Dogs Of Different Sex Research Articles

Guardian dogs protect sheep by guarding sheep, not by establishing territories and excluding predators

Guardian animals have been a common non-lethal method for reducing predator impacts on livestock for centuries in Europe. But elsewhere, livestock producers sometimes doubt whether such methods work or are compatible with modern livestock husbandry practices in extensive grazing systems. In this study we evaluate the hypothesis that guardian dogs primarily ‘work’ by establishing and defending territories from which canid predators are excluded. Eight maremmas and six free-ranging wild dogs of different sexes were fitted with GPS collars and monitored for 7 months on a large sheep property in north Queensland, Australia. Wild dog incursions into the territories of adjacent wild dogs and maremmas were recorded. Wild dog territories never overlapped and their home ranges infrequently overlapped. In contrast, 713 hourly locations from 120 wild dog incursions into maremma territories were recorded, mostly from three wild dogs. These three wild dogs spent a mean of 2.5–5.9 h inside maremma territories during incursions. At this location, maremmas worked by guarding sheep and prohibiting fine-scale interaction between wild dogs and sheep, not by establishing a territory respected by wild dogs. We conclude that shepherding behaviour and boisterous vocalisations of guardian dogs combined with the flocking behaviour of sheep circumvents attacks on sheep but does not prevent nor discourage wild dogs from foraging in close proximity. Certain husbandry practices and the behaviour of sheep at parturition may incur greater predation risk.

The prevalence of the helminth parasites of stray dogs in Ismailia City

In a study on parasites of stray dogs in Ismailia City, 50 stray dogs of different sexes and ages were humanely euthanized, necropsied and examined for helminth parasites. Twenty helminthes (14 trematodes, two cestodes and four nematodes) were detected. The total prevalence of helminthes was 100% with trematodes (36%), cestodes (100%) and nematodes (34%). Of the recorded 14 trematodes, Pygidiopsis summa and Ascocotyle rara were recorded for the first time in Ismailia Province and this may be the first time to be recorded among the Egyptian dogs. The most prevalent trematode was Pygidiopsis genata (20%). The detected cestodes were Dipylidium caninum (100%) and Taenia hydatigena (10%). The recovered nematodes were Toxocara canis (20%), Toxascaris leonina (10%), Spirocerca lupi (10%) and Rictularia affinis (8%). There was a highly significant difference (p 0.05) in the prevalence of the detected helminthes in relation to the sex of dogs. Histopathological examination of lungs and oesophagus of dogs infested with Spirocerca lupi revealed chronic pneumonia and pulmonary alveolar emphysema, also granulation tissue formation and early stage of fibroma were found in oesophagus. All necropsied dogs were infected with at least one zoonotic helminth parasites. From this study, it could be concluded that stray dogs in Ismailia City carry a multitude helminth parasites, thus posing a risk for the human population and companion dogs.

A single-centre, open-label, controlled, randomized clinical trial to assess the preventive efficacy of a domperidone-based treatment programme against clinical canine leishmaniasis in a high prevalence area

The innate immune response acting immediately after initial infection with Leishmania parasites is known to play a relevant role in prevention against clinical progression of the disease. Domperidone is a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist that has shown to enhance the innate cell-mediated immune response.The aim of this study was to assess the preventive efficacy of a domperidone-based treatment programme against clinical canine leishmaniasis (CanL) in a high prevalence area. The study was performed with 90 healthy, seronegative dogs of different sex, age, weight and breed from a single veterinary clinic located in Valencia (Spain). Dogs were randomly allocated into two groups. Dogs in one group (domperidone-treated group; n=44) were administered an oral suspension of domperidone at 0.5mg/kg bw/day during 30 consecutive days, every 4 months. Dogs in the other group (negative control group; n=46) were left untreated. A 21-month follow-up period was implemented covering two seasonal phases of the sand fly vector. During this period all animals underwent periodic clinical examinations and blood samplings for anti-Leishmania serological testing. Dogs seropositive for Leishmania (IFAT antibody titre≥1:80) plus at least one clinical sign consistent with CanL (indicative of active infection and incipient disease progression) were categorized as a ‘prevention failure’. These dogs were withdrawn from the study after confirming the infection by direct observation of the parasite in smears of lymph nodes and/or bone marrow aspirates.The cumulative percentage of ‘prevention failure’ after 12 months was significantly lower in the domperidone-treated group than in the negative control group (7% versus 35%, p=0.003). Differences between groups persisted after 21 months (11% versus 48%, p<0.001). The prevention rate provided by domperidone was 80% during the first 12 months and 77% throughout the complete 21-month follow-up period, with odds ratios of 7.3 (p=0.001) and 7.15 (p<0.001), respectively, this indicating that the risk for domperidone-treated dogs to develop the clinical disease is quite 7 times lower than for dogs left untreated.The results of this study demonstrate that the implementation of a strategic domperidone-based treatment programme consisting in quarterly repeated 30-day treatments with domperidone effectively reduces the risk to develop clinical CanL in areas with high prevalence of the disease.

Autotransplantation of immobilized stromal bone marrow cells during lumbar spondylosyndesis in an experiment

Aim. To assess the ability of immobilized autologous bone marrow stromal cells to provide an effective repair with the formation of a robust bone block in the area of the interbody defect of the spinal motor segment after total removal of the intervertebral disc. Methods. Studied were the effects of autotransplantation of different cell fractions isolated from the bone marrow (mononuclear, stromal cells and stromal stem cells) on the formation of the anterior bone block during interbody spondylosyndesis in an experiment on 24 mongrel dogs of different sexes (mean weight 18.3 kg, the mean diameter of the lumbar vertebral bodies according to radiographic study 18.6 mm). All animals underwent the crest puncture the right wing of the ilium, with aspiration of 10 ml of bone marrow, conducted was a total diskectomy at the level of the bodies of the VII and VIII lumbar vertebras with replacement of the interbody defect with a porous metal cylinder of the Nickel titanium of an appropriate shape and size. All animals were randomly divided into four groups, 6 in each. In the first group the interbody defect was filled with a porous metal cylinder only, in the second group - with the fraction of bone marrow mononuclear cells, in the third - with the fraction of stromal cells, in the fourth - with the fraction of culture-grown stromal cells. Results. In the first (control) group established were the signs of delayed formation of the anterior bone block, formation of the hypertrophic interbody pseudarthrosis. Noted was the formation of coarse fibrous capsule in the zone of «implant-bone» contact, an excess of cartilage tissue, the small size and low proliferative activity of osteoblasts, hypoplasia of the blood vessels. In the second group determined was the forming artificial bone block with paravertebral hyperostosis, radiologically - microdislocation of the implant with protrusion into the body of the adjacent vertebra and partial osteointegration with the porous structure of the fixer in the contact «implant-bone» zone. Bone formation occurred by the type of secondary osteogenesis with an excess of cartilage tissue. In the third and fourth groups formed was a robust artificial bone block, no signs of implant dislocation were observed. Determined was the full osteointegration of the porous structure of the fixer in the contact «implant-bone» zone. The newly formed bone tissue surrounded the implant in a muft-like fashion and grew into its porous structure, grew into the periosteal zone of adjacent vertebral bodies, well adhering with their surface. Conclusion. The proposed method of correction of osteoreparation disorders can be considered as an alternative to osteoplastic operations with the transplantation of massive bone grafts, as well as in conditions of systemic disorders of the ostepoetic function with a critical shortage of endogenous progenitors of bone cells.

CLOSURE OF CYSTOTOMY IN DOGS USING DIFFERENT TYPES OF SUTURE MATERIALS AND TISSUE ADHESIVE

Experimental ventral cystotomy wounds were performed on 72 adult dogs of different sex and age. Cystotomy wound was closed by chromic catgut, polyglycolic acid, vicryl, Polysorb, silk and methyl-2-Cyanoacrylate super glue. Animals were sacrificed at one, two and three weeks postoperatively, and site of operation were examined grossly, microscopically and by scanning electron microscopy. The results of this study reconfirms that catgut is the best thread used for suturing of the urinary bladder incisions. Polyglycolic acid, vicryl and Polysorb were hydrolyzed and they are not sufficient for suitable time for healing of wound. Silk not absorbed and can cause the nidus for urinary calculi. Non absorbable tissue adhesives were unsuitable for urinary bladder closure, because there is no healing at the site of operation and lead to deformity and shrinkage of the bladder wound.

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection in dogs in Chaharmahal-va-Bakhtiari Province, Iran

The aim of this study was to determine seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection in dogs in Chaharmahal-va-Bakhtiari province in Iran. One hundred serum samples were collected from dogs of different sex, age, and breed. Collected serum samples were examined using an indirect fluorescent antibody test. Thirty-two of the examined samples showed detectable IgG antibodies in titers of 1:50. Dogs older than one year old and stray dogs had a higher seroprevalence than other dogs. No sex or breed predispositions to N. caninum infection were detected during this serological assay (P ≤ 0.05).

Reference range and repeatability of a combined intestinal permeability and function test in clinically healthy Irish setter dogs

A reference range was determined for a combined test of differential sugar permeability, using lactulose (L) and rhamnose (R), and intestinal function, using D-xlylose (X) and 3-O-methylglucose (G), in clinically healthy adult Irish setter dogs. Urinary L/R ratios in 48 Irish setters from one to 12 years old varied from 0·03 to 0·18, with a mean ( sem) of 0·10 (0·01); X/G ratios varied from 0·46 to 0·81, with a mean ( sem) of 0·59 (0·01). There were no significant differences between L/R or X/G ratios of dogs of different sex (P>0·2) or age (P0·5), using analysis of covariance. Lactulose/rhamnose ratios of ≥0·18 and X/G ratios ≥0·43 were considered normal, defined by the respective mean ± 2 sd. Repeatability was established by performing three permeability and function tests at monthly intervals in twelve of the dogs. Analysis of repeated L/R and X/G ratios by means of linear models procedure revealed no significant differences between measurements made on successive occasions (P>0·15), confirming the repeatability of this test.

Survey of dirofilariasis among dogs in seremban, Malaysia

A total of 370 dogs from the District Veterinary Office in Seremban, Malaysia, was examined for dirofilariasis. An overall incidence of infection of 32.4% was observed, but pure bred dogs showed a slightly higher incidence of infection (39.2%) and a higher parasitaemia, whereas mixed bred dogs were less frequently infected (27.4%) and usually had a lower parasitaemia. In addition, short-haired pedigree dogs such as boxers, Dobermanns, dachshunds and bulldogs were generally more frequently infected and showed a higher parasitaemia than longer-haired pedigree dogs, such as Alsatians, spaniels and terriers. There was no significant difference in distribution of infection among dogs of different sexes and age groups.