Pub Date : 2025-12-22DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.007
Antoine Symoens, Mathilde Leclère, Valentine André, Marion Desmarchelier
Clinical signs of severe equine asthma can be controlled by feeding diets with fewer inhalable particles than conventional dry hay, such as steamed hay or pellets. We hypothesized that asthmatic horses would spend more time eating, less time resting, and would have fewer gastric ulcers when they are fed steamed hay compared to pellets. Nine asthmatic horses were housed indoors and fed dry hay to induce clinical exacerbation (baseline). They were then fed either alfalfa pellets or steamed hay for 4 weeks, in a crossover design. Horses were filmed in their stalls 18–22 h over a 24 h period during exacerbation, and the 1st and 4th weeks of each diet. Partial ethograms (time-budget and position) were recorded through the ZooMonitor application (Tracks software) using focal instantaneous sampling. Gastroscopies were performed before and after each diet. When horses were fed pellets, their time spent eating decreased by 33.8% during the 1st week (P < 0.001). Time spent eating did not change with steamed hay (48.1%, 47.8%, and 47.9%, P > 0.8, on exacerbation, 1st and 4th weeks). There was no association between diets and squamous gastric ulcers. Asthmatic horses spend more time eating when offered steamed hay. This suggests that steamed hay could allow a more physiological time-budget, an important welfare parameter that should be considered in managing horses with severe asthma, despite the equivocal improvement of lung function reported previously.
{"title":"Behavioral effects of two diets used for the management of severe equine asthma","authors":"Antoine Symoens, Mathilde Leclère, Valentine André, Marion Desmarchelier","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Clinical signs of severe equine asthma can be controlled by feeding diets with fewer inhalable particles than conventional dry hay, such as steamed hay or pellets. We hypothesized that asthmatic horses would spend more time eating, less time resting, and would have fewer gastric ulcers when they are fed steamed hay compared to pellets. Nine asthmatic horses were housed indoors and fed dry hay to induce clinical exacerbation (baseline). They were then fed either alfalfa pellets or steamed hay for 4 weeks, in a crossover design. Horses were filmed in their stalls 18–22 h over a 24 h period during exacerbation, and the 1st and 4th weeks of each diet. Partial ethograms (time-budget and position) were recorded through the ZooMonitor application (Tracks software) using focal instantaneous sampling. Gastroscopies were performed before and after each diet. When horses were fed pellets, their time spent eating decreased by 33.8% during the 1st week (P < 0.001). Time spent eating did not change with steamed hay (48.1%, 47.8%, and 47.9%, P > 0.8, on exacerbation, 1st and 4th weeks). There was no association between diets and squamous gastric ulcers. Asthmatic horses spend more time eating when offered steamed hay. This suggests that steamed hay could allow a more physiological time-budget, an important welfare parameter that should be considered in managing horses with severe asthma, despite the equivocal improvement of lung function reported previously.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"84 ","pages":"Pages 34-40"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-19DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.004
Delia Araus , Maria Jose Ubilla , Cristian Larrondo , Hernan Cañon-Jones
The human-dog relationship, rooted in over 15,000 years of domestication, offers companionship but also presents public health challenges such as dog bites. This study investigates epidemiological canine bite incidents to humans in Chile's Aysén region at population level from 2012 to 2022, analysing 4593 records from public and private healthcare centres. Data include demographic, geographic, and injury-specific variables. Results indicate that bites are more frequent during spring (n=1317, 28.7%) and summer (n= 1245, 27.1%), with urban settings accounting for 95.8% of cases. Men (n=2597, 56.5%) and adults (n=2227, 48.5%) are predominantly affected, though significant proportions of bites occur among children (n= 882, 19.2%) and adolescents (n= 936, 20.4%). Bites to the head, neck, and thorax disproportionately affect children, whereas adults more frequently sustain injuries to the extremities. Public spaces account for 42.9% of incidents (n=1970), with most bites inflicted by unknown dogs (n= 3137, 68.3%). The findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions, particularly in urban areas and among vulnerable populations such as children. Public health strategies should emphasise education on canine behavior, responsible pet ownership, and community-level prevention measures. Addressing underreporting and incorporating ethological assessments could further refine prevention strategies. This research underscores the need for comprehensive data collection and tailored policies to enhance animal welfare, mitigate bite risks, and foster safer human-animal interactions.
{"title":"Epidemiological characterization of canine bites to humans from 2012 to 2022 in the Aysén Region: An animal behavior and welfare perspective","authors":"Delia Araus , Maria Jose Ubilla , Cristian Larrondo , Hernan Cañon-Jones","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The human-dog relationship, rooted in over 15,000 years of domestication, offers companionship but also presents public health challenges such as dog bites. This study investigates epidemiological canine bite incidents to humans in Chile's Aysén region at population level from 2012 to 2022, analysing 4593 records from public and private healthcare centres. Data include demographic, geographic, and injury-specific variables. Results indicate that bites are more frequent during spring (n=1317, 28.7%) and summer (n= 1245, 27.1%), with urban settings accounting for 95.8% of cases. Men (n=2597, 56.5%) and adults (n=2227, 48.5%) are predominantly affected, though significant proportions of bites occur among children (n= 882, 19.2%) and adolescents (n= 936, 20.4%). Bites to the head, neck, and thorax disproportionately affect children, whereas adults more frequently sustain injuries to the extremities. Public spaces account for 42.9% of incidents (n=1970), with most bites inflicted by unknown dogs (n= 3137, 68.3%). The findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions, particularly in urban areas and among vulnerable populations such as children. Public health strategies should emphasise education on canine behavior, responsible pet ownership, and community-level prevention measures. Addressing underreporting and incorporating ethological assessments could further refine prevention strategies. This research underscores the need for comprehensive data collection and tailored policies to enhance animal welfare, mitigate bite risks, and foster safer human-animal interactions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 92-97"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-17DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.002
Luciana Cintra , Camila Fernanda Hernandes , Sandra Regina Alexandre-Ribeiro , Dennis Albert Zanatto , Claudia Madalena Cabrera Mori
Providing nesting material is one of the main forms of environmental enrichment for laboratory mice. Nest building is an innate behavior, widely observed in wild mice, which construct complex, dome-shaped, multi-layered structures. Although various materials can be used in microisolator cage systems, this behavior remains underexplored under laboratory conditions. Evidence indicates that laboratory mice can build nests comparable to those of their wild counterparts, reinforcing the relevance of this enrichment for animal welfare. The aim of this study was to evaluate nest-building behavior in mice, considering biological and environmental variables, including strain, sex, age, nest location within the cage, seasonal variation, ambient temperature, and the use of cardboard tunnels. A total of 620 observations were analyzed from 106 cages, each containing 2–5 mice of both sexes, distributed across three strains (B6J, Nude, and BTBR). Nests were assessed weekly over the course of one year using a scoring system adapted from previous studies, in which higher scores indicate more elaborate, dome-shaped structures, whereas lower scores correspond to incomplete, flat, or less cohesive constructions. The use of cardboard tunnels provided as enrichment was also recorded (intact, shredded, or soiled with excreta). Other variables evaluated included age (20–109 days), and the position and side of the nest within the cage. Most mice built well-structured nests, with 39% of cages reaching the maximum score of 5. Statistical analysis showed that nest quality was significantly influenced by strain, season, and nest location within the cage. Compared to Nude mice, B6J and BTBR strains showed reduced nest-building performance. Scores were lower in spring compared to winter, while nests located at the cage edges, particularly on the right side and at the front, had slightly higher scores than those in the center. In conclusion, strain is the primary determinant of nest quality, while environmental and positional factors exert additional effects. Nude mice, during winter or colder periods, and nests located at the edges and front of the cage were associated with more complex nest constructions.
{"title":"Assessing nest-building performance in mice: A multifactorial study of strain, age, sex, and environmental factors","authors":"Luciana Cintra , Camila Fernanda Hernandes , Sandra Regina Alexandre-Ribeiro , Dennis Albert Zanatto , Claudia Madalena Cabrera Mori","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Providing nesting material is one of the main forms of environmental enrichment for laboratory mice. Nest building is an innate behavior, widely observed in wild mice, which construct complex, dome-shaped, multi-layered structures. Although various materials can be used in microisolator cage systems, this behavior remains underexplored under laboratory conditions. Evidence indicates that laboratory mice can build nests comparable to those of their wild counterparts, reinforcing the relevance of this enrichment for animal welfare. The aim of this study was to evaluate nest-building behavior in mice, considering biological and environmental variables, including strain, sex, age, nest location within the cage, seasonal variation, ambient temperature, and the use of cardboard tunnels. A total of 620 observations were analyzed from 106 cages, each containing 2–5 mice of both sexes, distributed across three strains (B6J, Nude, and BTBR). Nests were assessed weekly over the course of one year using a scoring system adapted from previous studies, in which higher scores indicate more elaborate, dome-shaped structures, whereas lower scores correspond to incomplete, flat, or less cohesive constructions. The use of cardboard tunnels provided as enrichment was also recorded (intact, shredded, or soiled with excreta). Other variables evaluated included age (20–109 days), and the position and side of the nest within the cage. Most mice built well-structured nests, with 39% of cages reaching the maximum score of 5. Statistical analysis showed that nest quality was significantly influenced by strain, season, and nest location within the cage. Compared to Nude mice, B6J and BTBR strains showed reduced nest-building performance. Scores were lower in spring compared to winter, while nests located at the cage edges, particularly on the right side and at the front, had slightly higher scores than those in the center. In conclusion, strain is the primary determinant of nest quality, while environmental and positional factors exert additional effects. Nude mice, during winter or colder periods, and nests located at the edges and front of the cage were associated with more complex nest constructions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 98-105"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-12DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.003
Luis Felipe Dias Lopes , Eduarda Grando Lopes , Francisco Giugliano de Souza Cabral , Rosangela Arruda Saragozo , Daniela Pegoraro , Rayssa Cleide de Oliveira , Luís Antônio Sangioni
Perceived social support plays a fundamental role in human psychological well-being, influencing individuals’ ability to cope with stress and life challenges. Grounded in attachment and social support theories, this study assumes that supportive human relationships foster secure emotional patterns that extend to the bonds formed with companion animals. Conversely, limited social support may lead individuals to rely more heavily on pets as compensatory attachment figures. This study examines how perceived social support predicts the quality of the pet–owner relationship, focusing on emotional closeness, pet–owner interactions, and perceived costs associated with pet ownership. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 546 pet owners through an online survey that included the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Pet-Owner Relationship Scale (PORS). Structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the predictive relationships between perceived social support from family, friends, and other sources and the dimensions of the pet–owner bond. The findings indicate that higher levels of perceived social support are associated with stronger emotional closeness and more frequent interactions with pets, while lower support levels are linked to greater perceived costs of ownership. Emotional closeness also mitigates the negative impact of perceived costs, underscoring the role of affective bonds in sustaining healthy relationships with pets. Additionally, variations were observed according to pet type, with mixed-pet owners reporting stronger engagement and higher social support from friends. In conclusion, this study highlights that social support acts as a predictor of the human–animal bond: individuals embedded in supportive social networks tend to develop stronger, more balanced, and emotionally fulfilling relationships with their pets. Strengthening human social support systems may therefore amplify the psychological and emotional benefits derived from pet companionship.
{"title":"Perceived social support and pet-tutor relationship through the Pet-owner Relationship Scale (PORS): Predictors and implications for the human-animal bond","authors":"Luis Felipe Dias Lopes , Eduarda Grando Lopes , Francisco Giugliano de Souza Cabral , Rosangela Arruda Saragozo , Daniela Pegoraro , Rayssa Cleide de Oliveira , Luís Antônio Sangioni","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Perceived social support plays a fundamental role in human psychological well-being, influencing individuals’ ability to cope with stress and life challenges. Grounded in attachment and social support theories, this study assumes that supportive human relationships foster secure emotional patterns that extend to the bonds formed with companion animals. Conversely, limited social support may lead individuals to rely more heavily on pets as compensatory attachment figures. This study examines how perceived social support predicts the quality of the pet–owner relationship, focusing on emotional closeness, pet–owner interactions, and perceived costs associated with pet ownership. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 546 pet owners through an online survey that included the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Pet-Owner Relationship Scale (PORS). Structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the predictive relationships between perceived social support from family, friends, and other sources and the dimensions of the pet–owner bond. The findings indicate that higher levels of perceived social support are associated with stronger emotional closeness and more frequent interactions with pets, while lower support levels are linked to greater perceived costs of ownership. Emotional closeness also mitigates the negative impact of perceived costs, underscoring the role of affective bonds in sustaining healthy relationships with pets. Additionally, variations were observed according to pet type, with mixed-pet owners reporting stronger engagement and higher social support from friends. In conclusion, this study highlights that social support acts as a predictor of the human–animal bond: individuals embedded in supportive social networks tend to develop stronger, more balanced, and emotionally fulfilling relationships with their pets. Strengthening human social support systems may therefore amplify the psychological and emotional benefits derived from pet companionship.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 83-91"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-08DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.001
Isadora de Castro Travnik , Aline Cristina Sant’Anna , Karynn Vieira Capilé , Laura Vitória Fontoura de Lara , Cesar Augusto Taconeli , Carla Forte Maiolino Molento
This review examined research on animal individuality across species and animal settings. It aimed to identify patterns influencing the use of the terms temperament and personality, including contextual and moral considerations. A literature review and bibliometric analysis were conducted using the search term “personality OR temperament” in article titles, combined with species-specific terms in titles, abstracts, and keywords. The search covered domestic, wild, and laboratory species across the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The resulting database included 772 articles, of which 765 were analyzed using the Bibliometrix program. Terminology, pre-study setting, species, and moral values attributed to animals were categorized. The analysis highlighted seven influential journals and key research groups in the field. Textual analysis revealed that temperament predominated in titles until 2014, after which personality became more commonly used. Cattle, dogs, and horses were the most studied domestic animals, while wild mammals, birds, and ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) also featured prominently. Regarding the pre-study setting, 25.6% of studies focused on farmed animals, 25.6% on unspecified settings, and 19.2% on free-living animals. In terms of moral values, 39.6% of studies were classified as primary instrumental, 26.6% as ambiguous, 22.4% as secondary instrumental, and 11.4% as intrinsic. Significant associations were found between terminology, animal group, pre-study setting, and moral value (χ² tests, p < 0.001). Temperament was predominantly linked to farmed animals and primary instrumental values. In contrast, personality was most associated with companion and free-living animals and with intrinsic or secondary instrumental values. Our analysis reveals systematic biases in the use of personality and temperament, influenced by pre-study settings, species, and moral considerations. It underscores the need for an explicit reflection on terminological choices and their ethical implications for animals, grounded in modern understandings of animal sentience and ethics.
本文综述了跨物种和动物环境的动物个性研究。它旨在确定影响术语气质和个性使用的模式，包括上下文和道德因素。采用文章标题中的搜索词“personality OR temperament”，结合标题、摘要和关键词中的物种特定术语，进行文献综述和文献计量学分析。该搜索涵盖了Scopus和Web of Science数据库中的家养、野生和实验室物种。结果数据库包括772篇文章，其中765篇使用Bibliometrix程序进行分析。对动物的术语、研究前环境、物种和道德价值进行了分类。该分析强调了该领域七个有影响力的期刊和关键研究小组。文本分析显示，在2014年之前，气质在标题中占主导地位，之后人格变得更常用。牛、狗和马是被研究最多的家畜，而野生哺乳动物、鸟类和鳐鱼（放光翼目）也很突出。关于研究前设置，25.6%的研究集中在养殖动物，25.6%的研究集中在未指定的设置，19.2%的研究集中在自由生活的动物。在道德价值方面，39.6%的研究被归类为主要工具，26.6%为模糊工具，22.4%为次要工具，11.4%为内在工具。术语、动物组、研究前环境和道德价值观之间存在显著关联（χ 2检验，p < 0.001）。气质主要与养殖动物和主要的工具价值有关。相比之下，个性与伴侣和自由生活的动物以及内在或次要的工具价值联系在一起。我们的分析揭示了在使用个性和气质方面的系统性偏差，受到研究前环境、物种和道德考虑的影响。它强调了对术语选择及其对动物的伦理含义进行明确反思的必要性，这是基于对动物感知和伦理的现代理解。
{"title":"Personality or temperament? The answer depends on animal settings and on moral considerations","authors":"Isadora de Castro Travnik , Aline Cristina Sant’Anna , Karynn Vieira Capilé , Laura Vitória Fontoura de Lara , Cesar Augusto Taconeli , Carla Forte Maiolino Molento","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review examined research on animal individuality across species and animal settings. It aimed to identify patterns influencing the use of the terms temperament and personality, including contextual and moral considerations. A literature review and bibliometric analysis were conducted using the search term “personality OR temperament” in article titles, combined with species-specific terms in titles, abstracts, and keywords. The search covered domestic, wild, and laboratory species across the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The resulting database included 772 articles, of which 765 were analyzed using the Bibliometrix program. Terminology, pre-study setting, species, and moral values attributed to animals were categorized. The analysis highlighted seven influential journals and key research groups in the field. Textual analysis revealed that temperament predominated in titles until 2014, after which personality became more commonly used. Cattle, dogs, and horses were the most studied domestic animals, while wild mammals, birds, and ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) also featured prominently. Regarding the pre-study setting, 25.6% of studies focused on farmed animals, 25.6% on unspecified settings, and 19.2% on free-living animals. In terms of moral values, 39.6% of studies were classified as primary instrumental, 26.6% as ambiguous, 22.4% as secondary instrumental, and 11.4% as intrinsic. Significant associations were found between terminology, animal group, pre-study setting, and moral value (χ² tests, p < 0.001). Temperament was predominantly linked to farmed animals and primary instrumental values. In contrast, personality was most associated with companion and free-living animals and with intrinsic or secondary instrumental values. Our analysis reveals systematic biases in the use of personality and temperament, influenced by pre-study settings, species, and moral considerations. It underscores the need for an explicit reflection on terminological choices and their ethical implications for animals, grounded in modern understandings of animal sentience and ethics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 69-82"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-13DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.009
Asude Ayvaci, Valdeep Saini
In behavioral psychology, function typically refers to the appetitive consequence, or reinforcer, that maintains a given behavior and causes it to occur more frequently. The primary method to identify the function of maladaptive or problematic behavior is through a method known as functional analysis. The present study was a comprehensive review of functional analysis used with dogs, to identify common reinforcers of various problem behaviors observed in dogs. The functional analysis method was effective at identifying the function of dog behavior problems in 27 of 28 cases, indicating that functional analyses are an efficacious method to better understand the reinforcer(s) for behavioral problems observed in dogs. Common reinforcers for different topographies as well as correlations between dog breeds, behaviors, and reinforcers are discussed. In addition to the empirical review, this study discusses the advantages and disadvantages of functional analysis methods as well as the current state of the literature as it relates to improving animal welfare broadly, and interventions for behavior problems observed in dogs specifically.
{"title":"Functional characteristics of behavior problems in dogs","authors":"Asude Ayvaci, Valdeep Saini","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In behavioral psychology, <em>function</em> typically refers to the appetitive consequence, or reinforcer, that maintains a given behavior and causes it to occur more frequently. The primary method to identify the function of maladaptive or problematic behavior is through a method known as <em>functional analysis</em>. The present study was a comprehensive review of functional analysis used with dogs, to identify common reinforcers of various problem behaviors observed in dogs. The functional analysis method was effective at identifying the function of dog behavior problems in 27 of 28 cases, indicating that functional analyses are an efficacious method to better understand the reinforcer(s) for behavioral problems observed in dogs. Common reinforcers for different topographies as well as correlations between dog breeds, behaviors, and reinforcers are discussed. In addition to the empirical review, this study discusses the advantages and disadvantages of functional analysis methods as well as the current state of the literature as it relates to improving animal welfare broadly, and interventions for behavior problems observed in dogs specifically.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 26-34"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145532368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-12DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.005
James A. Serpell, Lauren R. Powell
In a recent article in this journal, a large sample (N = 43,517) of behavioral data derived from the mini C-BARQ survey was used to estimate the prevalence of major behavior problems in the US pet dog population. According to those estimates, 49.9% of US dogs displayed moderate to severe anxiety, 55.6% displayed moderate to severe aggression, and 85.9% displayed moderate to severe separation anxiety. Here we argue that the methods used to calculate these frequencies involved choices that tend to exaggerate the severity and/or frequency of canine behavior problems. When the same set of data are analyzed using more appropriate methods, the calculated percentages of dogs displaying behavior at the moderate to severe level ranges from 14.1%–28.2% for the different types of anxiety/fear measured by the mini C-BARQ, 1.2%–30.4% for the various types of aggression, and 9.3% for separation-related behavior. The findings illustrate the need for caution when interpreting and extrapolating from the results of behavioral survey data and emphasize that the process of categorizing any behavior as "problematic" is inherently subjective since it depends on the unique perceptions of individual animal owners. This type of information is not accessible using C-BARQ or mini C-BARQ assessments.
{"title":"Prevalence and severity of behavior problems in dogs in the United States: A re-assessment","authors":"James A. Serpell, Lauren R. Powell","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In a recent article in this journal, a large sample (N = 43,517) of behavioral data derived from the mini C-BARQ survey was used to estimate the prevalence of major behavior problems in the US pet dog population. According to those estimates, 49.9% of US dogs displayed moderate to severe anxiety, 55.6% displayed moderate to severe aggression, and 85.9% displayed moderate to severe separation anxiety. Here we argue that the methods used to calculate these frequencies involved choices that tend to exaggerate the severity and/or frequency of canine behavior problems. When the same set of data are analyzed using more appropriate methods, the calculated percentages of dogs displaying behavior at the moderate to severe level ranges from 14.1%–28.2% for the different types of anxiety/fear measured by the mini C-BARQ, 1.2%–30.4% for the various types of aggression, and 9.3% for separation-related behavior. The findings illustrate the need for caution when interpreting and extrapolating from the results of behavioral survey data and emphasize that the process of categorizing any behavior as \"problematic\" is inherently subjective since it depends on the unique perceptions of individual animal owners. This type of information is not accessible using C-BARQ or mini C-BARQ assessments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 8-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145532372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-12DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.002
Fiona C. Dale , Rachel A. Casey , Charlotte C. Burn
Preventing separation-related behaviors (SRBs) is important for canine welfare, potentially reducing relinquishment or euthanasia. This double-blind study assessed efficacy of advice provided to prospective puppy owners. Thirty-four owners were randomly assigned to treatments: (1) Control, receiving responsible ownership advice; (2) Calm, receiving control advice plus advice on calm interactions during departures and reunions; (3) Habituation, receiving control plus advice on gradually increasing time left alone; or (4) Combination, receiving all advice. Owners filmed puppies alone at four timepoints over 6 months and during a separation test. A treatment-blind observer scored puppy behavior, later categorized as ‘active anxious’ (e.g. whining, barking), ‘passive anxious’ (e.g. panting, lip-licking), ‘inactivity’ (e.g. lying) and ‘active positive’ (e.g. playing, eating). Recruitment challenges caused sub-optimal sample size, rendering findings exploratory. Calm group puppies exhibited more inactivity than Control and Combination across timepoints and in separation tests; Habituation group puppies showed more inactivity than Controls during separation tests. Other behavior categories showed no significant associations with treatment. However, across treatments, puppies whose owners did more habituation activities showed less passive anxious behavior. Passive anxious scores were greater in puppies left alone than with other dogs. When radio or TV was on, versus off, puppies showed more passive anxious and less active positive behavior. While the advice did not significantly reduce SRBs, possibly due to sub-optimal sampling, the Calm advice, and to some extent Habituation, were associated with greater inactivity when dogs were alone. Further research could aim to verify findings and maximize owner compliance with SRB prevention advice.
{"title":"Efficacy of advice for preventing separation-related behaviors in puppies: A video trial and separation test","authors":"Fiona C. Dale , Rachel A. Casey , Charlotte C. Burn","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Preventing separation-related behaviors (SRBs) is important for canine welfare, potentially reducing relinquishment or euthanasia. This double-blind study assessed efficacy of advice provided to prospective puppy owners. Thirty-four owners were randomly assigned to treatments: (1) Control, receiving responsible ownership advice; (2) Calm, receiving control advice plus advice on calm interactions during departures and reunions; (3) Habituation, receiving control plus advice on gradually increasing time left alone; or (4) Combination, receiving all advice. Owners filmed puppies alone at four timepoints over 6 months and during a separation test. A treatment-blind observer scored puppy behavior, later categorized as ‘active anxious’ (e.g. whining, barking), ‘passive anxious’ (e.g. panting, lip-licking), ‘inactivity’ (e.g. lying) and ‘active positive’ (e.g. playing, eating). Recruitment challenges caused sub-optimal sample size, rendering findings exploratory. Calm group puppies exhibited more inactivity than Control and Combination across timepoints and in separation tests; Habituation group puppies showed more inactivity than Controls during separation tests. Other behavior categories showed no significant associations with treatment. However, across treatments, puppies whose owners did more habituation activities showed less passive anxious behavior. Passive anxious scores were greater in puppies left alone than with other dogs. When radio or TV was on, versus off, puppies showed more passive anxious and less active positive behavior. While the advice did not significantly reduce SRBs, possibly due to sub-optimal sampling, the Calm advice, and to some extent Habituation, were associated with greater inactivity when dogs were alone. Further research could aim to verify findings and maximize owner compliance with SRB prevention advice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 52-68"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145570943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-11DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.008
Sara Hoummady , Oriana Rameau , Audrey Besegher , Thierry Bedossa , Sarah Jeannin , Pauline-M Anton , Yohan Stephan , Nancy Rebout , Morgane Robles
The aging feline population presents unique challenges for care and welfare, yet the environmental adaptations and opportunities available to aging cats remain insufficiently studied. This study examines differences in health, environmental use, and enrichment among mature (8- <10 years), senior (≥10–14 years), and super-senior cats (≥15 years) through an online questionnaire completed by 441 cat owners.
The findings reveal significant disparities in health and environmental access across the three age groups. Super-senior cats exhibited the highest prevalence of frailty (51%) and pain-related indicators (47%), alongside reduced self-grooming (63%) and diminished affiliative behaviour with their caregivers (68%). Super-senior cats also initiated fewer play sessions with their owners. Environmental analyses showed that aging cats, particularly super-seniors, had less access to or made less use of critical resources such as olfactory enrichment, and interactive feeding tools; for example, only 15% of super-seniors had access to interactive feeding tool. These findings highlight a decline in play behaviour and owner interaction with age, raising concerns about the emotional wellbeing of super-senior cats. The study emphasizes the importance of evaluating the alignment between an aging cat’s environment and its needs, paving the way for future development of welfare assessments tailored to the aging feline population.
{"title":"A day in the life of an aged cat – Environment of old domestic cats and welfare implications","authors":"Sara Hoummady , Oriana Rameau , Audrey Besegher , Thierry Bedossa , Sarah Jeannin , Pauline-M Anton , Yohan Stephan , Nancy Rebout , Morgane Robles","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aging feline population presents unique challenges for care and welfare, yet the environmental adaptations and opportunities available to aging cats remain insufficiently studied. This study examines differences in health, environmental use, and enrichment among mature (8- <10 years), senior (≥10–14 years), and super-senior cats (≥15 years) through an online questionnaire completed by 441 cat owners.</div><div>The findings reveal significant disparities in health and environmental access across the three age groups. Super-senior cats exhibited the highest prevalence of frailty (51%) and pain-related indicators (47%), alongside reduced self-grooming (63%) and diminished affiliative behaviour with their caregivers (68%). Super-senior cats also initiated fewer play sessions with their owners. Environmental analyses showed that aging cats, particularly super-seniors, had less access to or made less use of critical resources such as olfactory enrichment, and interactive feeding tools; for example, only 15% of super-seniors had access to interactive feeding tool. These findings highlight a decline in play behaviour and owner interaction with age, raising concerns about the emotional wellbeing of super-senior cats. The study emphasizes the importance of evaluating the alignment between an aging cat’s environment and its needs, paving the way for future development of welfare assessments tailored to the aging feline population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 20-25"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145532370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-11DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.007
Lianlian Fu, Yu Le
Over the past few decades, animal welfare has become an increasingly prominent focus across various sectors of the livestock industry. Among them, pig welfare has garnered global attention due to its profound implications for animal health, productivity, and public trust, as well as growing consumer willingness to purchase higher-welfare pork products. This study presents a systematic review of the scientific literature on pig welfare using text mining (TM) techniques—an analytical approach that remains underutilized in this field. A total of 7,031 articles were retrieved from the Scopus® database (1991–2024), of which 1,331 met strict inclusion criteria. The study employed TM methods, including Term Frequency–Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) modeling, to identify prevailing topics and thematic trends. Seven major topics were extracted: stress and treatment, social behavior, transport and slaughter, housing and welfare, health and disease assessment, feeding and reproduction, and farm management. The academic output in this field has shown exponential growth, with the majority of publications originating from Europe. Keywords such as "tail," "transport," and "wean" emerged as focal points of interest. These findings highlight the potential of TM in constructing domain knowledge and identifying research gaps, offering valuable insights for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers committed to improving animal welfare systems.
{"title":"Pig welfare in scientific literature from 1991 to 2024: A text mining approach","authors":"Lianlian Fu, Yu Le","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.11.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over the past few decades, animal welfare has become an increasingly prominent focus across various sectors of the livestock industry. Among them, pig welfare has garnered global attention due to its profound implications for animal health, productivity, and public trust, as well as growing consumer willingness to purchase higher-welfare pork products. This study presents a systematic review of the scientific literature on pig welfare using text mining (TM) techniques—an analytical approach that remains underutilized in this field. A total of 7,031 articles were retrieved from the Scopus® database (1991–2024), of which 1,331 met strict inclusion criteria. The study employed TM methods, including Term Frequency–Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) modeling, to identify prevailing topics and thematic trends. Seven major topics were extracted: stress and treatment, social behavior, transport and slaughter, housing and welfare, health and disease assessment, feeding and reproduction, and farm management. The academic output in this field has shown exponential growth, with the majority of publications originating from Europe. Keywords such as \"tail,\" \"transport,\" and \"wean\" emerged as focal points of interest. These findings highlight the potential of TM in constructing domain knowledge and identifying research gaps, offering valuable insights for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers committed to improving animal welfare systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 40-51"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145570942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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