Aggressive Dogs Research Articles

Cross-sectional survey exploring current intake practices for dogs admitted to animal shelters in Texas: a descriptive study.

Entering an animal shelter is a stressful experience for dogs that can impair their welfare, adoptability, and shelter staff safety; thus, it is crucial to reduce the stress experienced during intake. This study investigated the current intake practices for dogs admitted in animal shelters in Texas, United States. To gather data, an online survey was designed and distributed to shelter employees responsible for intake at animal shelters. The survey collected information about examination procedures, the type of information collected from owner-surrenders, as well as the housing environment for the dogs. Survey participants (n = 64) were shelter staff from municipal (59%, 38/64) and private shelters (23%, 15/64) in 47 counties. Handling techniques reported to be used during intake exams varied depending on the dog's behavior, with participants reporting higher restraint for aggressive dogs and lower restraint for calm dogs. If the dog was displaying fear, participants reported offering food and attention (89%, 47/53), using towel restraint (64%, 34/53) and conducting the exam on someone's lap (49%, 26/53). In cases of aggression, it was commonly reported to use muzzles (81%, 42/52) and catch poles (77%, 40/52), and shorten the exam (71%, 37/52). After the exam, most reported placing dogs on the adoption floor (45%, 27/60) or placing them wherever space was available (20%, 12/60). Results provide descriptive information on current intake procedures and routine handling techniques used in Texas shelters. Future research should explore shelter dog responses to routine handling techniques to support the development of evidence-based protocols during routine intake examinations and procedures.

Gabapentin, melatonin, and acepromazine combination prior to hospital visits decreased stress scores in aggressive and anxious dogs in a prospective clinical trial.

To evaluate sedative and behavioral effects of a client-administered preappointment protocol with PO gabapentin and melatonin and oral-transmucosal acepromazine (GMA protocol). 45 client-owned dogs between 1 and 12 years old that underwent standardize examinations between February and August 2021. In this clinical trial, dogs with a history of anxiety, fearfulness, and/or aggression during hospital visits were assessed and videotaped before (baseline) and after administration of the GMA protocol. For the second visit, owners administered PO gabapentin (20 to 25 mg/kg) in the evening prior to the next visit and PO gabapentin (20 to 25 mg/kg), PO melatonin (3 to 5 mg/dog), and oral-transmucosal acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg) 90 to 120 minutes prior to the second appointment. Examinations were performed, and behavioral stress and sedation levels were evaluated with semiquantitative rating scales. Randomized videos were analyzed, and a paired t test was used to compare stress and sedation scores between baseline and GMA. A Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the effect of age on the scores. Stress scores were significantly lower after the GMA protocol, and sedation scores were significantly higher when compared to baseline (21.84 vs 27.11 and 1.39 vs 0.68, respectively). A significant correlation between increasing age and lower stress scores post-GMA and higher sedation scores post-GMA were observed. Preappointment administration of the GMA protocol reduced signs of stress, fear, and fear-based aggression during hospital visits and provided sedation in this dog population. This protocol could represent an adjunct tool for veterinarians to improve quality of care and reduce animal-related injury.

Matters of development and experience: Evaluation of dog and human emotional expressions by children and adults.

Emotional facial expressions are an important part of across species social communication, yet the factors affecting human recognition of dog emotions have received limited attention. Here, we characterize the recognition and evaluation of dog and human emotional facial expressions by 4-and 6-year-old children and adult participants, as well as the effect of dog experience in emotion recognition. Participants rated the happiness, anger, valence, and arousal from happy, aggressive, and neutral facial images of dogs and humans. Both respondent age and experience influenced the dog emotion recognition and ratings. Aggressive dog faces were rated more often correctly by adults than 4-year-olds regardless of dog experience, whereas the 6-year-olds' and adults' performances did not differ. Happy human and dog expressions were recognized equally by all groups. Children rated aggressive dogs as more positive and lower in arousal than adults, and participants without dog experience rated aggressive dogs as more positive than those with dog experience. Children also rated aggressive dogs as more positive and lower in arousal than aggressive humans. The results confirm that recognition of dog emotions, especially aggression, increases with age, which can be related to general dog experience and brain structure maturation involved in facial emotion recognition.

Safety Concerns Associated with Home Care Nursing.

Compared to nurses in acute care settings, home care nurses face unique threats to safety, including unsanitary conditions in homes, dangerous pets, firearms in the home, hostile patients or family members, high-crime neighborhoods, and motor vehicle accidents while traveling between patients. The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore specific personal safety and environmental concerns faced by home care nurses. Seventy-five home care and home hospice nurses completed an anonymous Qualtrics survey. Seventy-eight percent admitted to feeling unsafe during a home visit. Safety threats included unsafe neighborhoods, aggressive dogs, aggressive or drug-seeking family members, patients with mental health concerns, sexual harassment, and most alarmingly feeling threatened by a firearm. Participants also identified environmental concerns such as secondhand smoke and bedbugs, and a high number of musculoskeletal injuries they perceived to be related to their work in home care. Home care is a rapidly growing industry with a critical need to attract and retain workers. Safety training specific to the workers' role should be offered at the time of hire and annually thereafter. Home care nurses should be aware of threats to safety and employ the strategies of preparation, awareness, alertness, and prevention before and during visits.

The utility of model dogs for assessing conspecific aggression in fighting dogs

This paper describes a study to assess the utility of a life-sized plush model dog as a screening tool for conspecific aggression in a population of dogs bred for use in dogfighting. Because the dogs in this sample experienced similar selective pressures and life histories, we hypothesized conspecific aggression, when present, would be a stable trait readily elicited by the model. Thus, we predicted that aggressive dogs would behave consistently toward both the model and live conspecifics. We tested our prediction with a sample of 292 animals (165 females and 127 males) confiscated during a large dogfighting raid. We found evidence of substantive predictive value with 75% of the dogs exhibiting aggression to the model also exhibited aggression to the same-sex stimulus dog. Similarly, sensitivity was high, with 81% of same-sex-aggressive test dogs detected by the model, indicating the model can discriminate between dogs with and without conspecific aggression. Finally, we found evidence of concurrent validity – with dogs exhibiting similar levels of aggression in all scenarios but with a significant sex*scenario interaction (p = 0.03) driven by higher level of aggression in the same-sex stimulus dog condition for male subjects. Based on our findings, we recommend using a model dog first when evaluating fight-bred dogs. If no physical aggression is exhibited to the model, or the behavior is ambiguous, the dog should be tested with a same-sex stimulus dog. Opposite-sex stimulus dogs alone are insufficient to screen for conspecific aggression because aggression is reduced in this test scenario for male subjects. Screening for conspecific aggression with model dogs does not completely eliminate the need for live conspecifics, but it substantially reduces the risk to stimulus dogs and evaluators alike by screening out the majority of extremely conspecific-aggressive animals. Using this procedure, a small number of dogs will be mistakenly identified as aggressive, but few truly aggressive dogs will be missed. This is the first in-shelter study on model validity to use a large, homogenous sample of dogs with known life histories and to report the predictive value of models to screen for conspecific aggression in fight-bred dogs. Comparisons of a canine model’s validity in other populations of dogs known to exhibit conspecific aggression are needed to determine if fight-bred populations are qualitatively different from other domestic dogs in their response to a model conspecific.

Dog behaviours in veterinary consultations: Part 1. Effect of the owner’s presence or absence

Veterinary practices can be stressful places for dogs. Decreasing stress during veterinary consultations is therefore a major concern, since animal welfare matters both for owners and veterinarians. Stress can be expressed through behaviour modifications; monitoring canine behaviour is thus one way to assess stress levels. We also know that the owner can affect dog behaviour in different ways. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the effect of the presence of owners on the behaviour of their dogs in veterinary consultations. We studied 25 dog-owner dyads at two standardised veterinary consultations, conducted at intervals of 5–7 weeks; the owner was present for the first consultation and absent for the second (O/NoO group, n = 12), or vice versa (NoO/O group, n = 13). A consultation consisted in three phases: exploration, examination, greeting. Dog behaviours were compared between the two conditions using a video recording.Despite some limitations (e.g. no male owners, the exclusion of aggressive dogs, a limited sample size, minimally invasive veterinary examinations, restricted owner-dog interactions), our results showed that the presence or absence of the owner had no significant effect on the stress-related behaviour of the dog or the veterinarian’s ability to handle the animal during the examination phase (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, the behaviour of the dogs towards people was affected before, during, and after the veterinary examination. In the presence of their owner, dogs were more willing to enter the consultation room (P < 0.05), and they appeared more relaxed during the exploration phase (P < 0.01). During the examination, dogs looked in direction of their owner in both situations (owner present and behind the door, respectively; P < 0.001). These results suggest that allowing the owner to stay in the room during veterinary consultations is a better option for canine welfare.

Dog behaviours in veterinary consultations: Part II. The relationship between the behaviours of dogs and their owners

Dogs synchronise their behaviour with those of their owners when confronted with an unfamiliar situation and interactions with their owners have been shown to decrease the dog’s stress levels in some instances. However, whether owners may help manage dog anxiety during veterinary consultations remains unclear. In Part I, we compared the behaviour of dogs in the presence or absence of their owners during consultations, which consisted in three phases: exploration, examination, and greeting. Our findings suggest that allowing owners to attend consultations may be beneficial for dogs. In Part II, we investigated the direct relationship between owners’ actions and their dog’s behaviour. Using the videos from Part I, we examined whether: (1) dogs interact more when their owner is more interactive; (2) owners’ stress scores are related to canine stress-related behaviour and emotional state; (3) owners’ actions influence canine stress-related behaviours, emotional state and tolerance to manipulations; (4) canine stress-related behaviours and emotional state are associated with increased eye contact with their owners. We analysed the recordings of 29 dog-owner dyads submitted to a veterinary consultation in Part I. The behaviours of the dogs and their owners were analysed, and their emotional states were scored. The ease of manipulations was also scored.Despite limitations (e.g. no physical contact during examinations, no invasive procedures, aggressive dogs excluded, no male owners, limited sample size), our study showed a link between dog and owner behaviours: when owners attended an examination, their negative behaviours intensified the signs of anxiety in their dogs. Additionally, visual and verbal attempts to comfort their dog had no significant effect. However, we observed that the more dogs displayed stress-related behaviours, the more they established eye contact with their owners, suggesting that dogs seek information (through social referencing) or reassurance from their owners.

Neuroendocrine and Cardiovascular Activation During Aggressive Reactivity in Dogs.

Our aim was to investigate cardiovascular activation by measuring changes in facial and body surface temperature using infrared thermography, and neuroendocrine activation using salivary cortisol (CORT) and serotonin concentration (SER) in dogs exhibiting aggressive reactivity in real time. Based on two factors, owner-reported past aggressive behaviors, and detailed behavioral observations collected during a Socially Acceptable Behavior test consisting of 16 subtests and, each individual was categorized as aggressive or non-aggressive. CORT and SER showed no difference in neuroendocrine activity between dogs, but aggressive dogs with higher levels of aggression were found to have lower SER. Aggressive dogs also had an increase in facial temperature from pre-test values. The discovery of a correlation between tail wagging and left tail wagging with aggression level and aggression-related behaviors in aggressive dogs is further evidence of the right hemisphere specialization for aggression previously reported in the literature. This study provides the first evidence that both cardiovascular and neuroendocrine systems are activated during an active act of aggression in dogs.

The association of C789A polymorphism in the dopamine beta-hydroxylase gene (DBH) and aggressive behaviour in dogs

The genetic basis of aggressive behaviour has been examined extensively, including analysis of genes encoding neurotransmitters, signalling molecules and regulatory enzymes, as well as their synthesis and degradation. Dopamine beta-hydroxylase, an enzyme catalysing the conversion of dopamine into norepinephrine in synaptic endings, significantly affects the modulation of emotional states and behaviour. The aim of this study was to determine the association of C789A polymorphism in the canine dopamine beta-hydroxylase gene (DBH) and aggressive behaviour in dogs. A total of 110 dogs of different breeds were analysed. All animals were classified according to their individual behavioural characteristics, defined by a veterinary interview and observation. Polymorphism was analysed using ACRS-PCR (amplification created restriction site-polymerase chain reaction) method. Significant differences in DBH genotypes and allele frequency between aggressive and non-aggressive dogs were observed (χ2 = 16,232, P = 0.0003). In aggressive dogs, the CC genotype (0.788) and C allele (0.815) were most frequent while in non-aggressive dogs, their frequencies were significantly lower (0.361 and 0.404, respectively). The obtained results indicate that DBH is a promising candidate gene for canine behavioural study.

Evaluating factors influencing dog post-adoptive return in a Canadian animal shelter

AbstractUnderstanding the factors associated with post-adoptive return in dogs (Canis familiaris) is important for reducing shelter return rates. The objective of this retrospective study was to identify factors detectable in shelters associated with post-adoptive return in an objective dog-centric analysis. The records of 959 dogs were evaluated via factor analysis of seven behaviour and seven physical variables which resulted in the extraction of six principal factors. Fear aggression, ongoing health concerns, separation anxiety, sex-specific aggression, and age effect on source were not found to significantly impact outcome. In particular, dog aggression risk (a factor composed of breed, size, and dog aggression) was found to be significantly higher in returned dogs. Since dog aggression risk is associated with post-adoptive return, this could help shelters to modify policies to either screen aggressive dogs from the adoption population or improve adoption counselling in an attempt to help lower return rates.

A Retrospective Analysis of Dog-Dog and Dog-Human Cases of Aggression in Northern Italy.

Simple SummaryThe prevention of dog bites is an important issue with multiple safety and welfare aspects. We investigated the characteristics of dog bite incidents reported to public authorities in the North of Italy with the aim of providing more data for future risk assessment and prevention tools. We found that no breeds in particular were responsible for severe or multiple bites towards either humans or dogs, but there was a trend of defensive bites towards human beings in private homes and a trend of offensive bites towards other dogs in public areas. We also found that crossbreed dogs and dogs adopted from shelters were significantly more likely to show defensive aggression towards their owners. Our findings indicate that defensive aggression towards owners is linked to fear and anxiety, and we suggest that helping owners to have a better understanding of their dogs’ welfare, behaviour and communication via educational programs is an important prevention tool.In this survey, a caseload of aggressive dogs (n = 170) was analysed to increase the available information about biting dog characteristics, contribute to risk evaluation and improve bite prevention tools. All dog data were collected from questionnaires completed by veterinary behaviourists in Northern Italy. All dogs were referred to them by public authorities to be evaluated and treated due to the incidence of one or more episodes of aggression. Between the two groups of human-directed and dog-directed aggressive dogs, significant associations were found: the dog-directed aggressive group inflicted significantly more severe bites (p < 0.01) and offensive aggression (p < 0.01), whereas defensive aggression was significantly more numerous in the human-directed aggression group (p < 0.01) and more significantly located in private homes (p < 0.01). No significant associations were found between the severity of bites and one or more specific breeds in either group. The prevalence of defensive bites in private homes in human-directed aggression indicate that owners’ understanding of their dogs’ behaviour and communication is fundamental to preventing aggression, and that owner education programmes are fundamental tools to reduce aggression risk factors and prevent aggression.

Evaluation of salivary vasopressin as an acute stress biomarker in healthy dogs with stress due to noise and environmental challenges

BackgroundStress is associated with various detrimental changes in physiological health that affect an animal’s quality of life. The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic-adreno-medullar (SAM) axis are two main physiological pathways that constitute the stress response of an organism. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a mediator of the HPA axis and is known to be related to social behaviours and stress. The serum concentration of AVP is higher in more aggressive dogs and humans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Salivary biomarker analysis is a non-invasive method to assess stress. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using salivary AVP as an acute stress biomarker in dogs. Salivary AVP concentration was measured before and after exposure to all relevant environmental stimuli (i.e. car trip to the lab, physical examination by the veterinarian, and sampling procedure,) and then after 30 min of vacuum noise exposure. Behavioural assessments, physiologic parameter assessments, and serum cortisol analysis were conducted in combination. Statistical analysis was conducted separately in the total study population, the less stressed group, and the more stressed group, respectively.ResultsBased on stress behaviour analysis scores, 28 dogs were classified into less or more stressed groups. All four physiologic parameters (blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate) were significantly increased after noise and environmental challenges, in the more stressed group. Serum cortisol did not show any significant change. Salivary AVP significantly decreased after noise and environmental stimulation in the more stressed group but not in the less stressed group. Salivary AVP and blood pressure changes were negatively correlated in the more stressed group.ConclusionSalivary AVP may be a potential acute stress biomarker in dogs.

Epidemiological aspects of human exposure cases to rabies by in the central west region of Tunisia

Abstract Introduction Rabies is a major public health problem in several countries in the South and East of the Mediterranean and in the Middle East. The objectives of this study were to describe the epidemiological profile of human exposures to rabies by a dog, as well as the profile of aggressive dogs during a period of 15 years in a region in the central west region of Tunisia. Methods We have included all cases of human exposure to a dog, reported between 2004 and 2018 in the Kasserine area. The source of the data was the directorate of primary health care in Kasserine. Results A total of 41,850 human exposure cases to a dog have been reported over the fifteen year study period with an annual average of 1937.5 cases. Among them, 29,062 cases (69.4%) were attacked by a bite. The crude incidence of dog bite cases was 441 per 100,000 population. The vaccination status of attacking dogs was unknown in 15.4% of the cases (n = 6423). Among all attacking dogs with a known vaccination status (n = 35427), 45.2% were vaccinated (n = 16017) and 54.7% (n = 19392) were unvaccinated. A significant increase in human exposure cases to dogs was noted from 2004 to 2018 (β = 11.7, p = &amp;lt;10-3). The number of exposures by an unknown dog or a known unvaccinated dog increased significantly (β = 28.02; p = &amp;lt;10-3 and b = 69.9, p = &amp;lt;10-3; respectively). However, the number of cases attacked by a known vaccinated dog decreased significantly (β = -86.4, p = &amp;lt;10-3). During the study period, five cases of human rabies were identified in the study area. Conclusions In Tunisia, human exposure to rabies by a dog has been on the rise. It could be linked to the period of popular and political movement that the country is going through. Key messages In this study, human exposures cases to rabies by unvaccinated dog is significantly increasing. It is crucial to strengthen appropriate preventive measures, such as mass vaccination and dog castration programs.

Behavioral Therapy and Fluoxetine Treatment in Aggressive Dogs: A Case Study.

Simple SummaryDespite dog aggression representing a frequent and serious threat to public health, currently there are no licensed drugs for treating dog aggression. Treatment approaches include behavior management programs and empiric administration of fluoxetine for extended periods. The drug is used at 1–2 mg/kg of body weight every 24 h according to the clinician’s prescription. Studies concerning long-term dosage schedules and the effects of fluoxetine on clinical and blood parameters have not been undertaken in veterinary medicine. In the present study, fluoxetine (1.5 mg/kg/die PO) combined with a behavior modification program were used for treatment in eight dogs with a diagnosis of dominance-related aggression. Clinical outcomes for fluoxetine, norfluoxetine, and serotonin circulating levels were periodically evaluated over a six-month period. After one month of treatment, significant clinical improvement was observed, although dogs were classified as fully responsive starting from T2 (two months of treatment). At the end of the follow-up (six months of treatment), a correlation between norfluoxetine levels and clinical scores (r = 0.75, p < 0.05) was observed. Blood serotonin levels were significantly decreased. The results suggest that the dosage schedule is useful in the management of dominance aggression in dogs and that norfluoxetine levels seem reliable in predicting clinical efficacy.Canine aggression is a major concern, affecting millions of people worldwide, and treatment can be challenging even for skilled veterinarians. Empiric use of fluoxetine is sometimes attempted, although few data regarding long-term effects in aggressive dogs are available. The aim of the study was to investigate clinical effectiveness of fluoxetine (1.5 mg/kg/die PO) combined with a behavior modification program for treatment of canine dominance-related aggression. Circulating levels of fluoxetine, norfluoxetine, and serotonin (5-HT) were also measured. Eight dogs with a diagnosis of dominance aggression (owner-directed) were enrolled. Before treatment (T0), and after one (T1), two (T2), four (T3), and six (T4) months of fluoxetine administration, clinical outcomes were graded using a five-point frequency scale (0–4), and blood samples were collected to measure fluoxetine/norfluoxetine (high-performance liquid chromatography) and 5-HT (ELISA) levels. Following treatment, a decrease in behavioral test scores was observed at T1–T4. Increasing concentrations of circulating fluoxetine and norfluoxetine were measured throughout the follow-up. Correlation between norfluoxetine levels and clinical scores was observed at T4. Starting from T1, a significant decrease in 5-HT levels was observed. Our data suggest that fluoxetine (1.5 mg/kg/day) when associated with behavior treatment is effective in controlling canine aggression over a six-month period, and that, in dogs norfluoxetine levels seem reliable in predicting clinical efficacy.

Coexistence of Diversified Dog Socialities and Territorialities in the City of Concepción, Chile.

Simple SummaryStray dogs are a common sight in cities all over the world, especially in Latin America, but research on their behavior is scarce. Studying their very considerable presence in Concepción (Chile) provided a unique opportunity to learn more about the extent of the sociality and territoriality patterns of the dog species. Interestingly, a wide range of socialities with humans (and with other dogs) were shown to be dependent on human activities and urban zoning signaled by passages, physical boundaries and landmarks. New forms of sociality were also evidenced, with dogs exhibiting intermediate degrees of sociality between the pet and stray dog categories. We postulate that this unique diversity of sociospatial positioning and level of adjustment (e.g., dogs using crosswalks either alone or with people) is made possible by the city’s specific human culture and range of urban areas. The dog species thus exhibits a considerable potential for social and spatial adjustment. The fact that it depends on the spatial layout and human culture of their environment explains the presence of dogs wherever humans are. Furthermore, it has implications for coping with the presence of dogs in numerous and varied human societies.There has been scant research on the presence of stray dogs in cities. Studying their very considerable presence in Concepción (Chile) provided a unique opportunity to learn more about the different patterns of sociality and territoriality exhibited by the dog species. Via a set of case studies, we examined the behavior of urban dogs, adopting an ethnographic methodology. This yielded findings of the dogs’ cognitive, social and spatial adjustment abilities, i.e., their territorialities. Our hypothesis was validated: We found numerous types of sociability, we confirmed the presence of two previously established categories: family dogs (pets, guard dogs and beggars’ dogs) and stray dogs (dogs almost entirely unused to humans, aggressive dogs at the far end of the campus and feral dogs in the woods). We also identified three new ones: familiar stray dogs in packs (dogs both spatially and socially close to humans), pet-stray dogs (i.e., village dogs interacting closely with people) and free-roaming pet dogs. We conclude that an ongoing two-way bond between humans and animals allowed these dogs to became part of a city’s urban identity and explains the stray dogs’ plasticity in terms of adapting to the diversified urban habitat. We postulate that it was the human culture and range of urban areas in Concepción that gave rise to this unique diversity of sociospatial positioning and level of adjustment (e.g., dogs crossing crosswalks).

A survey of opinions towards dog and cat management policy issues in New Zealand

ABSTRACTAims: To describe the opinions of respondents to an online survey on desexing, microchipping and pet registration, and the management of cats, and aggressive dogs in New Zealand.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted online from 18–22 June 2015 using a permission-based panel of New Zealand residents aged ≥18 years. Questions included demographics of respondents, number of dogs and cats owned, and opinions on desexing, microchipping, pet registration, management of cats and aggressive dogs.Results: Of the 1,572 survey respondents, 216 (13.7%) owned ≥1 dog and ≥1 cat, 227 (14.4%) owned ≥1 dog and no cats, 480 (30.5%) owned ≥1 cat and no dogs, and 559 (35.6%) did not own any pets. The majority of dogs (456/613; 74.8%) and cats (974/1,045; 93.2%) were desexed. The most common reasons for not desexing pets were cost, feeling that it was not needed, or keeping the dog for breeding. Of the 613 dogs, 557 (90.9%) were registered with the local council, and 434 (71.0%) were microchipped, but only 290 (47.3%) were registered in the national database. Of the 1,045 cats, 326 (31.2%) were microchipped and 279/486 (57.4%) owners felt that it was unnecessary. Of the 1,572 respondents, 947 (60.2%) were unaware of stray cats in their local community, and 479 (30.5%) stated that local councils, or animal welfare organisations (546/1,572; 34.7%) should be responsible for managing strays. Among all 1,572 respondents, 787 (50.1%) thought stray cats should be assessed and subjected to euthanasia. Compared with non-pet owners, a lower percentage of cat owners agreed that cats should be confined (p < 0.001). When asked to choose the most appropriate course of action for dogs that had bitten people or other animals, 849 (54.0%) and 820 (52.5%) respondents, respectively, agreed that the dog should be assessed by an expert who would then determine the appropriate action. Compared with non-pet owners, a lower percentage of dog owners supported registration and education of dog owners, aggressive dogs being destroyed, and giving more power to local councils (p < 0.05).Conclusions: The results highlight opportunities to improve owner compliance with desexing, microchipping and registration of dogs and cats. Opinions towards management of stray cat and aggressive dogs varied between pet owners and non-owners. Further research is needed to better understand how to engage the public in important dog and cat management policy issues.

The gut microbiome correlates with conspecific aggression in a small population of rescued dogs (Canis familiaris).

Aggression is a serious behavioral disorder in domestic dogs that endangers both dogs and humans. The underlying causes of canine aggression are poorly resolved and require illumination to ensure effective therapy. Recent research links the compositional diversity of the gut microbiome to behavioral and psychological regulation in other mammals, such as mice and humans. Given these observations, we hypothesized that the composition of the canine gut microbiome could associate with aggression. We analyzed fecal microbiome samples collected from a small population of pit bull type dogs seized from a dogfighting organization. This population included 21 dogs that displayed conspecific aggressive behaviors and 10 that did not. Beta-diversity analyses support an association between gut microbiome structure and dog aggression. Additionally, we used a phylogenetic approach to resolve specific clades of gut bacteria that stratify aggressive and non-aggressive dogs, including clades within Lactobacillus, Dorea, Blautia, Turicibacter, and Bacteroides. Several of these taxa have been implicated in modulating mammalian behavior as well as gastrointestinal disease states. Although sample size limits this study, our findings indicate that gut microorganisms are linked to dog aggression and point to an aggression-associated physiological state that interacts with the gut microbiome. These results also indicate that the gut microbiome may be useful for diagnosing aggressive behaviors prior to their manifestation and potentially discerning cryptic etiologies of aggression.

Pilot study evaluating surface temperature in dogs with or without fear-based aggression

Abstract 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 noninvasive, 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 if surface eye temperature as measured by IRT differed in dogs with fear-based aggression compared to dogs with various other behavioral diagnoses. Forty-six dogs were subdivided into groups with fear-based aggression toward unfamiliar people (n = 32) or no fear-based aggression but with other behavioral diagnoses (n = 14) to compare surface eye temperature and behavioral responses in the clinic setting. The potentially provocative stimulus was the presence of unfamiliar people in the consultation room (clinician and student). The primary outcomes of interest were change in surface eye temperature and behavioral responses between 2 time points 45 minutes apart during the 60-minute consultation. It was hypothesized that in contrast to dogs with fear-based aggression, IRT-measured mean surface eye temperature in dogs without fear-based aggression would decrease between the 2 time points. Instead, surface eye temperature increased in both groups of dogs without significant difference between the groups (P = 0.16). Dog's posture and proximity to the owner in the consultation room at the start of the evaluation also were not significantly different between the 2 groups. However, 27% of the fear-based aggressive dogs compared with 0% of the dogs with other diagnoses exhibited aggressive reactions to unfamiliar people who stood up to leave the consultation room at the end of the visit. Study design factors likely contributed to the negative findings. First, the study population was derived from clinic behavior patients, and dogs in both groups had multiple behavioral diagnoses that may have impacted their response to stress in the clinic setting. In addition, all dogs were tethered during the consultation visit, and this may have triggered underlying anxiety in both groups of dogs. A future study that addresses these study design factors would be needed to determine whether IRT-measured surface eye temperature in a clinical setting is a helpful measure.

Analysis of rabies diagnosis in dogs and cats in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

The genetic lineage of rabies virus (RABV) associated with dogs has not been found in the state of São Paulo since 1998, and all cases of rabies in domestic animals reported since then have involved the RABV lineage that circulates in bats. As there has been a change in the rabies transmission cycle in cats and dogs, we decided to analyze the tests used to diagnose rabies in these animals in the 15-year period from 2002 to 2016 in the state of São Paulo. During this period, 85,508 central nervous system (CNS) samples from dogs and cats were submitted to the Rabies Diagnosis Section at the Pasteur Institute of São Paulo for testing. All of the samples were tested by the fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and at least one of the following three tests: mouse inoculation test (MIT), rabies tissue culture infection test (RTCIT) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Of all the samples tested, twenty were positive in at least one of these assays. Four other positive samples were identified at other institutions in the state of São Paulo. Of the twenty samples that tested positive at the Pasteur Institute of São Paulo, nine were tested by FAT, and the results were subsequently confirmed by other techniques; five gave inconclusive results, and therefore, other techniques had to be used as soon as possible in case the samples were positive; and six were negative by FAT and positive by one or more of the following tests: RTCIT, MIT and RT-PCR. Genetic typing of isolates from eighteen samples identified them as the lineage circulating in bats. In light of this finding, which indicates that genetic lineages associated with bats are circulating in domestic animals in the state of São Paulo, when the results of FAT carried out with samples from aggressive cats and dogs are inconclusive, complementary tests should be used. Decomposing samples and samples for which FAT was inconclusive should be tested using molecular techniques so that a definitive result can be obtained quickly and timely post-exposure prophylaxis can be administered to exposed individuals.

Intramuscular ketamine anaesthesia in the dog

Ketamine is an anaesthetic agent that can be used in a wide variety of species. It can be administered via a number of routes and in combination with other agents. It has a wide therapeutic index and has potent analgesic properties. It should not be used as a sole agent in canine anaesthesia, but may be usefully combined with alpha-2 agonists. Ketamine combinations may be particularly useful in situations with aggressive dogs, and in high-throughput neutering situations.