Animals

Music is considered a non-pharmacological adjunct in human anaesthesia, contributing to anaesthetic- and analgesic-sparing effects, modulating autonomic responses, and enhancing recovery. However, its effects in veterinary surgical settings remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to explore the potential influence of intraoperative music on anaesthetic and analgesic requirements, autonomic parameters, intraoperative adverse effects, and recovery quality in dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy under general anaesthesia. In this prospective, randomized exploratory study, client-owned female dogs (n = 28) were randomly assigned to either a music group (exposed to instrumental classical music intraoperatively) or a control group (no music). All dogs received a standardized anaesthetic protocol. Mean end-tidal isoflurane concentrations, intraoperative analgesic requirements, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, adverse effects, and recovery quality were recorded and compared between groups using unpaired t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed. Therefore, intraoperative music did not produce measurable effects on the assessed parameters. While no apparent benefit was observed in this study, future studies with larger sample sizes should investigate music-based interventions in more challenging or variable clinical scenarios. Additionally, further research is needed to clarify the extent to which anaesthetics suppress auditory processing. This exploratory investigation contributes to the limited body of evidence on auditory stimulation in veterinary anaesthesia.

Understanding trophic ecology is fundamental for the conservation of threatened species with specialist trophic strategies, such as the short-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla chinchilla), a critically endangered rodent whose diet in the wild is poorly understood. This study presents the first integrated annual characterization of the dietary habits, trophic niche, and resource selection patterns of a high-Andean population. Plant availability was assessed, and dietary composition was analyzed via seasonal microhistological analysis of fecal samples. Diversity (Shannon-Wiener, H′), overlap (Schoener, PS), and resource selection (Manly’s selection index) metrics were calculated. The results indicate a diet of very low diversity (H′ < 0.1), stable throughout the year (PS > 0.99), and dominated (>77%) by grass Pappostipa frigida, with significant positive selection in all seasons. Shrub species, such as Adesmia frigida, were consistently avoided. This high degree of specialization reflects low functional plasticity and highlights the high vulnerability of C. chinchilla to environmental changes and habitat loss, underscoring that the conservation and restoration of P. frigida grasslands are imperative for the species’ survival. Microhistological methodology is confirmed as a key tool for identifying critical trophic relationships and supporting conservation plans based on essential resources.

This study investigated the perceptions of AAW among educators (n = 47), students (n = 359), and aquaculture sector stakeholders (n = 34) in key aquaculture regions of South and South-Central Vietnam. Using a mixed-methods survey, perception scores, understanding of core welfare concepts, curricular coverage, and willingness to pay (WTP) for higher-welfare products were assessed. Although perception scores were high across surveyed groups, only 5.57% of students identified most of the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare, while 17.0% showed no understanding of welfare. This highlighted a gap between awareness and understanding, leading to the development of the Awareness Depth Gap Framework. A small but statistically significant negative correlation (Kendall–Theil –Sen slope = −0.28, p < 1.25 × 10⁻¹²) indicated that greater AAW curricular inclusion was associated with stronger welfare attitudes. Willingness to pay modest premiums (6–10%) for higher-welfare products increased non-linearly with higher perception scores among educators and students. In contrast, aquaculture sector stakeholders appeared to prioritise economic factors over welfare. These results highlight the need for structured AAW curricula and community collaborative education to close knowledge gaps. This study provides the first empirical insights into AAW perceptions across the education and aquaculture sectors in Vietnam.