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Simple Summary: As global pet ownership rises, managing the health of aging dogs has become a growing concern, particularly due to the high costs and challenges in recognizing early symptoms. In Korea, many casual pet owners struggle to identify abnormal behaviors and address them effectively without expert knowledge. Thus, we propose a pre-diagnosis system for casual dog owners that infers possible diseases from queries based on observed abnormal symptoms. This proposed system, based on a fuzzy inference algorithm, is not to aiming to compete with veterinarians but to alert the casual pet caregiver to monitor abnormal behavior indicative of disease, to be addressed as early as possible. The experimental results verify that the proposed system is sufficiently robust under noisy input, which is very common when non-expert casual owners use this system. While the pet market is continuously rapidly increasing in Korea, pet dog owners feel uncomfortable in coping with pet dog's health problems in time. In this paper, we propose a pre-diagnosis system based on neuro-fuzzy learning, enabling non-expert users to monitor their pets' health by inputting observed symptoms. To develop such a system, we form a disease–symptom database based on several textbooks with veterinarians' guidance and filtering. The system offers likely disease predictions and recommended coping strategies based on fuzzy inference. We evaluated three fuzzy inference algorithms—PFCM-R, FHAL, and MNFL. While PFCM-R achieved high accuracy with clean data, it struggled with noisy inputs. FHAL showed better noise tolerance but lower precision. PFCM-R is a variant of well-known fuzzy unsupervised learner FCM, and FHAL is the hybrid fuzzy inference engine based on Fuzzy Association Memory and a double-layered FCM we developed. To make the system more robust, we propose the multi-layered neuro-fuzzy learner (MNFL) in this paper, which effectively weakens the association strength between the disease and the observed symptoms, less related to the body part on which the abnormal symptoms are observed. In experiments that are designed to examine how the inference system reacts under increasing noisy input from the user, MNFL achieved 98% accuracy even with non-erroneous inputs, demonstrating superior robustness to other inference engines. This system empowers pet owners to detect health issues early, improving the quality of care and fostering more informed interactions with veterinarians, ultimately enhancing the well-being of companion animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Lactococcus petauri has been described for the first time in 2017 in a sugar glider. A few years later, it has emerged as important pathogen for fish and more recently it has been reported also in terrestrial mammals and humans. A lot of these cases were misdiagnosed as Lactococcus garvieae infection due to the limitation of the available common standard diagnostic techniques used which were unable to discriminate between these two species and relatively high similarity of the two pathogens at genetic and phenotypic levels. Till today, there are only two reported cases of lactococcosis in dogs with no previous cases were reported from Italy. This report is the first description of L. petauri infection in two domestics dog cases from Italy. The results of the current report provide an update on the host tropism, and additional knowledge on virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of L. petauri. Lactococcus garvieae has been considered for a long time the only causal agent of lactococcosis. In recent years, different papers reported the involvement of other two bacterial species: Lactococcus petauri and Lactococcus formosensis. A different host tropism has been described for these species where L. garvieae and L. petauri are predominant species in fish and humans' infections, while L. formosensis in bovine. L. garvieae has been reported as rare infectious agent in dog. This paper represents the first isolation of L. petauri in two domesticated dog cases from urine and skin samples, respectively. The recovered L. petauri has been identified using PCR and sequencing based on Internal Transcribe Spacer (ITS) and phylogenetic analysis showed that it belongs to the L. petauri cluster with a 100% of identity with sequences previously reported from fish isolates while there were differences with L. petauri isolated from urinary tract infection from humans. L. petauri in human infection has been considered not necessarily deriving from the ingestion of contaminated food but rather as an opportunistic pathogen colonization intestinal tract. Differences among virulotypes have been reported for humans and dogs, and a comparison was also made between the virulotyping of L. petauri and L. garvieae in dogs. The antimicrobial pattern showed susceptibility for the election treatment molecules. These data contribute to our understanding of the host trophism of this species which was misclassified for long time and provide new data on its virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the physical activity levels of students enrolled in a standard fitness walking class versus a service-learning dog walking class. Participants: College students (N = 65) from a university in the Southeastern United States (71% female; 85% White; 72% seniors). Methods: Students wore NL-1000 pedometers twice a week for 50 minutes for a full academic year. Service-learning students also completed reflection papers. Pedometer data was analyzed using SPSS and papers were analyzed through inductive coding. Results: Significant differences were found in each quantitative measure collected between classes. Students in the service-learning fitness walking class took more steps, walked further, and obtained more minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity than the students in the standard fitness walking class. Results from student reflections provided insight into why these differences occurred as well as additional student experiences. Conclusions: Incorporating a service component into a physical activity course can be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of a doping substance in an athlete's biological sample may not be only related to intentional pharmacological support. The unintended use of a prohibited substance may be due various reasons. This paper describes the case of a Polish canoeist preparing for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris who presented a positive doping test result, as a consequence of administering medication to her injured dog. The athlete used a Trofodermin cutaneous spray (containing clostebol acetate) for pet treatment, which resulted in human transfer during close contact and subsequent detection by doping authorities. To bolster the athlete's defense, it was essential to substantiate the scenario of an unconscious violation of anti-doping rules with scientific evidence. Hence, the decision was made to analyze and compare samples of the athlete's hair and her dog's fur. This investigation confirmed that clostebol absorption occurred through the skin of the hands, transfer during sleeping with the dog on the same bedding and/or inhalation (during the application of the medication, which was dispensed to the animal's paws). This defense was accepted by the Court of Arbitration for the Sport Anti-Doping Division, which subsequently found that the athlete committed an anti-doping rule violation, but under circumstances that amounted to a "no fault" scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Dogs that press buttons to communicate with people have attracted a lot of attention on social media recently. This paper explores how communicating with dogs has a long history—particularly as entertainment but also as science—and notes several paradoxes in the presentation of modern button-pressing dogs. These include how these animals are presented as spontaneously expressing their thoughts when they need months of training; how they appear to offer direct access to their thoughts, yet their button presses usually make little sense without someone interpreting them; and how a human skill—language—is needed for dogs to express their canine mental states. We conclude that although well intentioned and playful, this approach to communicating with dogs runs the risk of replacing the ways that dogs truly communicate with people, such as barking and whining, with an infantile form of human communication. In recent years, dogs that appear to communicate with people by pressing buttons on soundboards that replay pre-recorded English words have become very popular on social media online. We explore how these dogs belong to a historical tradition that dates back at least to the Middle Ages and peaked in the early twentieth century. Through analyses of short videos, books, and training manuals, we identify several paradoxes inherent in this phenomenon. These include how the dogs appear to provide unmediated access to their thoughts, and yet, their button presses are typically incoherent and require interpretation. They also require months of training to "spontaneously" express themselves. There is also an anthropomorphism and -centrism in claiming that a human skill—language—is required for a dog to express mental states that it already possesses. This approach to communicating with dogs quiets canine forms of expression such as barking, whining, bodily postures, and odors and replaces them with endearing but infantile human voices. We suggest that, while this endeavor may be well intentioned and often playful, it runs the risk of skewing people's perception of dogs towards fur-clad infants rather than adult members of a different species and of making people less attentive to canine nonverbal communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Veterinarska Stanica is the property of Croatian Veterinary Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Over the course of the past six decades, liver transplantation has evolved to become the treatment of choice for chronic end-stage liver disease and some cases of acute hepatic failure. Currently, more than 34,000 liver transplants are conducted worldwide per annum, and overall one year survival rates exceed 90%. However, the early years of human liver transplantation were beset by failure. Eyewitness reports from this period make for tragic, yet compelling reading. Volume 12 of The History of Anaesthesia Society Proceedings contains one such account, written by Dr Elizabeth Gibbs. This outlined the experience of single-handedly anaesthetising the recipient of the first liver transplant to be undertaken at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK, in June 1967. Despite the best efforts of the team, the patient died from uncontrollable haemorrhage 19 hours after the start of the procedure. While this tragic outcome might have been expected in the early days of liver transplantation, Gibbs included an unsettling postscript in her paper. This stated that all of the patient's records had apparently been 'lost', and the date of the first Cambridge liver transplant was publicly reported as 2 May 1968, some 11 months after the events described. This article outlines the results of research aimed at critically appraising this postscript. In doing so a number of unexpected discoveries were made. These highlight some important lessons for medical historians and demonstrate that if you look hard enough, there really are two sides to every story. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is increasing interest in the incorporation of animal‐assisted services (AAS) in therapy for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. AAS have the potential to enhance speech and language therapy engagement and outcomes. However, a greater understanding of the nature and potential benefits of these interventions is needed. Aims: To describe the existing evidence for the incorporation of AAS in therapy with adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders and to identify areas for future research. Methods & Procedures: A scoping review was conducted and reported in alignment with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analyses checklist extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA‐ScR). Seven databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science) and grey literature (Google) were searched. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full texts against eligibility criteria using Covidence software. The Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist guided extraction of intervention data. Main Contributions: A total of 17 studies with adults with aphasia, apraxia of speech and cognitive–communication disorders were included. While terminology varied, most interventions met the definition of animal‐assisted therapy or animal‐assisted activity and used therapy dogs. Across studies, a range of outcomes were targeted, and positive benefits were reported for participant mood, emotions, motivation and satisfaction. There were mixed, but mostly positive, benefits on social behaviour, communication and participation. Conclusions & Implications: AAS has been incorporated in therapy for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders, predominately with people with dementia. Across studies, communication impairments and AAS interventions were insufficiently or inconsistently described. Improved reporting would assist understanding of the potential benefits of AAS as an adjunct therapy. A quality appraisal of existing studies, and meta‐analysis of findings, is needed to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of AAS as a complementary therapy for people with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject: There is increasing interest and research in AAS as an adjunct to traditional speech and language therapy. Several clinical populations have been shown to benefit from the incorporation of AAS as a complementary therapy approach, including adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. To date there has not been a comprehensive review of literature in the area. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge: This review aimed to describe what is known about AAS as an adjunct intervention for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. A total of 17 studies were identified, the majority conducted with people living with dementia. Overall, consistent positive benefits of AAS were reported on participant mood, positive emotions, motivation, and satisfaction. There were mixed, but mostly positive, benefits of AAS on social behaviour, including both verbal and non‐verbal communication outcomes, and participation. What are the practical and clinical implications of this work?: These results suggest a potential therapeutic benefit for the inclusion of AAS into traditional modalities used by speech–language therapists with people with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. However, clinicians should view these findings with caution. Studies were often insufficiently or inconsistently reported, and a quality appraisal and meta‐analysis of existing studies would be needed to draw clear conclusions on the effectiveness of AAS as a complementary approach for people with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disabled individuals can and do lead successful careers as assistance dog instructors. However, the international percentage of professional disabled instructors is significantly lower than their able-bodied colleagues. This paper takes an initial step in questioning the benefits and challenges of creating more accessible and inclusive career paths for disabled assistance dog instructors, hopefully acting as a springboard for future research, and initiating conversation within the assistance dog sector itself, as well. Some disabled individuals may have a disability, or combinations of more than one, which could challenge the welfare and wellbeing of the dogs they educate. Others may have a greater aptitude for educating assistance dogs and offering deeper empathy at times. This paper was inspired by the author's six years working as a guide dog instructor. It questions what the implications of a disabled trainer's career might be for the disabled individual, assistance dog, employer, and client. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking as its point of departure the place of the vegetal realm within Jane Campion's filmmaking, this article attends to both living and artificial plants, homing in on the exquisitely crafted paper flowers of The Power of the Dog to explore their entanglement with human power relations. Manmade flowers are clearly distinct from the flowers of the garden or the prairie, but in this Western, they form part of a broader floral aesthetic with their living kin. Drawing upon thought that stems from actual plants (Deleuze and Guattari's arboreal-rhizomatic thinking) and vegetal philosophy (Marder, Coccia), as well as parallel botany's attention to the artificial (Lionni), I follow the fate of one paper flower as it intersects with the gendered history of artificial flower making and floral sexual symbolism. Thinking with this paper flower, I engage with theories that variously question binary power relations (Cixous, Barthes, Steinbock), reading these alongside scholarship on sex, gender, and masculinity in the Western (Neale, Mulvey, Bruzzi), and broaching the hierarchies of settler colonialism. The film's floral aesthetic, I argue, challenges the either/or logic of male or female, masculine or feminine, and even though it cannot fully break away from the binaries it critiques, it is indebted to registering the importance of the nuance (Barthes) in the unthreading of power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rabies remains a significant public health issue in Ghana, predominantly affecting rural communities with limited access to health care and veterinary services. The disease is primarily transmitted through bites from infected domestic dogs and leads to many deaths worldwide each year. Despite various interventions, Ghana continues to struggle with rabies control and prevention. This narrative paper focuses on rabies control in Ghana, examining stakeholders' interventions, challenges faced, and opportunities available. Methods: The paper reviews existing rabies control measures in Ghana, including dog vaccination efforts and One Health strategies. It also discusses the limitations of these interventions, such as minimal vaccination coverage, weak surveillance, and inadequate intersectoral coordination. Results: Ghana has implemented dog vaccination campaigns, but coverage remains minimal. Additionally, weak disease surveillance, cultural perceptions, and inadequate coordination across sectors have hampered the country's ability to control rabies effectively. Conclusion: Adopting One Health principles, which integrate human, animal, and environmental health efforts, is emphasized as a critical strategy to eliminate rabies in Ghana by 2030. By addressing these challenges and leveraging available opportunities, Ghana can strengthen its rabies control programs and work toward a rabies‐free future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the dimensional changes in the alveolar crest after buccal overbuilding was performed prior to tooth extraction in a dog model. Materials and Methods: At the test sites, alveolar crest overbuilding was performed on the buccal aspect of the distal root of the third premolar using xenograft covered with a collagen membrane. No treatment was applied at the control sites. After 3 months, the distal roots of both third premolars were extracted and implants were immediately placed into the alveolus, allowing nonsubmerged healing. After 3 months, biopsy samples were collected. Results: Upon histologic analysis, no statistically significant differences in hard tissue dimensions were found. The buccal bone plate at the test sites presented a tendency for higher resorption compared to the control sites. However, if the contribution of the residue of biomaterial is considered, a higher volumetric gain was registered at the test than at the control sites. Conclusions: The buccal overbuilding performed prior to tooth extraction did not contribute to the preservation of the alveolar crest dimensions after extraction. This could be due to failure to incorporate the graft into the newly formed bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rabies is a deadly viral disease present mainly in low-income countries of Africa and Asia. Dogs are the main reservoir and the source of human deaths. Mass vaccination campaigns of dogs are pivotal to achieve rabies elimination. The monitoring of the immune response of the dog population is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these campaigns, taking into account field conditions. This study explores the feasibility and the performance of a new tool using filter papers (FPs) to collect blood samples associated with an Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) titration of rabies antibodies in dogs. A total of 216 eluates from FP samples were collected from 111 dogs kept in experimental facilities in France and 29 dogs from the field in Tunisia. Sera were also analyzed using both the Fluorescence Antibody Virus Neutralization test (FAVNt) and ELISA. A high specificity (98.0%) was obtained by testing FP blood eluates from 51 unvaccinated dogs, with the results compared with those of FAVNt and ELISA on serum samples. The coefficients of concordance between FP eluates and tested sera were 88.9% for FAVNt and 88.0% for ELISA. Blood filter papers coupled with the titration of rabies antibodies by ELISA provide a reliable, simple, and effective solution to overcome the issues of the logistics and transport of samples, especially in low-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most existing studies on pet breeds classification focus on images with simple backgrounds, leading to the unsatisfactory performance of models in practical applications. This paper investigates training pet breeds classification models using complex images and constructs a dataset for identifying breeds of pet cats and dogs. We use this dataset to fine-tune three SOTA models: ResNet34, DenseNet121, and Swin Transformer. Specifically, in terms of top-1 accuracy, the performance of DenseNet is improved from 89.10% to 89.19%, while that of the Swin Transformer is increased by 1.26%, marking the most significant enhancement. The results show that training with our dataset significantly enhances the models' classification capabilities in complex environments. Additionally, we offer a lightweight pet breeds identification model based on PBI-EdgeNeXt (Pet Breeds Identification EdgeNeXt). We utilizes the PolyLoss function and Sophia optimizer for model training. Furthermore, we compare our model with five commonly used lightweight models and find that the proposed model achieves the highest top-1 accuracy of 87.12%. These results demonstrate that the model achieves high accuracy, reaching the SOTA level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst dogs are adored companions worldwide, high numbers continue to be relinquished each year due to perceived behavioral concerns. Subsequently, this paper addresses the question; What are guardian's expectations of canine behavior and companionship? A total of 175 participants responded to a qualitative semi-structured survey, distributed online. Following a reflexive thematic analysis , five themes are discussed; A well-balanced dog, Obedient, Affection and Connection, Shared Interests, and Commitment. The findings highlight a wide range of expectations typically moving beyond realistic behavior and capabilities for both dogs and guardians. Resultantly, we call for clearer conceptualization of canine behavior, particularly in relation to the distinction between observable behavior and behavioral interpretations (personality, temperament etc.). Clarification on the facets of dog behavior, in addition to better understanding guardian expectations, will aid the development of educational materials aimed at supporting existing human-dog relationships and the adoption matching process within canine adoptions. Cumulatively, this would aid successful human-dog bonding, reducing the risk for relinquishment. These findings build on the recently proposed Perceived Canine Reactivity Framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of the challenges posed by intricate algorithms, subpar recognition accuracy, and prolonged recognition duration in current machine vision for bridge structure monitoring, this paper presents an innovative method for recognizing and extracting structural edges based on the Gaussian difference method. Initially, grayscale processing enhances the image's information content. Subsequently, a Region of Interest (ROI) is identified to streamline further processing steps. Following this, Gaussian check images at different scales are processed, capitalizing on the observation that edges show reduced correspondence to the Gaussian kernel. Then, the structure image's edges are derived using the difference algorithm. Lastly, employing the scale factor, the algorithm translates the detected edge displacement within the image into the precise physical displacement of the structure. This method enables continuous monitoring of the structure and facilitates the assessment of its safety status. The experimental results affirm that the proposed algorithm adeptly identifies and extracts the structural edge's geometric characteristics with precision. Furthermore, the displacement information derived from the scale factor closely aligns with the actual displacement, validating the algorithm's effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People are generally more accurate at categorizing objects at the basic level (e.g., dog) than at more general, superordinate categories (e.g., animal). Recent research has suggested that this basic‐level advantage emerges from the linguistic‐distributional and sensorimotor relationship between a category concept and object concept, but the proposed mechanisms have not been subject to a formal computational test. In this paper, we present a computational model of category verification that allows linguistic distributional information and sensorimotor experience to interact in a grounded implementation of a full‐size adult conceptual system. In simulations across multiple datasets, we demonstrate that the model performs the task of category verification at a level comparable to human participants, and—critically—that its operation naturally gives rise to the basic‐level‐advantage phenomenon. That is, concepts are easier to categorize when there is a high degree of overlap in sensorimotor experience and/or linguistic distributional knowledge between category and member concepts, and the basic‐level advantage emerges as an overall behavioral artifact of this linguistic and sensorimotor overlap. Findings support the linguistic–sensorimotor preparation account of the basic‐level advantage and, more broadly, linguistic–sensorimotor theories of the conceptual system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal-assisted interventions, such as the use of service dogs, represent an increasingly popular therapeutic avenue for youths with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Before engaging anyone in this type of intervention, it could be justified to assess their level of attraction to animals. However, this aspect is rarely documented, and no existing instrument suits the specific challenges of ASD clients and the reality of the clinical setting. This paper describes the use and preliminary validation of an observation-based assessment tool developed by the Mira Foundation to evaluate the level of attraction toward dogs. The 9-item scale has been used by the team throughout the evaluation process of 1,010 potential candidates for a service dog. It is designed to describe and quantify observed behaviors during a standardized encounter with a non-familiar dog. The participants were aged between 2 and 26 years old (mean age = 8.13, SD = 4.3 years) and 87% had an ASD diagnosis. A total of 323 participants were assessed by a second rater, which allowed for interrater reliability analyses on each item of the scale. The factorial structure of the scale was determined by applying an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on one-half of the sample, followed by a cross-validation study consisting of a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the other half. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess internal consistency. Based on weighted kappa statistics, interrater reliability showed strong agreement for individual items (Kw between 0.66 and 0.85). A two-factor solution was produced with EFA and confirmed through CFA. A Cronbach's alpha of 0.89 when items from the first factor (attitude) were combined and 0.92 for the second factor (interaction) indicated good internal consistency for the identified subscales. These findings support the reliability of this assessment tool and its potential use in clinical and research domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Veterinary Dermatology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Current high demand for effective odor detection dogs calls for the development of reliable methods for measuring performance-related behavioral phenotypes in these highly specialized working animals. The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) is a widely used behavioral assessment tool among working dog organizations with a demonstrated ability to predict success/failure of dogs in training. However, this instrument was developed originally to study the prevalence of behavior problems in the pet dog population, and it therefore lacks the capacity to measure specific behavioral propensities that may also be important predictors of working dog success. The current paper examines the factor structure, internal reliability, and content validity of a modified version of the C-BARQ designed to evaluate four new domains of canine behavior in addition to those encompassed by the original C-BARQ. These domains, labeled Playfulness, Impulsivity, Distractibility, and Basophobia (fear of falling), respectively, describe aspects of canine behavior or temperament which are believed to contribute substantially to working dog performance. Methods: Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of owner/handler questionnaire responses based on a sample of 1,117 working odor detection dogs. Results: A total of 15 factors were extracted by EFA, 10 of which correspond to original C-BARQ factors. The remaining 5 comprise the four new domains-Playfulness, Impulsivity, Distractibility, and Basophobia- as well as a fifth new factor labeled Food focus. Discussion: The resulting Working Dog Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (WDC-BARQ) successfully expands the measurement capacities of the original C-BARQ to include dimensions of behavior/temperament of particular relevance to many working dog populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal behavior research in laboratory rats has revealed important behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms governing the onset, maintenance and decline of maternal behavior. However, the extent to which these mechanisms are evolutionarily conserved across species is less clear. This manuscript proposes that examining these mechanisms in dogs may be a viable approach to test their generality and help bridge the gap between rodent and human research, as domestic dogs show greater individual differences and exhibit more human-like maternal characteristics than rodents. These aspects represent advantages over rodent models, which in turn allow systems biological approaches not available in rodents. Additionally, domestic dogs share similar social environments with humans, suffer from the same mental disorders as humans, and can be treated with the same medications. This paper begins with a summary of key findings and theoretical developments from decades of rat maternal behavior research, followed by a literature review of the extant maternal behavior research on dogs and related methodology, highlighting the unique behavioral characteristics of dog maternal behavior and similarities and differences from rat maternal behavior. Finally, several knowledge gaps in dog maternal behavior research, as well as the future research in this area is discussed. It concludes that research on dog maternal behavior will not only advance our understanding of the universality of the neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms in maternal behavior, but also improve our understanding of risk factors associated with postpartum mental disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumour (CTVT) is a contagious venereal tumor in dogs. Mostly transmitted through sexual contact, it can also spread through sniffing, licking, biting, and scratching the affected area. It is a contagious tumour, mostly prevalent in mongrels and in dogs exhibiting high levels of sexual activity coupled with roaming behaviour in tropical and subtropical climates. Recently, the incidence of TVT has been found to be increasing, especially in urban areas, where pet parents often come across their animals showing oozing of serosanguinous fluid from anomalous tumorous growth in the external genitalia. This frequently turns out to be TVT. Cytological and histo-pathological findings are used to make a definitive diagnosis. Treatment options may include chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, with chemotherapy often being the preferred choice. In recent times, pet owners have reported a recurrence of the case confirmed earlier as TVT. This has further implications for the development of toxicity due to the repeated use of chemotherapy. This necessitates an urgency to review the current therapeutic approaches and reformulate them with effective alternative regimens. Indeed, several new therapeutic protocols have been developed for TVT, which are very promising, especially for the cases that have shown resistance and recurrence to certain treatments. It is imperative that practicing veterinarians, besides being thorough about therapeutic knowledge, especially dosage calculation (body weight vs. body surface area), also get acquainted with preventive and control measures. This particular paper captures the manifold developments in different areas dealing with therapeutic alternatives, prevention, and control of TVT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV‐2) is the most common enteric virus that infects canids. CPV is the causative agent of a contagious disease defined mostly by clinical gastrointestinal signs in dogs. During the late 1970s, CPV‐2 emerged as a new virus capable of infecting domestic dogs and growing across the world. The VP2 gene stands out as a key determinant in the pathogenicity, antigenicity, and host interactions of CPV‐2. Aims: The molecular characterization of the VP2 gene is crucial for understanding CPV evolution and epidemiology. Materials & Methods: Genes encoding the VP2 protein were sequenced and compared to reference strains worldwide. The maximum likelihood method was used to build a phylogenetic tree using CPV VP2 gene nucleotide sequences. Results: Our phylogenetic analysis of the VP2 gene revealed that five strains were very similar and clustered together, and three strains were in the 2b clade, whereas the other two were in the 2a/2b clade. Discussion: This paper reports the molecular characterization of two novel CPV‐2a/2b subtypes in dogs with gastrointestinal symptoms. Genetic analysis was conducted on a CPV genomic region encompassing one of the open reading frames (ORFs) encoding the structural protein VP2. Sequence analysis indicates new and unreported sequence changes, mainly affecting the VP2 gene, which includes the mutations Ser297Ala and Leu87Met. This study represents the first evidence of a new CPV‐2a/2b subtype in Türkiye. Due to VP2's crucial role in encoding the capsid protein of CPV‐2 and its significant involvement in the host‐virus interaction, it is critical to closely monitor its evolutionary changes and be cautious while searching for novel or pre‐existing subtypes. Conclusion: This study highlights the significance of continuous molecular research for acquiring more insights on the circulation of novel CPV mutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8-year-old castrated male teddy bear dog presented to our clinic with a persistent cough. The sick dog suffered from vehicular trauma 6 months prior to the visit and had imaging and exploratory laparotomy. Imaging and exploratory laparotomy at the time showed no significant damage. We performed contrast radiography (barium gavage) on the sick dog. Based on the results of a complete contrast radiography (barium gavage), tubular shadows in the thoracic cavity were identified as the small intestine and cecum, and delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia with hepatothorax and enterothorax was confirmed with radiographs. Accordingly, the sick dog underwent general anesthesia, manual ventilation and diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy by standard ventral midline abdominal approach. Postoperatively, the dog was given analgesia and antibacterial treatment, and the liver biochemical indexes were monitored to prevent endotoxin. Postoperative radiographs revealed clear contours of thoracic and abdominal organs. The dog moved, ate, and urinated normally within 10 days of the surgery. This case provides a reference for a complete barium meal imaging procedure that clearly shows the position of the organs in the thoracoabdominal cavity after the occurrence of a delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. This paper provides a practical reference for the diagnosis of delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia with hepatothorax and enterothorax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many have argued that discrimination against pit bulls is rooted in the breed's association with Black owners and culture. We theoretically and empirically interrogate that argument in a variety of ways and uncover striking similarities between the racialization of pit bulls and other racialized issues (e.g., poverty and crime) in public opinion and policy implementation. After detailing the reasons to expect pit bulls to be racialized as Black despite dog ownership in the U.S. generally being raced as white, the article shows: (1) Most Americans associate pit bulls with Black people. (2) Anti-Black attitudes, in general, are significant, independent, predictors of both anti-pit views and of preferring other breeds over them; (3) stereotypes of Black men as violent, in particular, are significant, independent, predictors of both anti-pit views and of preferring other breeds over them. (4) Implicit racialization through a national survey experiment further eroded support for legalizing pits, with the treatment effect significantly conditioned by respondent's race. And (5) state-level racial prejudice is a significant negative predictor of enacting legislation to preempt breed-specific bans. We conclude with our findings' broader insights into the nature of U.S. racial politics. Michael Tesler, mtesler@uci.edu , corresponding author, is Professor of Political Science at UC Irvine; Mary McThomas, mary.mcthomas@uci.edu , is Associate Professor of Political Science at UC Irvine. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the American Political Science Association's annual meeting. We thank Maneesh Arora, Rachel Bernhard, Nathan Chan, Louis Pickett, David Sears, DeSipio, Adam Duberstein, Jane Junn, Claire Kim, Jessica Manforti, J. Scott Matthews, Justin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the topic of student wellbeing using the lens of a different type of support mechanism – 'dog borrowing' – which builds on prior research about emotion work and human-animal interactions but in the context of student transitions and pastoral care in higher education. This novel study was about the experiences of students settling into their university life and how, through a facilitated opportunity for students to connect to a dog and community partners, universities can meet mental health standards for wellbeing support. The findings outlined in this paper provide new insight into; how the university ethos and environment can be viewed as more personalised and emotionally supportive, how different kinds of relationships can support emotion state regulation conducive to wellbeing and effective learning and the ways that a human-animal bond can enhance connection with the community and provide social support for university students who have moved away from home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Vector-borne infectious zoonotic diseases are a relevant problem, not only in veterinary medicine, but also in human medicine. Dogs are considered the main reservoir of these zoonoses and sentinels for the control of these diseases that, due to the increase in temperatures due to climate change, are becoming more and more frequent. Most of these zoonotic diseases are endemic to the Mediterranean Basin, and knowing their prevalence in different canine breeds and other related factors could contribute to controlling these diseases. This paper analyzes the prevalence of different infections and coinfections of zoonotic disease in four different canine breeds, and the results obtained indicate that the most frequent infections was Leishmania infantum, followed by Ricketsia rickesii. Changes in the hematological and biochemical values in infected dogs of different breeds could suggest a certain resistance against L. infantum infection in the Cirneco dell'Etna canine breed, autochthonous of Sicily. Dogs are considered the main reservoir of several zoonoses endemic to the Mediterranean Basin. In this study, a prevalence of infections and coinfections of canine vector-borne diseases was analyzed in apparently healthy dogs of different canine pure breeds in Sicily (Italy), where these diseases are endemic. The seroprevalence of Leishmania infantum, Ricketsia ricketsii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Erlichia canis was assessed, as single and coinfections. Biochemical and hematological parameters were evaluated, and epidemiological factors, including sex, age, and canine breed, were recovered. The most frequent infection was L. infantum (45.61%), following R. ricketsii (36.84%), both as single, double, or triple coinfections. Coinfections change the biochemical and hematological parameters of the host, and canine breeds are related to the infection frequency and the parameters observed during infections. Changes in the complete blood count (CBC) and biochemical values also differ between canine breeds, with the Cirneco dell'Etna dogs infected with L. infantum being the animals presenting the most interesting results in our study. High values of RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), the albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio, and albumin and low levels of β-2 globulin and γ-globulin were found only in this canine breed, suggesting some resistance to infection in these dogs. Future studies about the immune response of this canine breed could be interesting to determine their possible resistance to zoonotic pathogens, such as L. infantum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoglycemia is the most common metabolic alteration in the clinical routine of newborn dogs, acting as a predictor of mortality in these patients. The neonatal dog shows hepatic insufficiency and homeostatic mechanisms not yet fully developed, with limited glycogen reserves and limited capacity to perform glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. These physiological particularities make newborn dogs particularly susceptible to hypoglycemia when of fasting, even for short periods. Several maternal and neonatal factors may be related to a higher risk of developing hypoglycemia in neonates. This paper reviews glycemic homeostasis, the pathophysiology of neonatal hypoglycemia, the main causes involved and the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When pet dogs demonstrate certain serious problem behaviors, this may lead owners to choose behavioral euthanasia. However, research on behavioral euthanasia of pet dogs is sparse and previously published papers have not specifically sampled owners who made the decision to euthanize for behavior. The Behavioral Euthanasia in Pet Dogs Questionnaire was created to collect a wide range of information from dog owners who made behavioral euthanasia decisions. Using this survey, we explored the types of behaviors associated with behavioral euthanasia. Human-directed aggression, especially toward adults living in the household, was the most frequently reported reason for choosing behavioral euthanasia; followed by aggression toward other animals, especially other dogs living in the same household. The majority of dogs displaying human-directed or other animal-directed aggression were reported to have bitten and broken skin, and many of these had bitten in multiple or severe incidents. Most dogs had lived in their homes and displayed problem behaviors for over a year prior to behavioral euthanasia, and the euthanasia occurred at a variety of ages, from less than 1 year old to 18 years old. Additional research is required to understand environmental or nonbehavioral factors contributing to the behavioral euthanasia of companion animals, as well as the psychosocial and emotional impact of behavioral euthanasia on the human experience. Understanding the behavioral factors associated with behavioral euthanasia can direct resources toward problem behavior interventions, improve public education about animal behavior, and strengthen the human-animal bond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study examined patterns of dog ownership in three different states in India. The main aim was to understand who owns dogs, their reasons for owning them, and how these patterns vary in different areas. We conducted quantitative surveys to gather information on the number of people who own dogs, their backgrounds, and their attitudes towards their pets. Our findings show that there are significant differences in dog ownership depending on where people live and their economic status. In particular, we found settlements in Gujarat state to possess significantly fewer privately owned dogs that Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. These results are important because they help us understand the needs of dog owners and their pets in different parts of India. This information can be used by those making decisions about public health and animal welfare, such as how to manage stray dogs or prevent diseases that can spread from dogs to humans. This study is valuable as it provides a clearer picture of dog ownership in India, which can help improve the lives of both people and animals. This paper presents the demographics, dynamics, and attitudes of dog ownership across three states in India. The background of this research is set against the increasing significance of pet ownership in urban Indian contexts, with a particular focus on understanding the variations in dog-ownership patterns and their implications for public health and animal welfare. We employed a survey-based approach, gathering quantitative survey data from dog owners (n = 563) and non-dog-owners (n = 9282) across different socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds in seven Indian settlements. The results reveal notable differences in dog-ownership patterns, influenced by regional state. In particular, settlements in Gujarat were found to have significantly fewer dog-owning households than those in Tamil Nadu, with no differences found according to settlement size. Dog ownership was found to be more common in households of higher socioeconomic standing, and settlements in Uttarakhand were found more frequently to possess dogs for reasons other than companionship. Data from Ahmedabad and Vadodara, specifically, also indicate rapidly increasing rates of pet ownership. Sterilisation and rabies vaccination proportions were typically low and high, respectively, across all settlements, with few significant differences found among settlements. Confinement of owned dogs at night was significantly lower in Nainital than all other settlements. Differences in attitudes towards roaming dogs between dog owners and non-dog-owners were also examined, with the results indicating both positive and negative trends accordingly. Our results emphasise the need for region-specific strategies in public health and animal welfare policies, acknowledging the diverse nature of pet ownership in India. This research provides valuable insight for policymakers and animal welfare organisations, underlining the importance of tailored approaches to address the unique challenges and opportunities in the Indian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In spite of significant reductions in the numbers of animals entering shelters and being killed there over the last decades, the beliefs that companion animals must be under the direct control of a human guardian, and that capturing and often killing animals is morally justifiable and even necessary, continue to guide animal sheltering practices in the United States. Looking at the historical origins of animal control and sheltering in the US reveals a high level of consistency in ideologies and practices across almost 150 years. In this commentary, two scholars on animal sheltering in the US examine the historical legacies of animal control and sheltering in the US to show how they are problematic and dysfunctional and need to be abandoned to improve the lives of companion animals and the human communities of which they are a part. This paper examines the legacies of the emergence of the animal control and sheltering industry in the United States and their impact on contemporary public animal shelters. While decades of gradual reform have helped substantially reduce the number of animals entering shelters and being killed there, contemporary animal sheltering largely continues to follow the path set when animal sheltering developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Three key interrelated legacies of the pound model of early animal control and sheltering enduringly shape sheltering today: (1) the institutional culture of animal shelters grounded in the logics of caging and killing; (2) the lack of visibility and transparency, especially within government shelters; and (3) the economic logics of the pound model, including the disparities in sheltering resources across communities. Examining the origins of animal control and sheltering and identifying the specific legacies of this pound model within contemporary government-funded shelters improves understanding of why such shelters in the US have developed with a particular set of practices and ideologies, and thus provides an important footing for envisioning and enacting radical changes in animal sheltering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent remarkable success of generative AI models to create text and images has already started altering our perspective of intelligence and the "uniqueness" of humanity in this world. Simultaneously, arguments on why AI will never exceed human intelligence are ever-present as seen in Landgrebe and Smith (2022). To address whether machines may rule the world after all, this paper zooms in on one of the aspects of intelligence Landgrebe and Smith (2022) neglected to consider: creativity. Using Rhodes four Ps of creativity as a starting point, this paper evaluates the creative ability in visual generative AI models with respect to the state of the art in creativity theory. The most part of the reflective evaluation is performed through a case study in generating illustrations of dogs using the generative AI tool Midjourney. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This canine in vivo study assessed the effect of recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor (rhPDGF) on the healing of periapical tissues following apical surgery. From a total of 96 premolar teeth, 64 teeth from six beagle dogs (2 years old) were classified as experimental and were randomly assigned to four experimental groups (16 teeth per group). After having the pulp extirpated, leaving teeth open to the oral cavity for 1 week, and sealing with an immediate restorative material for 8 weeks, nonsurgical endodontic treatment was performed. A split-mouth design was used, and intra-animal randomization of treatment sides was applied to the groups as follows: apical curettage + 1.5-mm root-end resection (Group 1); apicoectomy + mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) root-end filling (Group 2); apicoectomy + MTA root-end filling + rhPDGF (Group 3); and apical curettage + rhPDGF (Group 4). The animals were sacrificed 24 months after apical surgery, and histologic and µCT analyses were performed for bone volume loss (BVL). Group 1 showed partial resolution of the periapical lesions without signs of tissue regeneration (BVL: 49.09 ± 10.97 mm3). Group 2 had minimal bone regeneration and showed cementum reformation in 9 teeth, with no direct attachment to the MTA (BVL: 35.34 ± 10.97 mm3). Group 3 showed regeneration of all damaged apical tissues without direct contact between the cementum and MTA (BLV: 4.51 ± 1.55 mm3). Group 4 showed regeneration of PDL, bone, and cementum and attachment of functional cementum fibers (BVL: 2.82 ± 2.3 mm3). The difference in BVL was statistically significant only for Groups 1 and 2 (P < .05). rhPDGF may help regenerate apical tissue structures following apical surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oral malignant melanoma (OMM) is the most common malignant oral neoplasm in dogs. Tumor recurrence, progression, and regional and distant metastasis remain major obstacles despite advanced therapy. Tumor size has been a consistent, key independent prognostic factor; however, other clinical and histopathologic features impact prognosis and likely influence optimal treatment strategies. Adoption of a risk stratification scheme for canine OMM that stratifies groups of dogs on defined clinicopathologic features may improve reproducible and comparable studies by improving homogeneity within groups of dogs. Moreover, it would aid in the generation of multidisciplinary prospective studies that seek to define optimal treatment paradigms based on defined clinicopathologic features. Methods: To build a platform upon which to develop a risk stratification scheme, we performed a systematic review of clinicopathologic features of OMM, with particular attention to levels of evidence of published research and the quantitative prognostic effect of clinicopathologic features. Results: Tumor size and presence of bone lysis were repeatable features with the highest level of evidence for prognostic effects on survival. Overall, with strict inclusion criteria for paper review, the levels of evidence in support of other, previously proposed risk factors were low. Factors contributing to the challenge of defining clear prognostic features including inconsistencies in staging and reporting of prognostic variables, incomplete clinical outcome data, inhomogeneous treatment, and absence of randomized controlled studies. Discussion: To overcome this in the future, we propose a risk stratification scheme that expands the TNM system to incorporate specific designations that highlight possible prognostic variables. The ability to capture key data simply from an expanded TNM description will aid in future efforts to form strong conclusions regarding prognostic variables and their influence (or lack thereof) on therapeutic decision-making and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity is associated with kidney disease. In our study, we focused on evaluating the ratio of NAG to the urinary creatinine concentration (NAG/Cr) in the German Shepherd breed. Sixty-two healthy dogs and thirteen dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD) were examined. The healthy dogs were divided into groups based on their sex and age (puppies and adolescent dogs under 2 years, adult dogs from 2 to 6 years and seniors over 6 years), while the dogs with CKD were divided based on the disease stage (CKD stage 1 and 2). No significant difference was detected between the males and females. Regarding the age dependence, significantly higher values were found in dogs older than 6 years (P = 0.020 3) compared to dogs aged 2-6 years. When comparing the healthy dogs to the dogs with CKD, the lowest NAG/Cr ratio was observed in the dogs with CKD stage 2. The reference interval for NAG/Cr in the German Shepherd was established in the range of 0.78-7.86 U/gCr. We observed no correlations with the commonly used markers of kidney disease such as creatinine, urea, or symmetrical dimethylarginine. Nevertheless, we encourage the further investigation of NAG in relation to CKD, taking the breed, sex and age of the patients into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social & Cultural Geography is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence, type, site and breed predisposition of thoracic congenital vertebral malformations (CVM) in neurologically normal brachycephalic 'screw‐tail' dog breeds. Study Design: Retrospective case series. Animals: Neurologically normal French Bulldogs (n = 63), British Bulldogs (n = 42), Boston Terriers (n = 4) and Pugs (n = 86) presenting for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome treatment. Methods: Either a plain computer tomography scan of the thorax or lateral and dorso‐ventral digital radiographs of the thoracic vertebral column of each dog were assessed for any vertebral malformations and classed according to the Modified McMaster vertebral abnormality classification scheme proposed by Guiterrez et al. Results: The prevalence of dogs with one or more abnormal vertebrae was 96.82% in French Bulldogs, 90.47% in British Bulldogs, and 76.74% in Pugs. Pugs had significantly lower instances of CVMs than French Bulldogs. The four Boston Terriers all had vertebral malformations, but the results were not considered to be statistically significant due to their small sample size. In French Bulldogs and British Bulldogs, ventral hypoplasia (Type 3) occurred at greater rates than all other types, followed by ventral and median hypoplasia (Types 7) and symmetrical hypoplasia (Type 8). In Pugs, symmetrical hypoplasia (Type 8) was the most common and then ventral hypoplasia (Type 3). The most affected vertebrae were T6–T9 in Pugs and T5–T10 in French Bulldogs and British Bulldogs. Conclusions: The majority of neurologically normal brachycephalic 'screw‐tail' dogs assessed in this paper possessed one or more congenital thoracic vertebral malformations. Dogs with vertebral malformations were found to be more likely to have more than one affected vertebra. Sex had no effect on the prevalence of CVM. Clinical Relevance: A substantial number of neurologically normal brachycephalic 'screw‐tail' dogs suffer from congenital vertebral malformations. Thus, the need for selective breeding programmes to eliminate this hereditary condition is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato) are vectors of pathogens adversely affecting the health of dogs in many regions of the world. The three-host life cycle of R. sanguineus s.l., with all stages feeding on dogs, can lead to an uncontrolled build-up of large tick populations if not controlled by acaricides. However, frequent tick control on dogs using acaricides has led to the emergence of resistance to permethrin and fipronil. Currently, the larval packet test (LPT) is the standard tick resistance test, which is laborious, requires laboratory facilities, and takes at least 6 weeks before larvae derived from engorged female ticks can be tested. Our novel approach is to expose semi-engorged adult ticks to acaricides immediately after removing them from dogs, obtaining results within 24 h. Methods: Adult ticks from three laboratory colonies of R. sanguineus s.l. were tested in RaTexT®, a rapid tick exposure test in which ticks were confined to small compartments and exposed to an acaricide-impregnated, specially designed matrix. Resistance was confirmed by testing larvae derived from the same laboratory colonies using the LPT. RaTexT® was also used to determine the susceptibility of R. sanguineus acaricides in dog shelters. Results: RaTexT® detected resistance to permethrin in adult R. sanguineus s.l. ticks from two Brazilian laboratory colonies compared to a susceptible laboratory strain originating in Greece. Resistance was confirmed by LPT testing of larvae from the same colonies with resistance factors between 2.2 and 3.1. All laboratory strains were susceptible to fipronil. A suspected case of fipronil resistance at a dog shelter in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, was resolved within 24 h by testing adult ticks in RaTexT® and could be attributed to improper treatment. Conclusions: RaTexT® is a valuable tool for monitoring the development of resistance to synthetic pyrethroids or phenylpyrazoles in tick-infested dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haemotropic mycoplasmas (haemoplasmas) are obligate epierythrocytic bacteria that infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts. The molecular characterisation of Mycoplasma organisms in dogs has not previously been attempted from India. Hence, in the present study, the molecular characterisation of Mycoplasma spp. in dogs of different zones of Kerala was attempted using 16S rRNA gene. An overall prevalence of 18% for M. haemocanis was detected. The NCBI-BLAST analysis of all the selected sequences revealed > 99% identity with the sequences of M. haemocanis. The phylogenetic analysis revealed clustering of M. haemocanis and M. haemofelis in a single clade indicating low genetic variability. It was further supported by the genetic distance data and haplotype analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a treatment modality that combines the electroporation of cell membranes with chemotherapy to facilitate the transport of non‐permeant molecules into cells. Several canine and feline studies have shown promising results, suggesting that ECT can be a valid adjuvant or alternative treatment option for some tumours. The objective of this paper is to provide a bibliographic review of the principles and applications of ECT in veterinary medicine and to compare to its use in human medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determination of the urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC) is an important tool in the quantification of proteinuria in animals. However, the result may be affected by the different methods of determining the urinary protein concentration. The aim of this study was to compare the turbidimetric method using benzethonium chloride and the colorimetric method using pyrogallol red in the measurement of the urinary protein concentration in dogs, cats, guinea pigs and horses. A total of 464, 192, 216 and 119 urine samples from dogs, cats, guinea pigs and horses were examined in the study, respectively. The group consisted of animals of both sexes and different ages, and, in the dogs and cats, it included both healthy animals and those with various health problems. In the group of horses and guinea pigs, only clinically healthy animals were included. A total of 347, 185, 103 and 100 samples from the dogs, cats, guinea pigs and horses were used in the statistical analysis; the other values were excluded as they were below the detection limit. According to the Passing-Bablok analysis, there was a significant constant and proportional difference in the horses. In the dogs, cats and guinea pigs, there was a significant constant difference, but no proportional difference. The Bland-Altman method showed significant bias between the two methods in the horses and cats, but not in the dogs and guinea pigs. In the dogs and cats, the agreement between the two methods was tested and expressed as Cohen’s kappa (κ). In the cats, it was almost perfect for the proteinuric samples (κ = 0.823 3) and significant for the non-proteinuric samples (κ = 0.804 9). In the dogs, the agreement was significant for the non-proteinuric samples (κ = 0.621 5) and only moderate for the proteinuric samples (κ = 0.527 5). The influence of the method used to determine the urinary protein concentration should be taken into account when evaluating the UPC. Repeated examinations in one patient should be performed with the same method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Veterinary Dermatology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper examines newly acquired and previously published carbon and nitrogen isotope values in bone collagen from 58 dogs (Canis familiaris) dated to the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition. Using the Bayesian mixing model FRUITS, we estimate the marine or freshwater dietary fractions. These estimates, together with a radiocarbon‐based Bayesian statistical model, have allowed us to calculate the freshwater reservoir age for selected Danish regions. The Ertebølle and Funnel Beaker cultures display different feeding traditions, and stable isotope values of dogs cannot be used as a direct proxy for reconstructing human diet, as the foodstuffs appear to have been subject to some deliberate differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biting lice are widespread ectoparasites of dogs and other animals. Their management is complicated because of growing levels of resistance to commonly applied pediculicides. Thus, the development of novel approaches to their control is of primary clinical interest. Therefore, we examined the chemical composition of garlic, clove, pumpkin, onion and marjoram essential oils through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and their individual toxicity against the dog lice Trichodectes canis using a contact filter paper bioassay. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 45 compounds in garlic oil, 15 compounds in clove oil, 24 compounds in pumpkin oil, 16 compounds in onion oil and 22 compounds in marjoram oil. 2,3,3-trimethyl Hexane (5.33%), (+-) -(1S, 3R)-4(S)(a)-Methyladamantan (44.35%), 2,6,10,14,18,22-Tetracosahexane, Ethyl-2,6,10,15, 19,23-Hexane (31.67%), (E, E)-2,4-Decadienal (18.64%) and 4-methyl-1-(1-methylethyl)-3-Cyclohexen-1-ol (CAS) (21.01%) were the most abundant compounds in garlic, clove, pumpkin, onion and marjoram oils, respectively. All treated groups except marjoram oil showed high levels of toxicity. Clove, garlic and pumpkin oils demonstrated the best loucidal activity reaching 100% mortality within 15 and 20 minutes. The LC50 values were 10.757, 9.156, 11.325, 27.296 and 15.059 % for garlic, clove, pumpkin, marjoram and onion oils. Based on the LC50 values, the relative efficacies of the tested oils after 35 minutes compared with that of the marjoram oil as a reference material indicated that, clove, garlic, pumpkin and onion oils were 3.0, 2.5, 2.4 and 1.8, respectively more effective than marjoram oil. The LT50 values, post-treatment with 25% were 40.659, 48.335, 39.261, 45.744, and 47.974% respectively. The relative speed of killing lice is almost similar in all tested oils. It could be concluded that clove, garlic and pumpkin oils may offer eco-friendly alternatives of veterinary pediculicides for the control of the dog lice T. canis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the current knowledge on the application of ultrasonography in the identification and removal of grass awns from various anatomic locations in dogs and cats. We selected and analyzed 46 papers on the application of ultrasonography in dogs and cats affected by migrating grass awns. The ultrasonographic appearance of grass awns is characteristic, although their size and location can influence visualization and removal attempt. In some cases, migrating grass awns are not directly visualized by ultrasonography, but lesions caused by their migration can be easily seen. Ultrasonography can be considered a useful diagnostic tool to localize and remove migrating grass awns; however, when the migration occurs in less accessible locations or discrete foreign bodies are present, this diagnostic tool should be considered as a part of a multidisciplinary approach with advanced diagnostic imaging modalities. Migrating grass awns are an important cause of disease in dogs and cats. Plant awns can migrate into several body tissues and cavities because of their fusiform shape and backward-pointing barbs. Their migration causes inflammatory tissue reaction and clinical signs depend upon their localization. Ultrasound has been described as a useful, noninvasive, and readily available tool to identify and guide vegetal foreign bodies removal in animals. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize current knowledge on the application of ultrasonography in the identification and removal of grass awns from various anatomic locations in dogs and cats. We selected and analyzed 46 papers on the application of ultrasonography in dogs and cats affected by migrating grass awns. The ultrasonographic appearance of grass awns is characteristic, although their size and location can influence the visualization and the attempt of removal. In some cases, migrating grass awns are not directly visualized by ultrasonography, but the lesions caused by their migration can be easily seen. Ultrasonography can be considered a useful diagnostic tool to localize and remove migrating grass awns; however, when the migration occurs in less accessible locations or discrete foreign bodies are present, this diagnostic tool should be considered as a part of a multidisciplinary approach with advanced diagnostic imaging modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers a solution to a scenario found in Tom Regan's Case for Animal Rights, offered by Daniel Kary. Regan considers a case where either one human or any number of dog's must be sacrificed. He chooses the human because they would be harmed more than any dog would be. This is initially puzzling since Regan claims that humans and dogs have equal inherent value (the objective value as an end that entities have). Kary's solution argues the human should be saved since their possible experiences have greater intrinsic value (the objective value as an end that experiences have) than those of any number of dogs'. The rationale is that dog experiences are too similar to be additive. The paper acknowledges that Kary's alternative solution is more plausible than Regan's, but it ultimately fails to be convincing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforcement, extinction, generalization and differentiation are all basic principles of Pavlov associative memory. Most memristive neural networks that simulate associative memory only consider reinforcement and extinction, while ignoring differentiation and generalization. In this paper, a memristive circuit of associative memory with generalization and differentiation is proposed to solve the above problem. It implements the functions of learning, forgetting, long-term memory, generalization and differentiation. Learning and forgetting correspond to reinforcement and extinction in associative memory respectively. Spontaneous recovery, in which forgotten reflexes can reappear in the absence of an unconditional stimulus, is also discussed here. Besides, a special differentiation method that takes into account the time delay is designed and demonstrated. The proposed memristive circuit of associative memory provides a reference for the theoretical research and application of artificial neural networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we observed pupils reading to a dog in a school reading course and asked: How can the pedagogic rituals of schooling explain the dog's role as a non-judgmental listener? In a qualitative case-study design, video observation was conducted over seven months in a Norwegian primary school to observe year-three pupils' (average age 8 years) reading experiences with a dog as part of their ordinary reading instruction course. The dog was a male, 10-year-old standard poodle. The children's school and their socioeconomic status (SES) were average for Norway. Fourteen children participated, four girls and ten boys, with a total of 112 reading sessions with the dog. Interviews and online data supplemented the observations. A narrative analysis found three main categories of the reading sessions: opening sequence, reading sequence, and concluding sequence. To report our findings in this paper, we present a typical narrative informed by the three categories. We conclude that the role of the dog as a non-judgmental listener in a school reading course can be explained by an invisible pedagogy ritualizing the sessions: The ritual assigns the dog a unique educational role in the school setting as a hybrid between animal and human; an unaware pedagogical agent. When reading to the dog, the instructional intention is reinterpreted as a game of pretense that is potentially enjoyable for the pupils and reduces stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]