Dog Tail-Chasing Linked to High Cholesterol

By Jennifer Viegas

A team of veterinarians has found a surprising link between compulsive tail-chasing in dogs and high cholesterol, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Small Animal Practice.

The finding adds to a growing body of evidence — mostly from studies on humans — that high cholesterol may be a marker for behavioral problems such as panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder, which could be expressed by frequent tail-chasing falls in dogs.

Bouts of tail-chasing can also occur after a dog experiences physical trauma, surgery or illness, noted Hasan Batmaz, a member of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Turkey’s University of Uludag, who conducted the study along with a team of colleagues.

For the study, the researchers took blood samples from 15 otherwise healthy dogs that were compulsive tail-chasers. To serve as controls, 15 dogs that rarely chase their tails were included in the study as well.

The tail-chasers had significantly higher cholesterol numbers — including both HDL and LDL — compared with the control dogs, the researchers found.

The reason, they said, could be that high cholesterol levels glob up cell membranes at the microscopic level, affecting the flow of brain hormones such as serotonin that are involved in mood and behavior.

Lisa Peterson, a longtime dog breeder who is director of communications for the American Kennel Club, was surprised by the new study.

Peterson explained that since high cholesterol in dogs doesn’t always lead to the same health issues as it does in humans, such as clogged arteries, dogs aren’t tested for their serum lipid levels as part of their annual wellness exams.

“Blood pressure isn’t usually measured for dogs either, unless the dog is exhibiting extreme symptoms,” she added.

As for tail-chasing, she said, “this is usually just a puppy thing that happens when young pups discover they have a tail.”

But when tail-chasing becomes compulsive, she said the behavior could be due to “nature or nurture,” meaning genetic or environmental causes, including “a stressful incident trigger.”

Dog Barks Reveal Universal Language

By Jennifer Viegas

What do dog barks have in common with bird tweets and human baby cries? All appear to communicate basic emotions, such as fear, aggression and submission, in somewhat the same acoustic way, according to a new Applied Animal Behavior Science study that suggests a primitive communication system may unite virtually all mammals.

The theory could help explain why previous research has found that many mammals, including humans, understand the vocalizations of different species.

For example, a Language Communication study determined young children can identify simple emotions conveyed in macaque calls. Other studies indicate that interacting individuals among African grey parrots and bonobos can agree on the object that’s likely referred to by a vocalization.

For the recent research, Péter Pongrácz and colleagues studied how well people with varying dog experience could describe several artificially assembled bark sequences. The barks, which were based on sounds made by a Mudi (a Hungarian herding dog), covered five emotional states: aggressiveness, fear, despair, playfulness and happiness.

Pongrácz, a professor of ethology at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary, and his team then compared the listeners’ answers to the acoustical features of the barks.

The scientists discovered that changes in three basic sound qualities — tone, pitch, and the time between barks — determined how listeners perceived the barks. In general, high-pitched barks with longer intervals between each bark were rated as less aggressive than lower-pitched barks heard in frequent succession.

Human babies vary similar sound quality characteristics when they cry, except frequency range appears to be more important than pitch when they express their needs.

This link between pitch or frequency and perceived emotion appears to carry across many different species, according to Pongrácz, who cited an earlier theory proposed by avian expert Eugene Morton.

“His basic argument was that, according to the general physical laws, larger bodies emit sounds characterized by lower frequencies — and these are also noisier/atonal, thus receivers can predict the size of the sender,” Pongrácz and his team wrote.

“This relationship could have formed the basis of an evolutionary ritualization process whereby low pitched vocalizations tended to signal aggression because larger animals are more likely to win contests…and high pitched vocalizations became predictors of submission or friendly intent.”

Since the dog study test subjects also linked barks to despair, happiness and playfulness, the researchers suspect dogs and humans share a unique ability to communicate with one another that goes beyond the proposed universal mammal “language.”

The scientists believe years of domestication have improved the way that dogs, versus their wolf ancestors, can communicate with us. They point out that such communication isn’t limited to vocalizations. It also includes visual signals, such as changes in looks.

Common house cats also appear to have evolved improved means of communicating with humans, according to a study conducted by Cornell University researcher Nicholas Nicastro. Cats, however, seem more intent on manipulating us.

“Though they lack language, cats have become very skilled at managing humans to get what they want — basically food, shelter and a little human affection,” said Nicastro.

Alan Beck, professor and director of the Center for Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University, told Discovery News that we have to be careful not to interpret behavior according to “our projection of intent.” But he admitted dogs might be able to communicate with us through their barks.

Beck said, “As dogs and humans share some basic non-verbal communications, it is very possible that verbal ones also exist.”

Boarding Kennels – Discover the Best One For Your Pet

By Kristen Nelson, D.V.M.

With summer around the corner, it is time to find a comfortable place for your pet while you are on vacation. You want to know your pet is safe and well cared for in your absence. But how do you find a good boarding kennel? How do you make sure your pet is happy so you may enjoy a guilt-free vacation? The answer is simple, do homework in advance.

Kennel Design

Before booking a reservation, take a tour of the boarding kennel. Pay close attention to the number of barriers between the animal holding area and the outdoors. I like to see at least one set of self-closing doors between the animal areas and the front door. If a dog slips its leash, they usually run to where they entered the building. Ask about the security system. Does the facility have smoke detectors? If smoke is detected, will it automatically activate sprinklers? Unfortunately, kennel fires do occur so every precaution must be taken to protect the animals inside.

Look at the layout for species-specific rooms. I prefer separate cat, dog and exotic areas. Each may be customized to reduce stress and provide behavioral enrichment. Cats especially benefit from not sharing their space with a pack of yapping dogs. Make sure there are solid partitions between animal cages or runs to prevent fights and disease transmission. A chain-link fence is not an adequate barrier between runs. I have treated many dogs for injuries suffered through fence fights! The runs and cages should not face each other. From a dog’s perspective, direct, across the aisle eye contact is an aggressive gesture. Timid animals may feel threatened and aggressive ones might be stimulated. The face-to-face set up also permits disease transmission. If you see this manner of design, I suggest you find a different place for your pet.

Inspect the cages and runs for problems. Look for sharp edges, rusty bolts or other signs of disrepair. Does the cage give the animal enough room to stand, turn around and stretch out? If the answer is no, the space is inadequate for that animal. Spend the extra money to book a larger space. Most kennels clean the runs by hosing them towards a gutter or drain. Make sure the drain or gutter is covered and that the cover is fastened in place. I have treated dogs for paw injuries from stepping into an uncovered drain. I have also heard tragic stories about small pets falling into drains.

Outdoor Spaces

A sturdy wall should surround outdoor spaces used for exercising the animals. Points of entry should have double gates or doors to prevent accidental escapes. If animals are left outside unattended, the enclosure needs a roof as well. The roof will provide protection from the elements as well as protection from unwanted intruders. I treated a large cat who liked to sit on a balcony. A Great-horned owl swooped down and grabbed her. Thank goodness, the owl could not fly with the cat. He dropped the overweight feline in the pool and the cat survived.

Sanitation

As the saying goes, cleanliness is next to Godliness. The entire kennel, including outdoor enclosures, should be clean and free of strong odors. A powerful ammonia or disinfectant smell is a red flag. All cleaning products should be removed after use with thorough rinsing. Ask if the animals are removed from their run or cage for cleaning. If the answer is no, find a new kennel. In my view, reputable kennels remove the animal to prevent exposure to cleaning agents. When animals are left inside, they may suffer skin irritations, corneal ulcers and chemical burns on their paws. This actually happened to one of my own dogs.

Ask how many times per day the dogs are taken out for exercise. Most kennels exercise them twice a day, once in the morning and once around dinner time. In my opinion, this is not enough, especially for geriatric dogs. Check to see if the kennel will give your dog additional outs. I gladly pay extra to make sure my dog gets out at least three times per day. This is better for your pet and helps you attain a guilt-free vacation.

Vaccinations

To protect all the animals that stay at a facility, most kennels require up-to-date vaccinations. For dogs, they usually require rabies, some form of DA2PP and Bordetella. In addition, the kennel might require vaccinations for Leptospirosis, Giardia or Lyme disease if it is a problem in the area. I also recommend heartworm, flea and tick prevention prior to a kennel stay. For cats, most kennels require rabies, FVRCP and FELV vaccinations as well as FELV/FIV status. Animals without proper vaccinations should not be boarded. Note vaccines require two weeks to achieve efficacy! People who choose not to vaccinate should use an in-home pet-sitting service. Warn the pet-sitter that your animal is not protected so they take precautions to avoid transmitting a disease into your home.

Diet

Most kennels offer one standard canine and feline diet. If an animal develops diarrhea, they often switch to a bland diet as part of their standard operating procedure. If your pet requires a special diet, bring it with in a sturdy container. Clearly mark the container with the pet’s name, name of food, the number of feedings per day and the amount fed per meal. Exotic pet owners usually bring their own food. Instruct the staff about any special feeding or handling requirements. Similar rules apply for medications. For example, if you have a giant breed dog, ask the kennel to elevate the food and water bowls off the ground.

Behavioral Enrichment

Better kennels look out for a pet’s emotional and physical well-being. Some install video monitors in the kennels tuned to ‘Animal Planet’. Other’s play soothing music and provide toys, beds or snacks to make the time away from home pass more quickly. Cat wards often have an aquarium filled with brightly colored fish. I board my dog at a kennel with a swimming pool. Study the animals in the kennel. Their behavior will tell you volumes about the environment.

Staff

In my experience, a high rate of staff turnover is a bad sign when it comes to kennels. Ask your tour guide how long the staff has been employed at that location. The Pet Care Services Association, formerly known as the American Association of Boarding Kennels provides an accreditation program for facilities and personnel. Ask if both the staff and the kennel are certified. Some kennels display their certificates and awards behind the reception counter. You know your pet likes the kennel when they are happy to see the staff even though they would rather be at home.

Emergency Care

All kennels should work with a veterinarian to provide emergency care for their animal guests. Ask who the kennel works with and then check out the clinic’s reputation. If you are not satisfied request they consult your regular veterinarian in case of emergency.

Copyright 2009© Veterinary Creative, L.L.C. Permission is hereby granted for reproduction in whole or in part if credit is given to the author: Kristen L. Nelson, D.V.M.