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Case report We describe the clinical signs and management of a case of anaphylaxis in a dog after intravenous administration of alphaxalone (Alfaxan®, Jurox, NSW, Aust), which has not been previously published. A female spayed cattle dog undergoing routine imaging for forelimb lameness was induced with Alfaxan after receiving sedation with acepromazine and methadone 70 min prior. Immediately after intravenous administration of Alfaxan, the dog exhibited vomiting and diarrhoea associated with acute hypotension. Gallbladder wall oedema was visualised consistent with anaphylaxis. The dog responded to rapid volume expansion. Adrenaline was not required. The dog made a full recovery within 6 h of the reaction and was re‐anaesthetised 3 days later without incident, using propofol as the induction agent. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first published case of anaphylaxis associated with intravenous Alfaxan in the dog. The APVMA reporting of reactions in small animals from 2003 to 2013 of Alfaxan is consistent with this case report's finding involving the respiratory, circulatory and gastrointestinal systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis ( NCL), a fatal neurodegenerative disease, has been diagnosed in young adult Australian Cattle Dogs. Objective Characterize the Australian Cattle Dog form of NCL and determine its molecular genetic cause. Animals Tissues from 4 Australian Cattle Dogs with NCL-like signs and buccal swabs from both parents of a fifth affected breed member. Archived DNA samples from 712 individual dogs were genotyped. Methods Tissues were examined by fluorescence, electron, and immunohistochemical microscopy. A whole-genome sequence was generated for 1 affected dog. A TaqMan allelic discrimination assay was used for genotyping. Results The accumulation of autofluorescent cytoplasmic storage material with characteristic ultrastructure in tissues from the 4 affected dogs supported a diagnosis of NCL. The whole-genome sequence contained a homozygous nonsense mutation: CLN5:c.619C>T. All 4 DNA samples from clinically affected dogs tested homozygous for the variant allele. Both parents of the fifth affected dog were heterozygotes. Archived DNA samples from 346 Australian Cattle Dogs, 188 Border Collies, and 177 dogs of other breeds were homozygous for the reference allele. One archived Australian Cattle Dog sample was from a heterozygote. Conclusions and Clinical Importance The homozygous CLN5 nonsense is almost certainly causal because the same mutation previously had been reported to cause a similar form of NCL in Border Collies. Identification of the molecular genetic cause of Australian Cattle Dog NCL will allow the use of DNA tests to confirm the diagnosis of NCL in this breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic disease testing programmes are used in domestic animal breeds to guide selective breeding with the aim of reducing disease prevalence. We assessed the change in the prevalence of canine congenital hereditary sensorineural deafness ( CHSD) in litters of Australian Cattle Dogs following the introduction of a brainstem auditory evoked response ( BAER) testing programme. We studied 608 pups from 122 litters from 10 breeding kennels. Despite 10 years of testing (1998-2008), no substantial reduction in prevalence of CHSD was evident in these 10 breeding kennels. Even for the subset of litters in which both parents were BAER tested as normal hearing (305 pups from 58 litters), there was no evidence of substantial reduction in prevalence. Odds ratios for CHSD in pups for each extra year since testing in the kennel commenced were 1.01 (95% CI, 0.88-1.17) and 1.03 (95% CI, 0.82-1.30) respectively for these populations. Amongst 284 dogs from 54 litters with extended pedigrees and both parents BAER-tested normal hearing, observed prevalences of CHSD were highest in pups with no BAER-tested normal grandparents (17% or 5/29) and lowest in pups with all four grandparents tested normal (0% or 0/9). In pups for which one, two and three grandparents tested negative, prevalences of CHSD were 12% (9/74), 9% (9/101) and 8% (6/71) respectively. Hence, testing programmes based on phenotypic screening may not lead to a substantial reduction in recessive genetic disease prevalence over the medium term, even when only tested normal parents are used. Exclusive breeding of litters in which both parents and all four grandparents are BAER-tested normal is expected to reduce CHSD prevalence in pups to the greatest extent over the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Dogs have been employed to protect an array of resources from various species of offending wildlife. Historically, livestock protection dogs (LPDs) protected domestic sheep and goats from predators based on development of a strong bond between protected and protector. Within reason, developing that bond between a LPD and other species of livestock should be achievable. We conducted several studies in which we raised and bonded LPDs with bovine calves and evaluated them for protecting cattle in a variety of settings. Though successful strategies in developing LPDs to protect cattle were similar to those established for sheep, we found differences that were important for optimizing the process. Here we outline our strategies for developing LPDs for maintaining separation between cattle and wild ungulates that are reservoirs of disease that cattle are susceptible to as well as wild carnivores that are predators of cattle. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the heart rate (HR) and work variables of working cattle dogs during actual mustering exercise using a global positioning satellite (GPS) tracking unit with an integrated HR monitor. The GPS units allowed tracking of seven different Collie and Kelpie working cattle dogs over a total of ten sessions while employed in their usual role of mustering cattle in three locations in Queensland, Australia. Speed, distance and HR data were collected from the dogs during mustering in a variety of working situations. The working dogs covered distances between 13.3 and 30.2?km during mustering sessions ranging from 1?h 59?min to 4?h 24?min at working speeds of up to 43.7?km?h??1. Working temperatures ranged from 29 to 38?C. HR during working exercise ranged between 120 and 237?bpm and was above 180?bpm for 51?68% of the duration of work sessions. There was a positive linear relationship between speed and HR until HRmax(speed 26.0?km?h??1, 233???4.2?bpm), then HR plateaued (R2?=?97.14%, P?

The genomic matching technique has proven useful in MHC haplotyping in humans. We have adopted a similar approach in Australian cattle dogs and report that genotyping can be achieved with a single assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a case of a four year old spayed female Australian Cattle Dog with supraspinatus tendinosis. Manifestations of the disease; Medical examinations conducted on the dog; Pathology of the disease.

The technology of open-range cattle-farming in early European Australia was notable for a simplicity that bordered on the primitive. It was far less sophisticated than contemporary farming in the British Isles. Some of the techniques used were identical with and may have been borrowed from New Spain. Others, in particular the use of the stockwhip and the development of an effective cattle dog were Australian innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article cites the practicalities of measuring and interpreting field metabolic rate in dogs. Separation of energy expenditure of a dog for work from its daily energy expenditure when not working is considered necessary for the measurements of field metabolic rate using the doubly-labeled water technique to be correctly interpreted and used to determine energy requirements of working dogs. Total energy expenditure can be separated into components for maintenance, standing and other activities. Time- or energy-budget analysis is also said to be necessary to estimate average daily energy expenditure.