Age patterns of disease and death in insured Swedish dogs, cats and horses.

The research article examines the patterns of disease and death in insured Swedish dogs, cats and horses based on data provided by Agria Animal Insurance. The study looks at different factors such as age, breed, genders, disease process, and changes over time and how they impact the health and survival of these animals.

Overview of the Study

• The research uses health care and life insurance data provided by Agria Animal Insurance from 1995 onwards.
• The data includes information for about 200,000 dogs, 100,000 horses, and up to 200,000 cats per year over the most extensively studied periods. These periods are 1995-2002 for dogs, 1997-2004 for horses, and 1999-2006 for cats.
• The study assumes that the insured animals are representative of the national population because formal research suggests that Agria insures about 40% of Swedish dogs and horses and 50% of purebred cats.

Focus on Age Patterns, Breed, and Gender

• One key focus area of the research is the impact of age on diseases in animals.
• The study also examines the differences in health and disease based on breeds and genders of the insured animals.

Changes Over Time and Survival

• The research observes any changes in disease patterns over time.
• It notes an increase in survival of dogs and cats over the studied years, which may be influenced by multiple factors including owner behaviour, societal changes, veterinary factors and standards of care.
• There are significant differences observed in survival across different breeds, which indicates the necessity of considering these factors when comparing health, disease, and longevity between humans and companion animals.