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PubMed2001

[Survey of consciousness of community residents regarding the community life of disabled persons with service dogs].

PURPOSE: Service dogs have received much attention as effective choices for promoting participation in society of disabled persons. The purpose of this study was to obtain the fundamental data to prepare guidelines regarding service dogs use in community life, by making clear the problems in terms of public health and community welfare through a survey of attitudes towards service dogs in community residents. METHODS: Study 1 was conducted as follows. The subjects were 423 community residents between their teens and seventies who participated in health and welfare lectures in 4 metropolitan areas. A questionnaire survey was conducted just after watching a promotion video about service dogs, including several items on aspects not accept, were anxious about or were unpleasant in the case of community life of a disabled person and a service dog. Study 2 was as follows. A questionnaire survey was conducted inside a supermarket in the central part of Tokyo. One group of subjects were 103 shopping customers who witnessed a shopping scene featuring a disabled person with her service dog, and the other subjects were 84 customers who were not witnessed to the scene. The same survey was simultaneously performed for impression about the shopping scene. RESULTS: Study 1 showed that 31.8% of all the respondents replied that they had some knowledge of service dogs before watching the video. A total of 20.4% (32.5% of the elderly) replied that there were places where service dogs should not enter. Concretely speaking, these included restaurants for 7.3-22.5% and medical institutions for 8.5-12.5% of the respondents. A third of all the respondents (51.3% of older persons) replied they could not endure some actions by service dogs, concretely "carrying food in the mouth" was highly pointed out by 27.3%. Zoonosis (15.3-19.0%), hair scattering (9.5-21.3%), injuries (4.4-7.4%) were also pointed out as main sources of anxiety or uncomfortable feelings. Such negative opinions were especially apparent among those aged 60 years and older. Also, 44.1% knew some disabled person. Cross tabulation showed those who had experience of taking care of a dog were significant less anxious about "vague anxiety or discomfort," and "zoonosis" than those who had not (P < 0.01). On the other hand, most of both witness (79.6%), and non-witness groups (81.0%) replied that it was heartwarming that the service dog assisted with shopping. None expressed discomfort about the presence of "service dog" inside the supermarket. In terms of carrying a commodity in the mouth, 92.2% and 89.1% in both groups replied that they don't mind, especially if safety was guaranteed for public health, and 91.3% and 95.2% in both groups replied that they had no other problems. Moreover, none of them would not entering stores. Significant differences were seldom in replies between the witness and non-witness groups. CONCLUSION: Although the respondents were extremely affirmative regarding the image of service dogs, it became clear that anxiety about public health aspects such as "zoonosis" or "utilization of medical institutions" was persisting. On the whole, negative opinions were more apparent in the elderly.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Genetic analysis of markers of the working test for herding dogs 2. Undesired behavior traits].

The objective of the present study was to analyse the occurrence of undesirable behaviour traits registered on sheep dog trials in order to evaluate the importance of genetic and environmental sources of variation and to draw conclusions for breeding purposes. The data analysed consisted of 2745 test results recorded at 48 sheep dog trials carried out in Germany from 1994 to 1998, which were attended by 337 sheep dogs. Variance components of undesirable behaviour traits were estimated applying Restricted Maximum Likelihood methods. Additive genetic effects, permanent environmental effects of the animal and the effect of the handler were treated as random factors. Additionally, the linear multivariate animal model included the fixed effects of the age of the dogs at the sheep dog trial, sex, the level of difficulty of the exercises as well as the event itself, the starting number of the dog, the number of the dogs' tests at the particular event and the number of dogs presented on sheep dog trials by their handlers. The inbreeding coefficient was regarded as a linear covariate. The analyses were performed using all sheep dog trial classes and for each of the three classes separately. Age of the dog and starting number did not explain a significant proportion of variance for traits analysed, whereas the event of the sheep dog trial and partly the number of dogs per handler were of significant importance. The estimated heritabilities for the undesirable behaviour traits ranged from h2 < or = 0.001 to h2 = 0.07 with standard errors in the range between 0.001 and 0.06. The possibilities to select against undesired behaviour traits appear to be rather limited given the heritability estimates and the low number of progeny.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed1992

Susceptibility to onion-induced hemolysis in dogs with hereditary high erythrocyte reduced glutathione and potassium concentrations.

The hemolytic effect of onion consumption in dogs with hereditary high erythrocyte reduced glutathione and potassium concentrations (designated HK dogs) was compared with that in clinically normal dogs. Twelve hours after oral administration of boiled onions (200 g/dog), hemoglobin concentration decreased to 84.4% of the initial value in HK dogs; it decreased only to 90.5% in clinically normal dogs. At 24 hours, methemoglobin concentration was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in HK dogs than in clinically normal dogs. The concentration of erythrocyte oxidized glutathione increased about fivefold at 10 hours in HK dogs, whereas it did not change during the experimental period in clinically normal dogs. In addition, at 12 hours, the proportion of erythrocytes containing Heinz bodies increased to 24.4% in HK dogs, but increased only to 1.2% in clinically normal dogs. Thus, results indicated that HK dogs were more susceptible to the oxidant action of onions than were clinically normal dogs.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2005

[Effects of lung protective ventilation in prone or supine position on inhibiting adrenomedullin release in acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by pulmonary and extra-pulmonary insults in dog].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in adrenomedullin release in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from different lung areas in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) of produced dogs, by pulmonary and extra-pulmonary causes, with low tidal volume and positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) treatment under supine and prone position. METHODS: Twenty-four male mongrel dogs were randomly divided into ARDSp (ARDS caused by pulmonary causes) supine group, ARDSp prone group, ARDSexp (ARDS caused by extra-pulmonary causes) supine group, and ARDSexp prone group. A detergent to cause lung injury in ARDSp dogs, and intravenous oleic acid was given in ARDSexp dogs. The results of adrenomedullin in different areas of dog's lung (upper lobe, middle lobe, and lower lobe) and arterial blood gas under lung protective ventilation treatment were measured. RESULTS: After lung injury, the arterial oxygenation index was lowered, and the levels of adrenomedullin in the upper lobe and middle lobe of ARDSp dogs were higher than that of ARDSexp dogs. After receiving low tidal volume and PEEP ventilation, the conditions of all the dogs were gradually getting ameliorated, and prone position ventilation gave better effects on lung injury dogs by inhibiting adrenomedullin release. CONCLUSION: There are statistical differences in adrenomedullin release in different lung areas between ARDSp dogs and ARDSexp dogs, and in both ARDSexp dogs and ARDSp dogs low tidal volume and PEEP treatment under prone position ventilation give better results compared to supine position.

Adrenomedullin↗

PubMed1991

Cardiovascular and renal effects of milrinone in beta-adrenoreceptor blocked and non-blocked anaesthetized dogs.

The cardiovascular effects of the low Km cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor milrinone (0.01-0.3 mg/kg, i.v.) were characterized in anaesthetized dogs with or without beta-adrenoreceptor blockade (nadolol, 1 mg/kg, i.v.). Heart rate was increased by milrinone at greater than or equal to 0.1 mg/kg in non-blocked dogs (61 +/- 5 beats/min [mean +/- SEM, max. change] or 40.5 +/- 6.0%) and at greater than or equal to 0.03 mg/kg in beta-blocked dogs (33 +/- 5 beats/min or 26 +/- 4%). Mean arterial pressure was decreased at greater than or equal to 0.03 mg/kg in non-blocked dogs (-34 +/- 6mmHg or -27 +/- 5%) and at greater than or equal to 0.1 mg/kg in beta-blocked dogs (-17 +/- 4 mmHg or -15 +/- 3%). These changes were or tended to be greater in non-blocked than beta-blocked dogs. The maximum rate of rise in left ventricular pressure was increased at all doses in non-blocked (3747 +/- 388 mmHg/sec or 131 +/- 14%) and beta-blocked dogs (2517 +/- 445 mmHg/sec or 131 +/- 25%), with the absolute but not percent increase being greater in non-blocked than beta-blocked dogs. Left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was or tended to be reduced at greater than or equal to 0.03 mg/kg in beta-blocked dogs (-3 +/- 1 mmHg or -64 +/- 20%) and at 0.01-0.1 mg/kg in non-blocked dogs (-1.4 +/- 0.9 mmHg or -50 +/- 29%). The absolute, but not percent, decrease in LVEDP at 0.03 mg/kg was greater in beta-blocked than non-blocked dogs (-2.2 +/- 0.8 mmHg or 32 +/- 10% vs. 0.0 +/- 0.7 mmHg or 0 +/- 8%). Cardiac output (CO) was or tended to be similarly increased at 0.01-0.03 mg/kg in beta-blocked (0.2 +/- 0.1/min or 15 +/- 5%) and non-blocked dogs (1.2 +/- 0.7 1/min or 40 +/- 16%). In conclusion, beta-blockade attenuated the hypotensive and chronotropic effects, but did not eliminate the positive inotropism, the reduction in cardiac preload or the increase in CO induced by milrinone in anaesthetized dogs.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

PubMed1991

A comparison of the natural survival of beagle dogs injected intravenously with low levels of 239Pu, 226Ra, 228Ra, 228Th, or 90Sr.

The natural survival, relative to properly chosen controls, of 26 beagle dogs injected once intravenously with an average of 0.58 +/- 0.04 kBq 239Pu/kg, 23 dogs injected with 2.31 +/- 0.43 kBq 226Ra/kg, 13 dogs injected with 1.84 +/- 0.26 kBq 228Ra/kg, 12 dogs injected with 0.56 +/- 0.030 kBq 228Th/kg, and 12 dogs injected with 21.13 +/- 1.74 kBq 90Sr/kg was evaluated statistically. The amounts of these radionuclides are related directly to the estimated maximum permissible body burdens for humans suggested in ICRP II (1959). They constitute a level of exposure that initially was assumed to cause no deleterious effects in dogs. This study had two objectives: (1) identification of homogeneous control groups against which to evaluate the survival of the irradiated groups and (2) comparison of the survival characteristics and estimation of mortality or hazard rate ratios for control dogs vs dogs injected with the baseline dosages given above. It was shown, by goodness-of-fit plots, that the Cox proportional hazards model was an appropriate method of analysis. Therefore, covariates that possibly could influence survival were tested for significance. Only the effects of grand mal seizure, which is caused in epileptic dogs by an external stimulus and can be fatal if untreated, were significant (P less than 0.0001). Consequently, in the final model, death from grand mal seizure was considered as accidental. After censoring the dogs dying from grand mal seizure, it was established that the data for the control groups from previous and contemporary experiments could be pooled. The change in hazard rates relative to controls resulting from exposure to the baseline radionuclide level was modest, 1.6 times for 239Pu (P = 0.033), 1.0(4) for 226Ra (P = 0.86), 1.9 for 228Ra (P = 0.035), 2.5 for 228Th (P less than 0.001), and 0.52 for 90Sr (P = 0.041). Bone tumor induction was clearly elevated in dogs injected with 239Pu and 228Th. When the effect of these bone tumors on survival was removed by censoring, the dogs injected with 239Pu were indistinguishable from the controls. In contrast, the effects of bone tumor on group survival of the 228Ra and 228Th dogs were not significant. Thus, no additional life-shortening effects beyond those attributable to bone tumor were suggested by these data for 239Pu, but other, as yet unspecified, confounders are suggested for 228Ra and 228Th.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1990

[Changes in the behavior of dogs after castration].

This study is based upon a written survey of keepers of neutered dogs about the behaviour of 209 male and 382 female dogs. The main findings are: Male dogs show behavioural changes after castration more often and more distinctly than female dogs after neutering. Behavioural problems in most cases are reduced or have even disappeared after neutering (male dogs 74%, female dogs 59%). At best, hypersexuality and connected problems are changed as expected. 49 of 80 aggressive male dogs and 25 of 47 female dogs are more gentle after neutering. 10 bitches appeared to be aggressive only after being neutered. Particularly feeding behaviour changes in 42% of the male dogs and 32% of the female dogs towards an increased intake of food, which also leads to an increase in body weight. This corresponds to decreasing activity, which is indicated by increasing time of rest (male dogs 36%, female dogs 18%) and decreasing motivation to move. Motivation for playing, watchfulness and perseverance change more seldomly and sometimes increase. The character of the neutered animals is predominantly described as "devoted, friendly and kind". Changes of behaviour following neutering depend on many influencing factors. Above all effective obedience training, but also the family situation of the owner, time factors, conditions of keeping and contact with other dogs have different impacts on the control of the individual behavioural problems.

Aggression↗

PubMed1985

Treatment of systemic candidiasis in neutropenic dogs with ketoconazole.

The present study evaluated the activity of ketoconazole in neutropenic dogs with systemic candidiasis. Five dog pairs were made neutropenic by intravenous cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg) and challenged with either 10(6) or 10(7) colony-forming units (CFU) of Candida albicans. Half of the dogs received ketoconazole (10 mg/kg) daily beginning 24 h after challenge. All were killed at 96 h and liver, spleen, and kidney were cultured. Of four dogs given 10(6) CFU, two untreated dogs had 9 X 10(3) to 1 X 10(5) CFU/g wet tissue, compared to 0 CFU in ketoconazole-treated dogs. With inoculum increased to 10(7) CFU, three untreated dogs had 2 X 10(4) to 3 X 10(5) CFU/g wet tissue, while three ketoconazole dogs had 0-5 X 10(3) CFU/g wet tissue. The effect of ketoconazole on autologous marrow reconstitution in dogs with systemic candidiasis was examined by infusing autologous cryopreserved marrow into four dogs one day after lethal whole body irradiation (800 rad). Once neutropenic, they were challenged with 10(7) CFU of C. albicans. Two dogs received no ketoconazole and died of disseminated candidiasis, without marrow reconstitution. Two dogs received ketoconazole for 25 days. Prompt marrow recovery occurred and they remained healthy. There was no evidence of infection at death. These studies quantitatively demonstrate the in vivo effectiveness of ketoconazole in reducing tissue infection with C. albicans in neutropenic dogs. They provide in vivo evidence that ketoconazole can prevent or cure systemic candidiasis in the bone marrow transplant setting without significant inhibition of marrow recovery.

Agranulocytosis↗

PubMed1977

The effect of chronic hypoxemia on regional myocardial blood flow in the conscious dog after acute coronary artery occlusion.

Chronic hypoxemia was produced in 16 dogs by surgical transposition of the caudal vena cava to the left atrium to determine if chronic hypoxemia would alter the response of the myocardium to acute ischemia. An electromagnetic aortic flow probe, left atrial tube, and occlusive cuff on the left circumflex coronary artery were permanently implanted in 11 hypoxemic and 26 normal control dogs. The animals were studied in the conscious state after recovery from the surgery. Dogs with hypoxemia had a blood hematocrit value of 54.3 +/- 1.0% (SE), arterial PO(2) of 43.2 +/- 1.4 mm Hg, and 80.2 +/- 1.6% oxygen saturation. There was no difference from control animals in the ratio of left ventricular weight to body weight, but the right ventricular weight was significantly decreased in the hypoxemic dogs. Cardiac output from the left ventricle was twice that of the right ventricle. Aortic blood flow was 3.68 +/- 0.22 liters/min in hypoxemic animals and 2.64 +/- 0.19 liters/min in normal dogs. Myocardial blood flow measured with 15-mu diameter tracer microspheres was increased from 79 +/- 10 and 59 +/- 8 ml/100 g/min in left ventricular endocardial and epicardial halves, respectively, in normal dogs to 212 +/- 48 and 172 +/- 39 in dogs with chronic hypoxemia. There were no deaths in 10 hypoxemic dogs within 24 hours after complete circumflex coronary artery occlusion; 7 of 26 (27%) normal dogs died after circumflex coronary artery occlusion during the conscious state. Gross infarct size was extremely variable in both groups. Median infarct size was smaller in dogs with hypoxemia and was directly correlated with arterial PO(2) in hypoxemic dogs. There was a mild, but statistically not significant, increase in the anastomotic index of hypoxemic dogs compared with that of normal animals, suggesting that a metabolic adaptive change rather than increased collateral circulation may have been responsible for the decreased mortality and smaller infarct size in hypoxemic dogs.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Diet and exercise patterns in pet dogs.

A study was conducted to provide baseline data on pet dog diet and exercise patterns. In addition, the repeatability of a telephone questionnaire to determine these patterns was evaluated. Dogs seen at the Texas Veterinary Medical Center that were less than 3 years old and of medium, large, or giant purebreeds or mixed-breeds were included. Information was collected about background variables, brands, quantities, and types of foods fed, and types and frequency of exercise. Daily intake of metabolizable energy, calcium, fat, and protein were calculated from the diet. Sixty-nine dog owners completed the study. Most dogs were kept as pets in an urban/suburban environment. Most were also fed dry food. About 60% were fed dog biscuits or some other dog snack or treat, and about half of the dogs in the study were fed twice daily. Meat scraps and bones were the table foods most commonly fed. Most owners considered their dogs to be moderately or very active. Greater than 70% of the dogs were confined to a fenced yard. About 65% of the owners took their dogs for walks. Forty percent of dogs in the study exercised with other dogs daily. More than half of the owners reported playing retrieving games with their dogs, including playing with a flying disk. The questionnaire was shown to be repeatable.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1995

Evaluation of pulmonary function and analgesia in dogs after intercostal thoracotomy and use of morphine administered intramuscularly or intrapleurally and bupivacaine administered intrapleurally.

Eighteen dogs undergoing lateral thoracotomy at the left fifth intercostal space were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 postoperative analgesic treatment groups of 6 dogs each as follows: group A, morphine, 1.0 mg/kg of body weight, IM; group B, 0.5% bupivacaine, 1.5 mg/kg given interpleurally; and group C, morphine, 1.0 mg/kg given interpleurally. Heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial blood pressure, arterial blood gas tensions, alveolar-arterial oxygen differences, rectal temperature, pain score, and pulmonary mechanics were recorded hourly for the first 8 hours after surgery, and at postoperative hours 12, 24, and 48. These values were compared with preoperative (control) values for each dog. Serum morphine and cortisol concentrations were measured at 10, 20, and 30 minutes, hours 1 to 8, and 12 hours after treatment administration. All dogs had significant decreases in pHa, PaO2, and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, and significant increases in PaCO2 and alveolar-arterial oxygen differences in the postoperative period, but these changes were less severe in group-B dogs. Decreases of 50% in lung compliance, and increases of 100 to 200% in work of breathing and of 185 to 383% in pulmonary resistance were observed in all dogs after surgery. Increases in work of breathing were lower, and returned to preoperative values earlier in group-B dogs. The inspiratory time-to-total respiratory time ratio was significantly higher in group-B dogs during postoperative hours 5 to 8, suggesting improved analgesia. Blood pressure was significantly lower in group-A dogs for the postoperative hour. Significant decreases in rectal temperature were observed in all dogs after surgery, and hypothermia was prolonged in dogs of groups A and C. Significant differences in pain score were not observed between treatment groups. Cortisol concentration was high in all dogs after anesthesia and surgery, and was significantly increased in group-B dogs at hours 4 and 8. Significant differences in serum morphine concentration between groups A and C were only observed 10 minutes after treatment administration. In general, significant differences in physiologic variables between groups A and C were not observed. Results of the study indicate that the anesthesia and thoracotomy are associated with significant alterations in pulmonary function and lung mechanics. Interpleurally administered bupivacaine appears to be associated with fewer blood gas alterations and earlier return to normal of certain pulmonary function values. Interpleural administration of morphine does not appear to provide any advantages, in terms of analgesia or pulmonary function, compared with its IM administration.

Analgesia↗

PubMed1996

Risk factors for relinquishment of dogs to an animal shelter.

OBJECTIVE: To identify canine and household characteristics associated with relinquishment of a pet dog to an animal shelter. DESIGN: Case-control study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Households that relinquished dogs for adoption (case households) and a random sample of current dog-owning households in the same community (control households). RESULTS: Potentially modifiable factors that explained the highest proportion of relinquishment were owners not participating in dog obedience classes after acquisition, lack of veterinary care, owning a sexually intact dog, inappropriate care expectations, and dogs having daily or weekly inappropriate elimination. Dogs obtained from shelters, kept in crates, or acquired at > or = 6 months of age were at increased risk of relinquishment. Greater purchase price was associated with decreased risk of relinquishment, but relinquishment was not associated with the degree of planning to acquire the dog. Dogs with behavioral problems and little veterinary care were at greater risk of relinquishment than were dogs with regular veterinary care, and behavioral problems were associated with inappropriate care expectations. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Risk factors identified in this study can be modified by dog owners and veterinarians to decrease the estimated 2 million dogs euthanatized annually in animal shelters. Veterinarians should educate owners about typical dog behavior, routine care requirements and training, and the importance of regular veterinary visits; should incorporate wellness concepts in their practice; and should focus on preventive medicine and behavioral consultation.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1998

Comparison of five regimens for oral administration of medication to induce sedation in dogs prior to euthanasia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare regimens for oral administration of medication to induce sedation in dogs prior to euthanasia. DESIGN: Prospective randomized clinical study. ANIMALS: 37 dogs. PROCEDURE: Groups and medications were as follows: group 1, acepromazine (n = 8); group 2, tiletamine-zolazepam (8); group 3, tiletamine-zolazepam and acepromazine (8); group 4, tiletamine-zolazepam and butorphanol (6); and group 5, pentobarbital sodium (7). Capsules or tablets were placed in each dog's food. Sedation was scored at 3-minute intervals after consumption of medication for at least 60 minutes. Dogs with signs of persistent or progressive sedation were observed for 90 minutes. RESULTS: Only 2 dogs in group 1 became slightly ataxic. All group-2 dogs were slightly ataxic, and 4 of 8 became laterally recumbent (mean time to lateral recumbency, 62 minutes). Seven of 8 group-3 dogs became sternally recumbent, and 6 of these dogs became laterally recumbent (mean, 48.6 minutes). Four of 6 group-4 dogs were slightly or moderately ataxic, and 1 of these dogs became laterally recumbent (mean, 48 minutes). One dog in group 5 was not affected by the medication, but all other group-5 dogs became laterally recumbent (mean, 59 minutes). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Of the medications evaluated, tiletamine-zolazepam and acepromazine at dosages of approximately 20 mg/kg (9.1 mg/lb) and 2 mg/kg (0.91 mg/lb), respectively, or pentobarbital sodium alone (63.2 +/- 5.1 mg/kg [28.7 +/- 2.3 mg/lb]) most consistently induced profound sedation and lateral recumbency after oral administration to dogs.

Acepromazine↗

PubMed2001

Hip dysplasia in the New Zealand Huntaway and Heading dog.

AIMS: To conduct a practice-based survey to obtain, for the first time, data on hip dysplasia in the New Zealand working dog breeds of Huntaway and Heading Dogs. METHODS: A mailed request and personal approaches to farmer clients of Taihape and Waimarino Veterinary Services were used to recruit dog owners from the Taihape district in the North Island of New Zealand. Recruited dogs were radiographed under anaesthesia in a standard position with both hind limbs extended so that the femurs were parallel and rotated medially. The standard scoring system adopted by the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) Hip Dysplasia Scheme was used to score the hip radiographs of the dogs. RESULTS: Radiographs of the hips of 141 dogs (93 Huntaways; 48 Heading Dogs), were evaluated. The overall prevalence of hip dysplasia (defined as a combined score from both hips of 10) was 17.7%. Prevalences in Huntaways and Heading Dogs were 23.6% and 6.3%, respectively; in this sample of dogs, the odds ratio (and 95% confidence interval) for Huntaways having a score of 10 was 4.6 (1.316.0) that of Heading Dogs. The average scores were 10.8 for Huntaways and 5.9 for Heading Dogs. Huntaways were at the higher end of the breed average scores for dogs recorded in the NZVA Hip Dysplasia Scheme and Heading Dogs at the lower end. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study indicates that hip dysplasia may be a problem in the Huntaway breed. Investigation of the epidemiology of the condition in this breed is warranted and consideration should be given to removing high-risk Huntaways from the breeding pool.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Observations on assistance dog training and use.

Trained service dogs assist and also add pride, self-reliance, and personal satisfaction to an individual's daily life. However, well-bred, trained dogs are very expensive. To explore decreasing the cost of a service dog by increasing the number of dogs successfully completing training, the authors analyzed tasks that service dogs are expected to perform, measuring some of the inherent physical stresses the dogs encounter and considering training techniques to better prepare the dogs for more successful completion of tasks. Observing working dogs, the authors found that undue stress was placed on many of the dogs while performing tasks; that motivational gestures for performance were not fully extended; and that, many times, handlers did not instruct the dogs properly. The working dogs observed often were required to perform tasks that put them at risk of injury and performance failure. Important future considerations for training and handling working dogs will include proper training of handlers and a better understanding of the complexities of the instinctive and physical capabilities and limitation of dogs.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Type B Ventricular Preexcitation With Abnormal Contraction of the Ventricular Septum in a Dog.

A 14monthold female beagle had ventricular preexcitation (VP).The finding was characterized by a wide positive QRS complex with a tall notched R wave in leads I, II, III, and aVF, an inverted QRS complex in leads aVR and aVL, a Q wave in lead I, and a short PR interval. Compression of the carotid sinus caused an anticipated marked decrease in heart rate, but did not reveal latent electrocardiographic abnormalities. We did not detect evidence of ventricular hypertrophy during echocardiography. Examination of the M-mode image indicated abnormal movements of the septum. There were 2 sharp waves at each systole instead of a single wider wave that is seen for clinically normal dogs. To further characterize this ECG finding, the affected dog and 2 clinically normal female beagles (positive control dogs) were given atropine (0.025 mg/kg of body weight, i. v.) Increases in heart rate, relative to values obtained before atropine administration, were evident in all 3 dogs. Increase in heart rate in the dog with VP appeared sooner after injection than in the clinically normal dogs; it was evident at the conclusion of the atropine injection. When the increase in heart rate was maximal in the affected dog (3 min after atropine administration), notching of the R wave disappeared, and the QRS duration decreased to about 60 ms. Echocardiographically, atropine produced a decrease in end diastolic, end systolic and stroke volumes in all treated dogs, which was similar between clinically normal dogs and the dog with VP. Atropine administration also was associated with a decrease in the percentage of thickening of the septum in the dog with VP, but not in the clinically normal dogs. We did not detect histopathologic abnormalities in the heart of the dog with VP.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Experimental infection of dogs with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto using Ixodes scapularis ticks artificially infected by capillary feeding.

Specific pathogen-free dogs were experimentally infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto using nymphal or adult female Ixodes scapularis ticks artificially infected with spirochetes by capillary feeding. The ticks were capillary fed B. burgdorferi isolate 610, previously isolated from a dog with Lyme disease and grown in BSK medium. This isolate induced clinical signs in the dogs similar to those for dogs infested with ticks naturally infected with B. burgdorferi. Adult ticks were more efficient than nymphs in transmitting spirochetes to the dogs. One of five dogs infested with nymphal ticks capillary fed B. burgdorferi was skin biopsy culture and serologically positive, and demonstrated lameness. In contrast, all five dogs infested with adult female ticks that had been capillary fed with B. burgdorferi were culture and serologically positive, with one dog developing lameness. The immunoblot profiles of dogs challenged with female ticks infected by capillary feeding (8 weeks post challenge) were similar to immunoblots (4 weeks post challenge) from dogs challenged with naturally infected females collected in the field. These studies demonstrated that B. burgdorferi cultured in BSK medium can be capillary fed to either nymphal or adult female ticks under laboratory controlled conditions for the purpose of transmitting the spirochete to dogs during the tick's blood meal. This tick infection system would be useful for a controlled and defined challenge of vaccinated and non-vaccinated dogs for proper evaluation of vaccine efficacy, which is difficult to achieve using field-collected ticks. Furthermore, this system may also be useful for investigation of the pathogenesis of Lyme disease, evaluation of the pathogenicity of new isolates of B. burgdorferi, or evaluation of antibiotic therapy.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Specificities of antinuclear antibodies detected in dogs with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Five hundred and eighty dogs with at least one clinical sign compatible with a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were entered in a prospective study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAb). SLE was diagnosed in 38 of these dogs (group A) which fulfilled at least four American Rheumatism Association (ARA) criteria; of these, sixteen had ANAb titers greater than or equal to 4096. The 23 dogs which met three or two ARA criteria (group B) had an ANAb geometric mean titer (GMT) of 259. Dogs (group C) with only 1 criterium had an ANAb GMT of 75. Anti-ds-DNA Ab were present in 6 dogs from group A (16%), and 2 dogs from group B (9%). Anti-histone Ab were present among dogs from group A, B and C with frequencies of 81%, 67% and 26%, respectively. Among dogs from group A, the ANAb titers and the levels of anti-histone Ab correlated positively when individual sera were considered. Antibodies against the soluble nuclear antigen (SNA) were detected in 74%, 39% and 13% of the dogs from groups A, B and C, respectively. Antibodies initially described in human SLE also exist in SLE dogs. Anti-Sm Ab were found in 24% of dogs in group A. With anti-RNP Ab the frequency was still lower (10%). However, two other types of anti-SNA Ab against RNAse and trypsin-resistant antigens, not found in human "reference sera", were often detected. The first type (anti-type 1 Ab) was found in 26% and 9% of group A and group B, The first type (anti-type 1 Ab) was found in 26% and 9% of group A and group B, respectively; the second type (anti-type 2 Ab) is less frequent, and was found in 13% and 17% of group A and B, respectively. It appears that testing for anti-Sm, anti-type 1 and anti-histone Ab should be performed in order to improve the diagnosis of SLE in dogs.

Animals↗