Clinical condition of cull sows before and after transport to slaughter - Effects of journey duration and a stationary period

This factorial study was part of a project examining potential welfare challenges for cull sows in the pre-slaughter logistic chain, and examined effects of journey duration and presence of a longer pre-planned stop half-way during journeys on their post-transport clinical condition. The sows were transported 4, 6 or 8 h under conditions modelling typical Danish practice. In addition, across 49 journeys, effects of temperature inside the vehicle and time spent waiting before unloading at the slaughterhouse were examined. The results confirmed the findings of our earlier observational study, showing that the clinical conditions of cull sows deteriorated during transport, but also that none of the 578 sows arrived at the slaughterhouse in a condition that would have rendered them unfit for transport. A complex picture was found in relation to the clinical variables affected by journey duration, involvement of a longer pre-planned stop, and/or time spent waiting before unloading. This suggests that several factors contribute to the deterioration of the clinical condition of sows, but not consistently or as unequivocal causal factors, at least within the studied journey durations. Based on the deterioration in their clinical condition, especially for variables associated with heat stress and aggression, and knowing that the amount of time the sows are exposed to hazards such as aggressive pen mates, high temperatures and/or moving vehicles is dependent on the journey duration, keeping journeys as short as possible will most likely be advantageous. Future studies should also focus on how to optimise the social and microclimatic environment.

Dog Handler Beliefs regarding Barriers and Facilitators to Canine Health Promotion and Injury Prevention in Swedish Working Dog Trials and Competitions

Dog trials and competitions involve various sport disciplines, e.g., obedience, agility, working dog trials and rally obedience. Dog handlers navigate their dogs through physically and mentally demanding tasks. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of barriers and facilitators to canine health promotion and injury prevention described by dog handlers.

METHODS

Qualitative inductive content analysis was applied to systematically organize and interpret narrative data from 654 respondents' answers to open-ended questions in an anonymous online inquiry.

RESULTS

Two categories, with seven sub-categories, emerged from the analysis: (1) Challenges in applying the regulations in dog trials and competitions, and (2) Implementation of animal welfare and canine well-being approaches. Respondents described the challenges in applying regulations in dog trials and competitions and lack of scientific research as barriers to their intent to prevent injuries in their dogs. Implementation of animal welfare and canine well-being approaches were described as facilitators.

CONCLUSION

The findings imply that the stakeholders continuously need to work on bridging possible gaps between the canine welfare criteria and the scientific and empirical knowledge in canine sports and performance medicine.

The Animal Welfare Science of Working Dogs: Current Perspectives on Recent Advances and Future Directions

Working dogs are prevalent throughout our societies, assisting people in diverse contexts, from explosives detection and livestock herding, to therapy partners. Our scientific exploration and understanding of animal welfare have grown dramatically over the last decade. As community attitudes toward the use of animals continue to change, applying this new knowledge of welfare to improve the everyday lives of working dogs will underpin the sustainability of working with dogs in these roles. The aim of this report was to consider the scientific studies of working dogs from the last decade (2011–2021) in relation to modern ethics, human interaction, and the five domains of animal welfare: nutrition, environment, behavioral interaction, physical health, and mental state. Using this framework, we were able to analyze the concept and contribution of working dog welfare science. Noting some key advances across the full working dog life cycle, we identify future directions and opportunities for interdisciplinary research to optimize dog welfare. Prioritizing animal welfare in research and practice will be critical to assure the ongoing relationship between dogs and people as co-workers.

2021 AAHA Working, Assistance, and Therapy Dog Guidelines

The guidelines are the first comprehensive consensus report on veterinary healthcare recommendations for working, assistance, and therapy dogs. This category of canine patients includes a broad assortment of animals, some with well-defined functions and others that provide a more generalized support role. The guidelines discuss recommendations for dogs trained for protection, odor/scent detection, service functions for people with diagnosed disabilities or physical limitations, emotional support, and therapeutic intervention. Although the term is often used to describe dogs providing animal-assisted activities, true therapy dogs provide goal-directed therapy, often under the supervision of a healthcare professional such as an occupational therapist or psychologist. Many working dogs undergo extensive training and have rigorous physical demands placed upon them. These factors make working, assistance, and therapy dogs inherently valuable and impose a need for a high level of primary veterinary care as described in the guidelines. Because working dogs have a particularly close relationship with their handlers, a trust relationship between the practice team and the working-dog client is imperative.

Standardized capillary refill time and relation to clinical parameters in hospitalized dogs

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between various physical and clinicopathologic parameters and the capillary refill time (CRT) using a standard method; to evaluate the influence of emergency room (ER) versus ICU hospital location on CRT; and to identify latent subgroups among the CRT distribution.

DESIGN

Prospective, observational study.

SETTING

University teaching hospital.

ANIMALS

Client-owned dogs in the ER (n = 40) and ICU (n = 71).

INTERVENTIONS

The CRT was defined as the duration required for the oral mucosa of the upper lip to return to its original color after blanching for 4 seconds. The CRT was recorded in seconds to the 10ths place by a single observer using an automated recording device.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Median CRT for all dogs was 1.1 seconds (ER, 1.2 s; ICU, 1.1 s; P = 1.000). The CRT was significantly associated with rectal temperature (P = 0.004), systolic blood pressure (P = 0.028), body weight (P = 0.031), mucous membrane color (P = 0.007), skin turgor (P = 0.039), and acute patient physiologic and laboratory evaluation mentation score (P = 0.019) for all dogs. The CRT was related to a greater number of variables in the ER than in the ICU patient population. In general, the total population of dogs had CRTs belonging to 1 of 2 groups: either ≤1.2 or ≥1.7 seconds. A statistically significant association was found between body weight CRT ≥1.3 seconds (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

A CRT following blanching for 4 seconds may provide insight into the hydration status and hemodynamic stability of canine patients. Further research into its clinical application is warranted.

Terms, Definitions, Nomenclature, and Routes of Fluid Administration

Fluid therapy is administered to veterinary patients in order to improve hemodynamics, replace deficits, and maintain hydration. The gradual expansion of medical knowledge and research in this field has led to a proliferation of terms related to fluid products, fluid delivery and body fluid distribution. Consistency in the use of terminology enables precise and effective communication in clinical and research settings. This article provides an alphabetical glossary of important terms and common definitions in the human and veterinary literature. It also summarizes the common routes of fluid administration in small and large animal species.

Total Water Intake and Urine Measures of Hydration in Adult Dogs Drinking Tap Water or a Nutrient-Enriched Water

Water intake and urine measures were evaluated in dogs offered tap water (TW) or a nutrient-enriched water (NW) supplement while fed dry food with ad libitum TW in a bucket. Baseline (day-7) urine specific gravity (USG) was analyzed from healthy, adult small breed dogs (n = 21; 2-11 years). Dogs (N = 16) were selected with ≥1.015 USG, then equally divided into 2 groups balanced for USG. Groups received either TW or NW in a bowl for 56 days. Dose for each dog was 0.5:1 water-to-calorie ratio (mL:kcal ME/d) from days 1-49 to evaluate sustained intake of a moderate volume, or 2:1 water-to-calorie ratio from days 50-56 to evaluate short-term intake of a large volume, based on baseline food calorie intake. Daily food calorie and total liquid intake (TLI; g/d; sum of NW or TW in a bowl and bucket water) was used to calculate weekly intake. USG was measured on days -7, 14, 42, 56. Calorie intake was not different (P > 0.49). A significant (P < 0.001) time-by-treatment interaction resulted for TLI with baseline similar between groups and no difference between weeks for the TW group. Following baseline, NW group had increased (P < 0.05) TLI every week, except for week 2 (P = 0.07). A significant (P < 0.002) time-by-treatment interaction resulted for USG, with baseline similar between groups and no difference between sampling days for the TW group (varied by ≤ 0.006 g/mL), whereas NW group was lower (P < 0.01) on days 42 (1.018 g/mL) and 56 (1.014 g/mL) vs. baseline (1.026 g/mL). This study indicates that all dogs offered the NW supplement increased their TLI and produced a more dilute urine, which suggests an improvement in indices associated with chronic hydration.