Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research最新文献

{"title":"Obstacles to commonly used behavior assessment methodology – Insights from a research study","authors":"Sally Nixon ,&nbsp;Norman Blackman ,&nbsp;Kersti Seksel ,&nbsp;Jacqueline Ley ,&nbsp;Dennis Wormald","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.02.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.02.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Veterinary care for dogs can be delayed due to owner concerns that their dog will have a bad experience when visiting a veterinary hospital. Fear and anxiety are the most common causes for dogs to exhibit fear and anxiety behaviors, such as avoidance of examination or aggression. A placebo-controlled study was developed to test the efficacy of the calming nutraceutical Zylkene® (α-casozepine) against placebo. A study was designed but only small participant numbers were recruited, so a preliminary investigation was carried out using the study design. For measuring fear and anxiety, a 6-point qualitative behavior scale was developed, which was supported by behavioral descriptors. The behaviors of the small sample of individuals from the preliminary assessment were analyzed for the initial development of the study’s behavior scale, and the reliability of the scale was then tested. With four raters of different levels of expertise using the scale, interrater reliability of the scale was fair to moderate, indicating that refinement of the scale was needed. Better definitions and descriptors are required for clarity and therefore reliability between observers. These findings support existing work suggesting that qualitative scales with behavioral descriptors can lack reliability for identifying animals with mild to moderate fear and anxiety. Qualitative scales that do not clearly and precisely define the behavioral parameters for each emotional score could indicate that different human raters are reliable across their individual assumptions but may not be valid indicators of the animal’s experience. Our findings highlighted the potential risks of using qualitative scales for measuring fear and anxiety in dogs, as well as the need for further investigation into recruitment strategies so that larger sample sizes can be enrolled into animal behavior studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"79 ","pages":"Pages 35-52"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143855007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing Gaddi dogs as a non-lethal predator deterrent in the north-western Himalayan transhumant pastoralism","authors":"Ankaj Thakur ,&nbsp;Rakesh Thakur ,&nbsp;Aadarsh Kumar ,&nbsp;Brij Vanita ,&nbsp;Varun Sankhyan ,&nbsp;Shivani Katoch","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.04.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.04.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Gaddi dog, traditionally employed as a Livestock Guard Dog by Gaddi nomads in Himachal Pradesh, India, plays a vital role in safeguarding livestock during seasonal migration. Managing approximately 70% of the state's sheep and goat population, the Gaddis face significant wildlife threats, including bears (<em>Ursidae</em>), snow leopards (<em>Panthera uncia</em>), and wolves (<em>Canis lupus</em>), resulting in considerable livestock losses. This study based on, data collected from 21 flocks (average sizes: 115 ± 91.90; range: 40–300 sheep and 95 ± 51.48: 20–200 goats) using structured questionnaires, assesses the behavioral traits and effectiveness of Gaddi dogs compared to non-Gaddi breeds. Analytical methods included frequency count, percentages, Likert scale, Garrett’s ranking, and Mann-Whitney U test to evaluate and compare the performance of both dog types. Findings revealed that approximately one-third of shepherds reported an increase in wildlife attacks over the past decade, with average losses of 7.31 ± 5.53 (range: 2–26) due to predation and 4.74 ± 6.40 (range: 1–30) for non-predation. Gaddi dogs demonstrated superior effectiveness in reducing livestock losses, with 23.81% of respondents reporting no losses when employing Gaddi dogs. Statistical analyses indicated Gaddi dogs outperformed non-Gaddi dogs in key behavioral attributes, including attentiveness, trustworthiness, protectiveness, and longevity, with notable differences in mean scores (p&lt;0.05). Despite their effectiveness in reducing predation and livestock rustling, certain challenges persist, incuding high rearing costs and undesirable behaviors such as chasing vehicles and wildlife. Nevertheless, Gaddi dogs emerged as the most effective non-lethal strategy for livestock protection, contributing to reduced human-wildlife conflict and supporting conservation efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"79 ","pages":"Pages 83-91"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143936427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Activity budgets of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in rehabilitation centers: A pilot study","authors":"Rahel Schüpbach ,&nbsp;Marcus Clauss","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.04.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.04.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Erinaceus europaeus</em>, the European hedgehog, was formerly very common but has recently suffered a decline across several European countries. There is a long-standing tradition of hedgehog rehabilitation centers across Europe with reported high rewilding success. Surprisingly, however, few data exist on the behavior of the animals while in these centers. To gain a better understanding of hedgehog behavior under husbandry conditions of rehabilitation, we documented the behavioral repertoires of four hedgehogs over a 48-hour period, including behavioral observations and quantification of food consumed and distances covered per day. Most of the hedgehogs' time was spent resting, comprising about 20 h in a 24-hour period. The majority of activity occurred at night and was spent feeding, followed by locomotion. Daily food consumption (of a dry cat kibble) ranged from 31 to 71 g of dry matter in 16–41 feeding bouts (1.1–2.6 g/bout, 2.4–3.8 min/bout). The hedgehogs covered a mean distance of 34–335 m per day, with a mean speed ranging from 0.12 to 0.25 km/h. Compared to data from free-ranging specimens, the hedgehogs spent less time active and covered less distance per day. No stereotypical behavior was observed. These findings suggest that for the aim of rehabilitation, husbandry conditions are adequate; for long-term husbandry, modifications that facilitate more locomotion and more foraging behavior would be required.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"79 ","pages":"Pages 68-74"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143923994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial Board/Table of Contents","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1558-7878(25)00060-7","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1558-7878(25)00060-7","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"79 ","pages":"Page ii"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144513878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Turn the volume down: Noise hypersensitivity in dogs","authors":"Joy T.Y. Chin ,&nbsp;Samantha X.L. Poh ,&nbsp;Eduardo J. Fernandez,&nbsp;Susan J. Hazel","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.04.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.04.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>It is commonly reported that many companion dogs are sensitive to sudden, loud noises (e.g., fireworks, thunderstorms). However, reactivities and sensitivities towards other noises in a dog’s home and environment are not well understood. This study aimed to further investigate the types of noises that evoke a negative reaction in dogs and the associated risk factors. An online survey was circulated globally through social media platforms and veterinary clinics. The survey consisted of demographic information, measures (0–100 scale) for responses to Aversive Sounds (AS; e.g., fireworks), Human Sounds (HS; e.g., coughing), and Environmental Sounds (ES; e.g., vacuum cleaner). Descriptive analyses and general linear models were conducted to determine factors associated with reactions to the different sound categories. Dogs had a significantly higher reaction score toward AS and ES compared to HS. Dogs with anxiety and of an older age showed stronger reactions towards AS. Dogs owned by females, by owners aged 65+, and dogs with anxiety showed stronger reactions to ES. No factors were associated with reaction to HS. Some guardians reported their dogs reacted at a level of 100 (scale of 0–100 where 100 is most severe) to everyday sounds, such as vacuum cleaners and coughing, suggesting significant negative effects on their welfare. Understanding the types of everyday sounds that dogs are fearful of as well as the risk factors that contribute to them can help owners improve the welfare of their dogs, as well as strengthen the human-animal bond.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"79 ","pages":"Pages 75-82"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143928769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toward a diagnostic framework for the equine depressive phenotype: A narrative review","authors":"Claire O’ Brien ,&nbsp;Matthew O. Parker ,&nbsp;Sebastian McBride","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.04.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.04.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human clinical depression is a heterogeneous affective disorder that results from a myriad of genetic and environmental influences. Although stress-induced rodent models of depression have existed for some time, it has not yet been fully established whether depression exists in out-bred populations of non-rodent animal species such as the horse. Research strongly suggests that, where species-appropriate tests of depression are applied, the co-occurrence of specific criteria has the ability to identify animals in depressive states. This is critically important because depressive-like states are known to be a sign of poor health and/or welfare, and for some captive and domestic animal species, may also affect performance and productivity. This review article focuses on the domestic horse and uses an integrated approach to assess species-appropriate tests that have the potential capability to identify depressive individuals for this species. In line with human and other animal studies, the review concludes that depression in the horse can potentially be identified through the co-occurrence of specific biomarkers. These are primarily measures of inactivity, measures of non-reactivity, anhedonia, changes in sleep parameters and reduction in cognitive attention. This information provides a platform for further research to a) establish baseline parameters and criteria thresholds for the depression-related biomarkers b) validate the multi-biomarker co-occurrence approach to identify the equine depression phenotype and c) establish protocols for the practical and logistical application of measuring depression-related biomarkers in the horse.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"79 ","pages":"Pages 92-107"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144203599","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Behavioral adaptations of Gaddi Goats: Validation of seasonal resource utilization in transhumant pastoralism of the North-western Himalayan region","authors":"Ankaj Thakur ,&nbsp;ML Kamboj ,&nbsp;Brij Vanita ,&nbsp;Meesam Raza","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.02.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.02.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the behavioral adaptations of Gaddi goats (<em>Capra hircus</em>) managed under transhumant pastoralism in the Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh, India. Seasonal migrations by Gaddi pastoralists align with reproductive cycles and forage availability. The objective was to explore how seasonal migrations and traditional pastoral decisions align with key reproductive stages—mid-pregnancy (MP), post-kidding (PK), and mid-lactation (ML)—to optimize resource utilization and ensure goat welfare. Behavioral patterns were documented across three altitudinal zones: high hills (&gt;1800 m), mid hills (651–1800 m), and low hills (350–650 m). Observations were conducted on four flocks (n=248±15.1) along two migratory routes, documenting behaviors over 8-h grazing periods using focal sampling and video recordings. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA in SPSS. Results showed total feeding time was highest (P&lt;0.05) during ML (58.77%) compared to PK (56.33%) and MP (54.58%). Browsing time peaked during ML (45.87%), while grazing was most prominent during MP (46.18%). Standing time was significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) at MP and PK compared to ML, with no significant differences in walking, ruminating, or lying. Bipedal stance and object grooming were highest during ML, while self-grooming was most frequent post-kidding. The findings highlight how pastoral decisions align with the physiological needs of Gaddi goats, enhancing their adaptability, resource utilization, and welfare. Behavioral observations validate traditional transhumant practices and suggest pathways for optimizing livestock management in mountainous terrains.n</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"79 ","pages":"Pages 25-34"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143854999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A pilot study evaluating self-perceived competence in behavioral medicine of recent veterinary graduates","authors":"Pei Lin Soo,&nbsp;Ingrid F. van Gelderen","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.04.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.04.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Behavioral problems can be a significant cause of concern for pet owners, and veterinarians play a key role in supporting the human-animal bond by working with owners to manage them. However, veterinary schools offer relatively limited training opportunities in behavioral medicine, and veterinarians worldwide often do not feel prepared to manage behavioral problems in clinical practice. This study aimed to assess the self-perceived competence of recent veterinary graduates in Australia regarding behavioral medicine, with a focus on recognizing and distinguishing normal and abnormal behavior, diagnosing, treating, and preventing behavioral problems. An online survey of graduating veterinary students and veterinarians with up to 3 years of experience in companion animal practice (<em>n</em>=54) found that respondents felt most competent in recognizing and distinguishing normal and abnormal behavior, and least competent in treating behavioral problems. Notably, 74.1% of respondents felt inadequately prepared by their veterinary curriculum to handle behavioral problems. Graduates who had completed further training in veterinary behavior reported significantly higher self-perceived overall competence scores compared to those who had not. These findings highlight the need for enhanced training in veterinary behavior within the Australian veterinary curricula and the importance of continuing education in equipping veterinarians to effectively manage behavior cases in practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"79 ","pages":"Pages 19-24"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143854998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Behavioral changes in domestic dogs associated with exposure to secondhand smoke: A cross-sectional study","authors":"Mastane Alaie ,&nbsp;Mahshad Sheikhi Narani ,&nbsp;Shahram Jamshidi ,&nbsp;Naqa S.M. Tamimi ,&nbsp;Hesameddin Akbarein","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.04.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.04.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The close relationship between humans and domestic dogs underscores the importance of understanding factors influencing canine behavior, as unwelcome behaviors in pet dogs may have serious effects on the animals' and their owners' quality of life. Environmental factors, such as secondhand smoke, may significantly influence dogs’ behavior. However, this area remains underexplored. Although the association between passive smoking and behavioral changes in humans is well-documented, there is a paucity of research exploring similar effects in canines. This study examined 304 domestic dogs belonging to both smoker and non-smoker owners to assess the potential behavioral changes associated with secondhand smoke exposure. Detailed information, including sex, age, neutering status, and other relevant factors, was meticulously recorded for each dog. Owners completed a tailored questionnaire evaluating their dogs’ exposure to cigarette smoke. Behavioral traits were assessed using a validated Persian translation of the Dog Personality Questionnaire (DPQ). Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between secondhand smoke exposure and alterations in six key behavioral traits. Specifically, dogs exposed to cigarette smoke demonstrated increased fearfulness (OR=1.73), reduced activity levels (OR=1.77), heightened aggression towards people (OR=1.68) and other animals (OR=3.40), diminished trainability (OR=3.42), and elevated anxiety (OR=7.25). These findings suggest that dogs exposed to environmental cigarette smoke are at a higher risk for behavioral problems compared to those not exposed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"79 ","pages":"Pages 53-59"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143906192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perceptions, behaviours, and practices of dog owners for giving treats: A cross sectional investigation","authors":"Leila Tabrizian ,&nbsp;Mahdi Pourmahdi Borujeni ,&nbsp;Reza Avizeh ,&nbsp;Mohammad Reza Zalaki Ghorbanipour ,&nbsp;Majid Zakerian ,&nbsp;Ali Karamian ,&nbsp;Reza Azargoun","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.01.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.01.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Steady worldwide growth in commercial treats production and sale shows the importance of pets, such as dogs, in human life and the great attention of owners to the health of their pets. The owners buy such goods not only for their nutritional value but also to strengthen their bond and interest with pets. Regarding the importance of treats in pet dogs’ health, and on the other hand, its relationship with some diseases such as obesity, the frequency of treat consumption and related factors were evaluated for the first time in Iran in this cross-sectional study. To that end, data were randomly collected from 659 dog owners in 7 cities of Iran, including Ahvaz, Tehran, Karaj, Sari, Mashhad, Kermanshah, and Urmia, using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis of data was performed using SPSS software version 22, and the relationship between treat consumption and independent variables was determined using the Chi-square test and logistic regression. The relative frequency percentage of information about treats and the frequency of treat consumption were 92% and 88%, respectively. Treat consumption in multivariate logistic regression also had a significant relationship with the dog owner's education (P≤0.05), breed (P≤0.001), lengths of dog ownership (P≤0.05), dog’s weight control (P≤0.01), and the dog’s BCS (P≤0.01). Although knowledge of the treat’s components, such as protein, fat, and sugar, was acceptable to dog owners, there was little knowledge of the possibility of microbial and fungal contamination in the treats. Nearly half of the owners were unaware of the relationship between treats and diseases, especially obesity, digestive, and endocrine problems in dogs; this case highlights the importance of veterinarians as a reliable source of information for dog owners in Iran. It is clear that increasing the owner's knowledge about treats has led to a change in attitude and practice, and accordingly, can affect the dog's health and the owner’s comfort.</div></div><div><h3>Data availability</h3><div>The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143292794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}