| Other | 0.32 | 0.26 | –0.19–0.82 | 0.217 | |
| Whippet | 0.98 | 0.39 | 0.21–1.76 | 0.013 | |
| †Owner gender | Female | Ref | |||
| Male | –0.33 | 0.17 | –0.67–0.01 | 0.056 | |
| †Dog Neutered | No | Ref | |||
| Yes | 0.04 | 0.11 | –0.17–0.25 | 0.695 | |
| † ‡Purebred/designer status | Crossbred | Ref | 0.066 | ||
| Designer Crossbred | 0.125 | 0.26 | –0.39–0.64 | 0.636 | |
| Purebred | 0.368 | 0.25 | –0.13–0.87 | 0.149 | |
| † ‡Typical adult bodyweight | ≤ 10 kg | –0.22 | 0.14 | –0.49–0.05 | 0.103 |
| 10 to < 20 kg | Ref | 0.067 | |||
| 20 to < 30 kg | 0.12 | 0.13 | –0.14–0.37 | 0.374 | |
| 30 to < 40 kg | 0.27 | 0.15 | –0.03–0.57 | 0.080 | |
| ≥ 40 kg | 0.13 | 0.38 | –0.60–0.87 | 0.725 | |
| † ‡Breed group | Not KC recognised | Ref | 0.214 | ||
| Gundog | 0.36 | 0.13 | 0.09–0.62 | 0.008 | |
| Hound | 0.13 | 0.19 | –0.23–0.49 | 0.482 | |
| Pastoral | 0.16 | 0.22 | –0.28–0.60 | 0.470 | |
| Terrier | 0.20 | 0.20 | –0.18–0.59 | 0.303 | |
| Toy | 0.33 | 0.31 | –0.29–0.95 | 0.291 | |
| Utility | 0.30 | 0.20 | –0.10–0.70 | 0.135 | |
| Working | 0.55 | 0.27 | 0.02–1.08 | 0.044 | |
| °Owner took dog to a vet for any health problem(s) after they brought them home (at the time of the first questionnaire) | No | Ref | |||
| Yes | 0.08 | 0.12 | –0.15–0.32 | 0.496 | |
| °Breeder gave worming treatment before owner took puppy home | No | Ref | |||
| Yes | –0.14 | 0.19 | –0.51–0.22 | 0.442 | |
| °Sold without microchip details | No | Ref | |||
| Yes | 0.69 | 0.56 | –0.41–1.79 | 0.217 | |
| °Purchased breed/crossbreed due to long life-expectancy | No | Ref | |||
| Yes | –0.21 | 0.14 | –0.48–0.06 | 0.121 | |
| °Owner paid deposit to secure puppy | No | Ref | |||
| Yes | 0.17 | 0.11 | –0.0 –0.40 | 0.126 |
Included as per information theory as a variable of a priori interest, regardless of significance.
Dog demographic variables individually used to replace breed (most common 12 breeds at 21-months) in the original model.
Retained in model for improved model fit.
95% confidence interval for the coefficient. Significant results (P < 0.05) shown in bold.