Fox Terriers Research Articles

Canine testicular tumors: An 11-year retrospective study of 358 cases in Moscow Region, Russia.

Background and Aim:Canine testicular tumors are among the most common reproductive tract tumors in male dogs and have been studied in many countries. However, to the best of our knowledge, studies with a large sample size have not been conducted in Russia. This study aimed to provide the latest information on the prevalence of canine testicular tumors in the Veterinary Oncology Scientific Center for Small Animals “Biocontrol” in Moscow, Russia, in 2010-2020 and the characteristics of the affected canine population.Materials and Methods:A retrospective review of patients and histological reports was collected and analyzed from 358 dogs with 447 testicular tumors within 11 years.Results:The mean age of the affected dogs was 10.4 years, whereas that of dogs with Sertoli cell tumors was 9.4 years p=0.009. This study includes mixed-breed dogs (18.4%), Yorkshire Terriers (8.8%), Labrador Retrievers (7.9%), Golden Retrievers (5.0%), and Fox Terriers (3.4%). The most common tumors were interstitial cell tumors (n=227, 50.8%). In contrast, 107 (23.9%) seminomas, 80 (17.9%) Sertoli cell tumors, 19 (7.4%) mixed germ cell-sex cord-stromal tumors, and 26 (7.6%) testicular tumors developed from cryptorchid testes, which included 16 (61.5%) Sertoli cell tumors, 10 (38.5%) seminomas, and no interstitial cell tumors.Conclusion:This study provides baseline information on the prevalence of canine testicular tumors in the described population, including the median age of each tumor type and overrepresented dog breeds. We further found that the most common scrotal testicular tumor was interstitial cell tumor, whereas Sertoli cell tumor was the most common in cryptorchid testicles.

Inventing Dog Breeds

Today Jack Russell Terriers (JRTs) are among the most popular dogs in Britain and are seen to have long history, dating back to the fox terriers bred by Parson Jack Russell in the early and mid-Victorian period. Yet, JRTs are the dog breed most recently recognized by the British Kennel Club, only being allowed to enter dog shows and to be registered in the Club’s stud book since 2016. This essay explores this paradox and tells the story of struggles between different groups over the physical form and cultural meaning of this particular type of dog, but similar histories of the contested and contingent creation could be told of every dog breed. Modern dog breeds were invented materially and culturally in the Victorian era, first in Britain before being spread around the world. Then and since, the conformation of individual breeds has been subject to continual reimagining and reinvention by dog fanciers, along with the proliferation breeds to produce the 344 breeds now recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI). History shows that breed could have been differently conceived and specific dog breeds differently made.

Social play traits and environmental exploration in beagle and fox terriers’ puppies

Koscinczuk, P.; Alabarcez, M.N.; Cainzos, R.P.: Social play traits and environmental exploration in beagle and fox terriers’ puppies. Rev. vet. 26: 1, 33-37, 2015

A KCNJ10 mutation previously identified in the Russell group of terriers also occurs in Smooth-Haired Fox Terriers with hereditary ataxia and in related breeds.

BackgroundHereditary ataxias with similar phenotypes were reported in the Smooth-Haired Fox Terrier, the Jack Russell Terrier and the Parson Russell Terrier. However, segregation analyses showed differing inheritance modes in these breeds. Recently, molecular genetic studies on the Russell group of terriers found independent mutations in KCNJ10 and CAPN1, each associated with a specific clinical subtype of inherited ataxia. The aim of this study was to clarify whether or not Smooth-Haired Fox Terriers with hereditary ataxia and dogs of other related breeds harbor either of the same mutations. A sub goal was to update the results of KCNJ10 genotyping in Russell group terriers.FindingsThree Smooth-Haired Fox Terriers with hereditary ataxia and two Toy Fox Terriers with a similar phenotype were all homozygous for the KCNJ10 mutation. The same mutation was also found in a heterozygous state in clinically unaffected Tenterfield Terriers (n = 5) and, in agreement with previous studies, in Jack Russell Terriers, Parson Russell Terriers, and Russell Terriers.ConclusionsA KCNJ10 mutation, previously associated with an autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia in Jack Russell Terriers, Parson Russell Terriers, and Russell Terriers segregates in at least three more breeds descended from British hunting terriers. Ataxic members of two of these breeds, the Smooth-Haired Fox Terrier and the Toy Fox Terrier, were homozygous for the mutation, strengthening the likelihood that this genetic defect is indeed the causative mutation for the disease known as “hereditary ataxia” in Fox Terriers and “spinocerebellar ataxia with myokymia, seizures or both” in the Russell group of terriers.

Journeys on the Silk Road: A Desert Explorer, Buddha's Secret Library, and the Unearthing of the World's Oldest Printed Book by Joyce Morgan & Conrad Walters

Reflections and Retrospectives: African Literature Today 30 Ernest N. Emenyonu, ed. James Curry Guest editor Chimalum Nwankwo gathers a wealth of engaging articles about the most influential and accomplished African writers of the twentieth century in this latest issue of African Literature Today. The contributors wrangle with the fundamental question: “How does the artist or writer help the human condition positively?” Prajwal Parajuly The Gurkha’s Daughter: Stories Quercus Wrapped in a stunning book jacket, this short-story anthology describes the turbulent, dramatic, and evocative experiences of a people unified by their culture but set apart by diaspora. Featuring a variety of settings and characters, Prajwal Parajuly paints a vividly colorful and sensual portrayal of Nepalese society. Nota Bene a grander and more tragic scale than he could possibly have imagined. The narrative is divided into a series of very short sections, some no longer than a paragraph. Many of the earlier sections directly and simply recount the author’s reactions during and immediately after the initial 7.3 magnitude tremor: he was seated at a restaurant when he “heard a terrible explosion”; he ran outside, where “the earth started shaking like a sheet of paper whipped by the wind.” Like others who had been lucky enough to make it outside, he could only watch while buildings collapsed , crushing their occupants. Later sections chronicle his attempts to reach friends and family members during the first days of shock and relative isolation. As a Canadian national, Laferrière had the opportunity to leave Haiti, but he soon returned. He decided early on that he would write about the earthquake, which leads to sections devoted to whether a work of fiction is appropriate for a disaster of such a magnitude. In one such section, Laferrière’s nephew, who has literary ambitions of his own, asks him not to write a novel about the earthquake. Not surprisingly, the importance of the disaster for the already impoverished population is often stressed: “We say January 12 here the way they say September 11 in other places.” Laferrière offers thoughts on Haiti’s immediate reconstruction and long-term future while reminding readers of the country’s sometimes glorious, often tortured past. The author also wonders how the disaster will affect the Haitian nation’s artistic traditions: “What art forms will be the first to come forward after the earthquake?” (see WLT, Jan. 2013, 26–28). However, these thoughts and questions lead to few insights and fewer answers. Laferrière’s tone is generally matterof -fact, and he sometimes appears to be a somewhat detached (though painstakingly detailed) observer. He certainly avoided the sentimental traps of either wallowing in misery or producing a paean to the indomitable human spirit in the face of disaster. An eyewitness to an extraordinary event, he has written a fairly ordinary book. Perhaps this was the only possible short-term literary response. Edward Ousselin Western Washington University Joyce Morgan & Conrad Walters. Journeys on the Silk Road: A Desert Explorer, Buddha’s Secret Library, and the Unearthing of the World’s Oldest Printed Book. Guilford, Conn. Globe Pequot / Lyons Press. 2012. isbn 9780762782970 The first impression the reader takes away from this tale of the recovery and preservation of the world’s oldest known printed book—a woodcut copy of the Buddhist text of the Diamond Sutra dating from 868 CE—is one of the exhaustive and exhausting research that must have gone into its making. The extent of this work, which began in earnest in 2005 but was inspired much earlier, is recognized in the book’s acknowledgments section as well as its scholarly apparatus : endnotes, select bibliography, and an enormously helpful index. But it’s also revealed in every chapter and in may– june 2013 • 75 reviews the minute details out of which this story is built, right down to the history of its central character’s “dynasty” of fox terriers, all named Dash. The book traces the adventures of the intrepid explorer and archaeologist Aurel Stein who, without knowing what he had, in the early twentieth century retrieved the Diamond Sutra from one of the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, where it had resided for more than a...

Salivary gland enlargement and sialorrhoea in dogs with spirocercosis: A retrospective and prospective study of 298 cases

This longitudinal cross-sectional clinical study investigated the incidence of sialorrhoea in dogs with spirocercosis and determined whether breed, body weight and the extent of the oesophageal involvement was associated with this presentation. A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical records of 233 dogs and information pertaining to 65 dogs was collected as part of a prospective study. All the animals were client-owned. Patients from the retrospective study underwent thoracic radiography or oesophageal endoscopy to diagnose and characterise the infection and were placed on therapy with a macrocyclic lactone, whereas the patients in the prospective study had both radiography and endoscopy routinely performed and biopsies of the oesophageal nodules collected where possible. Tru-cut biopsies of affected salivary glands were taken in 10 of 13 patients demonstrating clinical signs of sialorrhoea and salivary gland enlargement. The entire salivary gland was sectioned in an additional three dogs with spirocercosis and no sialorrhoea that were presented for post mortem examination. Sialorrhoea was present in 33/298 cases (11%). Fox terrier breeds were over-represented in the patients with sialorrhoea, comprising 36% of cases, whereas they only comprised 1.5% of the patients without sialorrhoea (p < 0.001, chi squared test) and 5% of the combined group. Dogs weighing 12 kg or less were significantly over-represented in the sialorrhoea group, 69% versus 19.5% (p < 0.001, chi square test). Age was not significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.08, Mann-Whitney test). The number of oesophageal nodules per case was significantly higher in the non-sialorrhoea cases (p = 0.048, Mann-Whitney test). The prevalence of distal oesophageal and lower oesophageal sphincter involvement, and neoplastic transformation of the nodules were not statistically different between the two groups. None of the fox terriers in either group showed neoplastic transformation of the parasitic nodules even though they were over-represented as a breed. Mandibular salivary glands were affected in 86% of cases showing sialorrhoea. Histopathology revealed acinar hyperplasia in all cases with concurrent necrosis detected in only two cases.Sialorrhoea and salivary gland enlargement has an incidence of 11% (33/298 cases) in canine spirocercosis. Small breeds (≤ 12 kg) and particularly fox terrier breeds are over-represented in the group demonstrating sialorrhoea and this appeared to be the only risk factor.The conclusion was that sialorrhoea secondary to canine spirocercosis occurs frequently and its presence should prompt further investigation for oesophageal and gastro-intestinal disease. Severely affected patients can be managed with phenobarbitone to control the dysphagia in addition to the routine macrocyclic lactones treatment.

Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter in Tenterfield Terriers

A cluster of cases of congenital hypothyroidism with goiter (CHG) in Tenterfield Terriers was identified and hypothesized to be dyshormonogenesis of genetic etiology with autosomal recessive inheritance. To describe the phenotype, thyroid histopathology, biochemistry, mode of inheritance, and causal mutation of CHG in Tenterfield Terriers. Thyroid tissue from 1 CHG-affected Tenterfield Terriers, 2 affected Toy Fox Terriers, and 7 normal control dogs. Genomic DNA from blood or buccal brushings of 114 additional Tenterfield Terriers. Biochemical and genetic segregation analysis of functional gene candidates in a Tenterfield Terrier kindred. Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) iodide oxidation activity was measured, and TPO protein and SDS-resistant thyroglobulin aggregation were assessed on western blots. TPO cDNA was amplified from thyroid RNA and sequenced. Exons and flanking splice sites were amplified from genomic DNA and sequenced. Variant TPO allele segregation was assessed by restriction enzyme digestion of PCR products. Thyroid from an affected pup had lesions consistent with dyshormonogenesis. TPO activity was absent, but normal sized immunocrossreactive TPO protein was present. Affected dog cDNA and genomic sequences revealed a homozygous TPO missense mutation in exon 9 (R593W) that was heterozygous in all obligate carriers and in 31% of other clinically normal Tenterfield Terriers. The mutation underlying CHG in Tenterfield Terriers was identified, and a convenient carrier test made available for screening Tenterfield Terriers used for breeding.

Occurrence, clinical features and outcome of canine pancreatitis (80 cases)

Medical records of 80 dogs diagnosed with acute pancreatitis during a 4-year period were evaluated regarding history, breed predilection, clinical signs and additional examination findings. Cases were selected if compatible clinical symptoms, increased serum activity of amylase or lipase and morphologic evidence of pancreatitis by ultrasonography, laparotomy or necropsy were all present. Like in other studies, neutered dogs had an increased risk of developing acute pancreatitis. Although breed predilection was consistent with earlier reports, some notable differences were also observed. Apart from Dachshunds, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels and Fox Terriers, the sled dogs (Laikas, Alaskan Malamutes) also demonstrated a higher risk for pancreatitis according to our results. Concurrent diseases occurred in 56 dogs (70%), diabetes mellitus (n = 29, 36%) being the most common. Clinical signs of acute pancreatitis were similar to those observed in other studies. The study group represented a dog population with severe acute pancreatitis, having a relatively high mortality rate (40%) compared to data of the literature. Breed, age, gender, neutering and body condition had no significant association with the outcome. Hypothermia (p = 0.0413) and metabolic acidosis (p = 0.0063) correlated significantly with poor prognosis and may serve as valuable markers for severity assessment in canine acute pancreatitis.

Biological activity of avocado‐derived mannoheptulose in dogs

Mannoheptulose (MH) is a 7‐carbon sugar found in avocados and other natural sources. It is proposed as a calorie restriction (CR) mimetic that delivers anti‐aging and health‐promoting benefits of CR without reducing food intake. Two studies were conducted to evaluate effects of MH on fasting insulin when fed as an avocado extract (AvX) to Labrador Retrievers (LR) and Fox Terriers (FT). Decreased fasting insulin is commonly associated with CR and longevity. In Study 1, 36 dogs, balanced by breed (18 LR; 18 FT) and age (18 young, 2.6 yr; 18 old, 11.8 yr), received control or test treatments during sequential 2‐week periods. Test dogs were fed one AvX‐containing gelatin capsule daily to deliver 1, 2, 10 or 20 mg MH/kg BW in a step‐up fashion. Control dogs were fed one placebo capsule daily. Fasting blood samples were collected weekly. Fasting insulin was lower (P<0.05) in dogs fed 2, 10 and 20 mg/kg. In Study 2, LR (15) and FT (15) were fed an AvX‐containing diet providing 0, 2 or 5 mg MH/kg BW. A glycemic meal challenge was induced on days 0 and 30 by feeding dogs one‐half their daily meal allotment after an overnight fast. Blood samples for insulin and glucose were collected at 0, 30, 60, 120 and 240 min post‐feeding. MH (2 mg/kg) reduced (P<0.05) insulin levels (mean, peak, area under curve) in old LR on day 30. Glucose was not affected by MH. Lower plasma insulin implies mannoheptulose is biologically active in dogs when fed as an avocado extract.

Bioavailability of avocado‐derived mannoheptulose in dogs

Mannoheptulose (MH) is a 7‐carbon sugar found in avocados and other natural sources that acts to reduce glycolysis via hexokinase inhibition. It has been proposed as a calorie restriction (CR) mimetic that delivers anti‐aging and health‐promoting benefits of CR without reducing food intake. Three studies were conducted to evaluate MH bioavailability when fed to dogs as an avocado extract (AvX) based on MH levels in urine (Study 1) and plasma (Study 2 & 3). In Study 1, Labrador Retrievers (LR; n=15) and Fox Terriers (n=15) were fed AvX‐containing diets formulated to deliver 0, 2 or 5 mg MH/kg BW. All dogs were subjected to 24‐hour quantitative urine collections. A dose‐dependent increase (p<0.05) in urinary MH occurred with increasing dietary MH. In Study 2, LR (n=6) were fed AvX‐containing diets once daily to deliver 0, 1 or 2 mg MH/kg BW. Sequential blood samples were collected before and after feeding through 12 hr and at 24‐hr post‐feeding. Plasma MH increased (P<0.05) with both MH diets compared to control. Peak MH occurred 6–8 hr post‐feeding and returned to non‐detectable levels by 24 hr. In Study 3, similar MH results were observed for LR (n=10) fed AvX‐containing diets twice daily to provide 0 or 2 mg MH/kg BW. Peak MH occurred within 2–4 hr of MH consumption and returned to non‐detectable levels by 24 hr. Mannoheptulose, fed as an avocado extract, is biologically available in dogs based on its appearance in plasma and urine.

Concentrations of Prolactin, LH, Testosterone, TSH and Thyroxine in Normospermic Dogs of Different Breeds

Concentrations of prolactin (PRL), LH, testosterone (T), TSH and thyroxine (T(4)) were determined before and at 20, 120 and 180 min after a single iv injection of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in eight Beagles, eight Fox Terriers, six Labrador Retrievers and five Great Danes that were normospermic. Mean basal PRL concentrations were lower in the Fox Terriers compared with the Great Danes (p < 0.05). Mean LH concentrations were higher in the Fox Terriers than in the Beagles, and T was lower in the Fox Terriers at some times but not others (p < 0.05). Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) concentrations did not differ among breeds, while mean basal T(4) values were lower in Fox Terriers compared with Labrador Retrievers and Great Danes (p < 0.05). Stimulation of T(4) secretion 120 and 180 min after iv TRH injection was most pronounced in the Beagles and less in the Fox Terriers (p < 0.05). The results of the present study indicate that potential breed differences in circulating concentrations of PRL, LH, T, TSH and T(4) in male dogs with apparently normal fertility can be encountered, but further studies are needed to determine whether the observed differences are typical features of these breeds, reflect subsets of dogs within breeds, or are in part because of possible uncontrolled parameters such as sample timing, ambient photoperiod, housing conditions or diet.

Plasma concentration of luteinizing hormone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione between birth and one year in the male dog: longitudinal study and hCG stimulation.

A longitudinal study from peripheral blood, with samples collected every week, was performed between birth and one year of age on young Fox terriers dogs in order to determine the patterns of plasma LH, T, DHA and A concentrations. T, DHA, A curves show the same profile. The dog model shows the 3 successive steps preceding the adult life that are met in one year time: First, an infantile period between birth and the 12th week of age: the basal level of LH (4.29 ng/ml) and the 3 androgens levels (T less than 0.3 ng/ml, DHA less than 0.45 ng/ml, A less than 0.36 ng/ml) are low. A pubertal period, between the 13th week and the 36th week of age: we observe the maximum activity of the pituitary gland. The basal level of LH (7.97 ng/ml) significantly increase (P less than 0.001). The mean levels of androgens from 17 to 27 weeks of age are still quite low although significantly higher (P less than 0.03) for T and DHA than previously. After the 27th week of age, the androgens concentrations drastically increase. A post pubertal period begins at the 36th week of age. The mean LH (5.85 nh/ml) decrease. The androgens concentrations seem to plateau during the 12th month of age in the range of 2.5-5 ng/ml for T, 1.5-2.5 ng/ml for DHA and 1-2 ng/ml for A. hCG test (35 UI/kg, IM), with samples collected at 6, 12, 24, 30, 36 and 48 hours post injection, were performed at 1, 4, 7, 9 and 12 months of age. At 1 month, only minor variations were noticed; but after 4 months of age, for the 3 steroids, the same time course response was observed as in the adult dog: maximum levels were reached earlier for DHA (6-12 h) than for T and A (24 h).

CNS Hypomyelination in Rat Terrier Dogs with Congenital Goiter and a Mutation in the Thyroid Peroxidase Gene

Arrested physical development and neurologic abnormalities were identified in 3 of 5 Rat Terrier puppies at 9 weeks of age. Bilaterally firm symmetrical masses were palpated in the region of the thyroid glands. Low serum total (T4) and free thyroxine (FT4, by equilibrium dialysis) and markedly elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations supported the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. At necropsy, the thyroid gland was grossly enlarged and histologically exhibited severe, diffuse hyperplasia of the follicular epithelium. Gross examination of the central nervous system revealed a myelin deficiency, most evident in the corpus callosum. Regional distribution of hypomyelination was confirmed histologically, affecting the corpus callosum and, to a lesser degree, the corona radiata, the longitudinal fibers of the pons, the pyramids, and the lateral funiculi of the spinal cord. Myelin reduction was paralleled by axon reduction, suggesting that hypomyelination was a consequence of reduced axonal formation. A homozygous nonsense mutation in the thyroid peroxidase gene was identified in the affected puppies. The dam and a clinically normal litter mate were heterozygous for this mutation, confirming simple autosomal recessive inheritance of the disease trait. The same mutation, causing congenital hypothyroidism with a goiter was previously described in the Toy Fox Terrier breed. Given the ongoing practice of introducing the Toy Fox Terrier genetic background into some Rat Terrier breeding programs to obtain a smaller stature and the apparent relative incidence of the disorder in the 2 breeds, it is likely that this mutation crossed into the Rat Terrier breed from Toy Fox Terriers fairly recently.

A retrospective report of 90 dogs with suspected cane toad (Bufo marinus) toxicity

To report the clinical characteristics of toad toxicity in domestic dogs in Brisbane. A retrospective analysis of clinical cases. All cases of toad poisoning which presented to a northern suburbs emergency clinic in Brisbane over a 30-month period beginning in April 1999 were reviewed. A total of 90 canine cases of suspected toad poisoning were reviewed. Small breed dogs accounted for 76% of cases. Jack Russell, Silky, and Fox Terriers were the most represented breeds. Cases were reported year round, with fewest cases over the winter months. The most common clinical signs were increased salivation (78% of cases), and red oral mucous membranes (63% cases). Seizures occurred in 31% of cases. Generally the outcome was excellent with 96% survival.

Congenital hypothyroidism with goiter in toy fox terriers.

Congenital hypothyroidism with goiter was observed to segregate as a simple autosomal recessive trait in Toy Fox Terriers (TFTs). Neonatal affected pups exhibited inactivity, abnormal hair coat, stenotic ear canals, and delayed eye opening. Palpable ventrolateral cervical swellings were evident by 1 week of age. Serum thyroid hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations were low and high, respectively. Histologic examination of the cervical masses disclosed cuboidal to columnar follicular epithelial cell hyperplasia with widely varying follicular size, shape, and amount of colloid. Oral thyroid hormone replacement therapy restored near-normal growth and development. At 8 weeks of age, radioiodine uptake and perchlorate discharge testing indicated an iodine organification defect. Biochemical analysis of thyroid tissue from affected dogs demonstrated enzymatic iodine oxidation deficiency and lack of sodium dodecyl sulfate-resistant thyroglobulin dimers, suggesting thyroid peroxidase deficiency. A nonsense mutation in the thyroid peroxidase gene of affected dogs was discovered and demonstrated to segregate with the disease. A DNA-based carrier test was developed and currently is used by TFT breeders to prevent this disorder.

Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter in Toy Fox Terriers

Congenital hypothyroidism with goiter was observed to segregate as a simple autosomal recessive trait in Toy Fox Terriers (TFTs). Neonatal affected pups exhibited inactivity, abnormal hair coat, stenotic ear canals, and delayed eye opening. Palpable ventrolateral cervical swellings were evident by 1 week of age. Serum thyroid hormone and thyroid‐stimulating hormone concentrations were low and high, respectively. Histologic examination of the cervical masses disclosed cuboidal to columnar follicular epithelial cell hyperplasia with widely varying follicular size, shape, and amount of colloid. Oral thyroid hormone replacement therapy restored near‐normal growth and development. At 8 weeks of age, radioiodine uptake and perchlorate discharge testing indicated an iodine organification defect. Biochemical analysis of thyroid tissue from affected dogs demonstrated enzymatic iodine oxidation deficiency and lack of sodium dodecyl sulfate–resistant thyroglobulin dimers, suggesting thyroid peroxidase deficiency. A nonsense mutation in the thyroid peroxidase gene of affected dogs was discovered and demonstrated to segregate with the disease. A DNA‐based carrier test was developed and currently is used by TFT breeders to prevent this disorder.

Straelensiosis in dogs: a newly described nodular dermatitis induced by Straelensia cynotis

A distinctive nodular dermatitis induced by Straelensia cynotis, a newly described trombidioid larval mite which resides in hair follicles, was identified in 12 dogs living in France. They all had...

Effect of age, breed and dietary omega-6 (n-6) : omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid ratio on immune function, eicosanoid production, and lipid peroxidation in young and aged dogs

The focus of this study was to examine the influence of age and diet on various parameters of immune function in young and old Fox Terriers and Labrador Retrievers. Eighteen young and old dogs were utilized for this study. Young and old dogs were fed a basal diet containing an (n-6) : (n-3) ratio of 25 : 1 for sixty days (Phase I). Half of the dogs were then switched to a diet with an (n-6) : (n-3) ratio of 5 : 1, and all were maintained on their respective diets for an additional sixty days (Phase II). Results from these studies revealed an age-associated decline in several immune parameters measured. Both these breeds demonstrated a reduction in sheep red blood cell titers, as well as in their ability to respond to different mitogens. Interestingly, this decline was greater in Fox Terriers, suggesting a decrease in cellular proliferative capacity in lymphocytes isolated from the larger breed. Neither cytokine production or DTH response was affected by age. Diet and breed interactions resulted in a significant increase in T- and B-cell mitogen responsiveness. In contrast, supplementation with n-3 fatty acids did not affect IL-1, IL-6 or TNF-α production. Supplementation with n-3 fatty acids resulted in increased PGE 3 production from peritoneal macrophages but had no effect on PGE 2 production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells or peritoneal macrophages. The n-3 fatty acid supplementation did not influence α-tocopherol status although older dogs had significantly lower serum α-tocopherol concentrations. Oxidative status of these dogs was assessed by serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). Feeding an n-3-enriched diet did not affect 4-HNE levels but significantly decreased MDA levels in old dogs. In summary, this study indicates that feeding a diet containing an (n-6) : (n-3) fatty acid ratio of 5 : 1 had a positive, rather than a negative, effect on the immune response of young or geriatric dogs

Reported behaviour problems in pet dogs in Denmark: age distribution and influence of breed and gender

In the period 1987–1991 the consultant service established by the Danish Animal Welfare Society and the Danish Civil Dog Training Association reported 3975 problems in relation to pet dogs in Denmark. With nine categories of problem behaviour a total of 2719 problems were recorded in 2238 dogs. The data were analysed for the influence of breed, gender and age on the risk of developing behaviour problems. The analysis was designed as a case-control study using two control groups: (1) dogs registered by Danish Kennel Club in a 5-year period and (2) dogs treated at The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark in a 4-month period. Thirteen breeds or breed groups including mixed breeds were compared with a reference group consisting of Labrador Retrievers. Compared with the reference group, Alsatians seemed to have higher risks of aggression towards other dogs, aggression towards strangers and general anxiety. For Cocker Spaniels higher risks of aggression towards the owner, aggression towards strangers and indoor urination/defecation were found. Collies seemed to have higher risks of aggression towards strangers, indoor urination/defecation and general anxiety. Furthermore, a higher risk of general anxiety was found in Poodles and Fox Terriers. Generally, Dachshunds, a group consisting of all terriers excluding Fox Terriers and mixed breeds, seemed to have a low risk of behaviour problems. Compared with females, males seemed to have a lower risk of general anxiety and a higher risk of problems related to lack of training and all kinds of aggression. About 80% of the behaviour problems were reported within the first 3 years of life. Only 5.5% of the dogs were suggested to be or were in fact euthanized.

Individual and Breed Differences in Approach and Withdrawal in Dogs

AbstractThe study was concerned with measuring patterns of approach and withdrawal in four breeds of dogs; namely: beagles, wire-haired fox terriers, basenjis and Shetland sheep-dogs. Each dog was exposed to a variety of stimuli including : a black rubber snake, a bone, a life-sized head of a clown, a mirror, a live puppy, etc. Behaviors of approach or withdrawal in relation to each stimulus were rated, and in addition, contact time, gridcrossings, latency and urinations were also recorded. Marked breed and sex differences were found on almost all measures. The beagles appeared to withdraw the most and the terriers were the most active and approachful. Most of the measures were found to show high retest reliability. The data support the view that temperamental differences may be determined to a considerable degree by hereditary factors, and that multiple measures are necessary for unambiguously assessing the behavior of organisms.