Calculating Differential Risk of Osteoarthritis in Dogs with Low vs High Hip Scores – presentation by Dr Tom Lewis

Determining which traits receive priority for genetic selection can be aided by determining the risk for developing clinical disease in a population of dogs based on retrospective data.  This example uses phenotype data of osteoarthritis diagnosis in 8 and 12 year old dogs with either ‘low’ or ‘high’ hip score at 1 year old. The results of risk by breed and also when the osteoarthritis diagnoses are made will be shared.

Tom is a quantitative geneticist and has spent over a decade in research focusing on the genetic analysis of complex inherited disease and population structure in pedigree dog breeds. With a background in animal science, he gained his PhD investigating multiple aspects of quantitative genetics at the Roslin Institute and Nottingham University. Since then, Tom has worked at the Animal Health Trust and the Kennel Club, using pedigree and health testing data as the basis of his research, including the provision of estimated breeding values (estimates of genetic risk of hip and elbow disease), for multiple Kennel Club registered breeds. He joined Guide Dogs as Head of Canine Genetics in January 2021.