Conformational Breed-Related Diseases in Pets: An Analysis of Public Awareness and Influencing Factors

In today's pet market, buyers are often drawn to pets' appearances without adequate research, overlooking the conformational breed-related diseases associated with unnatural or extreme physical traits. A cat cattery owner mentioned that buyers often lack awareness of pet health issues, with many previous customers frequently asking her basic questions. This study investigates public awareness of conformational breed-related diseases in pets and the factors influencing this awareness. In-depth interviews and surveys are the two primary methods used to explore the factors that affect people’s understanding of conformational breed-related diseases . Through interviews with 21 individuals from various age groups and occupations, we found that the general public has limited or superficial awareness of conformational breed-related diseases in pets. These structural traits, which contribute to such diseases, are often viewed as desirable physical features in pets. The notable variability in participants' knowledge prompted us to design a follow-up questionnaire, aimed at investigating the factors contributing to this discrepancy in awareness. Our analysis of the questionnaire data yielded the following results: 1) the general public has a limited understanding of conformational breed-related diseases in pets; 2) awareness of these diseases is statistically significant and strongly associated with factors such as age, education level, occupation, and the degree of exposure to pet-related information on social media". These associations were identified through correlation analysis and regression modeling. This research will help pet owners make informed decisions and assist future campaigns in promoting responsible pet ownership and breeding practices.