People often develop strong emotional connections with their dogs and consider them to be members of the family. The purpose this study was a novel validated tool, Mourning Dog Questionnaire, recognise evaluate mourning process in people who have lost dog. research model based on grid five different questionnaires: Pet Bereavement Lexington Attachment Pets Scale, Animal-Human Continuity Positivity Testoni Death Representation Scale. Italian version survey posted social networks. A sample 369...

Witnessing a companion animal's death can be stressful psychological experience for human guardians, affecting their ability to grieve. The veterinary and sciences offer useful tools supporting guardians during terminal illness. Accordingly, the present study aimed validate HHHHMM Quality of Life Scale in Italian context. followed mixed-methods design involved 314 participants. Mourning Dog Questionnaire (MDQ), Lexington Attachment Pets (LAPS), Pet Bereavement (PBQ), open-ended questions...

Abstract In humans, pressure vests have been shown to reduce sympathetic arousal and increase parasympathetic activity, leading potential improvements. This suggests that stimulation may induce calming states through limbic hippocampal modulation. While anecdotally used as supportive therapy for children with autistic disorders dogs anxiety, rigorous scientific evidence is lacking support their efficacy in clinical management. a preliminary trial, we applied vest several hospitalized the...

Exposure to sub-lethal hydrostatic pressure (HP) treatment is emerging as an approach improve the general resistance of gametes and embryos in vitro conditions. The present study was aimed evaluate effect HP on vitro-produced ovine blastocysts. Experiment 1 define optimal parameters: two different treatments were applied blastocysts embryo survival evaluated. In 2, parameters (40 MPa, 70 min, 38°C) selected used treat Embryo quality assessed compared with untreated controls by counting total...

Poor knowledge is available on the effectiveness of reading to dogs in educational settings, particularly children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). In this study, we test hypothesis that a dog improves propensity towards books and motivation read after end programme, as well cognitive skills ASD. The study prospective, randomized controlled trial, consisting testing re-testing 10 sessions programme without presence dog. Nine Children ASD (6-11 years old) were randomly assigned control...

Abstract We investigated the spontaneous tendency of dog puppies, kittens and wolf pups to match their behaviour actions demonstrated by a human, in absence food reward. Based on dogs’ inherent sociality domestication history, we predicted that human is more pronounced this species than other two. To test this, exposed N = 42 39 8 ostensive demonstrations an object-related action. found puppies paid attention demonstration pups. Dog matched trials kittens. also tended reproduce differed from...

Abstract The dog is a so far unique species to study interspecific communication and promising evolutionary model for preverbal human communication. Recently cats were reported show some similar skills dogs. Here we directly compared both the testability success of companion dogs in relying on distal pointing gestures. Due differences their domestication, social ecological background, developmental processes, expected better performance from cats. Using an object-choice task, made...

Abstract A 2‐year‐old chihuahua dog exhibited recurrent mounting episodes toward both known and unknown individuals. The findings from the physical blood tests were unremarkable. After ruling out other psychological diseases, displacement behaviour was suspected. Occurrences of might sometimes be due to conditions unrelated reproduction. As such, neutering is only advised after a precise diagnosis, would not have been helpful in this particular situation. Chewing used as major activity...

Physiological biomarkers of canine anxiety have not been extensively investigated to date. To identify new in dogs, we compared behaviorally normal dogs (Control group, N = 13) diagnosed with separation problems (Case as they were introduced into a novel environment the presence two strangers and subjected short episode reunion owner. During phase, Case group explored significantly less than controls more persistent expressing passive stress-coping strategies aimed at seeking proximity their...

Many companion cats (Felis catus) in industrialised countries are raised under human supervision and often kept completely indoors. Even if we assume that were not selected intentionally against hunting behaviour, can still hypothesize because of the differences their epigeny prey-related experiences, adult would show different willingness to engage hunting-type behaviours. Play is considered as a useful proxy for testing predatory behaviour non-invasive conditions. We investigated influence...

A shelter environment tends to present different types of stressors dogs need cope with. Recent work has shown that olfactory enrichment with essential oils might be able modify the affective states certain species (dogs, cats, horses, zoo animals…). In these studies, welfare measurements included physiological indicators, such as corticosteroid levels,and/or behaviors related chronic stress. The effects 9 ( Cananga odorata,Cistus ladaniferus, Citrus aurantium, Cupressus sempervirens,...

Abstract Behavioural reactions towards a dead conspecific have been observed rarely in wild canids and there is no documented scientific evidence of grief pet dogs. A quantitative analysis grief-related responses both dogs owners was conducted, using the validated online Mourning Dog Questionnaire. The survey completed by 426 Italian adults who had owned at least two dogs, one whom died while other still alive. This research aims to explore whether, how what dog may experience over loss...

Self-propelled motion cues elicit the perception of inanimate objects as animate. Studies usually rely on looking behaviour subjects towards stimuli displayed a screen, but utilizing artificial unidentified moving (UMOs) provides more natural, interactive context. Here, we investigated whether cats and dogs discriminate between UMOs showing animate vs motion, how they react to UMOs' behaviour. Subjects first observed, in turn, an UMO, then could move freely for 2 min while both were present...

Research on the socio-cognitive skills of different species often benefit from comparative experiments, however, ecology and development individuals may differently determine how they react to same test situation. In this study, our aims were twofold: observe compare spontaneous behaviour companion cats dogs in novel environment, habituate them (if needed) environment presence their owners an unfamiliar experimenter. The 62 family cats, 31 experienced (which had opportunity meet strangers...

We tested companion cats and dogs in similar indoor conditions using identical procedures the classic detour task around a V-shaped transparent wire-mesh fence. Besides control group, we used two types of laser light-pointing demonstration (moving fence, or pointing straight at reward). found that reached food reward faster than cats; across consecutive trials, only showed improvement their speed continued to use same side for detouring after preceding successful attempt, while chose...

Abstract Polygynous males can change their mating tactics across lifetime, but information is scarce on the flexibility of this trait within a given season and relative costs benefits using different tactics. Here, we monitored individually marked male reindeer Rangifer tarandus classified as harem-defense, sneaking, or mixed. The reproductive effort were assessed both direct (i.e. percentage body mass lost) indirect measures activity patterns such feeding, standing, walking), while group...

Chasing motion is often used to study the perception of inanimate objects as animate. When chasing interaction and independent motions between two agents are displayed simultaneously on a screen, we expect observers quickly perceive recognise pattern (because its familiarity) turn their attention (novelty effect). In case isosceles triangles moving figures, dogs humans both display this behaviour, but initially preferred look at whereas started increase gaze towards earlier. Here, compared...

High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) has been introduced into the field of embryology recently. It reported that a sublethal HHP could induce synthesis molecular chaperons to protect embryos from other environmental stresses. The possible beneficial effect was examined on embryo vitrification, and improved cryotolerance achieved in HHP-treated mouse bovine embryos. In present study we evaluated, first, behavior vitro-produced ovine blastocysts after treatment with 2 different conditions. second...

The influence of essential oils (EOs) on emotions has been widely described among humans and animals. Several studies have investigated the effects actions EOs behaviour, mood perception. In this study, shelter dogs (n=23) were exposed to olfactory stimulation through diffusion 9 anxiolytic in one blend (olfactory enrichment) for 8 weeks order check long-term behaviour. First, dog’s postures evaluated both groups before after exposure. Secondly, collect preliminary results distance necessary...

A growing body of research has recently focused on the use psychoactive medication for short-term management specific fear and anxiety in pet cats dogs, i.e. triggered by well-identified predictable stimuli. Such medications are used administered as needed to prevent symptoms associated with specific situations. Noticeably, last few years two have been approved US Europe treatment noise dogs. Furthermore, literature from past decades provides evidence anxiolytic effect following...

Veterinarians, unlike human physicians, could potentially care for the patient several years, from conception to end-of-life care. Because of their close relationship with animal, healthcare providers (for example, veterinarians and staff) are more likely be affected by bad events The purpose this study was assess emotional impact patients’ deaths on Brazilian veterinarians; 549 (78.3% females) completed a 20-item online questionnaire. Females were emotionally than males having talk owner...

Rabbits can experience stress during transport. This study explores the effects of Essential Oils (EOs) on heart rate rabbits were submitted to 3 different treatments: no olfactory exposure EOs (treatment 1, control); 30 drops Lavandula angustifolia EO 2); and a blend 5 3, Cananga odorata, Citrus aurantium, Cupressus sempervirens, angustifolia, Litsea citrata EOs) in randomized controlled crossover design. Treatment 1 2 did not induce significant change rabbits’ rates, however, treatment...