Physiological, haematological and biochemical shifts in police working dogs during a riot control exercise

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological, haematological and biochemical shifts that occur in police working dogs during a riot control exercise. The animals (n=17) used were dogs from the Guarda Nacional Republicana (Portuguese Gerndarmerie Unit). Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) were measured and blood samples collected, both before (T0) and immediately after (T1) the exercise. Blood lactate (BL) and blood glucose concentration levels were immediately measured using handheld portable devices and from the blood samples the following parameters were determined: red blood cells, haematocrit, white blood cells, platelets, urea, creatinine, creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total protein, albumin, Ca2+, Na+, K+ and Cl-. Results were submitted to a paired T-test and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to compare different variables. Significant increases occurred in RT (P<0.01), RR (P<0.01), lymphocytes (P<0.05) and creatinine (P<0.05). Other measured parameters showed non-significant variations and no correlation was found between BL and HR and RT – the parameters that can be easily monitored during exercise. The present results consist, to the authors’ knowledge, the first description of the physiological, haematological and biochemical shifts in police working dogs during a riot control exercise. They provide valuable information for the monitoring and future evaluations of this type of work that many police working dogs undergo throughout the world and set a starting point for future studies.