Australian Veterinary Journal最新文献

{"title":"Wellbeing special collection: the research legacy of the late Trevor Heath","authors":"M Cake, D Schull","doi":"10.1111/avj.70120","DOIUrl":"10.1111/avj.70120","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Emeritus Professor Trevor James Heath OAM BVSc(Syd) MA(Ed)(MSU) MHPEd(NSW) PhD(ANU) DVSc(Qld) DVSc h.c.(Syd) FACVSc (b. 1937, d. 2025) was an extraordinary veterinarian, scholar, teacher, leader and mentor with an enduring legacy across academic veterinary science and education. His distinguished career, summarised in an <i>AVJ</i> obituary by Phil Thomas,<span><sup>1</sup></span> included terms as Dean of Veterinary Science (1973–1980), then Chair of Veterinary Anatomy at the University of Queensland. But above all, he is remembered as an exceptional human being – a most generous, thoughtful and kind person who was always genuinely interested in the lives and careers of colleagues, students and graduates who passed through his orbit. His lifelong habit of maintaining contact via birthday wishes or sharing his latest nature photographs, plus the deep esteem in which he was held, likely contributed to the notably high response rates he achieved in all his survey-based studies.</p><p>Trevor published more than 40 research and opinion papers in the <i>AVJ</i> between 1977 and 2018, around a quarter of his extensive academic output. Their common themes relate to Australian veterinary students and graduates, veterinary education and demography of the veterinary profession. Notably he established the first longitudinal study of veterinary careers, closely following two cohorts of students who began the UQld veterinary course in 1985 or 1986 – coincidentally 77 males and 77 females, capturing a gender turning point – and surveyed their views and experiences as first and final year students, then at 2, 5, 10 and 15 years after graduation.<span><sup>2-6</sup></span> While this long-running cohort study was designed to test the specific question of whether students of rural origin were more likely to return to rural veterinary jobs (answer: initially yes, but few stayed long-term<span><sup>7</sup></span>), Trevor was also most concerned to see if, ‘<i>…whatever direction these paths follow, those concerned will derive satisfaction, reward and happiness in both a personal and a professional sense</i>’.<span><sup>2</sup></span> Trevor's own journey with depression gave him great insight and empathy for the struggles of others.<span><sup>1</sup></span> His studies in this collection thus represent foundational proto-studies of job satisfaction, well-being and attrition in Australian veterinarians and capture the influence of shifting demographics, education, work characteristics over a period in which mental health concerns rose to increasing prominence in the professional discourse.</p><p>Trevor's epic longitudinal cohort series (1996–2007) was complemented by cross-sectional surveys of AVA members (2001),<span><sup>8, 9</sup></span> veterinarians in horse industries (2004),<span><sup>10-12</sup></span> graduates representing each decade from 1950 to 2000 (2004)<span><sup>13-15</sup></span> and recent graduates from each Australian school (2005).<span><su","PeriodicalId":8661,"journal":{"name":"Australian Veterinary Journal","volume":"104 9","pages":"642-643"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/avj.70120","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148519802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Treatment of melioidosis in cats and dogs: antimicrobial therapy and clinical guidance for Burkholderia pseudomallei infections","authors":"K Lee, C Shilton, S Benedict, M Krockenberger, M Mayo, BJ Currie, R Malik","doi":"10.1111/avj.70125","DOIUrl":"10.1111/avj.70125","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In the accompanying article examining melioidosis in cats and dogs in Australia,<span><sup>1</sup></span> we showed that most patients were treated with “conventional antimicrobials” commonly used in small-animal practice rather than the drugs used in human medicine for melioidosis, which are considerably more effective against <i>Burkholderia pseudomallei</i>. Although some animals with limited disease responded favourably, many failed to respond to therapy and were ultimately euthanised and necropsied.</p><p>Since submission of that publication, we have consulted on several additional cases of acute melioidosis in cats and dogs in the Northern Territory (NT) and Far North Queensland (Qld) where treatment protocols extrapolated from those used by the Darwin group for human patients<span><sup>2, 3</sup></span> were implemented, with encouraging results. We therefore outline here the rationale for alternative treatment regimens and propose practical therapeutic approaches for veterinary management of canine and feline melioidosis patients.</p><p>We anticipate that this guidance will function as a dynamic document that can be refined as further clinical experience accumulates in managing these challenging infections. Treatment protocols considered most likely to be effective are presented below (Table 1), informed by the current case series,<span><sup>1</sup></span> evolving clinical experience and available veterinary data, with human experience used for contextual guidance.</p><p><i>Burkholderia pseudomallei</i> is intrinsically resistant to numerous antimicrobials, including penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, first- and second-generation cephalosporins, macrolides, azalides and aminoglycosides.<span><sup>2, 13</sup></span> Intermediate resistance to fluoroquinolones has also been reported for human isolates,<span><sup>13</sup></span> consistent with our antibiogram data.<span><sup>1</sup></span></p><p>In human medicine, recommended treatment consists of an initial intensive intravenous (IV) phase followed by a prolonged eradication phase.<span><sup>3, 14</sup></span> Meropenem or ceftazidime is used IV during the intensive phase, with trimethoprim–sulphonamide (TMS) added in cases involving the CNS, bones, joints, genitourinary tract or skin.<span><sup>3</sup></span> These agents are considered critically important antimicrobials in human medicine and are used off-label in animals because they are not registered veterinary products.<span><sup>15</sup></span> Consequently, they are generally not included in routine veterinary susceptibility testing, although three isolates in our case series tested against ceftazidime were all susceptible.</p><p>Current Australian human guidelines reserve meropenem primarily for critically ill ICU patients, while other patients commence therapy with ceftazidime.<span><sup>3</sup></span> This reflects antimicrobial stewardship considerations, as both drugs are highly effective for melioidosis. In veterinary p","PeriodicalId":8661,"journal":{"name":"Australian Veterinary Journal","volume":"104 9","pages":"581-584"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/avj.70125","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148618360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Asymptomatic thrombocytopenia in Akitas: a prospective cross-sectional study of platelet characteristics in an Eastern Australian population","authors":"JD Bool,&nbsp;SM Jaensch,&nbsp;D Collins,&nbsp;E Thrift","doi":"10.1111/avj.70111","DOIUrl":"10.1111/avj.70111","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Asymptomatic thrombocytopenia, often associated with macroplatelets, is an important clinical entity that may be misdiagnosed as immune thrombocytopenia due to analyser limitations and low clinician awareness. It is well recognised in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and other breeds, and has been reported in Akitas in the United States. However, its occurrence and significance in Australian Akitas remain unknown.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Eighteen clinically healthy Akitas and 11 control dogs from Eastern Australia were evaluated. Blood samples were analysed using an automated haematology analyser, with manual platelet counts and blood film examination performed for comparison. Descriptive and non-parametric statistical analyses were undertaken.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>None of the dogs had clinical signs of bleeding. Thrombocytopenia (&lt;150 × 10⁹/L) was identified in 83% of Akitas, while all controls had platelet counts above this threshold. Automated platelet counts were significantly lower than manual counts in Akitas, but not in controls. Macroplatelets were observed in a minority of dogs (11% of Akitas, 9% of controls). Mean platelet volume was significantly higher in Akitas. Additionally, Akitas had lower mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and reticulocyte haemoglobin equivalent than controls, and an increased red cell distribution width consistent with anisocytosis. American Akitas had a lower mean corpuscular volume than Japanese Akitas.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Asymptomatic thrombocytopenia was common in Australian Akitas but was not consistently associated with macroplatelets. Discrepancies between automated and manual platelet counts highlight the risk of underestimation by analysers. The condition occurred in both Japanese and American Akita lines without major platelet differences. Awareness and manual confirmation are essential to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8661,"journal":{"name":"Australian Veterinary Journal","volume":"104 9","pages":"600-604"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148325914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of trehalose supplementation in a Tris-egg yolk extender on cryopreserved dog epididymal spermatozoa.","authors":"M Çeşmeci, R Arici, S Yağcioğlu, H Şenlikci, A Eser, A Baran","doi":"10.1111/avj.70136","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.70136","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cryopreservation of epididymal spermatozoa is an important approach for preserving canine genetic material when ejaculated semen cannot be collected due to sudden death, injury or castration. However, epididymal spermatozoa are particularly susceptible to cryodamage because they lack the protective proteins and antioxidants present in seminal plasma. Trehalose, a non-permeating disaccharide with membrane-stabilising and osmoprotective properties, may mitigate these effects, although its efficacy in canine epididymal sperm cryopreservation remains insufficiently characterised. This study aimed to determine the optimal trehalose concentration for preserving the post-thaw functional and structural quality of canine epididymal spermatozoa cryopreserved in a Tris-egg yolk extender. Epididymal sperm samples were collected from the testes of four dogs per replicate (n = 28) and cryopreserved with 0, 50, 75 or 100 mM trehalose across seven experimental replicates. Post-thaw sperm motility and kinematic parameters were evaluated using computer-assisted sperm analysis. Plasma membrane and acrosome integrity, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA fragmentation were assessed by flow cytometry, while membrane functionality was evaluated using the hypo-osmotic swelling test. Motility parameters were also assessed following thermal stress incubation. Trehalose supplementation significantly improved plasma membrane integrity at all concentrations and enhanced acrosome integrity at 100 mM (P < 0.05). However, trehalose had no significant effects on sperm motility or kinematic parameters, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA integrity or hypo-osmotic swelling responses (P > 0.05). Overall, trehalose supplementation, particularly at 100 mM, improved the structural preservation of canine epididymal spermatozoa during cryopreservation, although these benefits did not translate into improvements in post-thaw functional parameters.</p>","PeriodicalId":8661,"journal":{"name":"Australian Veterinary Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148863479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Three-dimensional printed dorsal occipitocervical fixation in a dog with atlantoaxial instability and concurrent incomplete ossification of the atlas.","authors":"M du Preez, P Tisdall, J W Siow, B Oxley","doi":"10.1111/avj.70133","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.70133","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 5-year-old, male, neutered, Border Collie presented to a referral hospital with marked cervical hyperaesthesia, uncharacteristic aggression and progressive tetraparesis. The dog was diagnosed with chronic, dynamic atlantoaxial instability and incomplete ossification of the atlas using combined advanced cross-sectional imaging. Traditional surgical approaches rely on adequate bone stock from both the atlas and the axis to achieve robust fixation, which would have been challenging in this case. Descriptive surgical techniques are lacking for this presentation due to its rarity. The owner consented to a novel surgical technique that used a three-dimensional (3D) printed titanium alloy plate to achieve dorsal occipitocervical fixation. A single screw deviated from it's intended corridor in the calvarium by 2.43 mm. The dog demonstrated transient worsening of neurological deficits and regained full ambulation 4 weeks post operative. 3D printing is becoming a popular adjunct in evolving surgical techniques and can be considered in both traditional and rare presentations.</p>","PeriodicalId":8661,"journal":{"name":"Australian Veterinary Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148817272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Palliative care of a large captive saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) with metastatic digital squamous cell carcinoma.","authors":"C L Leyshon, A L Cottle, S M Cutter, C M Shilton, S R Isberg","doi":"10.1111/avj.70132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.70132","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 4.90 m male saltwater crocodile, \"Burt\", was first noticed with irregular keratinisation involving the claw of the first digit of his left hind limb in December 2021. Three months later (March 2022), the digit had significantly increased in size and was noticeably affecting his weight-bearing ability. An excisional biopsy was performed, involving digit amputation. Histopathology revealed that the lesion was a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), complicated by ulceration and opportunistic Morganella morganii infection. Within 3 months, the mass recurred. In June 2022, a second amputation was performed, this time through the distal femur. Histology revealed that although clusters of neoplastic cells were present within lymphatics near the main mass, the amputated margins were clear of SCC. After both interventions, the crocodile resumed eating and behaving normally within 24 h, although after the second surgery he was observed to have some balancing issues as he readjusted to the missing limb. In June 2024, the crocodile's food consumption declined; he lost interest in interacting with the keepers, displayed strong food preferences that changed frequently and generally became less responsive and active. Despite no local reoccurrence of the mass 2.5 years post-surgery, the crocodile succumbed to metastasis in the heart and liver, causing cardiac failure and terminal drowning. This study provides insights into the progression of digital SCC and a discussion of the palliative care options that are available for large crocodilians.</p>","PeriodicalId":8661,"journal":{"name":"Australian Veterinary Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148787502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of a portable glucometer for blood glucose measurement in juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas).","authors":"Yaa Pérez, M G Chenard, G Martinez-Souza, Vhs Ney, K Russano, J de Menezes Paes, V Z Lemos, B A de Freitas, K M de Souza, Jvm da Silva, T Gião, L V Dos Santos, C de Freitas Campos, M A Helayel, E T Mársico, N X de Alencar, Kvgc da Silva","doi":"10.1111/avj.70130","DOIUrl":"10.1111/avj.70130","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Blood glucose is a key physiological indicator in sea turtles, but its measurement in field settings can be challenging. Portable point-of-care (POC) glucometers offer practicality, yet their agreement with reference laboratory methods has not been established for juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from the Southwestern Atlantic. We compared glucose concentrations from a portable glucometer with a reference enzymatic method using blood samples from 30 free-ranging juvenile green turtles captured in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Agreement was assessed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Passing-Bablok regression and Bland-Altman analysis. The influence of fibropapillomatosis and packed cell volume was also examined. The glucometer significantly underestimated glucose compared to the reference method (median 70 vs. 90 mg/dL, respectively, P < 0.001), with a mean bias of -17.9 mg/dL and wide limits of agreement. Passing-Bablok regression showed no significant systematic or proportional errors (95% CI for intercept included 0; 95% CI for slope included 1). Only 43% of glucometer readings fell within ±20% of the reference ranges reported for sea turtles. Packed cell volume correction slightly reduced the bias but did not improve agreement. Fibropapillomatosis status did not affect absolute glucose concentrations but influenced relative bias when packed cell volume was within the manufacturer's validated range. The portable glucometer is not interchangeable with the reference method for this species. While it may provide rapid field estimates, its results require cautious interpretation and, whenever possible, laboratory validation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8661,"journal":{"name":"Australian Veterinary Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148720142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection of zoonotic bacteria in wild Australian freshwater turtles.","authors":"T F Scheelings, Tth Van, R J Moore, L F Skerratt","doi":"10.1111/avj.70129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.70129","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Freshwater turtles are long-lived, abundant components of Australian aquatic ecosystems, yet little is known about the diversity and prevalence of zoonotic bacteria they may carry. In this study, we conducted one of the most comprehensive surveys to date of zoonotic microorganisms associated with wild Australian freshwater turtles. A total of 257 individuals representing 10 species across 6 genera were sampled from multiple riverine and wetland systems. Using next generation sequencing, we detected 18 confirmed zoonotic bacterial species spanning 10 genera, including Acinetobacter, Vibrio, Plesiomonas, Campylobacter, and Clostridium. Nearly half of all turtles (49.8%) were shedding at least one zoonotic taxon at the time of capture, with some individuals carrying multiple species simultaneously. Several additional isolates from genera with known zoonotic potential could not be resolved to species level, highlighting gaps in current reference databases and the need for improved genomic characterisation. No Salmonella spp. were detected, consistent with previous research suggesting a low risk of reptile-associated salmonellosis from Australian freshwater turtles. Shedding prevalence varied markedly among turtle species and locations, suggesting that host ecology and environmental conditions influence bacterial acquisition and persistence. Due to data sparsity for many taxa, analyses were limited to descriptive assessments. Overall, these findings demonstrate that Australian freshwater turtles harbour a diverse assemblage of bacteria with zoonotic relevance and may act as reservoirs within aquatic environments. Continued surveillance, integration of genomic tools, and consideration of human-wildlife interaction contexts, including cultural harvesting, will be important for assessing public health implications and informing conservation and biosecurity strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":8661,"journal":{"name":"Australian Veterinary Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148683249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Veterinarian attitudes towards immunocontraceptive use in cats.","authors":"E Vartola, S Wills, E Cottingham, C D Marth, N Krekeler","doi":"10.1111/avj.70113","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.70113","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The continuously expanding global cat population poses concerns to public health, native ecosystems and individual animal welfare. These concerns have led to additional management strategies to reduce unowned cat numbers, including the development of feline immunocontraceptives. Use of these contraceptives could also provide pet owners with alternatives to surgical sterilisation. However, the implementation of immunocontraceptives into feline medicine requires the support of the veterinary community.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>The aim of this research was to evaluate the current global attitudes and interests held by veterinarians towards immunocontraceptive use in cats to guide future research in the field.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A globally distributed survey was conducted assessing veterinarians' attitudes and practices regarding surgical sterilisation and the use of immunocontraceptives in feline populations as an alternative to surgical sterilisation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The survey was completed by 122 veterinarians across 11 countries. The majority, 59% of respondents, felt unfamiliar with immunocontraceptives. The main concerns included longevity of reproductive contraception (86% agreed), product efficacy (78% agreed) and cost (73% agreed). Overall, 61% of respondents reported they were more likely than unlikely to implement the use of feline immunocontraceptives should they become available in the future.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These results indicate that the majority of responding veterinarians were interested in utilising feline immunocontraceptives should they become available. This survey highlights the need for further high-quality research and education to improve practitioner knowledge regarding immunocontraceptive action, efficacy and safety in cats and to increase the likelihood of veterinarians utilising these therapies should they become licensed and available in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":8661,"journal":{"name":"Australian Veterinary Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148676960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigation of breed-related variation in judgement bias, sustained gaze and cylinder task performance in healthy pet dogs.","authors":"Rsc Seymour, Rmp Caddiell, R M Cunningham, C L Pachel, K R Love, Bdx Lascelles, M E Gruen","doi":"10.1111/avj.70127","DOIUrl":"10.1111/avj.70127","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Judgement bias tasks are increasingly used to infer affective state in animals, but the extent to which affect-related judgement varies systematically across dog breeds remains unclear. In a cross-sectional prospective study, 118 healthy client-owned adult dogs from 10 breeds/breed types completed a spatial judgement bias task and other cognitive tasks including sustained gaze and a cylinder task. Dogs also underwent emotional reactivity testing and owner assessment using the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ). Breed effects and cross-domain associations were evaluated using nonparametric and covariate-adjusted regression models. Judgement bias and delta scores showed no consistent breed differences. Although breed was significant in an initial covariate-adjusted ordinal model of judgement bias, it was not retained after AIC-based model reduction. Judgement bias was not associated with novel object responses, disgruntled stranger scores, or most C-BARQ traits. Higher familiar-dog aggression scores were associated with lower odds of pessimistic bias outcomes, and disgruntled stranger performance correlated positively with C-BARQ stranger-directed fear. In contrast, sustained gaze duration differed markedly by breed and remained breed-dependent after adjustment, with retriever breeds showing longer gaze durations than Maltese and several other breeds. Cylinder task outcomes showed subtler breed-related effects, but familiarisation trial number and owner-reported excitability were more consistent predictors than breed. These findings suggest that, in healthy pet dogs, affect-related judgement under ambiguity is shaped more by individual-level factors than by breed, whereas sustained gaze scores and some cylinder task scores show some breed-related patterning. Very few breed differences were found overall, and the results of this study reinforce the value of multimodal approaches to canine affect and cognition, and the use of caution regarding breed stereotypes.</p>","PeriodicalId":8661,"journal":{"name":"Australian Veterinary Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148700459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}