Díaz-Regañón, D. et al.
2023
Veterinary Pathology

Investigating the nuanced relationship between Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in dogs and its far-reaching effects on their owners' quality of life (QoL), this study unearths surprising connections. It reveals that IBD has a negative impact on affected dogs and their owners regardless of the severity of the disease, suggesting that clinicians should consider the higher risk of caregiver burden or psychosocial functioning problems for owners of dogs with IBD. Interestingly, the study also found that owners of dogs with IBD were more likely to consider their dog as a child compared to owners of healthy dogs, suggesting that caring for their sick pet had strengthened their relationship.

Going further, the research further explores the connection between the owner's attachment to their dog and the perceived impact of the pet's disease on their QoL, ultimately affecting the owner's own QoL. Therefore, understanding the level of attachment between the dog and the owner can provide insightful data to further our understanding of the QoL of IBD dog owners. Research also found that the owner’s level of attachment does not influence their perception of the dog’s QoL. This suggests that regardless of the closeness of the bond, owners are able to assess the overall QoL of their pets, as well as health, activity, interaction, and stimulation factors.