Metrics details. In developing countries such as Uganda, domestic dogs suffer high burdens of infectious diseases often with high mortalities. Surveillance data on the common diseases and associated mortalities is however scanty. We thus, present results of a retrospective study of common clinical conditions and mortalities of dogs brought for treatment at the small animal clinic, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
We analysed data from the case records register of the clinic from January December, Descriptive statistics were generated using the frequency functions of R R Records were reviewed for all cases presented at the clinic except those presented for routine care services like vaccination and grooming.
The Alsatian Cases were recorded as: elective surgeries Some 3. We impute that parvovirus infection and other preventable diseases were the most frequent reasons for morbidity and mortality of especially puppies in Uganda. This points to the need for epidemiologic surveillance of dog diseases and community sensitisation for improved control of dog diseases. Peer Review reports. Dogs are the most numerous and widespread domestic carnivore globally [ 1 , 2 ].
They are kept for reasons including companionship pets , hunting, sports and security [ 3 , 4 ]. In communities within developing countries, dogs are believed to suffer high burden of infectious diseases, often with high mortality of puppies [ 4 ]. In these often poor communities, dogs receive limited to no veterinary care, and are often free-ranging [ 5 , 6 ]. The dogs are thus, usually in poor health conditions and compromised welfare [ 6 ].
Some of the common diseases in the dog populations are actually zoonotic [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Besides serving as reservoirs of zoonotic infections, dogs are also play a central role in cross-transmission and maintenance of important disease of livestock and wildlife [ 10 , 11 ]. For these reasons, dogs are often used as sentinels for early detection and monitoring of emerging and re-emerging infections of animal and public health importance [ 12 , 13 ].
