MORTALITY IN INSURED SWEDISH DOGS - RATES AND CAUSES OF DEATH IN VARIOUS BREEDS

Data on over 222,000 Swedish dogs enrolled in life insurance in 1992 a nd 1993 were analysed, There were approximately 260 deaths per 10,000 dog-years at risk, Breed-specific mortality rates and causes of death are presented for breeds with more than 500 dogs at risk that had cons istently high or low rates. Breed-specific mortality ranged from less than I per cent to more than II per cent. True rates and proportional statistics for the cause of death were calculated for the entire insur ed population (250 breeds) and cause-specific mortality rates were cal culated for the breeds with the highest risk of dying of the most comm on causes, Trauma, tumours and problems related to the locomotor syste m together accounted for more than 40 per cent of all deaths or euthan asias, Although limited to insured dogs, these data cover approximatel y one-third of all Swedish dogs and provide baseline mortality data fo r further population-based studies on health and disease.