The prevalence of diseases suffered by dogs within two weeks of their acqui
sition from a rescue shelter in Northern Ireland was investigated. A postal
questionnaire was completed by 556 people who had purchased a dog from the
Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) to provide
information on the diseases suffered by their dog. The majority of the dog
s (53.7 per cent) had an ailment, the most common being coughing and diarrh
oea. Of the respondents who returned their dog to the USPCA, 92 per cent di
d so because the animal was unhealthy. Stray dogs were more likely to have
an ailment than unwanted dogs, specifically coughing, and/or skin problems.
More puppies suffered from parvovirus, vomiting, and/or diarrhoea than did
juveniles or adults. Adult dogs were more likely to have a cough than juve
niles or puppies. There was no association between the sex of the dogs and
their ailments.