New Research Reveals Pet Owner Perspectives on Canine Chronic Kidney Disease
We’re excited to share that our latest research has been published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science: “Gaining insights into pet owner understanding/lived experience of canine chronic kidney disease using survey and social media data“.
This collaborative study explores how pet owners understand and navigate chronic kidney disease (CKD) in dogs — one of the most common chronic illnesses in ageing pets.
Why It Matters
While CKD is widely researched from a clinical perspective, far less is known about how pet owners experience the disease, interpret its symptoms, and make decisions about diagnosis and care. By analysing both structured survey responses and unstructured social media conversations, we uncovered key themes around confusion, delayed diagnosis, emotional impact, and perceived treatment barriers.
Method Highlights
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Mixed methods approach combining survey data and social media listening
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LLM-supported thematic coding to uncover recurring language, sentiment, and knowledge gaps
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Cross-validation of insights between qualitative posts and structured response patterns
Key Insights
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Many owners lack clarity on early signs of CKD and often confuse them with normal ageing.
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Social media is a space where owners express uncertainty, guilt, and frustration — often seeking peer validation.
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Veterinary guidance is frequently delayed or missed due to miscommunication or unclear symptom progression.
What This Means
This work demonstrates the power of integrating real-world, unstructured data into veterinary research. It offers a richer understanding of the lived experience of chronic illness from the pet owner’s perspective — and how digital platforms can serve as both a data source and potential intervention point.