Karolina Engdahl

My main research areas are epidemiology and orthopaedic diseases in dogs. I primarily work with knee joint disease in dogs and I have, together with my colleagues, evaluated risk factors for different types of knee joint disorders with focus on cruciate ligament disease. We have also evaluated the treatment outcome in cats and dogs affected by cruciate ligament disease. I have a great interest in improving dogs' health and quality of life, both by mapping risk factors for diseases in order to contribute to future disease prevention, and by optimizing the treatment outcome for dogs affected by disease.

I'm involved in teaching epidemiology to veterinary students.

I defended my thesis in november 2021. My PhD project was about the epidemiology of knee joint disease in dogs. The project containted two parts, and the aim of the first part was to evaluate the incidence of and risk factors for knee joint disease, with focus on cruciate ligament disease, in a population of insured dogs. Data from Agria Pet Insurance were used in these studies. We are currently planning for a study where risk factors for patellar luxation will be evaluated. 

The second part of the project aimed at evaluating postoperative complications in dogs surgically treated for cruciate ligament disease, and at evaluating long-term prognosis by assessing survival after treatment in dogs with surgical or non-surgical treatment for cruciate ligament disease. The studies included dogs treated at the University Animal Hospital in Uppsala as well at the Small Animal Clinic at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. These studies were performed in collaboration with Gudrun Seeberg Boge, former PhD student at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. 

You can find more about my PhD project here. 

We have also performed a study on cats with cruciate ligament disease, where the outcome after surgical and non-surgical treatment was evaluated. This study was also performed in collaboration with Gudrun Seeberg Boge. 

My PhD project was financed by Agria Pet Insurance. 

I participate in several projects together with other researchers, and collaborate with colleagues from for example the Swedish National Veterinary Institute, AniCura Djursjukhuset Albano and the Diagnostic Imaging Clinic at the University Animal Hospital. 

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Medicine, SLU, 2021

Veterinary degree, SLU, 2016

Work experience

Researcher at the Department of Clinical Sciences, 2021 -

Veterinarian at the University Animal Hospital, small animal clinic, 2018 -

Veterinarian at Din Veterinär i Sala, 2017

Veterinarian at the University Animal Hospital, small animal clinic, 2015 - 2016

I have been co-supervisor for two vererinary students (master thesis):

• Tilde Bromée
  Caroline Mason

The epidemiology of stifle joint disease in dogs with a focus on cranial cruciate ligament disease - Thesis

The epidemiology of cruciate ligament rupture in an insured Swedish dog population. Engdahl, K., Emanuelson, U., Höglund, O., Bergström, A. & Hanson, J. (2021).  Scientific Reports, 11(1).

The epidemiology of stifle joint disease in an insured Swedish dog population. Engdahl, K., Hanson, J., Bergström, A., Bonnett, B., Höglund, O. & Emanuelson, U. (2021).  Veterinary Record, 189(3).

Risk factors for severe postoperative complications in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease - A survival analysis. Engdahl, K.*, Boge, G.S.*, Bergström, A.F., Moldal, E.R. & Höglund, O.V. (2021). Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 191.

Disease-related and overall survival in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease, a historical cohort study. Boge, G.S.*, Engdahl, K.*, Bergström, A., Emanuelson, U., Hanson, J., Höglund, O., Moldal, E.R., Skjerve, E. & Krontveit, R. (2020). Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 181.

Cranial cruciate ligament disease in cats: an epidemiological retrospective study of 50 cats (2011–2016). Boge, G.S.*, Engdahl, K.*,  Moldal, E.R., Bergström, A. (2019). Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 22(4).

The genetic consequences of dog breed formation-Accumulation of deleterious genetic variation and fixation of mutations associated with myxomatous mitral valve disease in cavalier King Charles spaniels. Axelsson, E., Ljungvall, I., Bhoumik, P., Conn, L.B., Muren, E., Ohlsson, Å., Olsen, L.H., Engdahl, K., Hagman, R., Hanson, J., Kryvokhyzha, D., Pettersson, M., Grenet, O., Moggs, J., Del Rio-Espinola, A., Epe, C., Taillon, B., Tawari, N., Mane, S., Hawkins, T., Hedhammar, Å., Gruet, P., Häggstrom, J. & Lindblad-Toh, K. (2021).  PLoS Genet, 17(9), s. e1009726.

*shared first authorship

Please visit my ResearchGate profile.

Please visit my Google Scholar profile.