A Look Inside the Health and Welfare of Canine and Feline Breeds
A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Companion Animals".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: companion and zootechnical animals; animal behavior; animal welfare; ethology; human–animal interaction; human–animal bond; animal health; behavioral medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: dogs and cats’ behavior; dogs and cats’ welfare; dogs and cats’ management; behavioral medicine; human–animal interaction; human–animal bond
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: small animals biodiversity; biodiversity conservation; phenotyping; dog genetic; cat genetic; animal welfare; extreme type; population genetic ethnology; working dogs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the upcoming Special Issue of Animals, entitled “A Look Inside the Health and Welfare of Canine and Feline Breeds”, which will explore the welfare issues facing dog and cat breeds.
The incredible diversity found among the world's canine and feline breeds has long fascinated scientists, clinicians, and pet owners alike. However, this same diversity presents a complex set of challenges when it comes to the health and welfare of individual animals. This Issue aims to facilitate a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of these crucial topics.
In particular, we aim to explore the welfare concerns that specific breeds have, including ethological, physical, and environmental needs, as well as ethical considerations regarding breeding practices. Furthermore, the breed-specific prevalence and management of various diseases are investigated to provide critical insights for preventative care and veterinary treatment.
A significant focus is understanding breed-related differences in emotions, including susceptibility to behavioral problems (e.g., aggressivity, anxiety or fear), and the influence of breed on behavior and temperament. Finally, this Issue explores the fascinating field of social and cognitive skills, analyzing how breed heritage impacts a dog’s or cat’s ability to learn, problem-solve, and interact with humans and conspecifics.
By gathering these diverse perspectives, this publication serves as an important resource for researchers, veterinarians, and anyone committed to improving the lives of purebred dogs and cats.
We encourage the submission of original manuscripts and reviews that delve deeper into the various aspects of the welfare and health of dog and cat breeds. In this Special Issue, research areas may include the following topics:
• Welfare-relevant aspects of selection;
• Animal welfare (including acquisition motivations and practices, husbandry and training);
• Animal management and breeding;
• Welfare assessment within the human–animal relationship,
• Human–animal interactions (including human interpretation of behavior, human perception of the breed, portrayal of animals in the media);
• Animal behavior (including breed-related behavior and temperament, cognitive abilities, emotions, conspecific interactions);
• Animal health (including epidemiological and disease-specific studies, and breed-related diseases, genetic diseases).
Dr. Greta Veronica Berteselli
Dr. Simona Cannas
Dr. Stefano Paolo Marelli
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- Canine breeds
- Feline breeds
- Animal welfare
- Animal behavior
- Animal health
- Animal emotions
- Cognitive abilities
- Human–animal interaction
- Human–animal bond
- Breed-related diseases
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
