Abstract
Simple SummaryKennelled dogs are susceptible to suffer chronic stress when social interactions with conspecifics and spatial needs are long-term restricted. Chronic stress may affect pleasure perception of food and solutions in dogs as observed in several animals, a phenomenon known as anhedonia. However, little information exists on how different coping styles could prevent the onset of anhedonia. Fourteen kennelled Beagle dogs were used to study the acceptability and preference for different dilute palatable sucrose and monosodium glutamate (MSG) solutions. Coping style of animals was previously evaluated through a modified human-approach test. This test consisted in assessing whether or not dogs approached an unfamiliar human when a feeding opportunity was presented, classifying them as close dogs (CD; proactive) or distant dogs (DD; reactive) respectively. It was observed that DD presented a lower intake of both sucrose and MSG dilute solutions compared with CD. Moreover, DD exhibited a higher consumption of MSG than CD at the highest concentrations, supporting that their intake depends on solution palatability. Finally, DD did not prefer sucrose or MSG solutions over water at any dilute solution offered. Together, these results suggest that dogs that are categorized as reactive animals could diminish their ability to perceive dilute palatable solutions reflecting depressive-like behaviours such as anhedonia.Kennelled dogs are at risk of suffering chronic stress due to long-term spatial, social and feeding restrictions. Chronic stress may decrease the dogs’ capacity to feel pleasure when facing hedonic experiences, modifying their perception for palatable ingredients. However, different abilities to cope with environmental stressors could prevent the onset of anhedonia. Fourteen kennelled Beagle dogs were used to study the acceptability and preference for different dilute sucrose and monosodium glutamate (MSG) solutions. Coping style of animals was previously evaluated through a human approach test (HAT) and classified as close dogs (CD; proactive) or distant dogs (DD; reactive) according to whether or not they approached an unfamiliar human when a feeding opportunity was presented. Consumption results were analysed taking into account the sucrose/MSG concentrations, HAT (CD or DD), age, and weight of the animals. DD presented a lower intake of sucrose (p = 0.041) and MSG (p = 0.069) solutions compared with CD. However, DD exhibited a higher consumption of MSG than CD at its highest concentrations, supporting that their intake depends on solution palatability. Finally, DD did not prefer sucrose or MSG solutions over water at any dilute solution offered. Together, these results suggest that dogs that are categorized as reactive animals could diminish their ability to perceive dilute palatable solutions, reflecting depressive-like behaviours as anhedonia.
Highlights
Relevant behaviours are reinforced by pleasant perception, allowing animals to repeat those behaviours in the future [1,2]
The present study evaluated the acceptability and preference between dilute sucrose or monosodium glutamate solutions with respect to drinking water in kennelled dogs, in order to monosodium glutamate solutions with respect to drinking water in kennelled dogs, in order to determine the possible presentation of anhedonia in this population according to the dog’s strategies determine the possible presentation of anhedonia in this population according to the dog’s strategies to cope with stressors
The dogsresponse to a human-approach test with a feeding opportunity was previously assessed as a measure to describe the coping style of the animals, and differences previously assessed as a measure to describe the coping style of the animals, and differences in in strategies to face chronic stress, which could be reflected as anhedonia and feeding behaviour strategies to face chronic stress, which could be reflected as anhedonia and feeding behaviour changes
Summary
Relevant behaviours are reinforced by pleasant perception, allowing animals to repeat those behaviours in the future [1,2]. In studies carried out in rats, the preference and acceptability for sucrose solutions have been measured before and after being exposed to mild, continuous and rotating stressors, demonstrating a decrease in consumption and preferences of dilute sucrose solutions relative to water [5,9,10]. In other species such as horses, a lower consumption of sugar blocks has been observed in “depressive-like” animals [11]
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