PCA Health and Genetics - Health Survey 2002

*	The average respondent owns 3.57 Papillons. The median number of Papillons owned is 2.

*	The number of dogs currently owned ranged from former owners with no Papillons to an owner who claimed to currently own 50.

*	Roughly half ( 47% ) own just one Papillon. Another 20% own two. Thirty-one percent taking part in the study own three or more Papillons

YEARS OF INVOLVEMENT

N = 698

Less than 5 years :

50 %

Five years but less than 10 :

21 %

10 years but less than 15 years :

15 %

Fifteen years or more :

14 %

*	Half ( 50% ) are relatively new to Papillons having owned the breed for less than 5 years.

TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT

OVERALL

Pet owner :

81 %

Exhibition ( Show ) :

31 %

Show breeder :

24 %

Exhibition ( Other ) :

19 %

Exhibition ( Obedience ) :

17 %

Therapy :

10 %

Pet breeder :

6 %

Other :

5 %

Service dog :

2 %

*	A solid majority classify themselves as pet owners. Thirty-one percent show their Papillons while one in four (24%) are show breeders

WHERE DID YOU OBTAIN YOUR PAPILLON

OVERALL

Show breeder :

60 %

Pet breeder :

23 %

Pet store :

15 %

Rescue :

13 %

Other :

7 %

*	A little over half ( 60% ) obtained their Papillon(s) from a show breeder. Roughly one in four ( 23% ) got their Papillon from a pet breeder while 15% got their dog from a pet store.

BREEDING INFORMATION

OVERALL

Breed female Papillon :

28 %

Average number of litters :

Mean :	14.06
Median :	8.00

Average litters size :

Mean :	2.73
Median :	3.00

Average litters / Caesarean section :

Mean :	2.05
Median :	1.00

*	Twenty-eight percent who took part in the study have bred at least one of their female Papillons

*	The median number of litters is eight among those who have bred their dogs

*	The median litter size is three puppies.

PROBLEMS

STILLBORN / DIES SHORTLY AFTER BIRTH :

Almost every litter :

9 %

Every couple of litters :

5 %

Once very several litters :

25 %

Very seldom :

41 %

Never :

21 %

OTHER PROBLEMS :

No problems

31 %

False pregnancy

29 %

Spontaneous reabsorbtion

28 %

Irregular heat cycles

26 %

Pyometra

14 %

Infertility

13 %

Mastitis

12 %

Reproductive problems

12 %

Mammary tumors

8 %

Eclampsia

4 %

Spontaneous absorbtions

3 %

Testicular cancer

1 %

Other

12 %

*	21% who’ve had at least one litter say they’ve never had a stillborn or had a puppy that died shortly thereafter. Another 41% say they very seldom have this problem

*	The primary complications Papillon owners mention as occurring during the breeding process are false pregnancies, spontaneous reabsorbtions and irregular heat cycles. Other items mentioned by at least 10% are pyometra, infertility, mastitis and general reproductive problems.

HEART / BLOOD / CIRCULATORY ISSUES

TOTAL

No problems :

79 %

Congestive heart failure :

7 %

Congenital heart problem ( born with ) :

3 %

Liver shunt :

3 %

Intri hepatic :

1 %

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia :

1 %

Low platelets :

1 %

Extra hepatic :

1 %

Von Willebrands / Other clotting :

13 %

Heart valve disease :

0 %

Sick sinus syndrome :

0 %

Pulmonic stenosis :

0 %

Micro valve stenosis :

0 %

Other :

10 %

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM / ISSUES

TOTAL

No problems :

88 %

Pancreatis :

4 %

Hypothyroidism – under 7 years old :

3 %

Hypothyroidism – over 7 years old :

3 %

Addison’s disease :

2 %

Diabetes :

1 %

Cushings :

1 %

Other :

2 %

EYE OR EAR ISSUES

TOTAL

No problems :

75 %

Cataracts ( old-age senile ) :

13 %

Distichiasis :

3 %

Cataracts ( juvenile ) :

2 %

PPM :

2 %

PRA :

2 %

Deafness ( born with ) :

1 %

Vitreous degeneration :

2 %

Cataracts ( born with ) :

1 %

Glaucoma :

1 %

Entroprion / Ectroprian :

0 %

SARDS :

0 %

Other :

9 %

DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS

TOTAL

No problems :

49 %

Inability to gain weight :

8 %

Collapsing trachea :

7 %

Food allergies :

6 %

Inflammatory bowel disease :

5 %

Megaesophagua :

2 %

Esophageal achalasia :

1 %

Other :

28 %