Canine glioma in the first year of life: 5 cases.

Most canine gliomas occur in adult and aged dogs, and reports in puppies < 12-mo-old are exceedingly rare. Here we describe the occurrence of gliomas in 5 dogs ≤ 12-mo-old. The affected patients (4 males, 1 female) were 3-12-mo-old (x̄ = 6.6-mo-old). None of the dogs were brachycephalic. Clinical signs consisted of dullness (2 cases), seizures (2 cases), vestibular signs, and deafness (1 case each). All patients were euthanized. Grossly, neoplasms were pale-tan or red, soft masses in the telencephalon (4 cases) or gelatinous leptomeningeal thickening in the brain and spinal cord (1 case). Neoplasms were classified as astrocytomas (3 cases) and oligodendrogliomas (2 cases) based on histology or histology and IHC. Our findings confirm that, while exceptionally rare, canine gliomas occur in the first year of life, and are clinically, morphologically, and immunohistochemically similar to gliomas in adult and aged dogs.

Assessment of potential maladaptive pain in dogs with elbow osteoarthritis using a von Frey aesthesiometer.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the possible presence of maladaptive pain in the thoracic limbs of dogs with elbow osteoarthritis (OA) using an electronic von Frey aesthesiometer (eVFA). METHODS: Twenty-eight client- and staff-owned dogs (OA, n = 14; controls, n = 14) were enrolled in the study. Every dog underwent a full orthopaedic examination, and then five von Frey measurements were obtained from each carpal pad of each dog. A maximum test threshold of 400 g was set and approved by an ethics committee. RESULTS: eVFA thresholds were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in dogs with OA (median 248 g, range 128-369 g) than in control dogs (median 390 g, range 371-400 g). In the OA group, the sensory threshold was significantly lower (p = 0.048) in the more severely affected limb than the less severely affected limb. LIMITATION: The low maximum threshold required for ethical approval may influence the variability in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Dogs with elbow OA had significantly lower sensory thresholds than control dogs, which is compatible with the presence of maladaptive pain, potentially due to central sensitisation. Further research is required to evaluate the potential use of the eVFA for monitoring clinical progression and treatment response in dogs with elbow OA.

Comparison of Tonovet® and Tonovet plus® tonometers for measuring intraocular pressure in dogs, cats, horses, cattle, and sheep.

Background and Aim: Reference ranges for intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy animals are device-specific; therefore, it is strongly recommended to use appropriate reference values according to the device. Therefore, our aim was to compare IOP readings made by TonoVet® and TonoVet Plus® in healthy dogs, cats, sheep, cattle, and horses. We compared IOP values measured by TonoVet® and TonoVet Plus® tonometers in clinically normal eyes of dogs, cats, horses, cattle, and sheep. Materials and Methods: Five groups comprising 20 animals each of dogs (various breeds, 9 months-10 years old, 14 females, 6 males), cats (various breeds, 6 months-12 years old, 8 females, 12 males), horses (various breeds, 5-12 years old, 12 females, 8 males), cattle (Holstein, 1-7 lactation, female), and sheep (Latvian Darkhead ewes, 1-8 years old) were included in the study. Both eyes of all animals were subjected to ophthalmic examination, including evaluation of IOP by rebound tonometry using TonoVet® and TonoVet Plus® devices. Normality was determined using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The independent t-test was used to determine differences between IOP values in the right and left eyes and between both tonometers. This study was approved by the Ethical Commission of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (Nr. LLU_Dzaep_2022-2-4). Results: No differences in IOP between the right and left eyes were found in all cases (p > 0.05). The mean IOP ± standard deviation values in both eyes for TonoVet® and TonoVet Plus® tonometers were as follows: for dogs, 15.25 ± 2.73 mmHg and 19.65 ± 3.46 mmHg; and in cats, 18.88 ± 3.98 mmHg and 18.78 ± 4.26 mmHg, respectively. In horses, mean IOP was 22.15 ± 3.74 mmHg and 24.28 ± 3.00 mmHg; in cattle, 24.73 ± 2.89 mmHg and 23.28 ± 2.97 mmHg; and in sheep, 18.05 ± 3.54 mmHg and 22.49 ± 4.66 mmHg, respectively. Significant differences in IOP values were observed between the tonometers in sheep, dog, and horse groups (mean difference -4.40, -4.48, and 2.13, respectively). Conclusion: This study showed significantly higher IOP values measured by the TonoVet Plus® tonometer in dogs and sheep.

Hematological and blood biochemistry parameters as prognostic indicators of survival in canine multicentric lymphoma treated with COP and L-COP protocols.

Background and Aim: Hematological and blood chemistry parameters are crucial for evaluating and monitoring canine multicentric lymphoma during chemotherapy. Pre-treatment hematological and blood chemistry parameters can be used as prognostic survival outcomes for this disease. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of hematological and blood chemistry parameters pre-treatment and 4 weeks post-treatment on the survival outcomes of dogs treated with either a combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone (COP) or a combination of COP with L-asparaginase (L-COP) protocols. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study. Medical records and hematological and blood chemistry parameters of 41 dogs with multicentric lymphoma treated with L-COP (n = 26) and the COP protocols (n = 15) were obtained from the hospital information system. Most cases were classified as high-grade lymphoma based on the Kiel cytological classification. The effects of hematological and blood chemistry parameters on survival outcomes were investigated using the Cox proportional hazard regression model. The median survival time (MST) for each hematological and blood chemistry parameter affecting survival outcome was established and compared using the Kaplan-Meier product limit method with the log-rank test. Results: Dogs with high-grade multicentric lymphoma that were treated with the COP protocol and had monocytosis at pre-treatment had a significantly shorter MST than dogs with normal monocyte counts (p = 0.033). In addition, dogs with azotemia, both pre-treatment and 4 weeks post-treatment, had a significantly shorter MST than dogs with normal serum creatinine levels (p = 0.012). Dogs with high-grade multicentric lymphoma treated with the L-COP protocol who had hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin concentration <2.5 mg/dL) at both pre-treatment and 4 weeks post-treatment had a significantly shorter MST than dogs with normal serum albumin levels (p < 0.001). Furthermore, dogs with leukocytosis at 4 weeks post-treatment had a significantly shorter MST than those with a normal total white blood cell count (p = 0.024). Conclusion: Serum albumin level can serve as a simple negative prognostic indicator of survival outcomes in dogs with high-grade multicentric lymphoma treated with the L-COP protocol. Dogs with hypoalbuminemia pre-treatment and 4 weeks post-treatment tended to have a shorter MST than those with normal serum albumin concentrations.

Proteomic analysis of the serum in dogs with pulmonary hypertension secondary to myxomatous mitral valve disease: the preliminary study.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), characterized by elevated blood pressure in pulmonary artery. Echocardiography is a reliable technique for PH diagnosis in veterinary medicine. However, it is limited to use as an early detection method. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has found extensive application in the discovery of serum protein biomarkers for various diseases. The objective of this study was to identify serum proteins in healthy control dogs and MMVD dogs both with and without PH using LC-MS/MS. Materials and methods: In this research, a total of 81 small-breed dogs participated, and they were categorized into three groups: the control (n = 28), MMVD (n = 24) and MMVD+PH (n = 29) groups. Serum samples were collected and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Results: Differentially expressed proteins were identified, and the upregulated and downregulated proteins in MMVD+PH group including Myomesin 1 (MYOM1) and Histone deacetylase 7 (HDAC7), Pleckstrin homology domain containing M3 (PLEKHM3), Diacylglycerol lipase alpha (DAGLA) and Tubulin tyrosine ligase like 6 (TTLL6) were selected as proteins of interest in MMVD dogs with PH. Conclusion: Different types of proteins have been identified in healthy dogs and MMVD dogs with and without PH. Additional studies are needed to investigate the potential of these proteins as biomarkers for PH in dogs with MMVD.

Seroprevalence of leptospirosis among stray dogs in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Leptospirosis is a (re) emerging zoonosis that occurs worldwide. This study aimed to assess seroprevalence of leptospirosis and to identify the most common reactive serovars and risk factors for seropositivity in apparently healthy stray dogs of unknown vaccination status in the Sarajevo region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Positive microscopic agglutination test titres (≥ 1:25) were detected in 3.87% (156/4028) of samples and most of the sera reacted against one serovar (85.9%). Dogs were most commonly reactive to Canicola (40.4%) and Hardjo (33.3%), followed by Pomona (15.4%) Tarassovi (14.7%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (8.3%), Grippotyphosa (5.8%), Bratislava (1.3%) and Saxkoebing (0.6%). Dogs older than one year had higher odds of seropositivity compared to younger dogs. The seropositivity was higher in spring and autumn than in summer. These results advocate for the need of a control strategy for this zoonosis in the country, which should include sero-surveillance, monitoring, and the inclusion of additional serovars in the testing.

Modification of the terms of authorisation regarding the maximum inclusion level of a feed additive consisting of 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethylfuran-3(2H)-one for cats and dogs (V. MANE FILS).

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the proposed modification of the terms of the authorisation regarding the maximum inclusion level of a feed additive consisting of 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethylfuran-3(2H)-one for cats and dogs. 4-Hydroxy-2,5-dimethylfuran-3(2H)-one is currently authorised for use as a sensory additive (functional group: flavouring compounds) for cats and dogs at a recommended maximum content of 5 mg/kg complete feed. The applicant is requesting a modification of the authorisation to increase the recommended maximum content of the additive up to 25 mg/kg complete feed for cats and dogs. Based on the toxicological data available, the FEEDAP Panel concludes that 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethylfuran-3(2H)-one is safe for dogs at 25 mg/kg feed and for cats at 18 mg/kg feed. The additive is irritant to skin, eyes and to the respiratory tract and is a skin sensitiser. No further demonstration of efficacy is necessary.

A blinded, randomized and controlled multicenter field study investigating the safety and efficacy of long-term use of enflicoxib in the treatment of naturally occurring osteoarthritis in client-owned dogs.

Background: Enflicoxib is a COX-2 selective NSAID shown to be efficacious and safe in the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with canine osteoarthritis (OA) in clinical studies of 6 weeks duration. Objective: This prospective, multisite, blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group field study aimed to confirm the safety and efficacy of enflicoxib in long-term canine OA treatments. Animals: A total of 109 client owned dogs with clinical and radiographic signs of OA for at least 3 weeks were enrolled with 78 dogs completing all study visits. Methods: Dogs were randomized at a 3:1 ratio to receive enflicoxib (n = 83) or placebo (n = 26) once weekly during 6 months. Dogs underwent veterinary assessments from Day 0 to Day 189 using a clinical sum score (CSS). Efficacy was also assessed by the owners using the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI). Safety was assessed clinically and by repeated blood and urine sample analysis. The efficacy outcome measure was the treatment response according to the CSS and secondarily the treatment response according to the CBPI. The primary safety outcome was the incidence of adverse events (AEs) and secondarily the evolution of the clinical pathology parameters. Results: Percentages of CSS responders for enflicoxib were 71.6; 74.6 and 71.6% on Days 44, 135 and 189 respectively, always showing statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) vs. placebo (41.7, 33.3, and 20.8% respectively). Treatment response according to owner assessments followed the same pattern, achieving significant differences compared to placebo after 2 weeks of treatment. The incidence and type of AEs were as described in previous enflicoxib studies of shorter duration and as for other NSAIDs, with no tendency to increase over time. No relevant changes in hematology, biochemistry or urine parameters were observed. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Enflicoxib safety and efficacy profile is maintained after a long-term treatment, which together with its weekly administration, makes it a good alternative for the chronic treatment of dogs with naturally occurring OA.

Dumon silicone stents can improve respiratory function in dogs with grade IV tracheal collapse: 12 cases (2019-2023).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy, complications, and outcome of Dumon silicone stent placement for dogs with grade IV tracheal collapse. ANIMALS: 12 client-owned dogs. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Each dog was diagnosed with grade IV TC unresponsive to medical therapy and had severe obstructive respiratory failure. RESULTS: 12 dogs were included in the study. By the end of the study, 5 of 12 (41.7%) remained alive, while 7 of 12 (58.3%) dogs died. Survival times after stent placement ranged from 97 to 1,310 days (mean, 822.43 days; median, 810 days). Three of the 12 (25%) dogs died spontaneously, while 4 of 12 (33.3%) were euthanized. The cause of death was determined for 6 of 7 (85.7%) dogs and was TC related for 3 of 7 (50%). Causes of death related to TC were progressive airway collapse (2/3 [66.6%]) and incoercible cough (1/3 [33.4%]). Complications occurred in 9 of 12 (75%) cases and included granulation tissue growth (3/12 [25%]), incoercible cough (2/12 [16.7%]), stent migration (1/12 [8.3%]), and stent deformation (1/12 [8.3%]). Reduction of obstructive dyspnea and episodes of asphyxiation was achieved after Dumon silicone stent placement. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The placement of an intraluminal Dumon silicone stent was a successful salvage treatment for TC in dogs that did not respond to medical management. Disease progression is inevitable, but substantial improvement of respiratory function may be achieved for months to years.

Morphology of the aortic arch branching pattern in raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides, Gray, 1834).

BACKGROUND: Aortic arch (AA) branching patterns vary among different mammalian species. Most previous studies have focused on dogs, whereas those on raccoon dogs remain unexplored. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe the AA branching pattern in raccoon dogs and compare their morphological features with those of other carnivores. METHODS: We prepared silicone cast specimens from a total of 36 raccoon dog carcasses via retrograde injection through the abdominal aorta. The brachiocephalic trunk (BCT) branching patterns were classified based on the relationship between the left and right common carotid arteries. The subclavian artery (SB) branching pattern was examined based on the order of the four major branches: the vertebral artery (VT), costocervical trunk (CCT), superficial cervical artery (SC), and internal thoracic artery (IT). RESULTS: In most cases (88.6%), the BCT branched off from the left common carotid artery and terminated in the right common carotid and right subclavian arteries. In the remaining cases (11.4%), the BCT formed a bicarotid trunk. The SB exhibited various branching patterns, with 26 observed types. Based on the branching order of the four major branches, we identified the main branching pattern, in which the VT branched first (98.6%), the CCT branched second (81.9%), the SC branched third (62.5%), and the IT branched fourth (52.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The AA branching pattern in raccoon dogs exhibited various branching patterns with both similarities and differences compared to other carnivores.

The Use of Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping for Canine Mast Cell Tumors.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in companion animals. The evaluation of locoregional lymph nodes, known as lymph node mapping, is a critical process in assessing the stage of various solid tumors, such as mast cell tumors (MCTs), anal gland anal sac adenocarcinoma, melanoma, and mammary gland adenocarcinoma. MCTs are among the most prevalent skin malignancies in dogs. Staging is used to describe the extent of neoplastic disease, provide a framework for rational treatment planning, and evaluate treatment results. The aim of this review is to present the current knowledge on sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping in canine MCTs, its influence on treatment decisions and prognosis, as well as the advantages and limitations of different SLN techniques currently available in veterinary oncology. A search methodology was adopted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Critical analyses of up-to-date research have shown that lymphoscintigraphy can achieve a lymph node detection rate of between 91 and 100%. This method is becoming increasingly recognized as the gold standard in both human and veterinary medicine. In addition, initial studies on a limited number of animals have shown that computed tomographic lymphography (CTL) is highly effective in the SLN mapping of MCTs, with detection rates between 90 and 100%. The first study on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) also revealed that this advanced technique has up to a 95% detection rate in canine MCTs. These methods provide non-ionizing alternatives with high detection capabilities. Furthermore, combining computed tomography and near-infrared fluorescence (NIR/NIR-LND) lymphography is promising as each technique identifies different SLNs. Indirect lymphography with Lipiodol or Iohexol is technically feasible and may be also used to effectively detect SLNs. The integration of these mapping techniques into routine MCT staging is essential for enhancing the precision of MCT staging and potentially improving therapeutic outcomes. However, further clinical trials involving a larger number of animals are necessary to refine these procedures and fully evaluate the clinical benefits of each technique.

Chagas Disease: A Silent Threat for Dogs and Humans.

Chagas disease (CD) is a vector-borne Neglected Zoonotic Disease (NZD) caused by a flagellate protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzi, that affects various mammalian species across America, including humans and domestic animals. However, due to an increase in population movements and new routes of transmission, T. cruzi infection is presently considered a worldwide health concern, no longer restricted to endemic countries. Dogs play a major role in the domestic cycle by acting very efficiently as reservoirs and allowing the perpetuation of parasite transmission in endemic areas. Despite the significant progress made in recent years, still there is no vaccine against human and animal disease, there are few drugs available for the treatment of human CD, and there is no standard protocol for the treatment of canine CD. In this review, we highlight human and canine Chagas Disease in its different dimensions and interconnections. Dogs, which are considered to be the most important peridomestic reservoir and sentinel for the transmission of T. cruzi infection in a community, develop CD that is clinically similar to human CD. Therefore, an integrative approach, based on the One Health concept, bringing together the advances in genomics, immunology, and epidemiology can lead to the effective development of vaccines, new treatments, and innovative control strategies to tackle CD.

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of lanthanum carbonate octahydrate for dogs (Porus GmbH).

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of lanthanum carbonate octahydrate as a zootechnical feed additive for dogs. The additive is already authorised for use in feed for cats. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that the additive lanthanum carbonate octahydrate is safe for adult dogs at the maximum recommended level of 7500 mg/kg complete feed. The additive is not irritant to skin or eyes, is not a skin sensitiser and exposure by inhalation is considered to be unlikely. The Panel also concluded that lanthanum carbonate octahydrate is efficacious in the reduction of phosphorus bioavailability in adult dogs at the minimum inclusion level of 1500 mg/kg complete feed.

Microfilaremic infection in canine filariosis in Colombia: a challenge in morphological and molecular diagnostics.

Canine filariosis is caused by filiform nematodes and affects several species of animals as well as humans. The disease produces a wide range of symptoms that can often be confused with other diseases, which increases the complexity of its diagnosis. The search for methodologies to facilitate its diagnosis is a challenge, and specific and differential identification of the parasite species causing the disease holds key to a successful diagnosis. In Colombia, there is a problem of underdiagnosis of filariosis in microfilaremic dogs infected by Dirofilaria immitis and Acanthocheilonema reconditum, and of microfilaremias not related to heartworm disease. The highest prevalences have been reported for D. immitis infections, although new cases of A. reconditum infections are beginning to appear. The aim of this study was to differentiate the microfilariae infections caused by D. immitis and A. reconditum by a morphological and molecular characterization of microfilariae so as to facilitate an accurate diagnosis of canine filariosis in the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga (Colombia). For this purpose, 400 blood samples with anticoagulants were collected from the dogs and analyzed with the help of a commercial immunochromatography kit for the detection of D. immitis circulating antigen. The Woo, Knott, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques were employed for determining the parasite count, morphological observation, and molecular identification of microfilariae present in the dogs respectively. The prevalence of microfilaremic dogs in Bucaramanga metropolitan area was 18.75% (75/400). The prevalence of dogs that tested positive for D. immitis in the antigen and in PCR tests was 1.25% (5/400) and 1% (4/400), respectively. Furthermore, the PCR test revealed that 17.75% of the microfilaremic dogs tested positive for A. reconditum (71/400) (first report in the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga), with one animal co-infected by both species, and 0% for D. repens (0/400). However, by morphological characterization, 4% of the microfilariae (3/75) corresponded to D. immitis, 20% (15/75) to D. repens, and 76% (57/75) to A. reconditum. The use of molecular diagnostic methods such as PCR aids in the specific identification of the parasite, thus making it a more accurate method than the morphological characterization of microfilariae. The identification of the parasites by PCR helps improve the veterinary diagnosis of canine filariosis in Colombia, which would lead to the establishment of an appropriate treatment protocol for each species of filaria and also to the generation of reliable data to be used at the clinical and epidemiological levels.

Can scent-detection dogs detect the stress associated with trauma cue exposure in people with trauma histories? A proof-of-concept study.

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an impairing mental health condition with high prevalence among military and general populations alike. PTSD service dogs are a complementary and alternative intervention needing scientific validation. We investigated whether dogs can detect putative stress-related volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the breath of people with trauma histories (54% with PTSD) exposed to personalized trauma cues. Methods: Breath samples were collected from 26 humans over 40 experimental sessions during a calm (control breath sample) and stressed state induced by trauma cue exposure (target breath sample). Two scent detection canines were presented with the samples in a two alternative forced choice (2AFC) discrimination and yes/no detection task. The 2AFC task assessed the dogs' ability to discriminate between the two states within the breath samples of one individual. The detection task determined their ability to generalize the target odour across different individuals and different stressful events of one individual. Signal Detection Theory was applied to assess dogs' sensitivity, specificity, precision, and response bias. Results: The dogs performed at ∼90% accuracy across all sample sets in the discrimination experiment, and at 74% and 81% accuracy, respectively, in the detection experiment. Further analysis of dog olfactory performance in relation to human donor self-reported emotional responses to trauma cue exposure suggested the dogs may have been detecting distinct endocrine stress markers. One dog's performance correlated with the human donors' self-reported fear responses and the other dog's performance correlated with the human donors' self-reported shame responses. Based on these correlations between dog performance and donor self-report measures, we speculate that the VOCs each dog was detecting likely originated from the sympathetico-adreno-medullary axis (SAM; adrenaline, noradrenaline) in the case of the first dog and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA; glucocorticoids) in the case of the second dog. Conclusion: Our proof-of-concept study is the first to demonstrate that some dogs can detect putative VOCs emitted by people with trauma histories when experiencing distress theoretically associated with the intrusion and arousal/reactivity symptoms of PTSD. Results have potential to improve the effectiveness and training protocol of PTSD service dogs with a focus on enhancing their alert function.

Detection of anti-HEV antibodies but no molecular positivity in dogs in the Campania region, southern Italy.

Paslahepevirus balayani genotypes 3 and 4 (HEV-3 and 4) have zoonotic potential and can be transmitted to humans and animals through the consumption of contaminated raw or undercooked meat. Although it has been demonstrated that dogs are susceptible to the infection and produce specific antibodies, the epidemiological role of this species is not yet well defined. This study aimed to evaluate the circulation of HEV at the serological and molecular level in the dog population of the Campania region, southern Italy. A total of 231 dogs were sampled, divided according to several variables (sex, age, origin, lifestyle, location, size, and breed), and tested for the presence of HEV antibodies using a commercial multi-species ELISA. A total of 197 blood samples and 170 stool samples were tested with two specific PCRs in order to detect viral RNA. A total of 19 out samples of 231 were seropositive, obtaining an exposure (8.2%) similar to that observed in other European countries. The univariate and multivariate analysis revealed a wide exposure to stray dogs and animals from the province of Salerno. All samples tested with molecular methods were negative. Defining the role of domestic carnivores continues to be a "one health" challenge, although it appears that they do not eliminate the virus and therefore do not pose a danger to humans. In the absence of other evidence, it is advisable to continue to carry out surveillance also for domestic animals, which, due to ethological characteristics or their position in the food chain, could be predisposed to being exposed to HEV.

Investigating individual learning behaviour of dogs during a yes/no detection task.

Detection dogs are frequently tested for their ability to detect a variety of targets. It is crucial to comprehend the processes for odour learning and the consequences of training on an expanding set of target scents on performance. To properly evaluate their ability to identify the target, the only true measure is the dogs' initial response to novel sources, since this excludes learning effects. In this study, we evaluated the individual learning processes of three detection dogs that were pre-trained to differentially respond to a faecal sample of a mare in oestrus (S+) and a faecal sample of the same mare in di-oestrus (S-). After reaching criterion during a test with known training samples, the dogs were tested for generalization to a novel source. Average responses to S+ and S- were calculated as a function of presentation sequence, and Signal Detection Theory was used to further analyse characteristic differences in learning. The results of this study suggest that the ability of individual scent detection dogs to learn within an olfactory discrimination test varies considerably. The information obtained in this study could be helpful for mitigation training. We show that through careful monitoring of individual learning processes, the strategy each dog followed becomes apparent: especially the observations on the dogs' responses to first encounters with novel sample sources. This provides us with more detailed information than the more traditional sensitivity and specificity measures and allows us to better predict the dog's capabilities.

Mobility, functionality and functional mobility: A review and application for canine veterinary patients.

Mobility is an essential aspect of a dog's daily life. It is defined as the ability to move freely and easily and deviations from an animals' normal mobility capabilities are often an indicator of disease, injury or pain. When a dog's mobility is compromised, often functionality (ability to perform activities of daily living; ADL), is also impeded, which can diminish an animal's quality of life. Given this, it is necessary to understand the extent to which conditions impact a dog's physiological ability to freely move around their environment to carry out ADL, a concept termed functional mobility. In contrast to human medicine, validated measures of canine functional mobility are currently limited. The aim of this review is to summarise the extent to which canine mobility and functionality are associated with various diseases and how mobility and functional mobility are currently assessed within veterinary medicine. Future work should focus on developing a standardised method of assessing functional mobility in dogs, which can contextualise how a wide range of conditions impact a dog's daily life. However, for a true functional mobility assessment to be developed, a greater understanding of what activities dogs do on a daily basis and movements underpinning these activities must first be established.

Morphometric Evaluation of Thoracolumbar Spinal Canal and Cord by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Normal Small-Breed Dogs.

Thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is the most common cause of spinal injury in dogs. MRI has been considered the gold standard for neurologic diagnosis, but studies focusing on the thoracolumbar spinal canal and spinal cord using MRI in small-breed dogs are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to establish an MRI reference range for the spinal cord and canal measurements (height, width, cord-to-canal ratio of height, width, cross-sectional area (CSA)) of each intervertebral disc level from T11 to L5 (total of seven levels) on transverse T2-weighted images in normal small-breed dogs. We hypothesized that the spinal cord and spinal canal measurements might vary according to the body weight and age. The width and height of the spinal cord and canal increased as the body weight increased at all levels (p < 0.05). The cord-to-canal ratio of the width showed a negative correlation to the body weight at all levels. The cord-to-canal ratio of the height did not show any correlation to the body weight at all levels. All measurements (height, width, cord-to-canal ratio of height, width, CSA) did not show any statistical correlation between the groups subdivided by age. These measurements could serve as a morphometric baseline for thoracolumbar spinal diseases and clinical research in small-breed dogs.

UK Dog Owners' Pre-Acquisition Information- and Advice-Seeking: A Mixed Methods Study.

Dogs are the most common pet animal species in the UK. Little is known about information and advice gathering within the process of dog acquisition, nor what pre-acquisition research encompasses. This study aimed to better understand the preparatory research undertaken by prospective dog owners in the UK. A 2019 online survey collected quantitative and qualitative data about dog acquisition. Analyses within this study focused on a subset of these current (n = 4381) and potential (n = 2350) owners who had undertaken research, or who reported planning to do so, before acquiring a dog. Additional qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with current (n = 24) and potential (n = 8) dog owners. Among those current owners who had sought information or advice, websites were the most common source of information (76%), followed by family and friends (70%), and online forums (51%). Similar patterns were seen among potential owners. Qualitative data revealed that information was commonly sought on the following: general information about dogs; information about breeds or types of dogs; owner requirements and dog suitability; aspects of dog ownership; and how to source a dog. The majority of prospective owners stated that they had found all the information they wanted (96% of current owners and 90% of potential owners) but some respondents found conflicting advice from different sources and did not know which sources to trust. Our study shows that, for some prospective owners, research into various aspects of dog acquisition and ownership is important. Knowing where to look for correct and unbiased advice, particularly online, is particularly important. Understanding the pre-acquisition research that owners undertake, including the sources they use, information they are interested in finding, and the challenges they face, is of interest to animal welfare and veterinary organisations and those involved in rehoming and selling dogs. This information may help inform interventions aimed at improving the knowledge and decisions made by potential dog owners.