Linda Andersson

I graduated from SLU 2008 with a Master of Science in Veterinary Medicine. After some years in small animal practice in animal hospitals and smaller clinics, I started my current position as a veterinary advisor at the Swedish Kennel Club (SKC), Department for breeding and health. In 2017, my graduate studies on body weight in dogs started at the Department of Animal Biosciences at SLU and I thereby share my two employments between SLU and SKC. 

The project is to study body weight in dogs, its related factors and potential association between body weight and developmental joint diseases.

Most dogs in Sweden are registered in the SKC database. In addition to demographic information on individual dogs, the database also contains results from screening for hip- and elbow dysplasia, developmental joint diseases that mostly affect large-breed dogs. When screening for hip dysplasia, body weight data is mandatory to register, and the database thereby contains details on body weight on dogs of different breeds in early adulthood.

By using data from SKC, we study body weight in dogs of different breeds and changes in breed body weight over time. We also analyse hip dysplasia data together with body weight data and study potential associations. 

In a prospective longitudinal study performed on veterinary clinics around Sweden, dogs enrolled in hip dysplasia screening program can participate. Apart from collecting hip- and body weight data, we also gather information about the dog’s body condition, health and lifestyle to analyse potential associations and changes over time.

Andersson, L., Emanuelson, U., Ringmark, S., Bjørnvad, C. R., Hedhammar, Å., & Höglund, K. (2023). Exploration of body weight in 115 000 young adult dogs of 72 breeds. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 443.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-27055-4

Strandberg, E., Andersson, L., Emanuelson, U., Bjørnvad, C. R., Ringmark, S., Hedhammar, Å., & Höglund, K. (2023). Heritability and genetic trend of body weight in dogs of different breeds in Sweden. Journal of Animal Science, 101, skad173.

https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad173

Katja Höglund, SLU

Sara Ringmark, SLU

Karolina Engdahl, SLU

Charlotte Björnvad, Copenhagen University

Åke Hedhammar, SLU

Agria and SKC research fund

Formas

Department of Animal Biosciences (HBIO); HBIO, Anatomy and Physiology

Telephone: +4618672123
E-mail: linda.andersson@slu.se

Postal address:
Institutionen för husdjurens biovetenskaper (HBIO)
Box 7023
750 07 UPPSALA

Visiting address: Ulls väg 26, Uppsala