Equipment on the head of the horse has the potential to affect horse behavior, learning ability, and wellbeing. The therapeutic riding (TR) horse is usually ridden by a participant while being led by a horse leader, which presents a unique situation for equipment used on the head of the horse. The purpose of this study was to describe the types of equipment used on the heads of TR horses in the United States. An anonymous online survey was distributed to certified TR instructors through social media and email listservs, ultimately resulting in 403 complete responses. Summary statistics were calculated, and open-responses were category-coded. The types of equipment used most often were bitted bridles (75.9%), traditional halters (75.2%), and sidepull bitless bridles (54.6%). Respondents used halters alone (65.9%), placed halters under bridles (43.6%), and placed halters over bridles (11.1%). Most respondents (75.9%) attached the lead rope to the bottom ring of the halter, though 23.8% of respondents used a tie ring on the underside of the bitted/bitless bridle noseband. Respondents attached reins to the halter square side buckles (60.1%), to the bit (56.7%), to bitless bridle rings (53.8%), or to halter jowl rings (31.6%). Overall, many prevalent equipment use practices were atypical of designed uses, or of the rest of the horse industry. Further research should examine the effect of such unique equipment practices.
Caring for dogs with chronic behavioral problems often leads to emotional exhaustion, guilt, and reduced treatment adherence among caregivers, particularly when behavioral interventions fail without a clear medical explanation. This case series describes two dogs, initially treated for aggression, compulsivity, and hyperreactivity, who were subsequently diagnosed through advanced imaging with porencephaly and Chiari-like malformation with syringomyelia. Identification of these structural abnormalities enabled caregivers to understand the neurological basis of their dogs’ behaviors, reducing uncertainty and strengthening engagement with ongoing management.By providing diagnostic clarification, advanced imaging supported more structured clinical decision-making and helped caregivers adjust expectations from cure to long-term management. In both cases, this shift reduced frustration and improved adherence to treatment strategies.These cases underscore the importance of considering neurological differentials in complex behavioral presentations and highlight the value of a multidisciplinary approach. Optimizing welfare in such cases requires not only appropriate medical intervention but also clear communication and sustained caregiver support throughout the diagnostic and treatment process.
Dog puppies from commercial breeding establishments often face poor early-life conditions, leading to higher chances of developing problem behaviors. We present two cases of Labrador-type dogs with such a background to illustrate how problem behaviors, in combination with medical issues, underpin animal welfare risks. Both dogs were diagnosed with serious problem behaviors that found an onset in early-life and carried a very poor outcome. Both dogs suffered from several medical issues, which, in one case, likely worsened early-life aversive experiences, leading to a very poor prognosis. These two cases illustrate how dogs from commercial breeding establishments are predisposed to high animal welfare risks, despite the efforts of veterinarians, shelter personnel and behavioral therapists to lower such risks.
Unusual interspecies interactions in captivity may pose welfare risks to zoo animals, particularly wild rodents, as hosts for diverse pathogens. Using nocturnal camera-trap monitoring, we documented a previously unreported interaction between Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) and rats. Over five nights, 35 rat-tapir interaction events were recorded, with 80% occurring between 21:00 and 06:30 h. Among the 35 recorded events, 14 events (40%) involved direct physical contact, during which one or more rats (up to 4 individuals) interacted with one or both tapirs, often concentrating around pre-existing wounds. The remaining 21 events (60%) were close proximity events without physical contact. Tapirs showed avoidance or defensive responses to direct contact, including sudden jerks, high-pitched vocalizations, and withdrawal movements. Rat activity decreased markedly on the night when a stray cat was recorded, suggesting predator avoidance. While the precise nature of this interaction remains unclear, it raises important welfare concerns for captive animals. We recommend routine nocturnal monitoring, proactive rodent control, and improved enclosure management. Additional research is required to determine the true nature of this interaction and to assess its prevalence, mechanisms, and potential physiological effects across zoos.
Venlafaxine is an antidepressant widely used in human medicine for psychiatric disorders and is increasingly prescribed in veterinary medicine. The goal of this retrospective study was to report on the use, adverse effects, and perceived efficacy of venlafaxine in dogs presenting with aggression-related behavioral disorders. Medical records from a veterinary behavioral referral service were reviewed for dogs prescribed venlafaxine between May 2016 and February 2021 with a presenting complaint of aggressive behavior, a diagnosis of one or more underlying behavioral disorders, and at least one follow-up contact (n = 114). The data collected included demographic details, medical history, venlafaxine use, perceived efficacy, adverse effects, and reasons for discontinuation, when applicable. Venlafaxine was started at a median dosage of 1.06 mg/kg/24 h. Sixty-two of 107 patients (57.9%) treated with venlafaxine for at least three weeks and had efficacy data were reportedly improved, stable, or in remission at the most recent communication. A higher dosage was associated with increased odds of treatment efficacy (p = 0.007). Venlafaxine was discontinued in 51/114 (44.7%) dogs, primarily due to perceived adverse effects (72.5% of discontinuations) or lack of improvement (25.5%). Adverse events were reported in 59/107 dogs (55.1%), with lethargy and agitation the most common (19.6% each). Higher dosages were also significantly associated with higher odds of adverse events (p < 0.001), and adverse events resolved with dosage reduction or discontinuation. These findings suggest venlafaxine may be a promising component of multimodal treatment for dogs presenting with aggression as a clinical sign; however, controlled studies are needed to establish recommended dosing and efficacy.
Immediately releasing the bite upon a previously conditioned auditory signal is a challenge for some military working dogs (MWDs) in highly motivated situations. To perform a bite release, a release hook can be used, although it has not yet been investigated to determine its compliance with the German Animal Welfare Act. MWD of the German Military were investigated by evaluating their behavior while using a bite release hook in protection work as well as by inspection of the oral cavity. No difference in behavior before and after the use of the bite release hook was detected, nor were any injuries to the oral cavity found during the examination under anesthesia. The results provide initial indications that the use of a bite release hook may be a useful tool for the MWDs in the German Military and such use is in compliance with the German Animal Welfare Act, with prior instruction has been provided by an experienced trainer in the field of service dogs. Further studies based on this are necessary to substantiate these results and allow for a conclusive statement about use. Until then, the release hook should certainly be checked beforehand and its correct use explained by expert trainers.
The absence of a comprehensive, widely accepted ethogram for the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) limits the consistency and comparability of research on canine behavior. Ethograms are essential tools in behavioral science: they define the basic units of observation, reduce subjectivity through standardized terminology, and facilitate cross-study collaboration.This study reviewed ethograms developed for species in the genus Canis, as well as partial ethograms specifically designed for dogs, to identify strengths, limitations, and key elements for the future development of a comprehensive canine ethogram. Selection criteria for comprehensive ethograms included publication in English and coverage of the genus Canis species. The researchers identified four such ethograms. For partial ethograms, inclusion required descriptions of more than 10 behaviors and publication in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Journal of Veterinary Behavior, or Animal Behaviour. From 426 initial papers, 70 partial ethograms met these criteria. Each was evaluated according to three aspects: descriptive detail, objectivity (avoidance of functional interpretations), and ease of use (presence of classifications and visual support).Clear trends emerged: comprehensive ethograms covered a wide behavioral range but often lacked descriptive precision and relied on functional labels. Partial ethograms described fewer behaviors, provided greater morphological detail, and required less interpretation, but often lacked classification systems and visual aids.A standardized ethogram should combine broad behavioral coverage, precise morphological definitions, clear classification, and visual support. Such a tool would enhance objectivity, comparability, and accessibility, establishing a robust foundation for future research and practical applications in canine behavior.
Sudden high-intensity auditory and vibrational stimuli, such as explosions, may be associated with observable behavioral and physiologic changes in dogs and cats. Although noise-related responses have been documented in thunderstorm and firework contexts, clinical descriptions of companion animals presented immediately after conflict-related explosions are limited. This case series describes behavioral observations, physiologic indicators, and salivary cortisol concentrations in twenty-six dogs and seventeen cats evaluated within approximately 40 min of a sudden urban explosion in Tehran Province. A rapid behavioral assessment was performed using a field-adapted C-BARQ/Fe-BARQ checklist, and physiologic parameters and salivary cortisol samples were collected concurrently. All assessments were completed within <= 4 min per animal under emergency conditions. Using the triage observation index (TOI), a field-adapted checklist used for operational communication, most animals received low-to-moderate behavioral markings; however, pharmacologic calming to permit safe handling was required in approximately 70% of cases (18/26 dogs, 12/17 cats). Commonly documented physiologic findings included panting, trembling, and generalized body tension. Salivary cortisol concentrations ranged from 4.09 to 13.55 nmol/L and are reported descriptively without baseline comparison, as no pre-event samples or control group were available. Some animals exhibited physiologic or endocrine findings with limited corresponding behavioral expression, highlighting variability in observable presentations under field conditions. This case series provides preliminary descriptive data on behavioral, physiologic, and endocrine findings recorded during emergency triage following an abrupt high-intensity environmental event. Further controlled research is needed to clarify the clinical and welfare implications of these observations.
Animal welfare is crucial in veterinary practice, especially during clinical examination, where stress can affect both the animal's experience and the effectiveness of diagnosis. This study investigated the efficacy of a formulation based on essential oil from Lavandula angustifolia in reducing stress of dogs during veterinary procedures. Twelve Beagles were selected and treated with topical application of 0.5 mL of 15% or 30% lavender essential oil formulation in each ear pavilion, administered 20 min before the clinical examination. The evaluation was conducted during the clinical exam, which included procedures such as blood and saliva collection and measurement of parameters like heart and respiratory rates, while the observer noted behaviors such as body posture, ear position, eyes, mouth, and other stress indicators reported in the literature. The application of the formulation did not result in adverse events and led to a significant reduction in stress-related behaviors in the group treated with the 30% formulation. The results suggest that the topical administration of lavender essential oil may be a promising means of promoting canine well-being in veterinary clinics during routine clinical examinations. Reducing stress not only improves the animals' experience but also increases the accuracy of diagnoses and the effectiveness of treatments. This indicates the need to create less stressful environments, highlighting the responsibility of veterinarians to ensure more humane and effective care.
Fluoxetine hydrochloride, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is widely used in veterinary behavioral medicine to treat anxiety, compulsive behaviors, and aggression in dogs. Although generally well tolerated, adverse effects may occur and are under-recognized. This case report describes a rare instance of suspected fluoxetine-induced alopecia in a 9-year-old neutered male Miniature Dachshund receiving long-term behavioral treatment. The dog (“K”) had been administered fluoxetine at 1.43 mg/kg once daily for over three years, later adjusted to alternate single (1,43mg/kg Q24h on Monday, Wednesday Friday, Sunday) or twice-daily dosing (1.43 mg/kg/Q12h in Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) on different days, to manage family-directed aggression and compulsive humping behavior. Over time, K developed progressive, symmetrical bilateral alopecia on the lateral thorax and around the pinnae. Comprehensive dermatologic diagnostics—including CBC, serum chemistry, external infection testing, abdominal ultrasonography, ACTH stimulation, and skin biopsy with histopathology—revealed no evidence of endocrine or primary skin disease. Given the exclusion of other causes and the chronic SSRI exposure, fluoxetine-induced alopecia was considered the most plausible explanation following exclusion of other causes, although definitive causality cannot be established. This case highlights alopecia as a potential but rare and under-documented adverse effect of fluoxetine in dogs. Although similar reports are more common in human medicine, SSRI-associated hair loss in veterinary patients deserves clinical awareness, particularly during prolonged treatment. Veterinarians should remain vigilant for dermatologic changes and other side effects in dogs receiving SSRIs and discuss possible risks with owners to support informed, shared decision-making in long-term behavioral therapy.
Cat owners tend to be more reluctant to take their animals to the veterinarian than dog owners. This reluctance may be related to factors such as the difficulty of placing the cat in the carrier, the animal’s behavior during transport to the clinic, and the reactions observed during the consultation itself. For cats, the visit may also be a stressful experience, as they are exposed to visual and olfactory stimuli from other animals. Furthermore, there is evidence that cats can perceive human signals and emotions, particularly those expressed by their owners. Thus, stressful situations for the owner may also be perceived as stressful by the cat. This study primarily aimed to investigate whether the owner’s anxiety level is associated with the cat’s behavioral and stress responses during veterinary consultations. Additionally, it sought to explore whether the owner’s presence or absence during the consultation influences these feline responses. Understanding these relationships may help clarify how the owner’s emotional state and presence interact to affect feline welfare in the clinical context. The behavior of both cats and their owners was evaluated during two consultations: the first with the owner present and the second without the owner. Two self-report questionnaires were used to assess the owners’ anxiety levels. To evaluate feline stress, the Cat Stress Score (CSS) was applied under both conditions: owner present and owner absent. Although both the owners’ anxiety and cats' stress scores indicated a moderate emotional response, no correlation was found between owner anxiety and cat stress during the veterinary consultations. However, cats exhibited different stress-related behaviors depending on the owner’s presence or absence, which may reflect some comfort associated with the owner’s presence. Given the study design, this effect could not be isolated. Future studies using a randomized crossover design are required to further understand the impact of owner presence on feline stress. Understanding these dynamics is essential to improving feline welfare during veterinary visits and developing strategies to reduce stress for both cats and their caregivers.
An approximately 2-year-old, male neutered, Australian cattle dog mix was presented to the Atlantic Veterinary College shortly after being adopted from a local humane society. The dog was born into an animal hoarding situation and remained there until he was surrendered to a humane society at roughly two years, along with 76 other dogs from the same property. About 1 month after adoption, the owners noted that the dog was continuing to be fearful and withdrawn and sought a consultation with a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. He was diagnosed with fear/fearful behaviors and social anxiety. He responded favorably to treatment with the medications paroxetine, gabapentin, and alprazolam, and to a behavior modification protocol and environmental management designed to protect him as he recovered.
Fear and anxiety (F/A) are adaptive emotional responses that, when persistent or disproportionate, may compromise canine well-being and lead to behavioral disorders. This cross-sectional study of 730 caregivers of companion dogs examined predictors of canine F/A, focusing on caregiver-related characteristics and interspecific (dog-caregiver) relationship variables. We first ran correlation analyses and then entered significant variables into multiple linear regression models to identify the most relevant predictors. Perceived caregiving costs, caregiver stress, favorable attitudes toward aversive training, and younger dog age emerged as risk factors. Basic training, medication, and more frequent veterinary consultations were associated with lower F/A. Notably, this is the first study to report an association between caregivers' attitudes toward aversive training and F/A in dogs. The findings highlight the role of caregivers' intrapersonal factors and interspecific relationship quality in dogs' emotional health. The final model explained 11% of the variance in F/A.
In shelter settings, dogs exhibit a range of stress-related behaviors and coping styles such as anxious-avoidance (e.g., despondency) or excessive-arousal (e.g., lack of impulse control). The novel COPE (Canine Observed Provision of Enrichment) assessment was designed to identify coping styles and communicate welfare needs. COPE is comprised of eight human-animal interactions (HAI) that simulate activities and stimuli out of kennel. HAIs include kennel presentation, play, settling with treat, acoustic and visual startle response, conspecific behavior, returning to kennel, and additional behavioral observations. For each HAI-associated score, coping is quantified numerically such that zero indicates adaptive coping, negative numbers anxious-avoidance, and positive excessive-arousal. COPE was piloted with 91 dogs total with n = 72 assessed in real-time by two raters to analyze inter-rater reliability. Assessments were recorded, and a subset (n = 20) was randomly selected for intra-rater reliability. Agreement metrics included percent agreement (P-o), proportion positive and negative agreement (P-pos, P-neg), and Cohen's kappa (k); scores were further assessed using quadratic weighted kappa (QWK). Scores associated with the visual and acoustic startle tests were identified for removal due to low agreement (P-o < 0.5), poor reliability (QWK <= 0.4), and lack of enrichment provision. All other scores had adequate agreement (P-o > 0.6), of which approximately half had acceptable reliability (QWK >= 0.41). The remaining were identified as candidates for refinement (QWK <= 0.4). After refinement informed by subsequent criterion validity analysis (forthcoming manuscript), analysis will demonstrate that COPE can be reliably used to assess shelter dogs' current coping state.
This study examined whether adolescent and adult training is associated with differences in owner-reported behavior problems in dogs, and whether these effects interact with pre-adolescent training history or age of acquisition. Using a self-reported online survey, owners provided information on their dogs' training experiences and the presence or absence of 11 commonly reported behavior problems. Behavior problems examined included aggression, fear and/or anxiety, excessive barking, coprophagia, repetitive behavior, house soiling, rolling in repulsive material, hyperactivity, destructive behavior, escaping, and mounting. The effect of dog age, dog sex, acquisition in pre-adolescence, pre-adolescent dog training ("puppy training"), and the interactions between preadolescent and adolescent/adult training and between acquisition in pre-adolescence and pre-adolescent training were also examined. Adolescent and/or adult training alone was not significantly associated with most ownerreported behaviors. An exception was problematic jumping, which was more frequently reported among dogs that had received adolescent/adult training. However, the odds of an owner reporting this behavior decreased with age. Dogs that were both acquired during pre-adolescence and received pre-adolescent training had significantly lower odds of owner-reported coprophagia. Fear and anxiety were also less likely to be reported in dogs that received a combination of pre-adolescent and adult training. The total number of owner-reported behavior problems was lower among dogs acquired in pre-adolescence that has also attended pre-adolescent training. Training style (R+ vs. non-R+) and training location (group classes vs. private trainer/other) were not significantly associated with owner-reported behavioral outcomes.
Social play among mammals is thought to be crucial for the development of socio-cognitive and motor skills. Trait matching, or the tendency of individuals to seek partners who share similar biological and behavioral traits, could enhance the benefits of play by allowing mammals to accurately and reliably predict each other’s behavior. As a result, this could lead to smoother social interactions. To test this idea, we explored the preferences of domesticated dogs during intraspecific open play bout sessions, as dogs are known for engaging in high levels of social play even into adulthood. In line with other studies on intraspecific play in dogs, we examined whether trait matching affected play duration and the average distance between dogs. We specifically predicted that trait matching would lead to longer play times and closer average proximity. We analyzed the effects of both biological (size, age, sex) and behavioral (head-to-head contact, head-to-tail contact, rearing history) traits on duration and distance. We did not find any evidence to support our predictions. Given the null results of our study and the recent mixed findings from other research on intraspecific dog play, it seems that other biological and behavioral factors (such as energy levels and personality traits) may play a role in trait matching. This, in turn, could influence the average duration and distance of play, although additional research is needed to confirm these ideas.
Subjective ratings are frequently used to interpret the social behavior of dogs, especially in the context of human-dog interactions due to their convenience and practicality. To assess whether ratings are sufficiently reliable, researchers are tasked with documenting the level of agreement between multiple observers. Several of these comparisons are conducted within a single context (i.e., interactions solely with the experimenter), hence raising the question whether interpretations would also converge across different social contexts. In this study, three observers with varying levels of experience, one expert in canine behavior and welfare and two dog owners, rate both the cooperative tendencies and petting responses of 20 dogs across two social contexts: interactions with (a) their owners (i.e., a familiar social context) and (b) the experimenter (a novel social context). We found that observer scores aligned only in the novel social context, suggesting a divergence among observers while interpreting the interaction of dogs with their owners. We believe the unique nature of the long-term bonding between dogs and their owners, coupled with observers' limited access to the development of these bonds, contributed to the lack of inter-rater reliability. Our findings highlight the importance of conducting behavioral tests across multiple contexts.
A 3-year-old female spayed French bulldog diagnosed with separation anxiety and confinement anxiety was referred to a certified dog trainer for treatment of separation related problems using the author's treatment method, which combines classical counterconditioning with desensitization. The dog had previously not progressed in behavior modification despite multiple attempts at training employing popular habituation methods for treating separation anxiety with 4 other trainers. The dog had therefore not been left alone since beginning training 2.5 years prior. The trainer and owner met virtually for training seven times over a period of 190 days. During the training period, the dog progressed from demonstrating fear and stress signals when the owner left the room for 60 seconds, to being relaxed in a room alone for 3 hours while the owner was away from the property. These results were achieved significantly more rapidly than desensitization alone, with greater duration, and without the stress signals demonstrated over the course of the prior 2.5 years in which the owner attempted desensitization training to resolve separation anxiety. Prior to attempting training with this method, no successful separation greater than 12 min had been attained. At follow up, the dog can be alone for 5 hours.
The goal of the study was to assess the effect of cannabidiol (CBD) on pet owner perception of chronically anxious dogs on their overall anxiety using a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover model. Fifty-two dogs qualified as having mild to moderate chronic anxiety and were either assigned to 5 mg/kg BW CBD or a placebo provided orally once per day for 90 days for phase 1. After a 30-day washout period, dogs that remained in the study swapped treatments (CBD to Placebo, Placebo to CBD), and began phase 2 for 90 days. Forty concluded the study with only minor deviations. At every visit (days 0, 45, 90, 120, 165 and 210), physical exams, blood collections (for CBC, chemistry and plasma CBD), an abbreviated Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ), and pet owner perception of their dog's anxiety were completed. Adverse events were recorded. While physical exams remained the same among treatments, vocalization altered within the placebo treatment (p = 0.02). Plasma CBD revealed a large variation among dogs. There was no treatment effect on alanine aminotransferase, but alkaline phosphatase was elevated over time when supplemented with CBD, as expected, with averages below the upper reference limits. No significant treatment effects were found for any subscale in the modified C-BARQ; however, most subscales had a time effect (P < 0.001), indicating that pet owners perceived their dogs as being less anxious regardless of treatment. Future work on objective data, including stress-related biomarkers, may help elucidate whether there is any effect of CBD on canine anxiety.
A 7-year-old spayed female DSH cat was assessed for a 10-month history of decreased playfulness. The cat also displayed changes in social interactions, activity level, sleep and elimination habits, tail carriage, grooming, and repetitive behaviors (walking, vocalization, circling). The patient underwent MRI and was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor (presumptive pituitary macroadenoma). Treatment included stereotactic radiation, daily gabapentin, pheromone therapy, and changes to litter box management. The abnormal behaviors significantly decreased. Focal epileptic seizures occurring post-radiation treatment were successfully controlled with anti-inflammatory and anti-epileptic medication. By 10 weeks post-radiation, all behaviors had improved. The patient remained improved for 23 months before developing a recurrence of the initial signs, as well as polyphagia, polydipsia, and polyuria. She was subsequently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and euthanized. In senior cats with progressive behavior changes, veterinarians should consider pituitary neoplasia as a differential diagnosis, even in the presence of a normal neurologic exam.
