Search

Background We evaluated the effect of fish oil (FO) and FO in addition to vitamin E (VE) supplementation on total antioxidant activity of dog seminal plasma, and further assessed oxidative stress. Additionally, we measured the effect of this supplementation on hematological parameters and serum biochemistry. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, six male dogs were assigned to one of the following three groups for a period of 60 days using a replicated 3×3 Latin square design: control (CG), FO (FOG) and FO in addition to VE (FOEG). On days 0 and 60 of the trial, semen and blood samples were obtained. 2,2V-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzo- thiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays were used to determine total antioxidant activity. Oxidative stress was determined by measuring total sulfhydryl group (T-SH). Results Dogs supplemented with FO alone had a lower total antioxidant activity in seminal plasma (ABTS: -59.86% vs. CG and -57.3% vs. FOEG; and FRAP: -37.3% vs. CG and -40.5% vs. FOEG), and higher oxidative stress (T-SH: +53.0% vs. CG and+60.2% vs. FOEG) compared with the other two groups (P

Background Fish oil (FO) supplementation as a source of omega 3 fatty acids is associated with beneficial effects on health. However, high unsaturated fatty acid content in the diet could result in increased lipid peroxidation and damage to proteins, lipids and DNA. We evaluated the effect of dietary FO supplementation on DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of dogs. Additionally, we determined the effect of FO supplementation on lipid peroxidation and lipid profile of these dogs. Methods Healthy male dogs (n = 9) were randomly assigned to one of two diets during 90 days: control (CG, n = 4), based on a commercial food, and FO (FOG, n = 5), the same food supplemented with 1000 mg FO. Blood samples were collected on days -1, 30, 60 and 90. DNA damage was assessed with the comet assay, and the damage index was obtained. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined as an indicator of lipid peroxidation. Lipid profile determination included serum triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein levels (HDL). Results Damage index values (arbitrary units) were lower in FOG on day 30 (CG, 13.7 ± 2.5; FOG, 6.5 ± 2.5), 60 (CG, 14.7 ± 2.5; FOG, 3.5 ± 2.5) and 90 (CG, 15.5 ± 2.5; FOG, 3.0 ± 2.5) compared with CG (treatment × time interaction, p, Instituto de Genética Veterinaria

The rise in popularity of dog sports competitions has led to the evaluation of improvements in dog physical performance. The potential benefit of dietary supplementation with fish oil (FO) on the physical performance of human beings and horses has been reported. However, such effect has not been studied in dogs. We therefore evaluated the effect of FO dietary supplementation on heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (RT) and thigh circumference (TC) in dogs during aerobic treadmill training, and further determined HR response and blood lactate (BL) concentration during an incremental exercise test. Using a cross-over design, eight male dogs were randomly assigned to two groups and received a standard balanced commercial diet (control, CG, n = 7) and the same diet supplemented with 54 mg FO/kg metabolic weight per day (FOG, n = 8). All dogs had 30-min treadmill sessions at 8 km/hr and 7.5% slope twice a week for 12 weeks. Assessment of HR and RT was performed before and immediately after each session; HR was also assessed 5 min after the end of each session. Thigh circumference was evaluated before each session. All dogs performed an incremental exercise test on the treadmill at 0, 6 and 12 weeks to evaluate HR response and BL concentration. Data were analysed using the mixed procedure (SAS 9.4). In FOG, pre-HR (−4.9%) and post-HR (−2.4%) values and post-RT (−0.3%) values were lower during treadmill training, whereas TC (+2.2%) values were higher as compared with CG (p

The objective was to evaluate the effects of dietary fish oil (FO) and vitamin E (VE) supplementation on sperm sensitivity to lipid peroxidation (LP) in dogs. Using an incomplete replicate 3 × 3 Latin square design, five dogs were allocated into three groups. One of the squares was incomplete and had two dogs that were used with three treatments. The dogs were assigned to three different treatments, fed a control diet of balanced commercial food (control group; CG), control diet supplemented with 54 mg FO/kg body weight0·75 per d (FO group; FG) and FO plus 400 mg VE per d (FO and VE group; FEG) for 60 d. Semen samples were collected on days 0 and 60 and divided into two halves, peroxidised and control, with or without ascorbate–Fe2+, respectively. LP was measured in both halves by chemiluminescence as counts per min/mg protein. Fatty acid profile was determined by GC. Data were analysed using the mixed procedure (SAS). On day 0, LP increased in all groups in the peroxidised samples (P < 0·05). However, on day 60 LP decreased in peroxidised samples of both the FG and FEG (P < 0·05), but there were no differences between the FG and FEG (P > 0·1). Additionally, on day 60 total n-3 was higher in the FG and FEG compared with the CG (P < 0·05). Supplementation with FO alone or together with VE decreased LP in peroxidised samples. These results could indicate a protective effect of n-3 on sperm. More studies are needed to understand the mechanism whereby FO and/or FO plus VE decrease LP in dogs’ sperm., Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Instituto de Genética Veterinaria

La popularidad de las competencias deportivas en caninos ha crecido notablemente. Surge así la necesidad de esclarecer parámetros fisiológicos que permitan evaluar con precisión la condición física. Asimismo, el uso de suplementos nutricionales ha despertado interés para mejorar el rendimiento físico. Aunque el principal objetivo es el éxito deportivo, es importante conservar la salud reproductiva. Por lo expuesto, los objetivos generales de esta Tesis fueron: evaluar el efecto de la suplementación con aceite de pescado en caninos durante un programa de entrenamiento, preservando la salud reproductiva; evaluar el uso de pruebas de ejercicios en cinta trotadora y a campo. En un diseño cruzado, ocho perros fueron asignados a dos grupos, control (CNT) y aceite de pescado (AP). Los animales realizaron un programa de entrenamiento en cinta trotadora durante 12 semanas donde se evaluaron variaciones en la frecuencia cardíaca (FC), temperatura rectal (TR) y circunferencia de muslos (CM). Asimismo, cada 4 semanas se realizó a cada animal una prueba de ejercicio en cinta trotadora, evaluación de parámetros espermáticos y concentración testosterona sérica. Para la prueba de ejercicio a campo fueron incluidos 9 perros. Durante el transcurso del entrenamiento, el grupo AP tuvo menor FC y TR y mayor CM que el grupo CNT (P, Tesis co-dirigida por los Dres. Yanina Alejandra Corrada y Daniel Osvaldo Arias., Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias

Stereotypies in dogs are repetitive behavioral patterns that occur always in the same sequence but do not play any role. This altered behavior may thus take over the animal’s life, changing its sleep patterns and eating habits. The drive to adopt the specific behavior becomes increasingly stronger, to the extent that the animal may sometimes even mutilate parts of its own body, such as the tail and limbs. The overall approach to the problem through retraining of owners, environmental modification and enrichment and proper use of psychotropics proved necessary for restoring the patients’ balance. However, it was also necessary to introduce a physical exercise routine with a canine motorized treadmill and/or daily walks. Although exercise itself may contribute to increased anxiety in the animal, the potential benefits justify considering its introduction for managing dogs with stereotypies., Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias

El desempeño físico del perro depende de factores genéticos, de entrenamiento y nutricionales. El entrenamiento y la nutrición pueden ser modificados fácilmente. Se deben instaurar programas de ejercicio y dietas que permitan maximizar el rendimiento en una determinada actividad. Para evaluar la condición física de los perros y obtener el máximo rendimiento se necesitan parámetros objetivos como son la observación de las variaciones de la frecuencia cardíaca y la determinación de lactato sanguíneo. Esta última se ha mostrado como un método apropiado, práctico y sencillo que contribuye a cuantificar la respuesta metabólica al esfuerzo. En la actualidad el uso de cinta trotadora motorizada permite llevar a cabo rutinas de entrenamiento específicas y a pesar de que aún restan mayores estudios, su aplicación en caninos tiene un lugar prometedor para maximizar el rendimiento deportivo., Canine physical performance depends on genetic, training and nutritional factors. Training and nutrition can be easily modified. Exercise and diet programs must be established in order to maximize performance on a given activity. To evaluate physical condition of dogs and get maximum performance, objective parameters such as the observation of variations in heart rate and determination of blood lactate must be established. The latter has been shown as an appropriate, practical and simple method that contributes to quantify the metabolic response to effort. Nowadays the use of motorized treadmills allows to perform specific training routines and, although further studies are required, its application in canines has a promising place to maximize sports performance., Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in heart rate, cardiac size and muscle mass in healthy dogs during an aerobic training program. Dogs (n=9) had 10-min treadmill sessions twice a week for 12 weeks. Data were analyzed as repeated measures (SAS 9.0). Vertebral heart score (P