Can the month your dog is born in put him at greater risk of disease? A recent study says yes.
A recent study published by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine suggests that dogs with no genetic predisposition to cardiovascular disease are at greater risk of heart problems if they’re born in the summertime. Outdoor air pollution is highest from June through August, and researchers theorize this might be the culprit.
The researchers studied nearly 130,000 dogs across over 250 breeds, and concluded that for breeds genetically predisposed to heart disease, the month they were born in didn’t make much of a difference in determining the fate of their heart health. However, certain breeds with no genetic predisposition to heart problems, such as Norfolk Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers, were at highest risk of heart disease if born in the summer. In fact, they found that dogs born in July have a 74% greater risk for heart disease than those born in the fall, winter and spring.
Visit animalwellnessmagazine.com/canine-heart-disease/ to learn more about heart disease in dogs.
AUTHOR PROFILE
Animal Wellness is North America's top natural health and lifestyle magazine for dogs and cats, with a readership of over one million every year. AW features articles by some of the most renowned experts in the pet industry, with topics ranging from diet and health related issues, to articles on training, fitness and emotional well being.
