Faculty of Health and Medical Science

Research publications

Dog sitting outside looking at cat sitting inside — 📷 Alexis Chloe // Unsplash.com

Most recent research publications produced by researchers affiliated with the Centre for Companion Animal Welfare are listed here.

Behavioral genetic analysis on dogs

The aim of this study is to describe personality traits in eight dog breeds using the Behaviour and Personality Description in Dogs (BPH) test, and subsequently to assess their heritability.

Changes in management of owned cats in the countryside

This study investigates changes in the management of owned domestic cats (Felis catus) in a rural area of Denmark, at two points in time separated by 24 years.

Positive animal welfare

A consensus on the definition of positive animal welfare

The paper presents a proposed definition of positive animal welfare: ‘PAW can be defined as the animal flourishing through the experience of predominantly positive mental states and the development of competence and…

A new future for dog breeding

This paper gives an overview of recent trends in companion dog breeding and discuss to what extent they will serve to promote healthy dogs that function well in their various roles in today’s world.

QoL for dogs and owners

Chronic enteropathy in dogs affects the quality of life in both dogs and their owners

This paper examines the Quality of Life (QoL) of dogs with chronic enteropathy and how their owners and veterinarians assess it.

Behavioural and physiological indicators of hoof trimming stress

Field study in juvenile stabel- and forestborn Konik Polski horses showing that restraint may affect equine behavioural and cardic stress indicators.

Health care costs

Lifetime health care costs for dogs based on data from seven veterinary clinics in Denmark

Nielsen, S. S., Larsen, C. H., Frederiksen, J. M., Christensen, T., & Sandøe, P. (2025) Preventive Veterinary Medicine. Elsevier Abstract Reports indicate that owners believe the health care costs for their dogs are too…

Oral behaviour during riding is associated with oral lesions in dressage horses – A field study

This study included 11 warmblood dressage horses, randomly selected for oral inspection after competition. Five of eleven inspected horses had abrasion of the skin and/or mucosa.

How is Human Socioeconomic Position Linked with Dog Ownership Practices? A Study from Denmark

This study examined associations between family and neighborhood levels of SEP and dog ownership, dog acquisition factors (purchase price and breed characteristics), and the purposes of owning a dog based on data from a…

Veterinary ethics

Does “Dr. Google” improve discussion and decisions in small animal practice?

Based on an online questionnaire aimed at dog and cat owners in Austria, Denmark and the United Kingdom (N = 2117) this paper investigated the use of internet resources to find veterinary medical information.