Companion animals in palliative care: a hidden quality option?

In the light of the unprecedented demographic changes in many countries it is important to review and adapt existing strategies for giving old and incurable patients the adequate health care. Based on available data the importance of companion animals needs to be considered as part of individual care planning. Despite intensive research in other areas of health care, there is limited data concerning the use of companion animals in palliative care. The field demands much more recognition. For many people companion animals can be a chance for better quality of life.

Calidad de vida en perros alojados en refugios: intervenciones para mejorar su bienestar / Quality of life in shelter dogs: interventions to improve their welfare

Los refugios caninos tienen como finalidad albergar a los perros extraviados, vagabundos o abandonados. En Argentina, a diferencia de lo que sucede en países anglosajones, la estadía de los animales en los refugios se vuelve permanente, entre otras razones por la ausencia de políticas adecuadas de adopción. En el presente trabajo se revisan las investigaciones realizadas con perros alojados en refugios. La información recabada sugiere que éstos muestran alteraciones conductuales y fisiológicas similares a las que se observan en otras especies bajo condiciones de cautiverio. Esto indica que en dichas circunstancias el bienestar se encuentra comprometido.Con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad de vida de los animales se han llevado a cabo numerosas intervenciones como la introducción de objetos e interacciones sociales con humanos o conespecíficos arrojando resultados variables. Por otro lado, la implementación de evaluaciones conductuales puede ser de utilidad en el medio local mejorando el trabajo del personal de los refugios. A la luz de los resultados obtenidos se sugieren nuevas estrategias para la mejora del bienestar canino en los establecimientos de nuestra región.

Dog shelters have as purpose to lodge the missed, stray or relinquisheddogs. In Argentina, unlike what happens in Anglo-Saxon countries, theanimals stay in the shelters in a permanent way, in part due to the absence of suitable policies of adoption. In the present work, investigations about shelter dogs are reviewed. Data suggest that they show behavioral and physiological alterations similar to the ones observed in other species undercaptivity. This indicates that in the above mentioned circumstances the welfare is in danger. With the aim to improve the quality of life of the dogs, numerous interventions have been carried out but did not lead to conclusive results. For example, the introduction of objects and social interactions with humans or conspecifics were done. The implementation of behavioral evaluations in the local shelters can be useful to improve the staff’s duties. Taking account of the reviewed results, new strategies for the improvement of the canine welfare in the establishments of our region are suggested.

Dog-human and dog-dog interactions of 260 dog-owning households in a community in Cheshire.

This study investigated the nature and frequency of the contacts that occur between dogs, and between dogs and people, by means of a questionnaire survey of 260 dog-owning households in a community in Cheshire, uk. The contacts were highly variable and were affected by the size, sex and age of the dog, individual dog behaviours, human behaviours and human preferences in the management of the dog. A number of situations were identified that may be important in relation to zoonoses, including sleeping areas, playing behaviours, greeting behaviours, food sources, walking, disposal of faeces, veterinary preventive treatment and general hygiene.

Visita terapéutica de mascotas en hospitales / Animal- assisted therapy in health care facilities

La visita terapéutica de mascotas a pacientes hospitalizados es un programa de intervención que tiene importantes beneficios en el manejo de pacientes con patologías crónicas y hospitalizaciones prolongadas. La interrelación que se produce entre los pacientes y los animales facilita la adaptación a un ambiente nuevo y estresante como el hospitalario, ayudando con ello no sólo a disminuir la ansiedad, el estrés, el dolor y la presión arterial, sino también incrementar la movilidad y fuerza muscular. Esta modalidad de terapia puede ser llevada a cabo por la propia mascota o por animales especialmente entrenados. El perro es el animal más utilizado por su facilidad de entrenamiento y sociabilidad. Tanto los pacientes como los animales que participan en estos programas, requieren de una serie de cuidados para evitar la transmisión de zoonosis, evitar fenómenos alérgicos y accidentes durante la visita. La incorporación de visitas terapéuticas de mascotas a pacientes hospitalizados requiere de una constante revisión de guías y objetivos del programa.

Long-term outcome of gonadectomy performed at an early age or traditional age in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine long-term results and complications of gonadectomy performed at an early age (prepubertal) or at the traditional age in dogs. DESIGN: Cohort study. ANIMALS: 269 dogs from animal shelters. PROCEDURE: Dogs that underwent gonadectomy were allotted to 2 groups on the basis of estimated age at surgery (traditional age, > or =24 weeks old; prepubertal, < 24 weeks old). Adoptive owner information was obtained from shelter records, and telephone interviews were conducted with owners to determine physical or behavioral problems observed in the dogs since adoption. Follow-up information was obtained from attending veterinarians for dogs with complex problems or when owners were uncertain regarding the exact nature of their dog's problem. RESULTS: Prepubertal gonadectomy did not result in an increased incidence of behavioral problems or problems associated with any body system, compared with traditional-age gonadectomy, during a median follow-up period of 48 months after gonadectomy. Rate of retention in the original adoptive household was the same for dogs that underwent prepubertal gonadectomy as those that underwent traditional-age gonadectomy. Infectious diseases, however, were more common in dogs that underwent prepubertal gonadectomy. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: With the exception of infectious diseases, prepubertal gonadectomy may be safely performed in dogs without concern for increased incidence of physical or behavioral problems during at least a 4-year period after gonadectomy.

Attitudes of owners regarding tendonectomy and onychectomy in cats.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of behavior problems following tendonectomy or onychectomy in cats, as well as attitudes of owners following these procedures. DESIGN: Nonrandomized clinical trial. ANIMALS: 18 cats that underwent tendonectomy and 39 cats that underwent onychectomy. PROCEDURE: Owners of cats that underwent tendonectomy or onychectomy between February 1993 and May 1998 were contacted by telephone and asked several questions regarding reasons for surgery as well as complications and behavioral changes in cats following surgery. RESULTS: The most common reason for considering tendonectomy or onychectomy was to avoid damage caused by the cat scratching household materials. Avoidance of injury to humans or animals was chosen more often by owners whose cats underwent onychectomy than those that underwent tendonectomy. Tendonectomy was more likely to have been recommended by veterinarians than onychectomy. Significantly more cats that underwent tendonectomy (67%) than onychectomy (44%) returned to normal activity within 3 days after surgery. Significant differences were not detected regarding behavior problems after surgery. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although tendonectomy and onychectomy involved some medical complications and behavior changes following surgery, owners had positive attitudes regarding both surgeries after the immediate postoperative period. Tendonectomy may be a humane alternative to onychectomy, although owners need to be advised that nail trimming is still necessary in cats after surgery.

Presence of a pet dog and human cardiovascular responses to mild mental stress.

The mechanisms underlying the possible cardiovascular benefits of pet ownership have not been established. Using a randomized design, the effect of a friendly dog on cardiovascular and autonomic responses to acute, mild mental stress was investigated. Seventy-two subjects (aged 40 +/- 14 y; mean +/- SD) participated. Rest was alternated with mental stress during four 10-minute periods. An unknown dog was randomly selected to be present during the first or the second half of the study. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were monitored continuously and cardiac autonomic function assessed using spectral analysis of heart period. Heart period variability data were expressed as the ratio of 0.1 Hz to respiratory or high frequency variation (LF/HF). Whereas mental stress significantly increased BP and HR in the absence of the dog (from 125/71 +/- 3/2 to 133/75 +/- 3/2 mm Hg; p <0.001), the presence of the dog had no effect on these variables. Heart period LF/HF ratio was lowest in dog owners in the presence of the dog (dog present 2.8 +/- 0.3 versus dog absent 3.4 +/- 0.4; p <0.001) and in non-dog owners in the absence of the dog (dog present 3.4 +/- 0.4 versus dog absent 2.8 +/- 0.3; p <0.001). In conclusion, a friendly but unfamiliar dog does not influence BP or HR either at rest or during mild mental stress. Cardiac autonomic profile was most favorable in the presence of the dog for dog owners and in the absence of the dog for non-owners.

Long-term outcome of gonadectomy performed at an early age or traditional age in cats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine long-term results and complications of gonadectomy performed at an early age (prepubertal) or at the traditional age in cats. DESIGN: Cohort study. ANIMALS: 263 cats from animal shelters. PROCEDURE: Cats that underwent gonadectomy were allotted to 2 groups on the basis of estimated age at surgery (traditional age, > or = 24 weeks old; prepubertal, < 24 weeks old). Adoptive owner information was obtained from shelter records, and telephone interviews were conducted with owners to determine physical or behavioral problems observed in the cats after adoption. Follow-up information was obtained from attending veterinarians for cats with complex problems or when owners were uncertain regarding the exact nature of their cat's problem. RESULTS: Compared with traditional-age gonadectomy, prepubertal gonadectomy did not result in an increased incidence of infectious disease, behavioral problems, or problems associated with any body system during a median follow-up period of 37 months. Additionally, the rate of retention in the original adoptive household was the same for cats that underwent prepubertal gonadectomy as those that underwent traditional-age gonadectomy. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Prepubertal gonadectomy may be performed safely in cats without concern for increased incidence of physical or behavioral problems for at least a 3-year period after gonadectomy.