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

{"title":"Reduction of repetitive tail chasing in a mixed breed dog using multimodal therapy","authors":"Fiia Jokela","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.03.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.03.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A 29.5 kg, 2.25 year old, neutered, male, Rhodesian Ridgeback crossbreed dog presented for excessive spinning and tail chasing. These behaviors occurred exclusively indoors, only when people were present, with 4 different adopters, and in at least 6 different housing situations. The repetitive behaviors ranged from invariant spinning with no apparent function to more goal-directed tail chasing, the latter being the predominant behavior. Approximately 50% of the time, there was a notable trigger, but the other 50% of the time, the behavior appeared to start spontaneously without a discernable trigger.</div><div>Physical and neurological examinations were unremarkable. A minimum diagnostic database, including a complete blood count, chemistry profile, total thyroxine level, and common tick-borne disease serology, did not reveal any abnormalities. Further diagnostic testing was recommended to rule out potential medical causes or contributors to the abnormal repetitive behavior (ARB). Additional testing recommendations included spinal and tail radiographs, a pain medication trial, and referral to a veterinary neurologist for advanced diagnostics, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. The clients declined further testing due to financial constraints.</div><div>The patient was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive/compulsive disorder (OCD/CD). Pharmaceutical options included pain and anxiolytic medication trials. The clients elected to initially treat the OCD/CD with anxiolytic medication, with a plan to add a pain medication trial if the response was minimal. Trazodone was chosen for its profile of fast calming and/or mildly sedative effects. Reducing the duration and frequency of the behavior quickly was important as the clients indicated they were contemplating rehoming or euthanizing the patient if improvement could not be promptly demonstrated. Trazodone is a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI). It is often used as a hypnotic and atypical anxiolytic medication. Two weeks after initiating trazodone, the clients reported a 25% reduction in the ARB frequency and intensity, with minimal to no sedation. The selective serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI), fluoxetine, was added because of its anti-anxiety and anti-obsessional/compulsive/anxiety effects.</div><div>Behavioral management strategies were also implemented, including avoiding aversive interactions, minimizing identified triggers of the behavior, and enhancing environmental enrichment to improve overall welfare. Behavior modification using treats and food toys was used to counter-condition the dog to triggers such as noises or stressful situations. The clients were advised to preempt the behavior by redirecting the dog to alternate, incompatible activities for which he was rewarded. If the behavior had already begun, the clients were instructed to ignore the behavior and calmly leave the room. If the dog stopped spinning or foll","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 106-112"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143799287","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)00033-4","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1558-7878(25)00033-4","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages ii-iii"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143927643","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":"Before, during and after the pandemic: Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on the welfare, behavior and body condition of domestic cats (Felis catus)","authors":"Maíra Ingrit Gestrich-Frank ,&nbsp;Maria João Ramos Pereira ,&nbsp;Stela Maris de Jezus Castro ,&nbsp;Kevin Gomes ,&nbsp;Flávia Pereira Tirelli","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.02.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.02.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Domestic cats (<em>Felis catus</em>) living indoors need a series of resources that allow them to express their natural behaviors in a similar way to how they would in the wild environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes in the routine of many people and their pets, which can affect the environment and well-being of domestic cats and generate changes in their behavior and Body Condition Score (BCS). Thus, we aimed to investigate the effect of the lockdown and social interaction between cats and their owners on the environment, behavior, BCS and welfare of domestic cats and compare these variables in three periods related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil (pre-pandemic - confinement - post-confinement). To this end, a questionnaire was developed for cat caregivers and information was collected from 1064 cats, following the pandemic, of which 873 met the selection criteria and were included in the analyses. Three scores were used to assess the cats' environment, behavior and body condition (the Environment Score, Behavior Score and Body Condition Score [BCS]), the first two of which were developed during this study. As expected, the cats' environment varied between the three periods, indicating an improvement in the Environmental Score over time. We also found variations in the Behavioral Score, which was higher in the period before the pandemic when compared to the following two periods, indicating an increase in the frequency of some behavioral problems, such as restlessness. We observed a reduction in overweighted cats (BCS 4 or 5) associated to free access to the outdoors and more physical activities. During confinement, cats spent more time with their owners, which was the main change in routine observed in our study. However, cats that spent more time alone had lower Environmental Score. We also observed an increase in the cats’ BCS (number of overweight cats) during and after confinement, as well as an increase in attention-seeking behavior. In summary, we found variations in the environment, routine and some behaviors exhibited by cats, as well as in their BCS, when comparing the three periods. Our study adds new insights into how changes in routine and the increased presence of caregivers can affect the environment, behavior and body condition of cats, and shows how a population of cats responded to these changes arising from the three periods related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 45-56"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143534539","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":"When things are not as they seem: Behavioral presentations of medical issues and temperament measures","authors":"Karen L. Overall","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.04.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.04.003","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"78 ","pages":"Page A1"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143927644","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":"Association between behavioral factors and recurrence rate in cats with feline \"idiopathic\" cystitis","authors":"Marianne Caudron ,&nbsp;Pascale Laroche ,&nbsp;Isabelle Bazin ,&nbsp;Marion Desmarchelier","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.02.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.02.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) is a lower urinary tract disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality in cats. The aim of our study was to detect potential associations between behavioral parameters and recurrence rates in cats diagnosed with FIC. Our main hypothesis was that anxiety-related behaviors could be overrepresented in cats that will experience a recurrence, compared to cats with a single episode. For this retrospective study, we recruited cats diagnosed with FIC who presented to the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire (CHUV) from March 2019 to February 2022. Cats with concurrent systemic diseases or with any other condition that could explain the urinary signs were excluded. Cat owners were sent an online survey to collect data on their cat’s behavioral parameters, potential recurrences, and whether they complied or not with provided environmental recommendations. Thirty-three surveys from 23 neutered male and 10 spayed female feline patients were received and analyzed. We found a significant association between fear of unfamiliar people and recurrence of FIC: 94% of cats who had recurrences were reported by their owners to show fear of strangers had recurrences compared to 59% of cats in the single episode group (P=0.04). Cats with reported fearful behavior in the presence of familiar people also tended to be overrepresented in the group with recurrences (P=0.08). Factors that did not differ between the two groups include displaying aggression towards humans and other animals, being a victim of aggression, displaying urine marking, owner compliance with the prescribed environmental modifications (P&gt;0.05). Identifying cats with fear and anxiety-related problems and treating them may help decrease the recurrence rate of FIC and may decrease associated mortality. Further larger scale prospective studies are needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 90-96"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143548358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cat owners’ perception towards feline chronic kidney disease: A behavioral study","authors":"Kuan Hua Khor ,&nbsp;Kuan Siew Khor ,&nbsp;Chun Hoong Choong ,&nbsp;Hor Yan Chee ,&nbsp;Norhidayah Noordin","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.01.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.01.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an incurable, progressive disease and requires long-term medical attention. However, factors that affect owners’ intention to treat their pets are unknown. This study conducted a quantitative survey to determine cat owners' awareness of CKD, and barriers they experienced in seeking treatment. It also investigated the predictors of cat owners’ intention to treat if their cats are diagnosed with CKD. Based on the theory of planned behavior, an online questionnaire was generated and distributed via a convenient sampling approach, using social media platforms, and sending invitations via e-mail to cat owners. A total of 300 respondents were recruited. Most respondents (86.3 %) were aware that cats are susceptible to CKD, and the main barrier in seeking treatment for CKD was cost-related (70.4 %). All three significant TPB items, namely attitude (β = 0.379, p &lt; 0.01), subjective norms (β = 0.147, p &lt; 0.05), and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.348, p &lt; 0.01) of the cat owners are significant predictors towards intention to treat cats with CKD. Additionally, the results showed that anticipated regret (β = 0.522, p &lt; 0.01) and empathic concern (β = 0.125, p &lt; 0.05) positively influence cat owners' attitudes toward treatment. This study also identified that the veterinarian plays a vital role, as 98 % of the respondents agreed that approval from a veterinarian is essential when seeking treatment for their cats. Therefore, improved veterinarian-client communication would provide better motivational support towards the intention to treat, aiming to improve the quality of life in affected cats. However, further study is necessary to investigate factors affecting the manifestation of the intention into behavior, i.e. deciding to treat.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 97-105"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143563649","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 genetic analysis on dogs","authors":"Anne Dorthe Nygaard Sødal Tygesen ,&nbsp;Björn Forkman ,&nbsp;Peer Berg","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.01.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.01.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of this study is to describe personality traits in eight dog breeds using the Behaviour and Personality Description in Dogs (BPH) test, and subsequently to assess their heritability. The study population comprises 7425 individual dogs across eight different breeds. Factor analysis was used to identify five fundamental behavioral traits: 1) Playful behavior; 2) Flight and distancing behavior; 3) Sociality; 4) Socially threatening and fearful behavior; 5) Submissive behavior. The genetic analysis used the five identified phenotypic behavioral traits and the pedigree data recorded in the Swedish Kennel Club’s database for each of the eight breeds. Complete pedigree information was available for between 1514 and 8916 individuals. A mixed linear model was used to calculate the heritability estimates of the traits for each of the breeds. The research explores breed differences, revealing unique profiles for each breed while emphasising substantial within-breed variability. Behavioral genetics analysis indicates low to intermediate heritabilities, suggesting a genetic influence on these traits. In addition, the study highlights the effect of environmental factors—particularly test day—on canine behavior. There was a general lack of pattern in heritability estimates within each of the breed groups and when considering the breeds individually. High heritability values were found for factors 2 and 3 (Flight/distancing behavior and Sociality) in some breeds, but factor 3 was also associated with some of the lowest values. The most consistent trait was factor 2 (Flight and distancing behavior), hence it has the highest average <span><math><msup><mrow><mi>h</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></math></span> estimate. Heritability can offer useful insights into the breeding potential for desired traits, such as sociability, playfulness and reduced aggression in animals. These findings provide a comprehensive insight into the complexity of canine behavior, offering valuable implications for breeding practices, training and understanding the diverse behavioral landscapes within and between dog breeds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 78-89"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143548357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","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":"2025-03-01","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":"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":"2025-02-28","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":"Slow-feeding dispensers for horses: Who, how and why?","authors":"M. Roig-Pons ,&nbsp;I. Bachmann ,&nbsp;S. Briefer Freymond","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.01.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.01.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Slow-feeders are feed dispensers designed to mechanically slow feed intake. As such, they are a promising tool for improving the welfare of horses by meeting their behavioural and physiological feeding needs while controlling the risk of obesity. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the current use of slow-feeders by horse owners and the profile of horses using such feeders. The objective of this questionnaire-based study was to evaluate the slow-feeding practices among horse owners and yard operators in some French-speaking European countries (Belgium, France and Switzerland). We received 1,283 replies, revealing that the population of horses fed with slow-feeders differs from the general population of ridden horses in several aspects, such as age, training, and housing. This information is valuable for ensuring representative sampling in future studies. Regarding the type of slow-feeder used, more than 85% of the respondents reported using hay nets, with hay nets covering the hay in the hayrack or surrounding a bale of hay being particularly popular. The main reasons for using slow-feeders were waste management, weight reduction, and increased feeding time for horses. Most respondents did not encounter any issues when using slow-feeders and less than 10% of respondents reported health problems and accidents resulting from the use of slow-feeder. Differences were also found between countries and between operators and owners, indicating that different user profiles have varying requirements for the feeder they use.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"79 ","pages":"Pages 7-18"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143854997","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}