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Influence of dog-appeasing pheromone on canine maternal behaviour during the peripartum and neonatal periods
- Source :
- The Veterinary Record
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- BMJ Publishing Group, 2019.
-
Abstract
- Background Parturition and the initial postpartum period are important moments in the reproductive cycle of dogs. Methods A study assessed the effect of ADAPTIL, a dog-appeasing pheromone, on maternal behaviour during peripartum. Bitches were continuously exposed to ADAPTIL (n=20) or placebo (n=21) in double-blinded conditions from an average of about seven days before parturition up to 21 days postpartum. Differences in maternal behaviour in relation to the treatment were evaluated by the observation of specific activities through video recordings, such as the time spent by the bitch in close contact with the puppies, oronasal interaction and nursing duration and position. Videos were recorded at four time points (W0: within the first 48 hours of whelping; W1: one week after parturition; W2: two weeks after parturition; and W3: three weeks after parturition). In addition, the perception of breeders in relation to the quality of maternal care, puppies’ wellbeing and overall relationship between the bitches and the puppies was evaluated using Visual Analogue Scale at the same time points. Moreover, the daily activity of the bitches was measured by using an electronic device (FitBark dog activity trackers, Kansas City, Missouri). Results For all observed maternal behaviours, there was a steady decrease in levels as the puppies developed, independently of treatment. However, bitches exposed to ADAPTIL tended to nurse significantly more in lying position, while those exposed to the placebo nursed more in a seated position, especially at W1 (P=0.06) and W3 (P=0.005). According to the breeders, the attention scores of bitches towards puppies were significantly higher in ADAPTIL than in the placebo group at each time point (P=0.01). Moreover, a difference according to parity was observed (P=0.004), with greater attention score displayed by primiparous bitches exposed to ADAPTIL compared with placebo on W0 (P=0.02), W1 and W3 (P
- Subjects :
- Paper
medicine.medical_specialty
endocrine system
dogs
Visual analogue scale
Reproductive cycle
Placebo
Placebo group
Pheromones
Maternal behaviour
pheromone
Pregnancy
medicine
Peripartum Period
Animals
Maternal Behavior
Close contact
General Veterinary
Behavior, Animal
Obstetrics
business.industry
General Medicine
behaviour
maternal
Animals, Newborn
Female
business
peripartum
Postpartum period
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20427670 and 00424900
- Volume :
- 186
- Issue :
- 14
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- The Veterinary Record
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....917649a955e12e377ffcc9d3c9142b62