Comparing caregiver burden in owners of healthy dogs with and without limb amputation: a cross-sectional analysis

Pryjmak, Janine; Zablotski, Yury; Mille, Monika A.; Lauer, Susanne K. (2026): Comparing caregiver burden in owners of healthy dogs with and without limb amputation: a cross-sectional analysis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 13: 1754268. ISSN 2297-1769

Abstract

Objectives:

In human medicine, limb amputation affects caregiver psychosocial burden. This study assessed caregiver burden in owners of dogs following limb amputation.

Materials and methods:

From March to September 2024, owners of healthy dogs with limb loss (> 6 months) and owners of healthy dogs without limb amputation (control dogs) were recruited via veterinary clinics, physiotherapy practices, university hospitals and social media to complete an online questionnaire. The 115-item survey included general questions on daily life and validated instruments assessing caregiver burden and psychosocial functioning: Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Perceived Stress Scale, Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale, Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and group comparisons (Chi-Squared, Mann–Whitney U test and Students t-test) were performed in R.

Results:

Seventy-six owners of dogs with limb amputation (hindlimb: n = 35; forelimb: n = 41) and 74 owners of control dogs completed the survey (90.7% women; 70.7% aged 19–49). ZBI and other scores did not differ significantly between groups. Caregiver demographics (age, gender, relationship status, profession, number of caregivers) and dog-related factors (age at amputation, reason, leg affected, size, weight, adoption status) showed no significant effect on ZBI-scores. Higher ZBI-scores were reported when dogs could no longer hike (p = 0.05), and lower scores when caregivers received positive social feedback (p = 0.02). Prosthesis use (p = 0.02), low prosthesis acceptance (p = 0.04) or use of assistive devices (p = 0.02) were associated with higher caregiver burden.

Conclusion:

Most caregivers of canine amputees do not report elevated caregiver burden. However, functional changes in the dog and social or assistive factors were associated with caregiver experience.

• Dokumententyp: Artikel (LMU)
• Organisationseinheit (Fakultäten): 08 Tiermedizin > Zentrum für Klinische Tiermedizin
• DFG-Fachsystematik der Wissenschaftsbereiche: Lebenswissenschaften
• DFG: Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - 491502892