Leptospiral shedding and seropositivity in shelter dogs in the Cumberland Gap Region of Southeastern Appalachia

The inclusion of life history as a possible influential factor is pivotal in studies on behavior, welfare, and cognition. Shelter dogs have usually experienced a life involving poor social interactions with humans. Thus, we aimed to investigate the behavioral responses of shelter dogs (SDs) and companion dogs (CDs) during the training of two vocal cues (“sit”, “paw”), as well as the possible associations between their responses and the behaviors of trainers. We studied 15 SDs and 15 CDs in up to eight five-minute training sessions. Dogs’ and trainers’ behaviors were recorded and analyzed (through GLM, GLMM, correlation and Mann–Whitney tests). Shelter dogs responded to more cues per session, with shorter latencies and fewer repetitions of cues. Moreover, SDs spent more time wagging their tails. Dogs’ sex and trainers’ behaviors were also associated with differences in dogs’ responses. The use of a reproachful tone of voice was associated with a greater number of cues responded to, shorter latencies, and fewer repetitions of cues. However, this type voice/discourse was also linked to a greater exhibition of non-training behaviors (e.g., exploring the room or jumping on the trainer), and to dogs spending less time next to the trainer and wagging their tails. On the other hand, the use of a neutral tone of voice and laughter, besides being linked to performance, was also associated with longer durations of tail wagging. Furthermore, the duration of the trainers’ orientation to dogs was correlated with the orientation of the dogs to the trainers. Our data suggest that, even when having experienced social deprivation from humans, SDs’ capacities to learn vocal cues were preserved, possibly due to ontogenic homeostasis processes. Shelter dogs’ greater interest in the sessions may be also credited to their socially-deprived routine. Our outcomes also point to an association between friendly interactions during training and dog performance and excitement, which suggests that such interactions may have the potential to improve SD welfare.

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The effects of distance on pointing comprehension in shelter dogs

Animal Cognition ◽

10.1007/s10071-021-01480-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Heidi Lyn ◽

Megan Broadway ◽

Stephanie E. Jett ◽

Mystera M. Samuelson ◽

Jennie Christopher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Shelter Dogs

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Serotonin and Tryptophan Serum Concentrations in Shelter Dogs Showing Different Behavioural Responses to a Potentially Stressful Procedure

Veterinary Sciences ◽

10.3390/vetsci8010001 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Giacomo Riggio ◽

Chiara Mariti ◽

Valeria Sergi ◽

Silvana Diverio ◽

Angelo Gazzano

Keyword(s):

Behavioural Response ◽

Blood Collection ◽

Stressful Situation ◽

Serum Concentrations ◽

Chi Square ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Relaxation Stress ◽

Shelter Dogs ◽

Stress Signals ◽

The Relationship

In mammals, serotonin (5-HT) levels depend on the availability of tryptophan (TRP). Low 5-HT concentrations have been linked to behavioural disorders in dogs. This study aimed at investigating possible differences in dogs’ serum TRP and 5-HT concentrations according to their behavioural response to a potentially stressful procedure. Thirty-nine physically healthy shelter dogs, 15 females and 24 males, mean age = 5.6 years, were categorized by a certified veterinary behaviourist according to their behavioural response to medical examination and blood collection, in: relaxation, stress signals, tension without growling, tension with growling, escape attempts, and aggression attempts. Extraction and quantification of 5-HT and TRP were performed using a HLPC method. Data were statistically analysed, applying Chi-square and Spearman tests. Results showed no significant difference in TRP (χ2 = 2.084, p = 0.555) nor 5-HT (χ2 = 0.972, p = 0.808) serum concentrations among different categories of dogs; however, some categories were underrepresented (relaxation = 20.5%, stress signals = 30.8%, tension without growling = 43.6%, tension with growling = 5.1%, escape attempts = 0%, aggression attempts = 0%). No correlation between serum TRP and 5-HT concentrations was found (ρ = 0.086, p = 0.602). Serum 5-HT levels do not seem to be associated with dogs’ behavioural response to a stressful situation nor with serum TRP concentrations. The relationship between serum TRP and 5-HT concentrations and behaviour needs further research.

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Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in shelter dogs and cats in the Republic of Korea

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases ◽

10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.04.008 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 626-630 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Seung-Hun Lee ◽

Hyun-Joo Kim ◽

Jae-Won Byun ◽

Min-Jung Lee ◽

Neung-Hee Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Molecular Detection ◽

Republic Of Korea ◽

Shelter Dogs ◽

The Republic ◽

Severe Fever

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Effects of pen size on old shelter dogs’ behavior

Journal of Veterinary Behavior ◽

10.1016/j.jveb.2008.09.066 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 86 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Simona Normando ◽

Martina Salvadoretti ◽

Lieta Marinelli ◽

Paolo Mongillo ◽

Gabriele Bono

Keyword(s):

Shelter Dogs

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Effects of Human Presence and Voice on the Behaviour of Shelter Dogs and Cats: A Preliminary Study

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11020406 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 406

Author(s):

Adele Tuozzi ◽

Christine Arhant ◽

Kristina Anderle ◽

Jessica Backes ◽

Catherine Cords ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Animal Welfare ◽

Video Recording ◽

Auditory Stimulation ◽

Vertical Dimension ◽

Physical Contact ◽

Gaze Direction ◽

Human Presence ◽

Reading Condition ◽

Shelter Dogs ◽

Preliminary Study

Reading books to shelter animals combining auditory enrichment with human presence is increasingly used although its effects on animal welfare have not yet been investigated. This study compared the behaviour of single-housed shelter dogs and cats during a prerecorded reading condition in the absence or presence of an unfamiliar human (without direct physical contact). Fourteen dogs and twenty-one cats were observed in their enclosure in the two conditions in a counterbalanced order. Behaviours such as scratching the door, gaze direction and location in relation to the audio source/human were analysed from video recording for 10 min per condition. Dogs spent more time in their bed (p < 0.047) and looking at the auditory source (p < 0.004) when a human was present. Cats showed door scratching and rubbing when a human was present (p < 0.043), whereas they tended to spend more time in the vertical dimension (p = 0.051), where the hiding boxes were located, during auditory stimulation without a human present. These results show that the presence of a human induces greater interest compared to just audio stimulation in shelter dogs and cats but may induce frustration likely due to not being able to physically interact in some animals.

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Surveillance of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in Sheltered dogs in the Kanto Region of Japan

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-04435-w ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Akihisa Hata ◽

Noboru Fujitani ◽

Fumiko Ono ◽

Yasuhiro Yoshikawa

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Quinolone Resistance ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Animal Shelters ◽

E Coli ◽

Chiba Prefecture ◽

Shelter Dogs ◽

Kanagawa Prefecture ◽

Kanto Region

AbstractThere is a lack of an established antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance system in animal welfare centers. Therefore, the AMR prevalence in shelter dogs is rarely known. Herein, we conducted a survey in animal shelters in Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures, in the Kanto Region, Japan, to ascertain the AMR status of Escherichia coli (E. coli) prevalent in shelter dogs. E. coli was detected in the fecal samples of all 61 and 77 shelter dogs tested in Chiba and Kanagawa, respectively. The AMR was tested against 20 antibiotics. E. coli isolates derived from 16.4% and 26.0% of samples from Chiba and Kanagawa exhibited resistance to at least one antibiotic, respectively. E. coli in samples from Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures were commonly resistant to ampicillin, piperacillin, streptomycin, kanamycin, tetracycline, and nalidixic acid; that from the Kanagawa Prefecture to cefazolin, cefotaxime, aztreonam, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin and that from Chiba Prefecture to chloramphenicol and imipenem. Multidrug-resistant bacteria were detected in 18 dogs from both regions; β-lactamase genes (blaTEM, blaDHA-1, blaCTX-M-9 group CTX-M-14), quinolone-resistance protein genes (qnrB and qnrS), and mutations in quinolone-resistance-determining regions (gyrA and parC) were detected. These results could partially represent the AMR data in shelter dogs in the Kanto Region of Japan.

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The Occurrence and Comparative Phenotypic Characteristics of Staphylococcus spp. from Healthy and Diseased, Household and Shelter Dogs, Based on Routine Biochemical Diagnostic Methods

Polish Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.33073/pjm-2011-003 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 19-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

ANDRZEJ KASPROWICZ ◽

ANNA BIAŁECKA ◽

JOANNA BIAŁECKA ◽

IZABELA GODZISZ ◽

WIESŁAW BARABASZ ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skin Lesions ◽

Common Species ◽

Carrier State ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Animal Shelter ◽

Staphylococcal Species ◽

Staphylococcus Intermedius ◽

Shelter Dogs ◽

Staphylococcus Spp ◽

Infected Skin

To determine the staphylococcal colonization pattern in healthy and diseased dogs, living in two particular environments, a number of microbiological samples were taken. Overall, twenty dogs, either healthy or with infected skin lesions, were examined. In each case bacterial swabs were collected from the nasal mucosa, ear, perineum, lumbo-sacralis triangle, and from the infection sites if such were present. A total number of 104 isolates representing different staphylococcal species were isolated and identified using routine biochemical methods applied in diagnostic laboratories. Among 17 isolated staphylococcal species, Staphylococcus intermedius was the most common species isolated from both healthy or diseased dogs living either in animal shelter or household environments. The pattern of Staphylococcus sp. colonization differs considerably for animals living in the two tested habitats. In particular, S. aureus MRSA and MSSA isolates were detected only in infected skin lesion samples from animals that dwelled in the animal shelter. As could be expected, S. intermedius was found to be a predominant causative agent in canine skin infections. In our study, we demonstrated that S. intermedius in its carrier-state, inhabits mainly the mucosal membrane of the nasal vestibule. It was also found in the samples taken from the skin, the lumbo-sacralis triangle and perineum, but was rarely isolated from the ears.

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