Browsing by Subject "Dogs"
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Item Comparative aspects of cholesterol metabolism and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity in dogs and cats(2009-05-15) Angell, Rebecca JoyceLittle research has focused on the relationship between lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity and cholesterol metabolism in dogs and cats. To study weight loss and cholesterol metabolism in dogs, four experimental weight-loss diets were fed to 12 obese female beagles for 8 wk in a partial crossover design (n = 6). High- (HGI) or low-glycemic index (LGI) starch and diacylglycerol or triacylglycerol oil were combined to compose diets with similar fatty acid (FA) profiles. Body weight was measured weekly. Fasted blood samples were drawn at wk1, wk4, and wk8 to measure plasma total (TC), unesterified (UC), and esterified cholesterol (EC) concentrations, LCAT activity, and FA composition of the phospholipid (PL) and EC fractions. All groups lost weight. UC increased from wk1 to wk4 (p < 0.05). LCAT activity increased from wk1 to wk4 and remained elevated at wk8 (p < 0.05). Plasma PL FA profiles reflected the diets fed with few diet or time effects. Plasma EC FA profiles reflected the specificity of LCAT for linoleic acid (LA) with minimal diet or time effects. We conclude that weight reduction in dogs occurs in conjunction with increased LCAT activity and altered plasma cholesterol fractions but not changes in plasma PL or EC FA profiles. To measure the activity and demonstrate the FA specificity of LCAT in felines fed varying types of fat, 29 female cats were fed diets enriched with high-oleic sunflower (n = 9), menhaden fish (n = 10), or safflower (n = 10) oil (8g oil/100g kibble) for 4 wk. Fasted blood samples were drawn at d0, d14, and d28 for determination of the blood parameters mentioned previously. LCAT and TC showed no time or diet effects. UC decreased at d28 compared to d0 and d14, while EC increased at d28 compared to d0 and d14 (all p < 0.05). Plasma EC FA profiles reflected the specificity of LCAT for LA with many diet and time effects but contained no docosahexanoic acid (DHA). We conclude that feline LCAT has no measurable affinity for DHA, but both feline and canine LCAT demonstrated specificity for LA regardless of diet fed.Item Predicting success in a detector-dog program : subjective ratings of puppies and characteristics of handlers(2014-05) Debono, Stephen Nicholas; Gosling, SamDetector-dog organizations continually work to improve their effectiveness. Detector dogs commonly work in partnership with human handlers. Organizations spend considerable amounts of resources selecting both dogs and humans suited for the required duties. This thesis describes two studies. In the first study, we developed and evaluated a subjective dog trait-rating survey to obtain ratings of dogs by the people raising them. In the second study, we examine how human characteristics relate to job performance for professional detector-dog handlers. In working-dog breeding programs, candidate puppies are often placed with volunteer families (puppy raisers) who care for and raise the puppies. These families have extensive opportunities to observe a puppy’s behavior across time so they may be able to make accurate trait evaluations, which could predict subsequent performance. In Study 1, we develop, implement, and evaluate the Puppy Raiser Subjective Survey (PRS Survey) on a population of puppy raisers from a large detector-dog organization (Australian Customs & Border Protection Service; AC&BPS). Analyses identified seven dimensions of personality but a model including these variables was not able to significantly predict working performance. Selecting people who are suited to work as dog handlers is likely to be important to the success of working-dog programs. Detector-dog programs often undergo a resource intensive process to select the best humans for the job. However, there has been scarce research on the types of traits that make one handler more effective than another. In Study 2, we develop, implement, and evaluate an instrument used to identify human characteristics that predict success as AC&BPS detector-dog handlers. We show that job seniority was the strongest predictor of detector-dog handler job performance. We also show intriguing possibilities that participation in a greater number of sports, particularly at competition levels, may correlate with better job performance.Item Something to Fear: Perception of Defining Characteristics of Animals, Evaluation of Animals, and the Moderating Role of Speciesism(Texas A&M International University, 2015-06) Waters, Allison Elaine; Muñoz, MonicaSpeciesism, a form of prejudice wherein a person gives or takes value away from an organism based upon how he or she categorizes living things, is most likely a form of flexible evolutionary adaptation. However, with increasing awareness of humanity's impact on the environment and growing morality, speciesism is increasingly becoming a disadvantage. Speciesism can be reflected in actions from unethical breeding habits to outright attacks on certain animals. The purpose of this study was to examine if altering the physical appearance of animals affects the person's attitudes towards those animals. It was hypothesized that altering physical characteristics of some animals would increase attractiveness of the animals and this effect would be moderated by speciesism. Fifty-six university students were asked to rate each of a series of 20 animal images to measure their specific animal attitudes, defined as their evaluation of the appearance, predicted behavior, and threat potential of those animals. The control group (Condition 1) evaluated 9 unaltered animal images and the experimental group (Condition 2) evaluated the altered versions of those images. Speciesism was measured as a potential moderator of altering the image. Hierarchical regression showed altering the image to be a significant predictor (β = -.271, p = .043) of attitudes. Speciesism, however, was neither a significant predictor by itself (β = -.144, p = .276) nor significantly strengthened or weakened the effect of altering the images (β = -.516, p = .197).Item The Epidemiology and Impact of Dog-Associated Zoonoses in Developed and Developing Countries(2014-08-04) Bingham, GlendaDogs are an important part of human societies throughout the world. Although people derive many economic and health benefits from their relationships with dogs, these relationships are not without risk. Interaction with dogs can lead to an increased risk for zoonotic diseases, if the appropriate precautions are not taken. While dogs contribute to the transmission of a variety of zoonoses, only a few of these diseases, such as rabies and cystic echinococcosis, are recognized as having widespread economic and public health implications. In order to assess the knowledge and perceptions of dog-associated zoonoses in Brazos County, Texas, random digit dialing was used to select households for participation in a cross-sectional telephone survey. Of the 1691 households, which were contacted, 922 (55%) completed the interview. Dog owners accounted for 56% of the study participants. Eighty-six percent of the respondents indicated they would report being bitten by a dog that they did not own. Factors that were shown to be significantly associated with bite reporting included, age, sex, urbanicity, and rabies knowledge. Many of the respondents lacked knowledge about dog-associated zoonoses, which could seriously affect their health. Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is known to be endemic in Rio Negro Province, Argentina. However, current epidemiological data were not available for this region. A community-based CE screening study, which incorporated diagnostic imaging and a questionnaire, was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of human CE and identify locally relevant risk factors in the study population. The overall CE prevalence among the community volunteers was 7.1%, with 1.6% of children, and 10% of adults diagnosed as CE-positive. Age, level of education, dog ownership, and contact with sheep were found to be significantly associated with CE status. In regions of the world where CE is highly endemic, it has been shown to be a substantial financial burden for those who are affected. When the costs associated with human CE, obtained from hospital chart reviews and patient interviews, were combined with livestock-associated costs obtained from government reports and scientific publications, the estimated total annual cost of CE in Rio Negro Province was $5,100,373 (95% CI: $2,852,345?$8,004,122).Item Tough love : how breeding practices are making sicker dogs(2012-05) Templeton, Regan; Minutaglio, Bill; Todd, RussellPurebred dogs are prone to health problems and the rates of disease are increasing. The average lifespan of purebreds are on the decline, despite advances in veterinary care. This causes suffering for both dogs and their owners and also cost their owners billion in vet bills. Breeding practices and standards that encourage unhealthy dogs and people demanding purebred dogs, despite their health problems, causes the problem. The solution lies in changing the way dogs are bred and what people look for in their dogs.Item Using Dogs in a Home-Based Intervention with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders(2011-10-21) Alison, Courtney E.Humans and dogs have lived among each other in mutually beneficial relationships for thousands of years. In recent years, this human-animal bond has emerged as a catalyst for animal-assisted activities and therapies that may benefit those with disabilities, including children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). ASD are characterized by qualitative impairments in social interaction and communication and restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. The nonverbal and nonjudgmental nature of dogs may be non-threatening and easier for children with ASD to decode, which may decrease anxiety and facilitate social bonding. Further, with their roles as social lubricants/transitional objects and natural foci of interest, dogs may facilitate social interaction between children with ASD and other people. Using a single case, multiple baseline design across participants, this study investigated whether multiple semi-structured interactions with dogs would increase social and communicative behaviors and decrease restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior in children. Although only two had statistically significant results, all three participants showed responses to intervention in the hypothesized directions. This study supports the position that children with ASD may benefit from participating in animal-assisted activities with dogs.