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1.
Shared activities are known to create a good relationship between dog and man. Therefore, it can be expected that animals working in harness with their handlers, such as search and rescue dogs, show a higher attachment to man.The aim of the current research was to assess whether there are differences between pet and working dogs in the attachment to owners/handlers.Forty dogs were involved, 26 pets and 14 search and rescue dogs (taken home when not working). Their attachment to owners/handlers was analyzed by using a modified version of the Ainsworth Strange Situation Test and a recall test, while owners and handlers filled in a questionnaire and were scored on the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale.Statistical analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between pet and working dogs for behaviors indicating an attachment bond: behavior oriented to door/chair/shoe during the absence of owner/handler (which represents “search of absent person”; U = 132.000, P = 0.156), contact with/proximity to owner/handler (i.e., “contact maintenance effect”; U = 157.000, P = 0.478), whining during owner's/handler's absence (“protest at the separation”; U = 147.000, P = 0.288), and individual play (U = 146.000, P = 0.288) and exploration (U = 138.500, P = 0.215) in presence of owner/handler, representing the “secure base effect.”Despite the lack of statistical differences, the formulated hypothesis may be not completely rejected, as a trend of a higher attachment in search and rescue dogs existed. It can be concluded that in carefully owned dogs, the level of attachment is increased by working as a search and rescue dog, but the difference does not lead to statistically relevant results.  相似文献   

2.
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.  相似文献   

3.
The objective of this study was to survey the owners regarding the frequency and duration of their daily interactions with their indoor cats, the provision of toys and activities by the cat owners, and the prevalence of 6 selected behavior problems (aggression to owner, aggression to visitors, periuria, inappropriate defecation, inter-household cat aggression, and intercat aggression to outdoor cats). The sample population was 277 clients from 5 veterinary practices who presented their domestic cat for anything except a behavior problem. The average number of toys and activities reported by owners per cat was 7, and the most common toys/activities used by owners in this survey were furry mice (64%), catnip toys (62%), and balls with bells (62%). A total of 78% of the owners reported that they leave the cat's toy(s) available all the time. All owners reported playing with their cat, whereas most owners (64%) played with their cat more than 2 times per day and reported play bout durations of 5 (33%) or 10 minutes (25%). Owners who reported play bout time of 5 minutes or more reported fewer behavioral problems than those with play bouts of 1 minute (P < 0.05). A total of 61% of the owners reported that their cat engaged in 1 or more of the 6 selected behavior problem(s), but only 54% of the owners who reported behavior problems in their cats reported that they had talked to their veterinarian about the problem. The 2 most frequently reported behavior problems were aggression to the owners (36%) and periuria (24%). Female cats were 50% less likely to be reported to have 1 or more behavior problems than males despite an equal sex distribution in the survey population (P < 0.05). The relationship between individual behavior problems and individual toys and activities was evaluated by use of a logistic stepwise regression. These findings are discussed as they relate to the understanding of behavioral needs of indoor-housed cats and the potential role of environmental enrichment in the home setting.  相似文献   

4.
Prepubertal gonadectomy (PPG) is promoted for population control in cats, but concerns related to health and behavior still exist. From a behavioral point of view, in order for PPG to be an acceptable alternative for traditional-age gonadectomy (TAG), the occurrence of undesirable behavior should be unaffected by age at gonadectomy. The aims of this study were to investigate (1) whether the average number of (potentially) undesirable behaviors in shelter kittens during 24 months after adoption was associated with the age at gonadectomy and (2) whether social or environmental factors were related to the occurrence of commonly reported undesirable behaviors (inappropriate elimination, fearfulness, aggression, and destruction). Eight hundred healthy kittens between the estimated age of 8 and 12 weeks (0.7 and 1.4 kg) were recruited from animal shelters in Flanders, Belgium. Before adoption, kittens were randomly assigned to a PPG group (gonadectomy on assignment) and a TAG group (gonadectomy between 6 and 8 months of age). Online short- and long-term follow-ups were conducted using a 30-day diary immediately after adoption and surveys at 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after adoption. Mean number of potentially undesirable behaviors per day during the first month after adoption was not significantly different between PPG (1.48 ± 0.957) and TAG (1.39 ± 0.899) kittens (P = 0.32) and neither was the evolution of the mean number of potentially undesirable behaviors and undesirable behaviors during the long-term follow-up (P = 0.0946 and P = 0.10, respectively). The occurrence of inappropriate elimination, fearful behavior, non–play-related aggression, and destruction was associated with other social and environmental variables (e.g., the use of punishment by the owner and friendliness toward a stranger). In conclusion, this study in shelter cats did not demonstrate an effect of age at the time of gonadectomy on the mean number of (potentially) undesirable behaviors during 24 months after adoption. Other factors seem to play a more dominating role in the development of such behaviors.  相似文献   

5.
Equine welfare charities have identified the education of (primarily novice) horse owners as the principal route to tackling the majority of equine welfare problems in the United Kingdom. To reach and educate owners effectively, we must understand where they seek advice about issues that arise when owning or caring for a horse. Questions regarding information-seeking behavior were included in an Internet survey completed by a convenience sample of 1,326 UK leisure horse owners, recruited online and through electronic and postal mail shots to equestrian clubs and establishments. The questions asked where the owners sought advice regarding 4 different subject areas: horse behavior, health, stable care, and training. Respondents were asked to select their main sources of information from a list of 7—books/magazines, vet/farrier, instructor, Internet/forums, friends/family, tack shops, and other. Although books/magazines were the most frequently used information source across all 4 subject areas overall, there were differences between the 4 subject areas in the most commonly selected sources (χ2 = 992, P < 0.001) and the number of sources consulted (χ2 = 254, P < 0.001). Vets/farriers were the source consulted most frequently for health advice (Z = ?13.32, P < 0.001), instructors for training advice (Z = ?3.93, P < 0.001), and books/magazines for advice regarding both behavior (Z = ?9.49, P < 0.001) and stable care (Z = ?8.26, P < 0.001). Despite the survey mode and that many participants were recruited online, Internet/forums were only the third to the fifth most used of the 7 information sources, depending on the subject area. Logistic regression analyses identified significant associations between owner demographics (age, self-rated skill level, and self-reported rider type) and the likelihood of selecting a particular source for advice regarding a specific subject area. The findings have important implications for those trying to reach the horse-owning population to disseminate research findings and ultimately improve the welfare of their horses.  相似文献   

6.
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.  相似文献   

7.
Cat owners commonly consider their pets to be members of their families, and many factors contribute to a high level of owner attachment to their cats. Suppression of a cat's emotional needs in favour of the emotional requirements of the owner may produce a less satisfactory relationship for the owner, and usually for the cat as well. Owners' failure to comprehend their cat's true demands of life, and their false expectation of their ability to fulfil human psychological demands lies at the heart of many feline behaviour problems.  相似文献   

8.
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9.
The management of puppies is considered of great importance in raising well-behaved adult dogs. This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of advice provided by a veterinary behaviorist regarding puppy-raising practices.Forty-six puppy owners received advice by a veterinary behaviorist concerning puppy raising during the puppy's first visit to a veterinarian. A control group was composed of 43 different dogs whose owners were not counseled by a veterinary behaviorist during the puppy's first veterinary visit. Owners were interviewed about their dog's behaviors at the time of their 1-year booster vaccination visit. The 89 dogs were clinically healthy, between 11 and 18 months old, 53% females and 47% males, of various or mixed breeds.Dogs whose owners received advice displayed less undesirable behaviors than the control group, such as: house soiling (2% vs 23%; χ2 = 19.50; P < .01), mounting (26% vs 49%; χ2 = 12.11; P < .05), nonstop playing (0% vs 12%; Fisher's exact test P < .05), mouthing of people (11% vs 37%; χ2 = 7.15; P < .01), begging for food (17% vs 42%; χ2 = 5.31; P < .05), or demanding food from the table (0% vs 12%; Fisher's exact test P < .05). Moreover, the experimental group showed less aggressive behaviors toward unknown people (26% vs 2%; Fisher's exact test P < .01) and dogs (16% vs 2%; Fisher's exact test P < .05).The advice provided was effective in diminishing the incidence of undesirable behaviors in the dogs studied. The positive effect of a behaviorist's advice is remarkable given that the puppies in the experimental group had remained with their mother and littermates for less than 2 months, which is believed to be a high-risk condition for development of behavioral disorders.  相似文献   

10.
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.  相似文献   

11.
Owners' husbandry choices may affect the expression of dogs' behavior. In this study, the relationship management-behavior was explored in 181 Argentine Dogos owned by 94 dog owners who answered 35 Yes/No questions on their dogs' behavior (e.g., obedience, aggression, and fear) and 10 single-choice questions on dogs' husbandry. The association management-behavior was explored with χ2. Kennel-living dogs were more aggressive than house-living ones (food protection, P = 0.017; owner-directed aggression, P = 0.050; stranger-directed aggression, P = 0.031; same-sex dog aggression, P = 0.028), whereas the latter were more obedient (P < 0.001), destructive (P = 0.048) and friendly with people (P = 0.002) and dogs (P < 0.001). Physical punishment was associated with food protection (P = 0.023) and owner-directed aggression (P = 0.026). Dog-showing was inversely associated with pulling on the leash (P = 0.007), and fears of environmental stimuli (i.e., traffic, P = 0.001; startling stimuli, P = 0.031; loud noises, P = 0.018). Frequent play sessions were negatively related to fear of startling stimuli (P = 0.039) and positively to obedience (P < 0.001) and friendliness toward strangers (P = 0.004). Short daily walks were associated with fears of environmental stimuli (startling stimuli, P < 0.001; loud noises, P = 0.033), destructiveness (P = 0.054), low concentration (P = 0.025) and poor results in training sessions (P < 0.001). Obedience training was positively associated with obedience (P < 0.001), mounting people (P = 0.003), aggression to handling (P = 0.002) and food removal (P = 0.041). Without establishing cause–effect relationships between management and behavior, this survey highlights husbandry aspects that need careful evaluation because there are associated with undesirable behaviors (e.g., kennel living) and aspects that may reduce problem behaviors (e.g., daily walks, play sessions, dog shows).  相似文献   

12.
Esophagostomy feeding tubes were placed in 46 cats. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding tubes were placed in 21 cats. Owner management and complications and facility of use were evaluated retrospectively by review of medical records and owner survey. Both tube types were equally effective for maintenance of body weight, ease of owner management, and complication rates. All of 12 owners surveyed were comfortable with PEG tube management. Ninety-six percent of 24 owners surveyed were comfortable with esophagostomy tube management. The esophagostomy tube can be placed less invasively, without specialized equipment, making it an excellent alternative to the PEG tube.  相似文献   

13.
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14.
OBJECTIVE: To determine long-term results and complications of gonadectomy performed at an early age (prepubertal) or at the traditional age in cats. DESIGN: Cohort study. ANIMALS: 263 cats from animal shelters. PROCEDURE: Cats that underwent gonadectomy were allotted to 2 groups on the basis of estimated age at surgery (traditional age, > or = 24 weeks old; prepubertal, < 24 weeks old). Adoptive owner information was obtained from shelter records, and telephone interviews were conducted with owners to determine physical or behavioral problems observed in the cats after adoption. Follow-up information was obtained from attending veterinarians for cats with complex problems or when owners were uncertain regarding the exact nature of their cat's problem. RESULTS: Compared with traditional-age gonadectomy, prepubertal gonadectomy did not result in an increased incidence of infectious disease, behavioral problems, or problems associated with any body system during a median follow-up period of 37 months. Additionally, the rate of retention in the original adoptive household was the same for cats that underwent prepubertal gonadectomy as those that underwent traditional-age gonadectomy. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Prepubertal gonadectomy may be performed safely in cats without concern for increased incidence of physical or behavioral problems for at least a 3-year period after gonadectomy.  相似文献   

15.
Scratching is an inherited, normal behavior in cats that is used as a visual and olfactory territorial mark and as a stretching exercise for the forelegs. In addition, it serves to condition the claws by removing the old, worn-out external sheath and exposing the healthy, new claw. When scratching occurs indoors, it often is disruptive and undesirable unless it can be directed to an acceptable object such as a scratching post. During playing, jumping, climbing, and aggressive displays, cats also may injure people with their claws. With appropriate behavior modification techniques, most undesirable scratching can be prevented or eliminated. Although somewhat controversial, declawing is another alternative for those owners who are unwilling or unable to control the undesirable scratching. Declawing can successfully correct most scratching problems with no adverse behavioral effects; in fact, most owners of declawed cats indicate that there is an improved relationship (bonding) between cat and owner. On the other hand, declawing is often unnecessary, because appropriate behavior modification techniques can be used to correct most scratching problems successfully.  相似文献   

16.
This study compares the circulating adrenocorticotrophin hormone (ACTH), cortisol, lactate, glucose, heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and blood count values in initially 2-year-old horses subjected to dressage training schedule during three consecutive days per 2 weeks. Sixteen healthy Friesian horses were used and were considered dressage group. Six healthy young horses not involved in training programs were used as control group. Blood sampling were collected from the jugular vein in baseline condition (dressage group and control group) and after exercise, within 5 minutes of the end of the training session (dressage group). Compared to baseline values, results showed higher ACTH concentrations after the first day of the first training week (P < .005) and after the third day of the second week (P < .005); higher lactate concentrations after the second and the third day of the second week (P < .01); lower glucose concentrations after the third day of the first week (P < .01); higher HR, RR, and RT values and lower PLT count after different time points during both training weeks. One-way ANOVA showed significant training effect for ACTH (F = 7.605; P < .0001) and glucose (F = 3.505; P < .001) concentrations over time points. Two-way ANOVA showed a significant effect of dressage training sessions between the first and the second week for ACTH (F = 6.508; P < .001) and cortisol (F = 5.559; P < .0001) concentrations. From obtained data, it seems that the use of ACTH and cortisol changes for the assessment of effects of training in initially 2-year-old horses could be an ideal measure of quantitative and qualitative stress responses. The quantification at the same time of functional responses to stressful stimuli may offer a more objective measurement of dressage training effects.  相似文献   

17.
Background: Owners' perceptions and priorities regarding quality of life (QoL) are important considerations given the unknown efficacy of many commonly administered medications, stress of hospital visits, difficulties providing home care, and personal choices including euthanasia. Objective: To describe the relative importance of quality versus quantity of life to owners of cats with heart disease. Animals: Two hundred and thirty‐nine cats with heart disease. Methods: Prospective questionnaire‐based clinical study. Cat owners completed a questionnaire to identify important parameters when assessing their cat's QoL, the relative importance of quality versus quantity of life, and willingness to trade survival time for QoL. Variables associated with these parameters were evaluated with multivariate analyses. Results: Appetite, owner interaction, sleep patterns, and litterbox habits were deemed important to QoL. Concern over pet suffering was significantly greater than concern over life expectancy. Ninety‐three percent of owners were willing to trade survival time for good QoL; 57% of these were willing to trade up to 6 months. On multivariate analysis, the only factor significantly (P= .002) associated with willingness to trade 6 months was study site. Owner concern regarding stress of administering medications at home increased with number and frequency of medications. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: These results indicated that QoL is more important to owners of cats with heart disease than longevity. The various priorities and concerns of cat owners should be taken into account in order to provide optimal care.  相似文献   

18.
Traditional cystostomy tubes (used for temporary or permanent diversion of urine in dogs and cats) are long (> or = 22 cm) and cumbersome to stabilize, requiring sutures or bandages to hold the tube against the body. Use of a low-profile gastrostomy port system as a low-profile cystostomy tube (LPCT) in 4 dogs and a cat was investigated; owner satisfaction with the device was assessed. Technical difficulty associated with placement and management of LPCTs was similar to that for traditional cystostomy tubes; with LPCTs, activity and mobility of pets was not compromised, and bandaging was not required. Complications included lower urinary tract infection, mild peristomal leakage of urine and leakage from components of the system, and subcutaneous peristomal infection. Four of 5 owners considered the tube to be easy to use; all owners said they would be comfortable repeating their decision to use the LPCT in their pet.  相似文献   

19.
Feline social behavior is complex, and how it affects on the expression of problem behaviors such as aggression and house soiling is incompletely understood. This study examined whether observations by owners of normal cats were accurate enough to identify individual and social factors affecting the expression of house soiling, aggression, overgrooming, fabric chewing, resisting handling, and nocturnal hyperactivity in Australian pet cats. Four behavior factors, labeled cat-directed aggression (CDA), cat-directed sociability (CDS), biting (B), and human threat (HT), were identified using principal components analysis. These were compared with cat factors, owner factors, and problem behavior. The age of the cat had a significant effect on CDS and HT, whereas the number of cats living together affected CDA and HT. Positive correlations were found between overgrooming and CDA, resisting handling and B and HT, and nocturnal hyperactivity and B. Negative correlations were found between overgrooming and CDS and nocturnal hyperactivity and HT. A positive relationship was found between fabric chewing and nocturnal hyperactivity. Defecating was negatively correlated with CDA, whereas spraying the entrance was found to correlate with CDA, CDS, and B. Directions for future research into causes of feline problem behaviors are discussed.  相似文献   

20.
Questionnaires potentially have a broad applicability in measuring stress levels in dogs, as owners know their dogs’ behavior and personality better than anyone else. The aim of this research was to evaluate how owners perceive stress in their dogs through understanding of displayed behaviors.The survey was carried out using 1,190 questionnaires completed by dog owners. More than half of respondents were able to correctly identify stress as a short- or long-term alteration of the psychophysical equilibrium that can develop into illness. This ability was higher with higher educational levels. The behavioral indicators of stress most frequently identified by owners were trembling and whining, followed by aggressiveness, excessive barking, and panting. More subtle behaviors such as looking elsewhere, turning head, yawning, and nose licking were more rarely reported, suggesting that few owners are able to correctly interpret and intervene in early stages of stress. The vast majority of respondents indicated that dogs were stressed seldom or only in specific situations. Men generally considered their dogs as experiencing low stress more often than did women, whereas women considered their dogs as being moderately stressed more often than did men.An owner’s ability to recognize behavioral signs of stress is important, as it enables the owner to help the animal to avoid welfare problems, such as stressful situations, and favors a rapid recovery of psychophysical homeostasis by interrupting the progression to overstress and distress. The results show that some owners can help in protecting the welfare of their dogs, but that many owners would benefit from educational efforts to improve their ability to interpret their dogs’ behavior.  相似文献   

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