Prevalence of intestinal parasites in pet dogs in the United States

Intestinal Parasites in Dogs

Susan E. Little, Eileen M. Johnson, David Lewis, Renee P. Jaklitsch, Mark E. Payton, Byron L. Blagburn, Dwight D. Bowman, Scott Moroff, Todd Tams, Lon Rich, David Aucoin

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in pet dogs in the United States

Veterinary Parasitology, Volume 166, Issues 1–2, 3 December 2009, Pages 144–152

Abstract

To determine the national, regional, and age-related prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs presenting to veterinarians in the United States, we reviewed the results of examination via zinc sulfate centrifugal flotation of 1,199,293 canine fecal samples submitted to Antech Diagnostics in 2006. The most commonly identified intestinal parasites were ascarids (2.2%), hookworms (2.5%), whipworms (1.2%), Giardia (4.0%), and Cystoisospora (4.4%). With the exception of whipworms, intestinal parasites were more commonly identified in dogs less than 6 months of age (29.6% positive) as compared to those greater than 1 year of age (6.1% positive) although infections with each parasite considered were identified in all age classes of dogs. Hookworm eggs were most commonly identified in fecal samples submitted from dogs from the South (4.0% positive), whereas ascarid eggs and Giardia cysts were most commonly seen in samples from dogs from the West (2.8% and 6.3% positive, respectively). When compared to previous data from shelter dogs, the prevalence of intestinal helminths, particularly ascarids and hookworms, was greatly suppressed in pet dogs in the southern United States (90–91% reduction) and much less so in dogs in the West (52–78% reduction), perhaps due in part to the routine year-round use of monthly anthelmintics effective at controlling both heartworm infection and intestinal helminths in dogs in the South. Taken together these data indicate that intestinal parasites remain a common, important finding in dogs presenting to veterinary practices although in most of the country infection rates in pet dogs appear to be greatly reduced from the level reported from dogs in animal shelters.

A new behavioral test for detecting decline of age-related cognitive ability in dogs

Miho Nagasawa, Aiko Yatsuzuka, Kazutaka Mogi, Takefumi Kikusui

A new behavioral test for detecting decline of age-related cognitive ability in dogs

Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, Volume 7, Issue 4, July–August 2012, Pages 220–224

Abstract

A simple test for detecting decline of cognitive ability in aged dogs is needed in modern society. We used a basic place-selection test to develop a new test to assess cognitive ability in dogs, using 25 house dogs. Three covered bowls were placed in front of the subject. One of them was the correct bowl, from which the subject was rewarded with a food treat when he/she chose it. If the subject made an incorrect selection, he/she was returned to the starting point and the trial was repeated. Cognitive ability was assessed by the number of errors needed to fulfill the criterion. We found a significantly high correlation between the dogs’ ages and the number of error trials, suggesting that age-related cognitive dysfunction may reliably be assessed by the documented place-learning test.

Reported behaviour problems in pet dogs in Denmark: age distribution and influence of breed and gender

Jørgen Damkjer Lund, Jens Frederik Agger, Klaus S. Vestergaard

Reported behaviour problems in pet dogs in Denmark: age distribution and influence of breed and gender

Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Volume 28, Issue 1, August 1996, Pages 33–48

Abstract

In the period 1987–1991 the consultant service established by the Danish Animal Welfare Society and the Danish Civil Dog Training Association reported 3975 problems in relation to pet dogs in Denmark. With nine categories of problem behaviour a total of 2719 problems were recorded in 2238 dogs. The data were analysed for the influence of breed, gender and age on the risk of developing behaviour problems. The analysis was designed as a case-control study using two control groups: (1) dogs registered by Danish Kennel Club in a 5-year period and (2) dogs treated at The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark in a 4-month period. Thirteen breeds or breed groups including mixed breeds were compared with a reference group consisting of Labrador Retrievers. Compared with the reference group, Alsatians seemed to have higher risks of aggression towards other dogs, aggression towards strangers and general anxiety. For Cocker Spaniels higher risks of aggression towards the owner, aggression towards strangers and indoor urination/defecation were found. Collies seemed to have higher risks of aggression towards strangers, indoor urination/defecation and general anxiety. Furthermore, a higher risk of general anxiety was found in Poodles and Fox Terriers. Generally, Dachshunds, a group consisting of all terriers excluding Fox Terriers and mixed breeds, seemed to have a low risk of behaviour problems. Compared with females, males seemed to have a lower risk of general anxiety and a higher risk of problems related to lack of training and all kinds of aggression. About 80% of the behaviour problems were reported within the first 3 years of life. Only 5.5% of the dogs were suggested to be or were in fact euthanized.

The relationship of fearfulness to, and the effects of, sex, age and experience on exploration and activity in dogs

M.E. Goddard, R.G. Beilharz

The relationship of fearfulness to, and the effects of, sex, age and experience on exploration and activity in dogs

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 12, Issue 3, April 1984, Pages 267–278

Abstract

The correlations between measures of activity in different situations, including inhibitory training, were positive but low. Activity in non-stressful situations was independent of fearfulness. There appears to be individual variation between dogs which determines whether a dog responds to fear by increasing or decreasing activity. Fearfulness was correlated with high visual and auditory exploration. General fearfulness was uncorrelated with olfactory exploration, but lack of experience in crowded, noisy places increased both olfactory exploration and fear of certain objects likely to be encountered in such places, and so caused a correlation between these two traits. Dogs which were reared in a home with another dog were less distracted by other dogs. Between 6 and 12 months, the dogs declined in activity and unwanted exploration. Females showed a higher level of activity during inhibitory training and a higher level of olfactory exploration than males.

The pet dogs ability for learning from a human demonstrator in a detour task is independent from the breed and age

Péter Pongrácz, Ádám Miklósi, Viktória Vida, Vilmos Csányi

The pet dogs ability for learning from a human demonstrator in a detour task is independent from the breed and age

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 90, Issues 3–4, March 2005, Pages 309–323

Abstract

There are many indications and much practical knowledge about the different tasks which various breeds of dogs are selected for. Correspondingly these different breeds are known to possess different physical and mental abilities. We hypothesized that commonly kept breeds will show differences in their problem solving ability in a detour task around a V-shaped fence, and also, that breed differences will affect their learning ability from a human demonstrator, who demonstrates a detour around the fence. Subjects were recruited in Hungarian pet dog schools. We compared the results of the 10 most common breeds in our sample when they were tested in the detour task without human demonstration. There was no significant difference between the latencies of detour, however, there was a trend that German Shepherd dogs were the quickest and Giant Schnauzers were the slowest in this test. For testing the social learning ability of dogs we formed three breed groups (“utility”, “shepherd” and “hunting”). There were no significant differences between these, all the breed groups learned equally well from the human demonstrator. However, we found that dogs belonging to the “shepherd” group looked back more frequently to their owner than the dogs in the “hunting” group. Further, we have found that the age of pet dogs did not affect their social learning ability in the detour task. Our results showed that the pet status of a dog has probably a stronger effect on its cognitive performance and human related behaviour than its age or breed. These results emphasize that socialization and common activities with the dog might overcome the possible breed differences, if we give the dogs common problem solving, or social learning tasks.