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Baqueiro-Espinosa U, McEvoy V, Arnott G. Factors influencing ease of whelping and its relationship with maternal behaviour and puppy perinatal mortality in commercially bred dogs. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6680. [PMID: 35461375 PMCID: PMC9035175 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10707-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
For dog breeders, parturition is a critical stage in the reproductive cycle of the dam. Evidence in other mammals suggests that a difficult labour can influence maternal behaviour and offspring viability during the first hours postpartum. However, the effect of whelping difficulty on the onset of maternal behaviour has not yet been investigated in domestic dogs. Here we developed an ease of whelping (EoW) index in dams maintained within a Commercial dog Breeding Establishment (CBE) environment and investigated the relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic factors (breed group according to size/weight, litter size, parity, whelping season and origin of the dam), EoW, early maternal behaviour and puppy perinatal mortality. The behaviour of 30 dams was observed throughout the whelping process, starting 24 h before delivery of the first puppy until birth of the last puppy. Parturition duration, birth interval, and behaviours indicative of distress, restlessness, and general activity were scored and included in a Principal Component Analysis to construct the EoW index. Subsequently, mother-pup interactions and puppy perinatal mortality were recorded during the first 24 and 72 h postpartum respectively. Results showed that EoW was significantly affected by whelping season, litter size and origin of the dam (whether she was born and raised within the CBE or brought in). Furthermore, mothers that experienced more difficult parturitions (higher EoW score) spent more time lying in contact with their puppies during the first 24 h postpartum. Time in contact with puppies was also significantly affected by breed group. Nursing duration was significantly affected by breed group and origin of the dam. Additionally, medium-size breed (10-20 kg) puppies were significantly less likely to experience perinatal mortality than large breeds (> 20 kg). These findings are particularly relevant for the welfare of breeding dams maintained in large-scale CBEs where the staff-to-dog ratio might be insufficient to adequately manage multiple simultaneous parturitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uri Baqueiro-Espinosa
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, UK.
| | - Victoria McEvoy
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, UK
| | - Gareth Arnott
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, UK
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Strauss M. Planning and Animal Welfare Law: Considering Why Planning Authorities in the Republic of Ireland Should have Regard to Animal Welfare Laws as Part of the Planning Process. THE LIVERPOOL LAW REVIEW 2020; 41:129-144. [PMID: 32836544 PMCID: PMC7250536 DOI: 10.1007/s10991-020-09246-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Animal welfare legislation routinely places obligations on owners of animals to take action to ensure that the welfare of the animal(s) is protected. Such legislation often requires animals to be sheltered by appropriate housing. Where facilities are built to provide animal housing it may be necessary to seek planning permission for the development, this is particularly an issue in relation to commercial facilities. The general approach of planning authorities in the Republic of Ireland is not to have regard to animal welfare matters at the planning stage. With reference to commercial dog breeding this paper considers the implications of the failure to have regard to animal welfare legislation during the planning process and the impact this can have on both animal welfare, but also the risks such an approach poses to the environment and public health.
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Dendoncker PA, De Keuster T, Diederich C, Dewulf J, Moons CPH. On the origin of puppies: breeding and selling procedures relevant for canine behavioural development. Vet Rec 2019; 184:710. [PMID: 30696712 DOI: 10.1136/vr.104979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The success of the dog as a companion animal has undeniably led to a shift in dog breeding practices. While effects of inbreeding or large-scale breeding have given rise to numerous studies about potentially related health issues, it remains unclear to what extent behavioural development of dogs is influenced. By investigating the environment of puppies while at the breeder, the authors aimed to make an inventory of current practices regarding management, socialisation and environmental learning and subsequently to identify potential differences between breeder types. The cross-sectional study, conducted during 2016, revealed considerable variability in environment among dog breeders. Small-scale breeders, and especially occasional breeders (less than 10 adult dogs on-site) provided most enrichment, both social and non-social, by, for instance, providing more outdoor access for pregnant dams and puppies or by providing access to visitors more freely. Environmental stimuli were less controlled in occasional breeders, raising the debate about quantity versus quality of stimuli at a young age. Large-scale breeders declared to screen potential owners less intensely and time to advise them was limited. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that compares a large number of environmental factors between the different dog breeding categories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Alexandre Dendoncker
- Laboratory for Ethology, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.,Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.,Integrated Veterinary Research Unit (IVRU), Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Sciences, University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
| | - Tiny De Keuster
- Laboratory for Ethology, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Claire Diederich
- Integrated Veterinary Research Unit (IVRU), Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Sciences, University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Dewulf
- Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Christel P H Moons
- Laboratory for Ethology, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Anderson MEC, Stull JW, Weese JS. Impact of Dog Transport on High-Risk Infectious Diseases. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2019; 49:615-627. [PMID: 30956001 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Translocation of dogs inherently poses infectious disease risks when pathogen distributions vary between regions, even within the same country. Concerns include introduction of novel pathogens that can infect dogs, zoonotic pathogens, pathogens that can become established in existing reservoirs or vectors, and vectors that might carry pathogens and/or become established in a new region. This article presents the drivers of canine movement and their relative risks, and provides examples of diseases to show how different pathogen characteristics and transmission pathways can affect the impact of movement of infected dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen E C Anderson
- Animal Health and Welfare Branch, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Jason W Stull
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Health Management, University of Prince Edward Island, Atlantic Veterinary College, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island CIA 4P3, Canada
| | - J Scott Weese
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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Moxon R. Importance of good husbandry in dog breeding establishments. Vet Rec 2018; 183:379-380. [DOI: 10.1136/vr.k3940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Moxon
- Guide Dogs National Breeding Centre; Banbury Road Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV33 9WF UK
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