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In this study, a morphometric investigation was carried out on the Akbash Turkish shepherd dog breed using 30 exterior parameters. The study consisted of 96 dogs (54 males and 42 females) ranging in age from 2 to 9 years. All dogs were bred in the West Anatolia region of Turkey, around the city of Eskisehir. The following exterior parameters were measured and their means were obtained: height at withers (65.22±3.99 cm), height at mid-back (62.24±4.24 cm), height at rump (64.97±4.16 cm), height at base of tail (58.2±5.01 cm), height to elbow (36.07±4.06 cm), height to knee (35.83±4.96 cm), height to hock (17.08±3.21 cm), height to tip of sternum (45.12±4.30 cm), body length (70.58±5.58 cm), chest depth (29.58±3.23 cm), chest width (21.02±3.18 cm), breast width (16.86±3.41 cm), chest circumference (77.86±7.05 cm), pastern circumference (13.27±1.67 cm), rump length (19.21±3.27 cm), pelvic width (8.65±2.18 cm), rump protuberance width (7.58±3.02 cm), head length (27.20±2.85 cm), skull length (16.58±1.92 cm), muzzle length (10.30±2.35 cm), skull width (14.06±1.96 cm), muzzle width (7.60±1.26 cm). According to the obtained morphological characteristics the dog has a rectangular body format, and the rump is somewhat higher than the height at the withers. According to its craniological characteristics it belongs to the group of mesaticephalic dogs. The width of the skull is smaller than its length. Angles of the hind legs are more open than angles of the front legs.

Beginning in July 1991, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department authorized the use of funds in a cost-share program to assist farmers and ranchers with the implementation of nonlethal methods to protect livestock. Fund expenditures are administered and approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, North Dakota program. The program provides a 50:50 cost-share up to a maximum of $150 per purchase of nonlethal items for the protection of livestock from predation. During the six year period from July 1991 to July 1997, the program has cost-shared dogs, donkeys, electronic guards, and llamas. The Great Pyrenees dog breed was the method most frequently selected.

In this case presentation, an uncomplicated anterior iris cyst encountered in an 8-year-old female Akbash dog has been discussed. While these structures may be congenital, they may also develop secondarily due to trauma or chronic inflammation. Following systemic examination, the iris cyst was diagnosed to be present in the 5-6 o'clock position and that it was attached to the pupillary margin on the anterior surface of the iris. There were no abnormalities in any of the intraocular structures. No intervention of treatment was made, since the anterior iris cyst in the patient did not cause either corneal opacity or an increase in intraocular pressure.

This study was carried out to determine the body measurements of the Turkish Akbash Shepherd Dogs raised in provinces of Afyon, Ankara, Eskisehir and Manisa by comparing with some other dog breeds of Turkey by minding factors of sex, region and age. For this purpose, a total of 59 (34 male and 25 female) dogs was included in the study and the data were statistically analysed. Descriptive statistics and comparison results for live weight 44.9±0.80 kg, and height at shoulders 75.3±0.59, height at rump 74.2±0.64, body length 81.8±1.00, heart girth circumference 86.5±0.81, chest width 32.6±0.33, and cannon circumference 13.3±0.13 cm respectively. The overall results of the study showed that Turkish Akbash Shepherd dogs had a very close resemblance to the Turkish Kangal (Karabash) and Kars (Caucasian) Shepherd dogs related with body measurements. The Akbash Shepherd dogs reach mature body weight and size at around 2 years of age. The current study also demonstrated that the Turkish Akbash Shepherd dogs raised in provinces of Afyon and Manisa are smaller than dogs raised in Ankara and Eskisehir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, normal fundoscopic variations and genetic retinal diseases of Turkish sheepdogs (Akbash and Kangal) have been assessed. According to comparative results obtained from 35 Akbash and 35 Kangal dogs, it was determined that blue tapetal regions were present at a rate of 65% in the Akbash breed and yellow-green tapetal regions were present at a rate of 60% in the Kangal breed. No fundoscopic or clinical sign suggesting albunism, subalbunism or progressive retinal atrophy was observed in either group. However, multifocal retina dysplasia was seen at a rate of 17.1% in the Akbash breed and 5.4% in the Kangal breed. The fact that all of these lesions, which presented typical fundoscopic appearance, were seen in females was interpreted as coincidental. It was of particular interest that these retinal dysplasias, which did not disrupt sight, occurred 3 times more in the Akbash breed compared to the Kangal breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]