91做厙

Rowena's broad research interest is companion animal health, behaviour and welfare. Rowena's research commonly focuses on chronic diseases and diseases linked to conformation and how we can improve their diagnosis, treatment and ultimately, prevention, via human intervention. Rowena is interested in how human knowledge and perceptions influence companion animal health and welfare, and how we can help prospective and current owners make better decisions about companion animals, from acquisition through to end-of-life, to improve animal welfare. 

Her research group explores a diversity of current and emerging issues in this area. She holds or has held funding from organisations including BBSRC, UFAW, Dogs Trust, AWF, Blue Cross, RSPCA, SCAS, Battersea, Research England, Kennel Club Charitable Trust and Animal Care Trust, and has received ~£2.1 million of research funding to date, ~£820,000 of which has been held as Principal Investigator.

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Research group members

If you are interested in joining Rowena's team as a postgraduate researcher (MRes/PhD) or a Postdoctoral Researcher/Fellow in the research areas listed below, then please do get in touch via email to discuss opportunities.

Current group members

• Dr Bree Merritt PhD 2023-2026: Pre-owned Pooches: Characterising commercial and private re-homing and re-selling systems for dogs aged >16 weeks in the UK and implications for canine welfare (Primary supervisor; co-supervised by Dr Dan O'Neill, Dr Zoe Belshaw and Dr Kirsten McMillan, funded by Dogs Trust)
• Miss Sarah Hobbs PhD 2020-2024: Investigating behavioural interventions as management tools for canine epilepsy (Primary supervisor; co-supervised by Dr Emily Blackwell, funded by Animal Care Trust)
• Dr Claire Brand Research Technician/Lab Group Coordinator, 2020-Present: Pandemic Puppies (Line manager; funded by BVA AWF, Research England, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, and SCAS)
• Miss Gina Bryson. Research Assistant 2025: Exploring dog-dog relationships in multi-dog households with epileptic dogs (Line manager; funded by ACT)
• Maria Eduarda de Souza Oliviera. Research Internship 2025: Exploring risk factors for anxiety and separation related behaviours in hospitalised dogs (Primary supervisor, funded by Research Internship Abroad Programme, Brazil)
• Dr Zoe Stratton. PhD 2025-2028: The Hidden Menace: Unpicking The Risk Of Antimicrobial Resistance Carriers Within The UK Canine Population (Co-supervisor, with Primary supervisor Dr Sian Frosini and co-supervisor Prof Rosanne Jepson, funded by 91做厙/ACT)
• Dr Angela Spatz MRes 2025-2027. Gabapentin use in cats under primary veterinary care in the UK (Secondary supervisor, co-supervised by Dr Dan O'Neill and Dr Karen Hiestand)

Past group members

• Dr Lizzie Youens Research Assistant/MRes 2023-2024: Exploring health implications and public demand for brachycephalic ‘designer’ outcrosses (Line manager/Primary supervisor; co-supervised by Dr Dan O'Neill, funded by AWF, Blue Cross and RSPCA, MRes Passed with Distinction. Now starting a PhD at the University of Bristol.
• Mr Bill Carter MRes 2023-2024: The impacts of Progressive Retinal Atrophy-associated vision-loss on dog and owner Quality of Life (Secondary supervisor, co-supervised by Dr Siobhan Abeyesinghe and Dr Charlotte Dawson)
• Dr Alison Skipper Postdoctoral Researcher 2022-2024: Canine Research Funding By Charitable Organisations In The UK: Current Status And Future Opportunities (Secondary supervisory, co-supervised by Dr Dan O'Neill, funded by Waltham, Battersea, Kennel Club Charitable Trust and Dogs Trust). Now working at The Kennel Club.
• Miss Gina Bryson: MRes 2022-2023 (Passed with Distinction): Exploring the long-term welfare consequences of designer crossbreed dog acquisitions in the UK (co-supervised with Dr Dan O'Neill, funded by Kennel Club Charitable Trust)
• Miss Michelle Farrow: MRes 2021-2023 (Passed with Merit): Online health research by companion animal caregivers: threat or opportunity for animal welfare? (co-supervised with Dr Dan O'Neill). Now working as a Research Assistant at CVS.
• Miss Olivia Edgar-Price: MRes 2021-2022 (Passed with Distinction): Exploring risk factors for visually-mediated abnormal repetitive behaviours in the domestic dog (co-supervised with Dr Maria Diez-Leon). Now studying Veterinary Science at University of Bristol.
• Dr Fiona Dale: Research Technician 2021: Big Brainy Border Collie Study technician (BBSRC funded).
• Miss Erin Burnett: UFAW Animal Welfare Student Scholarship 2021. Now working in general veterinary practice.
• Dr Sarah Finnegan: PhD 2017-2021: Investigating the potential of non-invasive seizure forecasting in canine epilepsy (co-supervised by Prof Lucy Asher, Dr Monica Daley, Prof Holger Volk). Now working in general veterinary practice.
• Dr Amy Pergande: MRes 2018-2020 (Passed with Distinction): Owner decision-making in the treatment and management of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (co-supervised with Dr Zoe Belshaw and Prof Holger Volk). Now a Neurology Resident at Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists.
• Dr Nicole Regan: UFAW Animal Welfare Student Scholarship 2018. Now working as a veterinary surgeon at 91做厙.
• Dr Alexander Davies: UFAW Animal Welfare Student Scholarship 2017. Now working in general veterinary practice, and 2021 winner of BVA Young Vet of the Year.

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Research topics

Breed health and conformation related disease in dogs and cats

Rowena is interested in the impact of breeding on the welfare of dogs and cats, with a strong focus on conformation-related diseases. She is co-leader of 91做厙's Brachycephalic Research Team, and collaborates with a number of clinical colleagues on topics including Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome, spinal disease and ophthalmological disorders. Her PhD in this area focused on defining safe conformational limits for dogs, and has gone on to influence international legislation in this area.

She collaborates with the VetCompass team on breed and brachycephaly-related disorders and with VetCompass colleague Dr Dan O'Neill recently co-edited the first text book on this topic (. 

She is a founding member of the group and involved in a range of impact, policy and campaigning activities in this area, including giving international talks in countries including Switzerland, New Zealand and Australia.

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Companion animal acquisition: motivations, behaviours and welfare implications

Rowena is interested in how and why people acquire dogs and cats, and what factors influence breed and breeder choice, and both pre-purchase and purchase behaviours. This research theme has recently focused on phenomena including 'Pandemic Puppies' and 'Designer Crossbreeds':

• 'Pandemic Puppies', characterising how, why and by whom puppies were purchased in the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020, with Research Technician Dr Claire Brand. Her research in this area has received funding from , , Research England Strategic Priorities Funding and the .
• 'The brachy boom': exploring drivers of the huge surge in acquisition of brachycephalic dogs over the past decade
• 'Designer dogs': exploring the recent rise in intentional crossbreeds in the UK, and its welfare consequences (funded by  and )

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Ownership of companion animals with chronic illness and problem behaviours

Rowena is interested in the ownership of animals with chronic health disorders and those who exhibit problem behaviours. Her work in this area has used a mixed methods approach to explore topics including owner decision-making in managing a dog with chronic disease and the impact of owning a chronically ill animal on owner wellbeing and lifestyle, in collaboration with . Current work is funded by .

Rowena is interested in end-of-life decision making in companion animals and how these decisions are negotiated by owners and the veterinary team.

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Canine brain health and behaviour

Rowena is interested in how the canine brain expresses pathology and is particularly interested in the interplay between neurological disorders and behaviour/cognition. Rowena leads 91做厙's  and supervises a number of undergraduate and postgraduate students in this area. In her role as a  (2017-2021) Rowena explored differences in the behaviour, cognition, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of dogs with epilepsy compared to healthy controls. Her work in this area uses a combination of behavioural and cognitive assays, quantitative EEG and MRI techniques. Her collaborators for this work include , ,  and .  

Rowena is interested in using technology to better diagnose and manage canine epilepsy. To this end she co-developed 91做厙's Pet Epilepsy Tracker, and is working with Prof Lucy Asher to develop IMU technology to predict and detect seizures. She is also interested in developing novel therapies for canine epilepsy patients, and is working with PhD student Sarah Hobbs and  to investigate the effect of behavioural therapies upon seizure frequency, behavioural comorbidities and general quality of life in canine epilepsy patients.

Books

PACKER RMA and O’NEILL DG (Editors, 2021) Health and Welfare of Brachycephalic Breeds: A Guide for Veterinary Professionals. CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group) Available .

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Book chapters

PACKER RMA (2022) Quality of Life in Canine Epilepsy. In: A practical guide to seizure disorders in dogs and cats (Eds: Karen Munana and Luisa De Risio). Edra, Spain.

PACKER RMA (2021) Flat-Faced Fandom: Why Do People Love Brachycephalic Dogs and Keep Coming Back for More? In: Health and Welfare of Brachycephalic Breeds: A Guide for Veterinary Professionals (Eds: Packer RMA and O'Neill DG). CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group)

PACKER RMA (2018) Selective Breeding, Cloning and Gene Editing of Dogs and Cats for Appearance and Performance Traits. In: Are We Pushing Animals to Their Biological Limits?: Welfare and Ethical Implications (Eds: Grandin, T and Whiting, M) Wallingford: CABI Publishing.

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Letters

BARNES, V., COOKE, F., HARNEY, N., HOWE, H., KATAMINE, T., MOLLOY, H., O'NEILL, D., PACKER, R.M.A. and RADFORD, M. (2025), Regulation of adverts using brachycephalic breeds. Veterinary Record, 196: 38-38. 

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Editorials

PACKER RMA (2017) Survival in feline epilepsy: the long and short of it. Veterinary Record 181: 477-478.

PACKER RMA (2017) Wider impacts from dog showing; more than just a rosette? AWSELVA Journal

PACKER, RMA (2012) Normal for the breed? The Veterinary Nurse 3 (5) 326

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Reports

SKIPPER A, O'NEILL DG, PACKER RMA Planning a better future for canine health and welfare research: Outcomes of the UK Canine Research Funding Analysis Project. Available here

PACKER RMA, HENDRICKS, A, & BURN, CC (2013) Conference Report: Building Better Brachycephalics 2013. The 91做厙, North Mymms. pp. 1-36. Available

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Peer-Reviewed Publications ()

[96] BELSHAW Z; PACKER RMA (2025) Knowledge of UK Residents About Importing Puppies from EU Countries. Animals.

[95] BELSHAW Z; YOUENS E; LORD M; PACKER,RMA (2025) “A dog brings benefits no matter where it’s from”: UK residents’ understanding of the benefits and risks of importing puppies from Romania to the UK. Animals.

[94] YOUENS E; O'NEILL DG; BELSHAW Z; MOCHIZUKI S; NEUFUSS J; TIVERS MS; PACKER RMA (2025) Beauty versus the Beast: The UK public prefers less extreme body shapes in brachycephalic (flat-faced) dog breeds. Vet Record. e5671 

[93] MAKI K; LLEWELLYN-ZAIDI A; ST LOUIS D; O'NEILL DG; HEDHAMMAR A; PACKER RMA; EKENSTEDT KF; BELL JS; SEATH IS; COURTIN A; MONTONEN M; NYGARD A; REUNANEN V (2025) Moving from information and collaboration to action: Report from the 5th International Dog Health Workshop in Helsinki, June 2024. Companion Animal Health and Genetics. 12 (2) https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-025-00143-0

[92] MERRITT BL; O'NEILL DG; BRAND CL; BELSHAW Z; DALE FC; PEGRAM CL; PACKER RMA (2025) Lasting Lockdown Love? Problem behaviour and pandemic and non-pandemic related risk factors influencing the owner-dog relationship in a UK cohort of dogs reaching early adulthood. PLOS ONE 20(2): e0316166. 

[91] PACKER RMA; WADE A; NEUFUSS J (2024) Nothing Could Put Me Off: Assessing the Prevalence and Risk Factors for Perceptual Barriers to Improving the Welfare of Brachycephalic Dogs. Pets 1 (3), 458-484 

[90] SKIPPER AM; PACKER RMA; O'NEILL DG (2024) “Maybe we should think outside the box?” Prioritisation of issues with UK not-for-profit canine health and welfare research funding using Delphi expert consensus and gap analysis. PLOS ONE 19(12):e0313735. 

[89] MORROS-NUEVO A; PACKER RMA; REGAN N; RAFFAN E (2024) Increased food motivation and adiposity based on caregiver survey in dogs receiving anti-seizure drugs. Veterinary Record. e4907. 

[88] BRYSON GT; O'NEILL DG; BRAND C; BELSHAW Z; PACKER RMA (2024) The Doodle Dilemma: How the physical health of ‘Designer-crossbreed’ Cockapoo, Labradoodle and Cavapoo dogs’ compares to their purebred progenitor breeds. PLOS ONE 19(8): e0306350.

[87] VOLK HA; SCHMIDT; MEYERHOFF N; MELLER S; TWELE F; CHARALAMBOUS M; BERK BA; LAW TH; PACKER RMA; ZANGHI B; PAN Y; FISCHER A (2024) Re-evaluating the placebo response in recent canine dietary epilepsy trials. BMC Veterinary Research 20, 224. 

[86] SKIPPER AM; PACKER RMA; O'NEILL DG (2024) Researcher, research thyself? Mapping the landscape of canine health and welfare research funding provided by UK not-for-profit organisations from 2012-2022. PLOS ONE 19(5): e0303498.

[85] POUND L; FARROW M; O'NEILL DG; DEANE D; PACKER RMA (2024) "All I do is fight fires”: Qualitative exploration of attitudes and experiences of UK veterinarians towards pre-purchase consultations regarding brachycephalic dogs. Veterinary Record. e3897 https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.3897

[84]  BRAND CL; O'NEILL DG; BELSHAW Z; DALE FC; MERRITT BL; CLOVER KN; TAY MXM; PEGRAM CL; PACKER RMA (2024) Impact of puppy early life experiences, puppy-purchasing practices and owner characteristics on owner-reported problem behaviours in a UK Pandemic Puppies cohort at 21 months of age. Animals 14 (2): 336

[83] PEEK SI; MELLER S; TWELE F; PACKER RMA; VOLK HA (2024) Epilepsy is more than a simple seizure disorder: Parallels between human and canine cognitive and behavioural comorbidities. The Veterinary Journal 303: 106060

[82] PEEK SI; TWELE F; MELLER S; PACKER RMA; VOLK HA (2024) Epilepsy is more than a simple seizure disorder: Causal relationships between epilepsy and its comorbidities. The Veterinary Journal 303: 106061

[81] O'NEILL DG; ENGDAHL KS; LEACH A; PACKER RMA; CHURCH DB; BRODBELT DC (2023) Is it now time to iron out the wrinkles? Health of Shar Pei dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Canine Medicine and Genetics 10 (1):11. DOI: 10.1186/s40575-023-00134-z

[80] PACKER RMA; BRAND CL; BELSHAW Z; PEGRAM CL; DALE F; STEVENS KB; O'NEILL DG (2023) Is UK puppy purchasing suffering a Long COVID effect? Ongoing negative impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic upon puppy purchase motivations and behaviours in 2021. Animals. 13 (13), 2186

[79] ANDREWS ALMM, YOUNGMAN KL, PACKER RMA, O'NEILL DG, KAFARNIK C (2023) A Review of Clinical Outcomes, Owner Understanding and Satisfaction following Medial Canthoplasty in Brachycephalic Dogs in a UK Referral Setting (2016–2021). Animals. 13(12):2032.

[78] O’NEILL DG; SKIPPER AM; BARRETT K; CHURCH DB; PACKER RMA; BRODBELT DC (2023) Demography, common disorders and mortality of Boxer dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Canine Medicine and Genetics 10 (6).

[77] SCHMIDT T; MELLER; TALBOT SR; PACKER RMA; VOLK HA (2023) Urinary neurotransmitter analysis and canine behaviour assessment. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 10: 1124231.

[76] PAUL ES; COOMBE E; MCGREEVY PD; PACKER RMA; NEVILLE V (2023) Are brachycephalic dogs really cute? Evidence from online descriptions. Anthrozoos 36:4, 533-553, DOI: 

[75] PAUL ES; PACKER RMA, MGREEVY PD; COOMBE E; MENDL E; NEVILLE V (2023) That brachycephalic look: Infant-like facial appearance in short-muzzled dog breeds. Animal Welfare 32, E5. doi:10.1017/awf.2022.6

[74] PERGANDE AE; BELSHAW Z; VOLK HA; PACKER RMA (2022) Owner perspectives on the impact of veterinary surgeons upon their decision-making in the management of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. Veterinary Record e2482. 

[73] BERK BA; OTTKA C; LAW TH; PACKER RMA; WESSMANN A; BATHEN-NOTHEN A; JOKINEN TS; KNEBEL A; TIPOLD A; LOHI H; VOLK HA (2022) Metabolic fingerprinting of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy receiving a ketogenic medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil. Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

[72] BERK BA; LAW TH; PACKER RMA; FRITZ J; VOLK HA (2022) Oral palatability testing of a medium-chain triglyceride oil supplement in a cohort of healthy dogs in a non-clinical setting. Animals. 12 (13), 1639;

[71] BURNETT E; BRAND CL; O'NEILL DG; PEGRAM CL; BELSHAW Z; STEVENS KB; PACKER RMA (2022) How much is that doodle in the window? Exploring motivations and behaviours of UK owners acquiring designer crossbreed dogs (2019-2020). Canine Medicine and Genetics 9, 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-022-00120-x

[70] SCHMIDT T; MELLER S; TALBOT SR; BERK BA; LAW TH; HOBBS SL; MEYERHOFF N; PACKER RMA; VOLK HA (2022) Urinary neurotransmitter patterns are altered in canine epilepsy. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 9: 893013. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.893013

[69] O'NEILL DG; SKIPPER A; PACKER RMA; LACEY C; BRODBELT DC; CHURCH DB; PEGRAM C (2022) English Bulldogs in the UK: a VetCompass study of their disorder predispositions and protections.  Canine Medicine and Genetics 9, 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-022-00118-5

[68] O'NEILL DG; SAHOTA J; BRODBELT DC; CHURCH DB; PACKER RMA; PEGRAM C (2022) Health of Pug Dogs in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections. Canine Medicine and Genetics 9, 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-022-00117-6

[67] BRAND CL; O'NEILL DG; BELSHAW Z; PEGRAM CL; STEVENS KB; PACKER RMA (2022) Pandemic Puppies: Demographic characteristics, health and early life experiences of puppies acquired during the 2020 phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Animals 12 (5), 629

[66] HOBBS SL; BLACKWELL EJ; WETZ K; PACKER RMA (2022) Owner reported management of inter-ictal anxiety behaviours in canine epilepsy. Veterinary Record. 

[65] CRAVEN AJ; PEGRAM C; PACKER RMA; JARVIS S; MCGREEVY PD; WARNES C; CHURCH DB; BRODBELT DC; O'NEILL DG (2022). Veterinary drug therapies used for undesirable behaviours in UK dogs under primary veterinary care. PLOS ONE. 17(1): e0261139.

[64] BRINCAT BL; MCGREEVY PD; BOWELL V; PACKER RMA (2021) Who’s getting a head start? Mesocephalic dogs in still images are attributed more positively valenced emotions than dogs of other cephalic index groups. Animals. 12 (1), 49

[63] O'NEILL DG; PACKER RMA; FRANCIS P; CHURCH DB; BRODBELT DC; PEGRAM C (2021) French Bulldogs differ to other dogs in the UK in propensity for many common disorders: a VetCompass study. Canine Genetics and Medicine. 8, 13.

[62] PACKER RMA; BRAND CL; BELSHAW Z; PEGRAM CL; STEVENS KB; O'NEILL DG (2021) Characterising motivations and behaviours of UK owners who purchased puppies during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic. Animals.11(9), 2500.

[61] PEGRAM C; GRAY C; PACKER RMA; RICHARDS Y; CHURCH DB; BRODBELT DC; ONEILL DG (2021) Euthanasia in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK: frequency and risk factors. Scientific Reports 11, 9145. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88342-0

[60] JONES GMC; VOLK HA; PACKER RMA (2021) Future research priorities for canine idiopathic epilepsy: viewpoints of owners, general practice veterinarians and neurology specialists. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16144

[59] WATSON F; COPPI AA; VOLK HA; PACKER RMA; TAURO A; RUSBRIDGE (2021) Comparison of volume of the forebrain, subarachnoid space and lateral ventricles between dogs with Idiopathic Epilepsy and Controls using a stereological approach: Cavalieri’s principle. Canine Medicine and Genetics, 8: 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-021-00101-6

[58] BERK BK; PACKER RMA; LAW TH; WESSMANN A; BATHEN-NOTHEN A; JOKINEN TS; KNEBEL A; TIPOLD A; PELLIDAND L; VOLK HA (2021) Medium-chain triglycerides dietary supplement improves cognitive abilities in canine epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior. 114, 107608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107608

[57] BOOTH S; MELLER S; PACKER RMA; FARQUAR R; MADDISON K; VOLK HA (2021) Owner Compliance in Canine Epilepsy. Veterinary Record. 118, 4. 262-269. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.16 

[56] PE