Dogs' features strongly affect people's feelings and behavior toward them

Dogs are a strong appeal for people. The aim of this research was to assess whether different dog features affect people's feelings and behavior toward them. Three puppies (1 Labrador retriever, 1 golden retriever, and 1 Border collie), 7 average adult dogs (3 small, 2 medium, and 2 large), and 2 adult pit bulls (1 black and 1 brown) were involved. They were on the leash with handlers (12 girls) who were instructed to maintain a neutral posture of waiting. People who passed in front of the dog–handler couple were videorecorded and then interviewed through an 8-item questionnaire. Most passersby (81.7%) noticed the dog. Tenderness was higher for the puppies (64.9%) in comparison to the average adult dogs (35.4%) and pit bulls (10.8%) (χ² = 100.442; P = 0.000). Pit bulls left more passersby indifferent (36.3%), followed by the medium-sized dogs (26.5%) and then the small dogs (19.2%) (χ² = 37.268; P = 0.000). Fear was more common at the sight of a pit bull (10.8%), especially when compared with a puppy (2.3%) or a small dog (0.7%) (χ² = 17.723; P = 0.001). More respondents desired to interact with puppies (49.1%) than with pit bulls (22.5%; χ² = 11.133; P = 0.000), and they actually related with young dogs (20.5%) more than with the pit bulls (4.9%). A high statistical difference can be observed for the behavior of participants toward the different categories of dogs (χ² = 43.519; P = 0.000) and their handlers (χ² = 23.854; P = 0.000). In detail, passersby showed more interest toward puppies and interacted more with puppies and large dogs, and their handlers, compared with dogs showing different features.Some factors related to passersby could affect the dog catalysis effect. Women interacted with the handlers more than men did (12.1% vs. 7.3%; χ² = 3.980; P = 0.046), but no difference was observed for the number of interactions with dogs.Passersby handling a dog were more predisposed to interact with the experimental dog (45.6% vs. 7.5%; χ² = 139.606; P = 0.000) and his or her handler (43.5% vs. 5.7%; χ² = 64,526; P = 0.000). Data suggest that puppies and pit bulls are at the 2 extremes of the dog appeal–people axis, with average dogs in the middle.     

Flatulence in pet dogs

Aim. The purpose of this study was to obtain information on aspects of dogs' lifestyle and diet that may be related to flatulence, whether the dogs were flatulent or not and if the owners were concerned about flatulence of their pet.

Methods. The owners of 110 pet dogs were randomly selected from the Massey University clinic tiles and asked to complete a questionnaire relating to their dog’s flatulence, lifestyle and diet.

Results. Flatulence was detected by 47 owners and occurred more often in less active “inside” dogs than those exercised more often. No individual food or dietary association was identified. Nineteen of the 47 owners of flatulent dogs would alter their dog’s diet if that change would reduce flatulence.

Conclusion. Flatulence occurs in pet dogs and most owners accept flatulence and were unconcerned about its consequence.     

Follow-up study of owner attitudes toward home care of paraplegic dogs.

A questionnaire was mailed to 30 owners of paraplegic dogs who had been caring for their dogs at home for 3 to 72 months. It was designed to collect information on demographic variables, duration of ownership and paralysis, age of the pet, pet/owner relationship, owner expectations and perceptions of the pet's quality of life, problems the pet experienced, effect that maintaining a paralyzed pet had on the owners' quality of life, and whether use of a cart was beneficial. Significant correlation was found between prior expectations that the pet would lead a high-quality life and perception that the pet, in fact, had a high quality of life during paralysis (r2 = 0.61, P = 0.01). Owners who had anticipated that extra work would be necessary to care for their paraplegic dog had a more positive attitude toward home care (r2 = 0.55, P = 0.03). Overall, owners involved in the study were satisfied with all aspects of maintaining paraplegic dogs at home. Our findings support the feasibility of dedicated owners successfully maintaining small (average body weight, 9 kg) paraplegic dogs at home for extended periods.     

Evaluation of a Quality‐of‐Life Tool for Cats with Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Success in management of diabetes mellitus (DM) is defined as improvement of blood glucose concentrations and clinical signs. However, the psychological and social impact of DM and its daily treatment regimen on quality of life (QoL) of both animal and owner is uncertain. Hypothesis/Objectives: To design, validate, and apply a diabetic pet and owner‐centered, individualized measure of impact of DM (DIAQoL‐pet). Animals/Subjects: Two hundred and twenty‐one owners of insulin‐treated diabetic cats were recruited to complete the DIAQoL‐pet. Methods: Discussions and pilot surveys with clinicians and owners of diabetic cats led to the design of 29 specific DM‐associated QoL questions. Owners of diabetic cats completed the finalized survey. Each item was scored according to impact frequency and perceived importance. An item‐weighted impact score (IWIS) for each item was calculated, as was an average‐weighted impact score (AWIS) by averaging all IWISs. Principal component analysis and Cronbach's α calculation assessed the measure's reliability. Two overview questions measured overall QoL and diabetes‐dependent QoL. Results: The DIAQoL‐pet showed high reliability (Cronbach α 0.83). The AWIS was ?1.76 ± 2.4 (mean ± SD). Areas reported as most negatively impacting QoL included: “boarding difficulties” (IWIS ± SD: ?4.67 ± 5.3), “owner wanting more control” (?4.34 ± 4.7), “difficulties leaving cat with friends or family” (?4.21 ± 4.7), “worry” (?4.10 ± 3.9), “worry hypo” (?3.67 ± 3.5), “social life” (?3.48 ± 3.9), “costs” (?3.04 ± 3.8), and “work life” (?3.03 ± 3.7). Forty‐one percent of owners believed their cat's life would be “a little better” without DM. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The DIAQoL‐pet proved robust and identified specific areas most negatively impacting on diabetic cats and their owners' QoL. This tool warrants further investigation for use in clinical or research settings.     

Effects of preadoption counseling on the prevention of separation anxiety in newly adopted shelter dogs

Separation anxiety is one of the more prevalent and difficult to treat behavior problems in dogs. The associated behaviors can be undesirable to dog owners and damage the human animal bond, leading to relinquishment or return to an animal shelter. Due to the high prevalence of separation related problems in recently adopted shelter dogs, shelter staff hold a critical role in advising and educating owners on how to prevent separation anxiety post-adoption. The aim of this study was to propose a form of that preventive counseling as a means of preventing the development of separation anxiety in recently adopted shelter dogs. The efficacy of preadoption counseling in the education and prevention of separation anxiety problems was tested in a prospective, randomized, parallel-group study. Participants included 133 new owners of dogs 6 months of age and older. At the time of adoption, sixty-six of these owners were randomly selected to receive five minutes of counseling on the prevention of separation anxiety, while the remaining sixty-seven owners served as the controls. A follow-up survey regarding the signs associated with separation anxiety and other potentially related behaviors was conducted one month post adoption. Results showed that 19 owners reported their dogs as having separation anxiety. There was no significant effect of adoption counseling on the prevention of separation anxiety. Owners in both groups were equally as likely to perform most of the recommendations given during counseling. Dogs that were reported to have separation anxiety were significantly more likely than dogs without reported separation anxiety to show nervous or panicked behavior as the owner prepared to leave (P = 0.0001) and were more likely to be reported as being “needy” (P = 0.031). Having another dog in the home was not protective against the development of separation anxiety. Owners in the counseling group were more likely than those in the control group to put food inside a toy at the time of leaving the dog home alone (P = 0.0001), suggesting the counseling recommendations were indeed followed by the owners. Owner compliance supports the idea that counseling is a useful tool for owners. Separation anxiety is a disorder whose course may be difficult to alter in recently adopted shelter dogs using only basic, interventional information. Brief counseling and a toy do not effectively prevent the occurrence of this complex behavioral condition. Further investigation should be done to find more specific, effective prevention tools for owners to use in the home to minimize the development of separation anxiety and shelter should be prepared to provide interventional resources to owners whose dogs develop separation anxiety despite these efforts.     

An investigation of the association between socio-demographic factors,dog-exercise requirements,and the amount of walking dogs receive

Risk factors associated with canine obesity include the amount of walking a dog receives. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between canine exercise requirements, socio-demographic factors, and dog-walking behaviors in winter in Calgary. Dog owners, from a cross-sectional study which included a random sample of adults, were asked their household income, domicile type, gender, age, education level, number and breed(s) of dog(s) owned, and frequency and time spent dog-walking in a usual week. Canine exercise requirements were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) positively associated with the minutes pet dogs were walked, as was the owner being a female. Moreover, dog walking frequency, but not minutes of dog walking, was significantly associated with residing in attached housing (i.e., apartments). Different types of dogs have different exercise requirements to maintain optimal health. Understanding the role of socio-demographic factors and dog-related characteristics such as exercise requirements on dog-walking behaviors is essential for helping veterinarians and owners develop effective strategies to prevent and manage canine obesity. Furthermore, encouraging regular dog-walking has the potential to improve the health of pet dogs, and that of their owners.     

Experimental evaluation of attachment behaviors in owned cats

Attachment, a normal behavior among social animals, is quite significant since owners worry about their pets and take care of them because of this affective connection. There are not enough research studies that focus on attachment between owners and their cats. The general objective of this study was to identify attachment behaviors, directed toward their owners, in cats of different body types, age groups, and sexes in an experimental situation.Twenty-eight cats, ranging from 1 to 7 years of age and having different body types, were used in the study without taking into account sex or reproductive status. These cats underwent an Ainsworth’s Adapted Strange Situation Test. Event frequencies and behavioral state durations in individual type behaviors such as exploration/locomotion, alertness, and inactivity were registered using direct focal sampling. For data analysis, cats were divided by body type, sex, and reproductive status. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of locomotion/exploration revealed a statistically significant difference (N = 28, F = 13.55, P < 0.001) between the episodes with the owner, alone, and with a stranger with cats spending more time engaged in locomotion/exploration while accompanied by their owner. On the alert behavior event frequency, difference (ANOVA, F = 7.44, P < 0.05) was found, which showed a higher frequency while in the company of a stranger. Last, in the inactivity time ratio, a significant difference was found (ANOVA, F = 18.55, P < 0.001), where the time spent on this behavior was considerably higher when the animal was alone.These results are consistent with the ones obtained by Ainsworth in children attached to their mothers; therefore, it can be said that cats can manifest attachment behaviors toward their owners. Further studies are indicated to see whether cats can develop separation anxiety.     

Physical activity patterns of free living dogs diagnosed with osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects about 90% of dogs > 5 yr of age in the United States, resulting in reduced range of motion, difficulty climbing and jumping, reduced physical activity, and lower quality of life. Our objective was to use activity monitors to measure physical activity and identify how activity counts correlate with age, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), serum inflammatory markers, veterinarian pain assessment, and owner perception of pain in free-living dogs with OA. The University of Illinois Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approved the study and owner consent was received prior to experimentation. Fifty-six client-owned dogs (mean age = 7.8 yr; mean BCS = 6.1) with clinical signs and veterinary diagnosis of OA wore HeyRex activity collars continuously over a 49-d period. Blood samples were collected on day 0 and 49, and dog owners completed canine brief pain inventory (CBPI) and Liverpool osteoarthritis in dogs (LOAD) surveys on day 0, 21, 35, and 49. All data were analyzed using SAS 9.3 using repeated measures and R Studio 1.0.136 was used to generate Pearson correlation coefficients between data outcomes. Average activity throughout the study demonstrated greater activity levels on weekends. It also showed that 24-h activity spiked twice daily, once in the morning and another in the afternoon. Serum C-reactive protein concentration was lower (P < 0.01) at day 49 compared to day 0. Survey data indicated lower (P < 0.05) overall pain intensity and severity score on day 21, 35 and 49 compared to day 0. BW was correlated with average activity counts (P = 0.02; r = −0.12) and run activity (P = 0.10; r = −0.24). Weekend average activity counts were correlated with owner pain intensity scores (P = 0.0813; r = −0.2311), but weekday average activity count was not. Age was not correlated with total activity count, sleep activity, or run activity, but it was correlated with scratch (P = 0.03; r = −0.10), alert (P = 0.03; r = −0.13), and walk (P = 0.09; r = −0.23) activities. Total activity counts and activity type (sleep, scratch, alert, walk, and run) were not correlated with pain scored by veterinarians, pain intensity or severity scored by owners, or baseline BCS. Even though the lack of controls and/or information on the individual living conditions of dogs resulted in a high level of variability in this study, our data suggest that the use of activity monitors have the potential to aid in the management of OA and other conditions affecting activity (e.g., allergy; anxiety).     

An epidemiological investigation of an idiopathic myopathy in hunting dogs in New Zealand

AIM: To conduct an epidemiological investigation of an idiopathic myopathy, known as “Go Slow” (GSM), which was initially recognised in dogs used for pig hunting. A secondary aim was to describe the hunting activities, diet and health of dogs used for pig hunting in New Zealand.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted between June 2014–June 2017. Cases of GSM in dogs were diagnosed by veterinarians using a combination of clinical history, physical examination findings, serum biochemistry and/or skeletal muscle histology. A telephone interview was conducted with the owner or primary veterinarian to provide information regarding the dog’s diet and exercise over the 7 days preceding the onset of clinical signs. In August 2015, a separate online survey of owners of dogs used for pig hunting was conducted to characterise the normal hunting activities, diet and health of these dogs.

RESULTS: A total of 86 cases of GSM were recruited, of which 58 (67%) were pig hunting dogs, 16 (19%) pet dogs and 12 (14%) working farm dogs. Cases were most commonly reported in the upper North Island, and 65 (76 (95% CI=67–85)%) were from the Northland region. Processed commercial dog food had been fed to 93 (95% CI=88–98)% of affected dogs. Ingestion of raw, frozen or cooked wild pig in the preceding week was reported for 76 (88 (95% CI=82–95)%) dogs with the myopathy. In the survey of owners of healthy pig hunting dogs, 203 eligible responses were received; pig hunting was reported to most commonly occur in Northland (20.2%), Waikato (22.3%) and Bay of Plenty (23.2%) regions. Commercial dog food was fed to 172 (85 (95% CI=80–90)%) of the dogs included in this survey, and 55 (27 (95% CI=20–33)%) had eaten wild pig in the preceding week. The most common reported health problem in pig hunting dogs was traumatic wounds.

CONCLUSIONS: Cases of GSM were most commonly recognised in dogs used for pig hunting, but also occurred in pet and working farm dogs. The disease was most frequently reported in the upper North Island of New Zealand and ingestion of wild pig was a consistent feature in cases of this myopathy.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To minimise the risk of dogs developing this myopathy, it would seem prudent to avoid feeding any tissues from wild pigs to dogs in areas where the disease is known to occur.     

Euthanasia & thanatology in small animals

The study of thanatology has recently taken on increased importance in the field of veterinary medicine. Today, the roles of companion animals have expanded to include beloved pet and family member, provider of social and emotion support, and in the case of service dogs, provider of assistance to owners with special needs. For these reasons, companion animals have taken on greater significance within their human families. Their deaths can be as painful and difficult for their families as the death of human family members. Veterinarians are tasked with working in concert with the pet owner, throughout the lifetime of the pet, to promote the pet’s health and well-being. In critical and or terminal situations, it is the veterinarian’s role to educate the owner so that informed decisions regarding treatment options or a decision to euthanize the pet can take place. In veterinary medicine, euthanasia means to end life painlessly. Veterinarians and owners, working in partnership to make subjective and objective assessments on the pets quality of life, produce the best results. For the veterinarian, the medical approach (including: clinical history, physical exam, laboratory tests, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment) can assist in assessing the pet’s physical health status, any potential treatments, and the likely short and long term outcomes. The owner’s role in the partnership is to subjectively assess overall behavioral changes and the pet’s quality of life. Once owners have decided to euthanize their pet, there are still more factors to consider: where to perform the procedure, which family members will be present, and how the remains will be handled. The veterinarian can do everything possible to minimize any anxiety for the pet during the euthanasia, including administration of a tranquilizer prior to the procedure. The veterinarian will allow the pet’s family time to say goodbye and educate them on what to expect when their pet dies. There is a possibility that other pets that lived in the same household may also experience distress at the loss of their animal family member. The veterinarian can let the owners know what signs may be signaling depression or anxiety in that pet. The grieving process is extremely personal and people must be allowed to grieve in the way that helps them deal with their loss. Veterinarians need to be careful not to minimize the owner’s loss or grief. The owner will count on the veterinarian’s guidance and expertise when making decisions affecting their pet’s well-being. Making an informed decision can help assuage any guilt about opting for euthanasia when done in the best interest of the pet.     

Perceptions and priorities of owners of dogs with heart disease regarding quality versus quantity of life for their pets

OBJECTIVE: To describe the relative importance of pets' quality versus quantity of life among owners of dogs with heart disease. DESIGN: Prospective questionnaire-based clinical study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Owners of 201 dogs with heart disease. PROCEDURES: Owners each completed a questionnaire that was designed to ascertain the relative importance of quality versus quantity of life for their pet and to assess the owners' willingness to trade survival time for quality of life, if that were possible. Analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with owner willingness to trade time for quality of life. RESULTS: Most owners (170/197 [86%]) were willing to trade survival time for quality of life for their heart disease-affected dogs; of those owners, 88 (52%) were willing to trade 6 months. Owners were highly concerned with detection of perceived pet suffering and their pet's ability to interact with them. Owners whose pets had respiratory difficulty or fainting episodes and were treated on an outpatient basis had a greater willingness to trade survival time than owners of dogs that were treated on an emergency basis. Among owners willing to trade time for quality of life, younger owners and those whose pets had fainting episodes were willing to trade the most amount of time. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that quality of life is highly important to owners of dogs with heart disease. Owners' priorities partly depend on owner age and the pet's clinical circumstances; ongoing client-veterinarian communication is important to optimize treatment success as perceived by owners.     

The Perceptions of Dog Intelligence and Cognitive Skills (PoDIaCS) Survey

Dog cognition research is expanding, but few studies have examined people's perceptions of specific cognitive abilities in dogs. The aim of this study was to explore owner perceptions of dog cognitive abilities across different cognitive domains and to determine whether these were associated with the dog–owner relationship. We developed an online questionnaire and analyzed the results from 565 dog owners. Dog owners generally indicated the belief that dogs are socially intelligent and possess the capacity to learn social and general cognitive skills. One quarter of dog owners agreed or strongly agreed that dogs were smarter than most people, and 45.7% indicated the belief that a dog's mental ability is equal to “3-5 year old human children.” Perceived emotional owner–dog closeness correlated with all cognition ratings. A better understanding of dog cognitive abilities may help owners interpret dog behavior more appropriately, which may lead to a reduction in the number of dogs relinquished to shelters because of behavioral problems.     

Evaluating aggressive behavior in dogs: a comparison of 3 tests

This study assessed the consistency with which aggressive behavior occurred across 3 different provocation tests that are currently used in practice to evaluate the behavior and safety of dogs. The aim of this study was not to validate the tests, but to evaluate tests that are not validated but are nevertheless being used in a legal context in Switzerland, by investigating the hypothesis that 3 different approaches, all claiming to correctly evaluate the behavior of dogs, should be expected to show significant agreement. The same 60 dogs were tested in 3 behavioral tests being used in Switzerland at the time of this study in the year 2003 (Test A: Test of the American Staffordshire Terrier Club; Test B: Halterprüfung; Test C: Test of the Canton of Basel-Stadt). “Intraspecific behavior” and “interspecific behavior toward humans” that might relate to potential aggressive behavior were of particular interest.The observed agreement among the 3 tests was compared relative to chance using a κ test. Significant but low levels of agreement were found among the 3 tests for the criterion “intraspecific behavior” (κ = 0.133, P = .014), with the highest correlation between Tests A and B (κ = 0.345, P < .001) and for the criterion “interspecific behavior” (κ = 0.135, P = 0. 014), with Tests A and B (κ = 0.220, P = .005) showing the highest correlation. However, significant absolute values of κ were low in all cases. In a further analysis, dogs evaluated to show no signs of potential aggression in the test situations by all 3 tests were eliminated, and the results of the remaining dogs (“interspecific behavior,” n = 23; “intraspecific behavior,” n = 29) were assessed for disagreement in pairwise combinations using a McNemar chi-square test. No significant levels of disagreement were found for “intraspecific behavior,” however, for “interspecific behavior,” Tests A and B (P = .035), and Tests B and C (P < .001) differed significantly, with no significant difference between Tests A and B (P = 0.11). The inconsistency of the results from different tests suggests test bias at the very least and questions the validity of these tests. Further work examining the validity of each individual test is warranted if they are to be used in a legal context.     

Improvement to the subjective well-being of pet ownership may have positive psychological influence during COVID-19 epidemic

The COVID-19 epidemic and government intervention measures may have adverse effects on people's mental health. To explore the influence of pets on the intervention of people's psychological problems during the COVID-19 epidemic, an online survey was carried out between April 9 and April 29, 2020. A total of 756 participants replied to this questionnaire. Mental health variables were assessed, and the comparison of behavior changes among pet owners and pets on positive mental well-being during COVID-19 epidemic. Comparative analysis was performed; compared with individuals without pets (n = 575), pet owners (n = 181) had a higher prevalence of insomnia (p = 0.006). Living in Wuhan city was a risk factor for people with psychological stress (p < 0.05). Dog owners exhibited lower than average scores of insomnia and uncertainty of infection than cat owners (p = 0.004). People with more than one pet exhibited lower than average scores of depression than having one pet (p = 0.040). For analysis of psychological effects of pets on people, the role of pets in subjective feeling and positive psychological changes of pet owner was significantly different. Pet owners relieve that psychological pressure through behavioral changes towards their pets in early stage. Pets provided positive subjective well-being and psychological effects for their owners.     

The effect of breed on age-related changes in behavior and disease prevalence in cognitively normal older community dogs,Canis lupus familiaris

Variation in breed longevity in the dog has led to the inference that large dogs age at a faster rate than small dogs, possibly because of an increased oxidative load. Potential differences in behavioral aging (the rate of age-related decline in cognito-behavioral performance) across breeds represent a significant challenge to veterinarians and scientists. Using data from a large cross-sectional survey of older dog owners, we aimed to identify breed differences in behavioral aging in successfully aged dogs ≥8 years of age. Differences based on longevity (short-lived, <11 years; medium-lived, 11-13 years; and long-lived, >13 years), size (small-sized, <35 cm; medium-sized, 35-55 cm; and large-sized, >55 cm), and breed (pure vs. crossbred) were identified using binary logistic regression. Significant breed differences across longevity group were seen in 2 behavioral responses: dogs drinking >1 L/d (P = 0.001, maximum difference between groups = 16.4%) and dogs showing aggression (P = 0.006, maximum difference between groups = 15.1%). In purebred dogs, 8 responses (P < 0.001-0.008, maximum difference between groups = 8.4%-20%) showed significant differences across size group compared with 1 response, in crossbred dogs (P = 0.008, max difference between groups = 28.4%). Significant differences were observed across longevity group in the prevalence of arthritis (P = 0.014) and across size group in the prevalence of arthritis (P < 0.001) and blindness (P = 0.014). In medium-sized dogs, 2 age × breeding group interactions were seen in ingestive behavior (P = 0.037) and aggression (P = 0.028). In large-sized dogs, 1 age × breeding group interaction was seen in abnormal locomotion (P = 0.025). A consistent direction in the differences identified was not seen across all analyses. In general, these data did not suggest an increased rate of behavioral aging in large, short-lived dogs. It is possible that size-dependent aging affects body systems differently or, alternatively, owner’s management may differ between small and large dogs, resulting in differences in behavior.     

Epidemiologic features of pet evacuation failure in a rapid-onset disaster.

OBJECTIVE: To describe epidemiologic features of pet evacuation failure after a hazardous chemical spill in which residents had no warning and only a few hours notice to evacuate. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Pet-owning households that evacuated from a hazardous chemical spill with (n = 119) or without (122) their pets. Procedures-Evacuees were surveyed by mail. RESULTS: 261 of 433 (60.3%) dogs and cats in 241 households were not evacuated. Of the 241 households, 119 (49.4%) evacuated with their pets, 98 (40.7%) evacuated without them but later attempted to rescue them, and 24 (10.0%) neither evacuated their pets nor attempted to rescue them. Pet evacuation failure was most common in households that thought the evacuated area was safe for pets. Risk of pet evacuation failure increased in households with many animals, low pet attachment and commitment scores, and low levels of preparedness. Cat evacuation failure was associated with not having cat carriers. Nearly 80% of households that evacuated with their pets found accommodation with friends and family. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pet evacuation failure was common and jeopardized pets' health and well-being. Logistical challenges to transporting pets were substantial contributors to pet evacuation failure, whereas not knowing where to house a pet was only a minor concern. Most pet owners seemed self-reliant and acted appropriately towards their pets. Such self-reliant behavior by pet owners should be encouraged prior to disasters as part of an evacuation plan for households.     

Owner compliance and clinical outcome measures for domestic cats undergoing clinical behavior therapy

The importance of owner compliance in following treatment is recognized in all aspects of veterinary and human medicine. However, in veterinary behavioral medicine, where the majority of the ‘treatment’ is conducted by the owners themselves after the consultation, compliance is fundamental to the successful outcome of the case. The owners of 85 cats with a range of different ‘behavior problems’ were recruited to participate in this study. Each owner had 2 visits from a clinician: at the first background information was gathered, the owner and clinician assigned a subjective score of ‘severity’ and a full behavior consultation was conducted. At a second visit 8 weeks later, owner and clinician rated the severity of the problem again, and the owner was asked questions that were designed to check their compliance to various aspects of the treatment program. The owners reported a decrease in severity after treatment in 92% of cases, and the clinician in 78% of cases. The average compliance of owners to programs was 61%. A strong positive correlation was found between change in severity score rated by the clinician, and compliance score (Spearman's ρ = 0.718, P < 0.01), a weaker positive correlation was found between compliance and difference in owner severity scores between visits (Spearman's ρ = 0.402, P < 0.01). There was no significant correlation found between compliance score and the severity score on visit one, rated either by owner or clinician. The results of this study confirm that owner compliance is an important factor in treatment outcomes for behavior problems in domestic cats.     

A Randomized Blinded Crossover Clinical Trial to Determine the Effect of an Oral Joint Supplement on Equine Limb Kinematics,Orthopedic, Physiotherapy,and Handler Evaluation Scores

Despite the range of oral joint supplements available, there has been very limited research into their efficacy. The study aimed to determine the effect of an oral joint supplement on limb kinematics, orthopedic, physiotherapy, and handler evaluation in horses. Supplement S or placebo P was fed to 24 horses for 21 days each in a random order. Horses were evaluated at days 0 (baseline), 21 (after first treatment), and 42 (after second treatment). Assessments included the following: clinical orthopedic evaluation for straight line/lunging circle in walk and trot; high-speed motion capture determined hindlimb kinematics for straight-line trotting; grading of limb range of motion (ROM) and muscle tone based on standardized physiotherapy criteria; handler grading of specific criteria during pasture, groundwork, and ridden exercise. Effect of treatment, sequence, limb, and interactions were investigated using linear-mixed models. S was associated with significantly lower lameness grade in a straight line (P = .001) and circle (P = .010), with individual horses improving up to 2/10 grades over P/baseline. S was associated with significantly improved ROM and muscle tone. Ridden/groundwork scores were significantly higher with S compared to P/baseline. With S, horses were graded significantly higher for “ease of movement” at pasture compared with P/baseline. For horses with hindlimb lameness, S was associated with significantly greater tarsal flexion than baseline (4.2% greater, P < .020) or P (2.7% greater, P < .037). S was associated with less lameness and improved physiotherapy scores, ridden/groundwork scores, and pasture “ease of movement.” Increased midstance tarsal flexion of lame limbs may indicate improved mobility/comfort during peak loading, supporting a positive effect of S.     

Estimation of the proportions of dogs and cats that are surgically sterilized.

OBJECTIVE: To determine an estimate of the proportions of dogs and cats in Texas that are surgically sterilized and whether those proportions differed according to species and sex of the animal, level of responsibility of the owner, or geographic location. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. ANIMALS: 43,831 dogs and cats > or = 6 months old. PROCEDURE: Information on sterilization rates was provided by 14 licensing agencies and 16 animal shelters in diverse regions of Texas. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare sterilization rates among subpopulations of animals (dogs vs cats, males vs females, sheltered vs licensed, rural vs urban location). RESULTS: Overall, 12,893 (29.4%) of the animals (26.9% of dogs and 32.6% of cats) were sterilized. Proportions of animals sterilized were significantly different among subpopulations. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although the cause of pet overpopulation is multifaceted, failure of owners to spay and castrate their animals is a major contributing factor. Significant differences in sterilization rates among subpopulations of dogs and cats suggest that organizations encouraging spaying and castration should use motivational techniques specific for the pet owners they are targeting.