ArticlePloS one2025
Epidemiology and clinical management of acute diarrhoea in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Understanding veterinarians' antibiotic choices and eliciting acceptable non-inferiority margins for randomized trials: a multi-country study.JAC-antimicrobial resistance · 2026Article
- Expanded detection of canine enteric viruses in UK dogs with diarrhoea.Microbial genomics · 2026Article
- Randomised controlled trial finds no evidence that a synbiotic improves health in assistance dog puppies.The Veterinary record · 2026Article
- Probiotic Strains from Canine Milk Support Gastrointestinal Health in Weaning Labrador Retriever Puppies.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Article
- Beneficial effects of a prebiotic-postbiotic supplement on digestive health and fecal microbiota in dogs and cats.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
backgroundAcute diarrhoea is a common canine veterinary presentation in the UK. This study aimed to report the incidence, demographic risk factors and clinical management for acute diarrhoea diagnosed under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2019.
methodsA cohort study design with a cross-sectional analysis was applied to anonymised VetCompass clinical data. Risk factor analysis used multivariable logistic regression modelling.
resultsThe analysis included a random sample of 1,835 confirmed incident acute diarrhoea cases in 2019 from an overall study population of 2,250,417 dogs. After accounting for subsampling, the estimated one-year incidence risk for acute diarrhoea in dogs overall was 8.18% (95% CI: 7.83-8.55). Of the first acute diarrhoea event in 2019 for the 1,835 cases, 1473 (80.27%) had only one physical visit for veterinary care related to the acute diarrhoea. The most common comorbid clinical signs with acute diarrhoea included vomiting (n = 812, 44.25%), reduced appetite (508, 27.68%) and lethargy (444, 24.20%). Overall, 538 (29.32%) cases were recorded as haemorrhagic diarrhoea. The most common clinical managements were probiotics (n = 1094, 59.62%), dietary management (807, 43.98%), antibiosis (701, 38.20%) and maropitant (441, 24.03%). Six breeds showed increased odds of acute diarrhoea compared with crossbred dogs: Maltese (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.25-3.77), Miniature Poodle (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.19-3.95), Cavapoo (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.32-3.25), German Shepherd Dog (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.29-2.22), Yorkshire Terrier (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.15-1.98) and Cockapoo (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.05-1.74). The odds of diagnosis increased in dogs aged under 3 years and dogs aged over 9 years, compared to dogs aged 4-5 years.
conclusionsThis study confirms acute diarrhoea as a common clinical condition in dogs managed under primary veterinary care, with 1-in-12 dogs diagnosed each year. The identified breed predispositions suggest some genetic element to the condition. The clinical outcomes following veterinary care appear to be very positive, with over 80% of acute diarrhoea cases not receiving a second veterinary visit. However, antibiotic use remained frequent, despite years of recommendation to the contrary and raises concerns about unnecessary antibiotic therapy for this condition.
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