[Causes of illness in young dogs in necropsy files (1980-1993)]

Between 1980 and 1993 a total of 10,090 dogs was dissected at the Institute for Veterinary Pathology of the Freie Universität of Berlin. 2956 (29.3%) of the dogs were younger than 18 months. Age-, breed- and sex distribution as well as death causes were examined. The main death causes were viral infectious diseases (51.76%), especially parvovirus infections (26.73%), canine distemper (18.81%), as well as congenital defects (6.36%). It could be shown that Rottweilers and German Shepherds carried an increased risk of parvovirus infections and that several miniature breeds showed a propensity for congenital defects.