What is this survey about?
We would like to invite you to take part in a research study looking at spinal health in Dachshunds and French Bulldogs to better understand your knowledge and experiences of these problems.
Participation in the study is entirely voluntary and declining to participate will not disadvantage you in any way. Please read the information below before deciding whether or not to take part. If anything is unclear, or you would like more information, please contact Daniel Selimi at dselimi20@rvc.ac.uk or Dr Rowena Packer at rpacker@rvc.ac.uk.
The study has received ethical approval from the Royal Veterinary College’s Social Science Research Ethical Review Board (Ref: [URN SR2024-SR2024-02491202]).
What is the purpose of this research?
This survey aims to explore the knowledge and experiences of Dachshund and French Bulldog owners regarding spinal disease, particularly focusing on Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD). We know that all owners love their dogs and we want to help them live longer and better lives so we are aiming to better understand any conditions which can impact them. IVDD is a neurological condition affecting the spinal cord and vertebrae.
We are interested in responses from ALL owners, current and past, of Dachshunds and French Bulldogs, regardless of whether your current or previous dogs have experienced an IVDD episode. We are interested in learning about any knowledge you have and any experiences you may have had.
Who is eligible to take part?
We are keen to hear from any current or former owner of a Dachshund (all types) or French Bulldog who is resident in the UK and over the age of 18 years.
What will taking part involve?
Taking part will involve completing a brief online questionnaire, which should take about 10-15 minutes. This will include a series of questions that will tell us about your dog spinal health. We will also ask for some basic information about you, such as your age, gender and living situation in order to highlight any potential trends and to assist in analysis of results. This will be key data for performing analysis when it comes to correlating what factors may or may not have a role in impacting owner knowledge.
If you wish to not provide us with information (such as gender identity), you may select the “prefer not to say” option.
Is it an anonymous study?
Yes. You will not be required to provide your name, or any personal data such as contact details, or any information that would enable someone to identify you.
What if I change my mind about taking part?
You may exit the questionnaire at any point before submitting your responses. However, it will not be possible to withdraw your responses once you have submitted them, as these are anonymous. Any data collected will be anonymised and not be able to be traced back to you following submission.
