Karolina Engdahl

I am a veterinarian and graduated from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in 2016. Since graduation, I have worked clinically at several different clinics and animal hospitals, and I obtained my PhD in veterinary sciences at SLU in 2021. I am currently working as a researcher in veterinary epidemiology at SLU, focusing on diseases in dogs and cats, and part-time clinically.

My research focuses on identifying risk factors for diseases in dogs and cats. I have a particular interest in orthopaedic diseases and wrote my PhD thesis on stifle joint diseases in dogs, with a specific focus on cranial cruciate ligament injuries. I work with various data sources, such as insurance data from Agria Djurförsäkring, medical records from animal hospitals, and data from the Swedish Kennel Club’s screening programs. I am or have been involved in research projects on, among other topics, hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, osteochondrosis, encephalitis, respiratory diseases, and heart disease.

Currently, I am leading a project on tumour diseases in dogs, where we investigate the most common types of tumours, which breeds are at the highest risk, and at what age cancer typically occurs, using data from Agria Djurförsäkring. The goal is to compare cancer incidence in dogs and humans and to map where the cases occur geographically by combining Agria data with data from the National Cancer Registry (Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare). If common patterns can be identified, this may provide clues about environmental factors as risk factors for cancer development.

I also collaborate with researchers running VetCompass in the UK (https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass), and have participated in studies on the health of various dog breeds.

I am co-supervising four PhD students:

• Linda Andersson, Department of Animal Biosciences at SLU, whose project focuses on the relationship between body weight and joint diseases in dogs
• Tuva Holt Jahr, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, whose project compares surgical and conservative treatment of cranial cruciate ligament disease in small dogs
• Emma Thilén, Department of Animal Biosciences at SLU, whose project concerns viral encephalitis in dogs and humans
• Elina Åsbjer, National Centre for Animal Welfare (SCAW, SLU), whose project focuses on the welfare of brachycephalic dogs, with a focus on breeding

I also supervise veterinary students and participate in the epidemiology teaching.

O’Neill D, Schiksnis M, Brodbelt D, Church D, Goldberg S, Engdahl K. Beagles kept as companion animals in the UK – demography, disorders and mortality. Companion Anim Health Genet. 2025;12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-024-00140-9

Engdahl K, Saellstrom S, Hedhammar A, Dimopoulou M, Ronnberg H. The epidemiology of mast cell tumours in insured dogs in Sweden. Prev Vet Med. 2025;242:106589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106589

Engdahl K, Ronnberg H, Saellstrom S, Hedhammar A, Holst BS. The epidemiology of mammary tumours in insured female dogs in Sweden. Vet J. 2025;312:106359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106359

Engdahl K, Brodbelt D, Cameron C, Church D, O'Neill D. English Cocker Spaniels under primary veterinary care in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections. Canine Med Genet. 2024;11(1):1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-023-00136-x

Engdahl K, Höglund O, Hedhammar Å, Hanson J, Bergström A. The epidemiology of osteochondrosis in an insured Swedish dog population. Prev Vet Med. 2024;228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106229

Asbjer E, Hedhammar A, Engdahl K. Awareness, experiences, and opinions by owners, breeders, show judges, and veterinarians on canine Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). Canine Med Genet. 2024;11(1):3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-024-00137-4

Obel C, Bergstrom A, Comin A, Engdahl K. Long-term outcomes in dogs with elbow dysplasia, assessed using the canine orthopaedic index. Vet Rec. 2023:e2950. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.2950

Dimopoulou M, Engdahl K, Ladlow J, Andersson G, Hedhammar Å, Skiöldebrand E et al. The epidemiology of upper respiratory tract disorders in a population of insured Swedish dogs (2011-2014), and its association to brachycephaly. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):8765. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-35466-0

Engdahl K, Bergström A, Höglund O, Hanson J. The epidemiology of patellar luxation in an insured Swedish dog population. Prev Vet Med. 2023;220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.106034

Engdahl K, Emanuelson U, Höglund O, Bergström A, Hanson J. The epidemiology of cruciate ligament rupture in an insured Swedish dog population. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):9546. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88876-3