Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Pharmacological therapy with a combination of alprazolam and fluoxetine and use of the trace element lithium gluconate for treating anxiety disorders and aggression in dogs
This research studied two different treatments, lithium gluconate and a combination of alprazolam and fluoxetine, with the aim of assessing their efficacy for treating anxiety disorders in dogs. One hundred and thirty-five dogs took part in the study, divided into two diagnostic categories: anxious dogs with aggression and anxious dogs with no aggression. The animals in each category were divided randomly into three testing groups, each with a different treatment but with the same behavior modification program. (Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research)
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - August 7, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Stefania Pineda, Bernadette Anzola, Ver ónica Ruso, Miguel Ibáñez, Álvaro Olivares Source Type: research

Differences in stress and happiness between owners who perceive their dogs as well behaved or poorly behaved when they are left alone
This study was performed to identify differences between a group of 36 dog owners who reported separation-related behavioral problems in their dogs and a group of 40 dog owners who perceived their dogs as well behaved in their absence. The variables compared between these groups were attachment, trainability, human-dog relationship, owner-dog compatibility, happiness and stress. Dogs whose owners perceived that they were well behaved when left alone had more years within the household and higher scores in trainability; their owners also reported a better relationship with the dog and lower attachment scores than the group ...
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - August 3, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: M ónica Teresa González-Ramírez, Minerva Vanegas, René Landero Source Type: research

Pilot study evaluating surface temperature in dogs with or without fear-based aggression
The use of a standardized physiological measure in veterinary behavior evaluations would improve both accuracy of the diagnosis and monitoring of the treatment response. Infrared thermography (IRT) is a non-invasive, remote assessment tool used primarily in research to evaluate changes in surface body temperature resulting from underlying physiological processes. IRT has not been examined widely in a veterinary behavior clinic setting, and its clinical validity requires testing. In this pilot study, patient data were reviewed retrospectively from a veterinary teaching hospital ’s behavior clinic population to determine i...
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - August 1, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Amanda Rigterink, George E. Moore, Niwako Ogata Source Type: research

DRD2 is associated with fear in some dog breeds
In this study, we found 8 SNPs in the DRD2 gene of the Havanese, a breed that shows large variation in a behavioral phenotype that manifest itself as a tendency to react fearfully by withdrawing in social situations. (Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research)
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - August 1, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Kim K.L. Bellamy, Linn Mari Storengen, Karin W. Handeg ård, Ellen F. Arnet, Kristin W. Prestrud, Karen L. Overall, Frode Lingaas Source Type: research

Canine coprophagic behavior is influenced by coprophagic cohabitant
The objective of this study was to evaluate nutritional, behavioral and hereditary aspects involved in the manifestation of coprophagia in dogs, the effectiveness of the most common corrective methods and the perception of owners about the subject through a questionnaire designed for coprophagic and non –coprophagic dogs’ owners. (Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research)
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - August 1, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Andressa Rodrigues Amaral, Mariana Yukari Hayasaki Porsani, Priscila Oliveira Martins, Fabio Alves Teixeira, Henrique Tobaro Macedo, Vivian Pedrinelli, Thiago Henrique Annibale Vendramini, Marcio Antonio Brunetto Source Type: research

Cardiac activity and salivary cortisol concentration of leisure horses in response to the presence of an audience in the arena
The aim of this study was to determine the influence of different forms of an audience ’s behavior on the heart work parameters and salivary cortisol level of leisure horses during work. Twelve horses were studied at rest, during standardized work, and at recovery. There was no audience in the arena in the control variant, whereas an audience (10 people) was situated in the middle o f the arena in four other variants: standing still and silent in the 1st variant, standing still and talking in normal voice in the 2nd variant, being silent but walking in both directions along the middle line of the arena in the 3rd variant...
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - July 24, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Iwona Janczarek, Izabela Wilk, Anna Stachurska, Leszek Krakowski, Marta Liss Source Type: research

The effect of shelter design on shelter use by Icelandic horses in  the winter period
This study investigates shelter use by Icelandic horses kept outdoors 24  hours a day during the winter in Denmark and whether shelter use and levels of fecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) are affected by (1) the number of entrances (1 vs. 2) and (2) a partition inside the shelter. The effects of weather conditions on shelter use are also investigated. Thirty-two Icelandi c horses participated in the study. The horses were pastured in 8 groups of 4 horses, and each group had access to a shelter (30 m2), which in the first study period (5 weeks, Dec-Jan) had either 1 or 2 entrances (n = 4 groups per treatment). (Source: J...
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - July 23, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Janne Winther Christensen, Katarzyna Olczak, Rupert Palme, Karen Thodberg Tags: Equine Research Source Type: research

The effect of shelter design on shelter use by Icelandic horses in the winter period
This study investigates shelter use by Icelandic horses kept outdoors 24 h a day during the winter in Denmark, and whether shelter use and levels of fecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) are affected by (i) the number of entrances (one vs. two) and (ii) a partition inside the shelter. The effects of weather conditions on shelter use are also investigated. Thirty-two Icelandic horses participated in the study. The horses were pastured in eight groups of four horses, and each group had access to a shelter (30 m2), which in the first study period (5 weeks, Dec-Jan) had either one or two entrances (n = four groups per treatment). (...
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - July 23, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Janne Winther Christensen, Katarzyna Olczak, Rupert Palme, Karen Thodberg Source Type: research

Roles for referential focus in effective and efficient canine signaling: Do pet and working dogs differ?
Working dogs trained to be detection/sniffer dogs must work closely with their human partners. Pet dogs are also often asked to perform tasks, whether in a casual context (e.g., going for a walk) or as part of more formal activity (e.g., competitive sport). For the best performance outcomes, each partner must signal well to the other, and accurately read and respond to the other ’s signals. As part of a larger study comparing problem solving behavior and information use in working dogs and pet dogs, we compared the detailed responses of 40 detection dogs and 80 pet dogs to verbal signals under 2 conditions: when the hand...
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - July 19, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Deborah Bryant, Arthur E. Dunham, Karen L. Overall Source Type: research

Sedative, analgesic, and behavioral effects of nalbuphine-xylazine and nalbuphine-midazolam combinations in dogs
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the sedative, analgesic, and behavioral effects of nalbuphine-xylazine (NX) and nalbuphine-midazolam (NM) combinations for neuroleptanalgesia in dogs. A prospective randomized crossover study was done on six adult mongrel dogs. Dogs were randomly allocated into NX and NM groups with a washout period 2  weeks. Nalbuphine was given at dose of 0.5 mg/kg IV approximately 20 minutes before administration of the tranquilizer. Dogs were randomly allocated into one of the two groups: NX group received xylazine at a dose of 1 mg/kg IV; and NM group received midazolam at a dose of...
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - July 18, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Faisal A. Torad, Elham A. Hassan Tags: Canine Research Source Type: research

Sedative, Analgesic and Behavioral Effects of Nalbuphine-Xylazine and Nalbuphine-Midazolam Combinations in Dogs
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the sedative, analgesic and behavioral effects of nalbuphine-xylazine (NX) and nalbuphine-midazolam (NM) combinations for neuroleptanalgesia in dogs. A prospective randomized cross-over study was done on six adult mongrel dogs. Dogs were randomly allocated into NX and NM groups with a washout period 2 weeks. Nalbuphine was given at dose of 0.5 mg / kg IV approximately 20 minutes before administration of the tranquilizer. Dogs were randomly allocated into one of the two groups: NX group received xylazine at a dose of 1mg / kg IV; and NM group received midazolam at a dose of 0...
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - July 18, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Faisal A. Torad, Elham A. Hassan Source Type: research

Use of beds by laboratory beagles
Comfortable resting areas for laboratory dogs have been recommended by many authors and by the European Directive 2010/63/EU. They are particularly important for geriatric dogs for age- and health-related reasons. Systematic research in this area has not been done. Therefore, we conducted an orientation study on the use of dog beds. In preliminary choice tests with 12 laboratory dogs (three groups), initial information was collected regarding dog bed properties such as size, elevation and filling material. (Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research)
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - July 18, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Dorothea D öring, Ilona Backofen, Jörg Schmidt, Alexander Bauer, Michael H. Erhard Source Type: research

Effects of petting before a brief separation from the owner on dog behavior and physiology: a pilot study
Human physical contact is known to be effective in decreasing dogs ’ level of stress, assessed through endocrine, physiological and behavioral parameters. Gentle touching has been found to be beneficial for dogs while experiencing or after having experienced a stressful event. The aim of the current study was to assess if dog behavior and physiology during a brie f separation from the owner were modified by being petted before owner’s departure. Ten dogs, not affected by separation-related problems, were tested twice while separated for three minutes from the owner: before separation, dogs once were petted for 1 minute...
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - July 18, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Chiara Mariti, Beatrice Carlone, Massimiliano Protti, Silvana Diverio, Angelo Gazzano Source Type: research

Effect of preceding activity and multiple testing of Belgian police horses on behavior during personality tests
We describe the developmental phase of a project aimed at customizing selection tests for mounts at the Belgian Federal Police. The experiment evaluated the influence of preceding activity and multiple testing on behavior during personality tests. Using a cross-over design, three different preceding activities were compared: straight out of their box, after 30 minutes tied outside alone and after 30 minutes alone in a paddock. (Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research)
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - July 18, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Marc Pierard, Paul McGreevy, Rony Geers Source Type: research

Body language: its importance for communication with horses
Body language is important for communication between individuals. Body language is based on the fact that the thought of performing a known action, alone, will activate the motor neurons used for the action, resulting in a slight contraction of the involved muscles. These contractions are called intention movements and signal what the sender will do within the next second, enabling the recipient to react. This type of communication is important both for animals and for peoples ’ interaction with animals. (Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research)
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - July 2, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Jan Ladewig Source Type: research