Search Results (67)

Behavioral issues in domestic dogs represent a significant welfare concern affecting both canines and their caregivers, with prevalence rates reported to range from 34 to 86% across the population. Current treatment options, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine, often present limitations including adverse effects and delayed efficacy. This randomized, placebo-controlled (maltodextrin) study investigated the effects of a novel Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain (LP815^TM) on canine behavioral concerns through gut–brain axis modulation. Home-based dogs (n = 40) received either LP815^TM (n = 28) or placebo (n = 12) daily for 4 weeks, with behavioral changes assessed using the comprehensive Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) and continuous activity monitoring. After the intervention period, dogs receiving LP815^TM showed significant improvements in aggression (p = 0.0047) and anxiety (p = 0.0005) compared to placebo controls. These findings were corroborated by objective activity data, which demonstrated faster post-departure settling, reduced daytime sleep, and improved sleep consistency in the treatment group. Throughout >1120 administered doses, no significant adverse events were reported, contrasting favorably with pharmaceutical alternatives. The concordance between our findings and previous research using different L. plantarum strains suggests a consistent biological mechanism, potentially involving GABA production and vagal nerve stimulation. These results indicate that LP815^TM represents a promising, safe alternative for addressing common canine behavioral concerns with potential implications for improving both canine welfare and the human–animal bond. Full article

This study underscores how perceived social support, loneliness, and mental well-being shape the emotional bonds that Spanish cat and dog owners form with their pets. A total of 298 participants completed an online survey, including 109 cat owners (36.5%) and 189 dog owners (63.4%). Standardized and validated instruments were used: the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS), the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS), and the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS). The results confirmed that the attachment to dogs tends to be stronger than to cats, with demographic factors such as gender and age also playing a significant role in the attachment levels. While psychosocial variables did not directly predict the overall attachment scores, lower perceived social support was significantly associated with higher scores on the person substitution subscale among dog owners, indicating that dogs may serve as emotional substitutes for human companionship in socially vulnerable individuals. No comparable association was found among cat owners. These findings highlight species-specific differences in the human–pet bond and emphasize the multifaceted nature of attachment. This study underscores the importance of considering both demographic and psychosocial factors to better understand how pets contribute to human emotional well-being. Full article

Shelter environments can be inherently stressful for dogs, a highly social species that forms strong attachment bond with humans. This study evaluated stress responses in 26 shelter dogs during routine veterinary examinations, analyzing behavioral scores alongside physiological and hormonal parameters, including heart rate, body temperature, cortisol (CRT), oxytocin (OXT), serotonin (5-HT), tryptophan (TRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). A significant negative correlation was observed between OXT and CRT (ρ = –0.540, p = 0.007), particularly in dogs exhibiting relaxed behavior. OXT was also negatively correlated with body temperature (ρ = –0.435, p = 0.034), supporting its potential role in modulating stress-induced hyperthermia. No significant associations were found between TRP, 5-HT, IL-6, or other physiological measures and behavioral scores. The absence of correlation between TRP and 5-HT may be due to blood–brain barrier regulation, while IL-6′s lack of association suggests further investigation is needed to clarify its role in canine stress responses. These findings highlight OXT’s possible buffering effect on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and suggest that behavioral assessment may offer a more sensitive measure of canine stress than hormonal or physiological parameters alone. Future studies with larger and more diverse samples are needed to confirm and expand upon these results. Full article

Brachycephalic dogs remain highly popular despite the well-documented health problems associated with their conformation. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in the bonding between humans and dogs, behavioral characteristics, awareness of clinical breed-related ailments, and purchasing intentions among Italian brachycephalic dog owners (BDOs) and non-brachycephalic dog owners (NBDOs). A questionnaire, including the DORS and C-BARQ scales, was administered to 320 BDOs and 408 NBDOs. Despite the occurrence of breed-related disorders, 81% of BDOs rated their dog’s health status as good to excellent. Most BDOs were aware of the prevalence of these disorders in the broader brachycephalic dog population. Character and appearance were the main motivations for choosing these breeds. Owners’ satisfaction with specific aspects of ownership, such as veterinary costs and behavior, generally met expectations. Mean scores of perceived emotional closeness (PEC) and dog–owner interaction (DOI) were significantly higher among BDOs compared to NBDOs, while the perceived cost (PC) mean score was higher among NBDOs. The C-BARQ scores for trainability, excitability, and separation-related behaviors were significantly higher in BDOs than in NBDOs. Despite the growing awareness of health issues, the popularity of brachycephalic breeds persists. Scientific evidence may support a revision of brachycephalic breed standards, prioritizing animal welfare while preserving desirable aesthetic traits, promoting more ethical breeding. Full article

Managing relinquished/stray dogs is a significant socio-economic and ethical challenge necessitating structured policies to ensure animal welfare and integration into society. Critical to successful rehoming is careful assessment of a dog’s temperament/behavior and appropriate matching of a dog to an owner. Shelter dogs’ involvement in canine-assisted interventions (CAIs) provides a potential avenue for rehoming through appropriate dog educational programs. CAIs consist of structured interactions between dog and clients targeted at specific groups with physical/psychological/emotional impairments in various settings. However, there is a lack of standardized protocols for assessing shelter dogs’ suitability for CAI, raising ethical concerns regarding selection/training practices. This study explores the ethical dimensions of rehoming shelter dogs for CAI, employing a philosophical framework considering the responsibilities of humans/veterinarians toward companion animals and how societal perceptions of human–animal relationships impact decision-making in this context. An ethical matrix is applied to evaluate the implications of rehoming decisions on canine and human interests. Our findings highlight the need for a balanced, responsible approach that respects the individuality of dogs while promoting their potential roles in human society. Ethical guidelines for the selection and training of shelter dogs for CAI could enhance their welfare, improve adoption rates, and reinforce the value of the human–animal bond. Full article

Background: According to the One Health concept, the physical proximity between pets and their owners facilitates the interspecies spread of bacteria including those that may harbor numerous antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Methods: A shotgun sequencing metagenomic data-based bacteriome and resistome study of 1830 canine saliva samples was conducted considering the subsets of ARGs with higher public health risk, ESKAPE pathogen relatedness (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter species), and survey results on the physical and behavioral characteristics of the participating dogs. Results: A total of 318 ARG types achieved sufficiently high detection rates. These ARGs can affect 31 antibiotic drug classes through various resistance mechanisms. ARGs against tetracyclines, cephalosporins, and, interestingly, peptides appeared in the highest number of samples. Other Critically Important Antimicrobials (CIAs, WHO), such as aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, or macrolides, were among the drug classes most frequently affected by ARGs of higher public health risk and ESKAPE pathogen-related ARGs of higher public health risk. Several characteristics, including coat color, sterilization status, size, activity, or aggressiveness, were associated with statistically significant differences in ARG occurrence rates (p < 0.0500). Conclusions: Although the oral microbiome of pet owners is unknown, the One Health and public health implications of the close human–pet bonds and the factors potentially underlying the increase in salivary ARG numbers should be considered, particularly in light of the presence of ARGs affecting critically important drugs for human medicine. Full article

Dog behaviour that owners perceive as undesirable can compromise dog welfare, impact the owner and human–animal bond, and may result in relinquishment or euthanasia. This longitudinal study explored the type and percentage of owner-perceived undesirable behaviours in 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18-month-old dogs, and examined differences in the prevalence of four commonly reported behaviours across these timepoints. Owners reported their dog’s undesirable behaviours via free-text answers in self-administered surveys. Of the five timepoints studied, the highest percentage of dogs reported by their owners to display one or more undesirable behaviours was in the 12-month survey (42.1%, 513/1219). Barking, jumping up, pulling on the lead and recall issues were the most commonly reported behaviours across all timepoints. Binomial mixed-effects models revealed a significant difference in prevalence of barking, pulling on the lead and recall issues between the timepoints, but no significant difference in the occurrence of jumping up at people. With many dogs in this study being reported to display undesirable behaviour, it is crucial that stakeholders inform dog owners, especially first-time owners, about the behaviours they may experience from young dogs and where to seek appropriate training/behaviour advice to potentially reduce the risk of relinquishment related to behaviour. Full article

Evidence suggests that autistic children spend less time engaging in social interactions than their neurotypical peers which can negatively impact their wellbeing. Researchers, educators, and parents must consider how we address this. A possible facilitator of autistic children’s social skills and a protective factor for their psychological health is the role of pets and the human–pet bond. The study examined parental reports of autistic children’s attachment to their pet (dog or cat), positive and negative behaviours with that pet, and how this relates to prosocial behaviour, peer problems, and psychological health (emotional difficulties, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention). Sixty-five parents with an autistic child completed quantitative measures to assess these variables. Participants also completed qualitative questions aimed at understanding their perceptions of the impact of pets on their child. A regression analysis showed that children’s positive behaviour towards the pet predicted their prosocial behaviour (β = 0.40 p = 0.006). No other regression models were statistically significant. A thematic analysis of the qualitative responses highlighted four themes in relation to parents’ perceptions of the positive impacts of pets on their child. These were (1) Anxiety, Emotion Regulation, and Sleep; (2) Understanding of Self and Other; (3) Communication, Friendships, and Social Interactions; and (4) Comfort and Psychological Health. One theme was identified in relation to the negative impact of pets: (5) Pet-Related Anxiety and Concerns. The findings have implications which can inform guidelines to help parents make decisions about pet ownership and how to foster meaningful relationships between autistic children and their pets. Full article

The relationship between humans and their pets has long fascinated researchers, particularly in exploring how attachment varies according to the type of pet. Cats and dogs exhibit unique behavioral and social traits that influence the dynamics of human–pet relationships. Moreover, specific human characteristics have been found to affect this attachment. Our study examines the human factors that influence pet attachment among cat and dog owners in the Basque Country, located in northern Spain. By investigating these elements, our research aims to enhance the understanding of how human factors shape the human–animal bond. The study included a total of 202 participants, of whom 66.8% were dog owners, and 74.8% identified as women, with ages ranging from 18 to 74 years. Consistent with many previous studies, our results indicate that attachment is generally stronger with dogs compared to cats and that owner’s characteristics such as being female, younger, not living with children, and the amount of time spent with pets on weekends are linked to stronger attachments to pets. Full article

Canine functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurocognitive studies represent an emerging field that is advancing more gradually compared to progress in human fMRI research. Given the potential benefits of canine fMRI for veterinary, comparative, and translational research, this systematic review highlights significant findings, focusing on specific brain areas activated during task-related and resting state conditions in dogs. The review addresses the following question: “What brain areas in dogs are activated in response to various stimuli?”. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search of PUBMED, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge databases identified 1833 studies, of which 46 met the inclusion criteria. The studies were categorized into themes concerning resting state networks and visual, auditory, olfactory, somatosensory, and multi-stimulations studies. In dogs, resting state networks and stimulus-specific functional patterns were confirmed as vital for brain function. These findings reveal both similarities and differences in the neurological mechanisms underlying canine and human cognition, enhance the understanding of neural activation pathways in dogs, expand the knowledge of social bonding patterns, and highlight the potential use of fMRI in predicting the suitability of dogs for assistance roles. Further studies are needed to further map human–canine similarities and identify the unique features of canine brain function. Additionally, implementing innovative human methods, such as combined fMRI–magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), into canine neurocognitive research could significantly advance the field. Full article

The health of adult dogs and cats is affected positively or negatively by their development in utero and throughout postnatal growth. Preventive veterinary care is particularly important when animals are physiologically immature and sensitive to modifiable environmental factors. Veterinary nurses/technicians are often at the forefront of promoting healthy development, reinforcing the work of veterinarians and using their knowledge, experience, and passion to lead initiatives with breeders and pet guardians. This opinion article considers the role of qualified veterinary nurses/technicians in the care of puppies and kittens throughout their developmental life stages—gestation, the suckling period, growth post-weaning to puberty or neutering, and late growth to adulthood. Much of their influence is through the education of pet carers; they provide trustworthy information relevant to the individual pet and focused on the practicalities of best husbandry practices. These include practical advice on recognizing dystocia, neonatal care, weaning, introduction to the new home, the prevention and management of infectious diseases, socialization with conspecifics and humans, habituation to potential environmental stresses, nutrition, oral hygiene, and grooming. The veterinary nurse’s goal is not only to see young pets develop into healthy, well-adjusted adults but also to see pet guardians developing sustainable human–animal bonds. Full article

Pets are often an integral part of the family structure, with many people viewing their pets as children and thinking of themselves as “pet parents”. Pets have been shown to provide an array of psychological and physical health benefits, but some research suggests that the effects of pet ownership are more nuanced than once thought. One common negative aspect of pet ownership is guilt. Drawing from research pertaining to the transition to siblinghood, this study explored pet owner guilt as a result of adding a child to a dog-owning family. It also measured changes in dogs’ behaviors and their impact on owners’ depression and anxiety levels. Results suggest that many parents feel dog-related guilt and struggle with the resultant changes in household dynamics with the arrival of a child. Suggestions to help improve the chances of a successful transition include awareness, preparation, and self-compassion. Planning and preparing can help minimize negative dog behaviors and, as a result, levels of parental depression and anxiety. Parents are encouraged to help their dogs succeed by taking the time to prepare beforehand, thereby minimizing their own guilt and decreasing the potential of a severed human–dog bond. Full article

Dogs are strongly dependent on humans, not only for sustenance, but they also form asymmetrical bonds with us where they rely on assistance from the human partner in the case of difficult situations. At the same time, cohabiting dogs form hierarchies, and their rank strongly influences their behaviour in various social interactions. In this study, we investigated whether high- and low-ranking dogs would behave differently in non-social and social contexts where a formerly available reward suddenly becomes inaccessible. We hypothesised that dominant and subordinate dogs would show different levels of human dependence; thus, they will show different levels and different signs of frustration depending on the social nature of the context, where the reward was locked either in a closed cage or withheld in the hand of the experimenter. The results showed that while the holistic rank (‘dominant’ vs. ‘subordinate’) of the dogs did not show a significant association with their reactions to frustrating situations, the rank components (‘agonistic’ and ‘leadership’ ranks) were better predictors of the dogs’ behaviour. In the non-social context, the highly resource-oriented ‘agonistic-dominant’ dogs were more persistent with their attempts of getting to the reward. However, in the social context, the dogs with high ‘leadership scores’ behaved more demandingly with the non-complying experimenter. This study provides a first-time indication that the various aspects of dominance in dogs can affect their adaptive reward-oriented behaviours differently, depending on the potentially available human assistance. Full article

Dogs, unlike humans, are equipped with a reduced number of sweat glands, which makes it difficult for them to dissipate heat, especially in conditions of intense activity that lead to a significant increase in body temperature. The study aims to investigate the metabolic differences between canine and human red blood cells (RBCs) and the hemoglobin (Hb) functionality focusing on their roles in heat dissipation. In detail, we evaluated the Band 3 protein (AE1) kinetic flux by observing that in canine red blood cells the anion exchange rate is higher than in humans (Rate Constant: 0.0438 min⁻¹ and 0.012 min⁻¹, respectively). Furthermore, we investigated the rate of ATP production and release to evaluate the possible variation of nucleotide concentration in the two species, observing a lower intracellular ATP concentration (101.80 μM and 297.90 μM) but a higher ATP release (3 μM and 2.65 μM) in canine RBCs compared to humans respectively. Subsequently, we evaluated the involvement of canine hemoglobin in heat dispersion; in detail, the ΔH= −5.15 Kcal/mol recorded in dog hemolysate at pH 7.5 shows an exothermic Hb-O₂ bond that may be useful for further dispersing heat from the lungs. The peculiar oxygen-binding properties of dog Hb may also promote oxygen release in hyperventilation characterized by alkaline pH. Full article

The intimate bonds between humans and their pets create favourable conditions that support the mutual transmission of pathogens in either direction. In this context, veterinarians are essential in informing and educating pet owners about health risks linked to zoonotic pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). To effectively convey this information, veterinarians should have strong communication skills. To gather insights on pet ownership, veterinary consultations, and risk communication, an online questionnaire was used to survey dog and cat owners in Germany. The survey evaluated the frequency and perception of communication concerning zoonotic pathogens and AMR, deriving a communication score. The findings showed that pet owners rated veterinarian communication with a high average score, reflecting a high satisfaction level. The longer pet owners had been clients, the more frequently they received information on zoonoses and AMR, and the better they rated the communication. However, the results also indicated that the amount of information on zoonoses and/or AMR provided by veterinarians was still lower than desired by pet owners. Risk factors, including pathogen detection, vulnerable individuals, owning imported animals, and feeding them raw meat, fish, offal, or uncooked bones, were regularly present. These findings underscore the critical role of risk communication in preventing zoonoses and AMR. Full article