The Importance of the GenPup-M Mobility Questionnaire in Veterinary Medicine
Mobility problems in dogs are a significant health concern, they not only affect the dog's quality of life but can also cause owners to experience ‘caregiver’ burden. Several owner-reported questionnaires are available to assess the quality of life in dogs and monitor mobility issues, for example, the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD), the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI), and the Helsinki Chronic Pain Index (HCPI). However, these tools are typically limited to cases where dogs are already diagnosed with chronic mobility problems.
In contrast, the recently developed GenPup-M questionnaire, as described by Clark et al. (2023) in PLOS ONE, is the first tool of its kind that can be utilized in healthy dogs starting from as young as five months old. This new approach holds significant potential for transforming veterinary practice, allowing earlier detection of mobility-related issues and enhancing preventative care in dogs.
Addressing the Gap in Early Detection
Traditional questionnaires like LOAD, CBPI, and HCPI are invaluable in managing dogs with established mobility problems, allowing vets and owners to monitor changes in pain scores and quality of life during treatment. However, their utility is restricted to dogs already experiencing chronic lameness or diagnosed with a mobility-related disease, such as osteoarthritis. As a result, these tools do not aid in detecting subtle, early-stage changes in mobility that could indicate emerging problems. This limitation is crucial because early intervention can be key to slowing the progression of many mobility-related conditions, including musculoskeletal disorders.
The GenPup-M questionnaire bridges this gap by providing a validated, owner-reported tool that can be used in healthy dogs throughout their lives at yearly intervals. By enabling early detection of changes in mobility or activity levels, GenPup-M empowers vets and owners to implement interventions to try and slow progression. For instance, if a young dog shows signs of reduced mobility or stiffness, lifestyle/environmental adjustments, weight management, or early therapeutic interventions could be implemented to alleviate symptoms and potentially delay the onset of debilitating conditions like osteoarthritis.
Supporting Preventative Veterinary Care
One of the most significant contributions of the GenPup-M questionnaire is the potential to support a more proactive and preventative approach to veterinary care. Vets often rely on owners' observations and self-reported signs to assess a dog's mobility during annual health checks due to most animals exhibiting stressed behaviours while in practice. However, subtle changes in a dog’s mobility or activity may go unnoticed by owners, especially if the changes are gradual. The GenPup-M provides a structured way for owners to report on their dog's mobility and activity levels regularly, helping vets identify patterns or concerning trends earlier than they would with traditional clinical examinations alone.
Regular use of the GenPup-M questionnaire could become an integral part of routine veterinary health checks/vaccinations. As an accessible, non-invasive, and cost-effective screening tool, it can help detect subtle changes in a dog's gait or physical activity that might not yet be apparent in a clinical examination. If a vet identifies early signs of mobility issues based on questionnaire results, they can recommend preventive measures such as dietary changes, environmental modifications or joint supplements to maintain joint health and prevent further decline. This proactive approach can help reduce the prevalence and severity of chronic mobility conditions, improving dogs' long-term health and welfare.
Enhancing Caregiver Involvement and Awareness
Another vital aspect of the GenPup-M questionnaire is its role in enhancing owner involvement in their dog's healthcare. By completing the questionnaire regularly, owners become more attuned to their dog's mobility patterns and any changes in activity levels. This increased awareness encourages pet owners to take a more active role in their dog's health, which can lead to earlier veterinary consultations when problems arise.
With tools like GenPup-M, the veterinary profession can better educate owners on the signs of early mobility issues and the importance of addressing them promptly. By providing a standardised way to track a dog's mobility, the questionnaire offers a tangible means for owners to understand and communicate their concerns with their vet. This level of owner engagement is essential, as timely interventions often depend on recognizing subtle signs of discomfort or reduced activity, which can be difficult to detect without a systematic approach like GenPup-M.
Facilitating Research and Longitudinal Studies
The development of the GenPup-M questionnaire also holds significant promise for advancing research in veterinary medicine. Because it is designed for use in healthy dogs from an early age, it allows for the collection of longitudinal data that can be valuable in understanding the natural progression of mobility issues over a dog's lifetime. Currently, the author (NC) is undertaking a PhD project at The University of Liverpool to assess the longitudinal use of GenPup-M in a cohort of 60 Labrador retrievers over three years.
In addition, there is a collaboration between the University of Liverpool and Dogs Trust to facilitate the development of GenPup-M into an open-access smartphone App for owners to use. Currently, no app-based tools exist to help dog owners identify early physical and behavioural indicators of reduced mobility, and current methods rely on paper-based questionnaires. Hence, in this digital age, there is a clear need for a user-friendly platform that will make a positive contribution to the dog-owning population, and the veterinary profession to improve canine health and welfare.
Implications for Veterinary Practice
Integrating the GenPup-M questionnaire into standard veterinary practice could revolutionize the way mobility problems are detected and managed in dogs. The tool’s ability to detect subtle changes in healthy dogs' mobility means that conditions such as (but not limited to) hip/elbow dysplasia and early-onset arthritis can be investigated before they become more serious. Early identification and management are critical to minimizing long-term pain and disability in dogs, leading to better quality of life and potentially lowering healthcare costs associated with chronic disease management.
Moreover, the GenPup-M questionnaire supports a shift towards evidence-based, personalised veterinary care. Vets can use the data from the questionnaire to tailor recommendations specific to each dog's mobility profile, offering a more individualised approach to healthcare.
In conclusion, the GenPup-M mobility questionnaire is a significant advancement for the veterinary profession, filling a critical gap in the early detection and monitoring of canine mobility issues. Providing a tool that can be used from five months of age in healthy dogs enables earlier and more proactive management of potential mobility problems, supports preventative veterinary care, and enhances owner engagement. Furthermore, its application in research and clinical practice has the potential to drive better outcomes for dogs and enrich the understanding of canine mobility over time. The GenPup-M represents a step forward in the ongoing effort to improve the health and welfare of dogs through evidence-based veterinary medicine.
Guest post written by;
Dr Natasha Clark BVMedSci (Hons) BVM BVS MPhil MRCVS
Natasha qualified as a Veterinary Surgeon in 2020 from The University of Nottingham. Natasha is interested in canine orthopaedics and completed her Masters in 2021 researching the early detection of mobility problems in dogs, this work has continued and she is now studying for a PhD. Natasha also enjoys emergency medicine and surgery.
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