Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research最新文献

{"title":"Assessment of a behavioral scale for the measurement of fear, anxiety and stress in dogs visiting the veterinary practice","authors":"Emma Gatehouse ,&nbsp;Annika Bremhorst ,&nbsp;Sagi Denenberg ,&nbsp;Loni Loftus","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.08.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.08.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Validated, reliable instruments for assessing canine stress behaviors during veterinary visits are crucial in mitigating escalating behavioral responses, thereby maximizing patient welfare, facilitating accurate diagnoses and enhancing staff safety. Although various behavioral assessment tools have been developed, few have been evaluated specifically for the veterinary context. This study addresses this deficit by evaluating the Spectrum of Fear, Anxiety and Stress, (FAS, Fear Free® 2022) an eight-item scale, graduating from 0 to 5, designed to assess canine fear, stress and anxiety during veterinary visits. An online survey featuring 14 video recordings of dogs undergoing mock veterinary examination was distributed to 79 participants, including dog owners, veterinarians, behavior experts and trainers. This study assessed inter- and intra-rater reliability, concurrent validity, and ease of use. Scores at either end of the spectrum had the highest percentage of correct responses (FAS 0 Relaxed; 51.90% incorrect, FAS 4 Severe signs; 44.30% incorrect), while mid-range scores were more challenging for participants to correctly identify (FAS 0–1 Perked/Interested/Anxious; 72.78% incorrect). Behavior experts and owners significantly differed in their ability to assess some moderate and severe signs (FAS 3 Moderate signs; p = 0.0025, FAS 4a Flight; p = 0.0355), suggesting that experience in assessing dog behavior may impact the ability to identify fear, stress and anxiety correctly. Inter-rater reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.99 with 95% confidence interval [0.99–1.00]), intra-rater reliability was very good (ICC = 0.83 with 95% confidence interval [0.80–0.86]), and a strong correlation was found between participant FAS scores and cumulative scores on the Lincoln Canine Anxiety Scale (ρ = 0.811, p =&lt;0.001, n = 79), suggesting good concurrent validity. Thematic analysis praised the scale's visual aspects, but revealed challenges related to overlapping categories and unfamiliar numbering. The results of this research support further development, including some minor design adjustments and sufficient participant training, of the FAS Spectrum as a valid and reliable behavioral assessment tool for evaluating acute stress in dogs visiting the veterinary practice, in order to provide reliable behavioral assessment to facilitate stress reduction in clinic. Your article is being processed as a regular item to be included in a regular issue.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"81 ","pages":"Pages 58-70"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145097036","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}

{"title":"Are indicators of stress and pain recognizable during lip twitch in horses? A behavioral investigation","authors":"Jil Jessy Kellershohn ,&nbsp;Severin Blum ,&nbsp;Stéphane Montavon ,&nbsp;Nathali Adrielli Agassi De Sales ,&nbsp;Emanuela Dalla Costa ,&nbsp;Claudia Spadavecchia","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.08.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.08.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lip twitching is a physical restraint method for horses that may function by inducing short-term stress and/or pain. The present study aimed to: 1) evaluate whether behavioral indicators of pain and stress could be recognized during the application of a lip twitch in horses across different experimental conditions involving electrical, mechanical and thermal stimulation; 2) explore the relationship between observed variables and individual personality traits. Twelve horses were initially included in a two-sessions twitch trial. This study focused on data collected during the first session, which was completed by ten horses out of twelve. Behavioral analysis was performed on 2-minute videos recorded during three-time intervals (Baseline, Twitch and Post-Twitch) applying an ethogram. Personality was evaluated using a validated questionnaire completed by the horses' caretakers. Any interval, condition and personality effect on the behavior was analyzed using a GLMM. Results showed that maintenance of a natural head position decreased significantly during Twitch and Post-Twitch (p&lt;0.001), while unequal forelimb weight distribution increased during Twitch and Post-Twitch (p&lt;0.001) compared to Baseline. A significant effect of interval was found for the duration of ears forward (p = 0.026), with shorter durations recorded during Twitch compared to both Baseline and Post-Twitch. Furthermore, ears movement decreased (p&lt;0.001) and head movements increased (p&lt;0.001) during Twitch. Horses’ responses to twitch varied based on personality: neurotic horses displayed rather passive stress signs (prolonged ear-backward, p=0.032), while agreeable horses showed more active avoidance (moving away, p=0.073). These findings suggest that in horses tolerating the application of the twitch, the restraint induces mild stress, with individual coping mechanisms influenced by personality. Thus, it appears important to consider individual characteristics when applying the technique in a clinical context. This approach is essential to ensuring the safety of both horses and personnel during veterinary interventions, especially in the absence of pharmacological restraint or training.</div></div><div><h3>Data availability statement</h3><div>The data supporting the findings of this study are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"81 ","pages":"Pages 34-42"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145020302","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}

{"title":"Decoding canine behaviors through explainable ai and wearable sensor data","authors":"Bekir Cetintav ,&nbsp;Ahmet Yalcin","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.07.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding canine behavior is essential for advancing veterinary science, animal welfare, and behavior research. This study applies Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) to enhance the understanding of canine behavior classification using machine learning (ML) models. By combining wearable sensor data from accelerometers and gyroscopes with XAI techniques, the research achieves interpretable behavior predictions for 19 distinct canine activities. Random Forest emerged as the best-performing model with an accuracy of 96.1%. Critical features influencing both static and dynamic behaviors were identified. Notably, SHAP-based global explanations revealed that static behaviors like “Lying Chest” are predominantly influenced by vertical and lateral movements detected by back-mounted sensors, while dynamic actions such as “Sniffing” or “Trotting” rely more on neck axis movements and rotational dynamics. These biomechanical interpretations provide actionable insights into how specific motion patterns translate into identifiable canine behaviors. The integration of XAI, specifically SHAP, bridges ML with interpretability, enabling actionable insights into canine behavior. The results have significant implications for non-invasive monitoring in veterinary applications, including health assessment, training optimization, and welfare evaluation, thereby representing a step forward in the field of animal behavior analysis by bridging advanced ML techniques and interpretability tools, enabling researchers and practitioners to make informed decisions based on transparent and reliable models.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"81 ","pages":"Pages 1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145005156","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}

{"title":"Assessment of personality traits in cloned minipigs using three different behavioral tests","authors":"Martina Felici ,&nbsp;Aurora Paganelli ,&nbsp;Tammi Cottrell ,&nbsp;Micaela Sgorbini ,&nbsp;Paolo Baragli ,&nbsp;Adam R. Reddon","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.08.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.08.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Identifying and grouping personality types in pigs may be important for their management and welfare. This study assessed the within-individual consistency and between-group differences in activity level, boldness, and exploration in 12 two-year-old male miniature pigs from three clone groups using three behavioral tests: the open field test, the human approach test, and the novel object test, each repeated three times. The study examines the consistency of individual behaviors over time and potential differences between clone groups. Activity levels were consistent within individual pigs in the open field test. Conversely, the time spent close to the stimulus in the human approach test, and the novel object test was not consistent within individual pigs. Clone groups showed different activity levels in the open field test but did not differ in the time spent near the person or balloon in the human approach test and the novel object test, suggesting a genetic influence on activity levels but not on boldness or exploration in male miniature pigs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"82 ","pages":"Pages 52-58"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145363941","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}

{"title":"Addressing flare-up effect in an aggressive tomcat following a 4.7 mg deslorelin implant: A case report","authors":"Stefania Uccheddu,&nbsp;Lluis Ferré-Dolcet","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.08.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.08.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This case report details the management of a 3-year-old intact male British Shorthair cat presenting with severe owner-directed aggression and urine marking, both of which worsened after the introduction of a second tomcat. A behavioral consultation identified fear-based defensive aggression with territorial traits as the primary diagnosis. The case was managed through a multimodal approach, involving the expertise of a veterinary behaviorist and a reproductive medicine specialist, along with pharmacological sterilization using a 4.7 mg deslorelin implant. To reduce the expected flare-up caused by the GnRH agonist, gabapentin (10 mg/kg PO q. 12 h for 21 days) was administered, and behavioral management strategies were implemented. A temporary resurgence of aggression and marking occurred ten days after implantation, resolving spontaneously within four days. Improvements included cessation of urine marking, increased affiliative behaviors, and stable cohabitation with a younger tomcat also implanted after puberty. This case highlights the importance of a comprehensive, interdisciplinary treatment plan. The successful control of the flare-up phase with gabapentin and behavior modification is especially noteworthy, as it may serve as a model for similar hormone-mediated or fear-based behavioral issues. Owner education on feline emotional expression was also vital to the success of the treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"82 ","pages":"Pages 66-70"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145363939","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}

{"title":"Plant eating behavior in domestic cats: Support for the hair evacuation hypothesis","authors":"Kara N. Bensel,&nbsp;Megan E. Rudock Bowman,&nbsp;Nicole M. Hughes","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.08.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.08.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dogs and cats have been widely observed eating grasses and other plants, and then regurgitating this matter, undigested, shortly thereafter. Previous researchers have hypothesized that consumption of fibrous leaves and stems by carnivores aids in the expulsion of parasites and/or hair trapped in their digestive tracts from feeding and grooming. Although direct interactions between ingested leaves and parasites have been reported in stools of many mammalian species, no such interactions have been reported for hairs expelled orally or in stools. In this study, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine six regurgitated plant masses produced by two indoor/outdoor domestic cats belonging to one of the authors. DNA barcoding was additionally used to identify plants in all samples. SEM revealed that all consumed/regurgitated plant matter exhibited microscopic serrations and/or epidermal hairs, which were similar in size to cellulose fibers added to pet food to mitigate hairballs (50–500 µm). Furthermore, direct interactions between these microstructures and animal hairs were clearly visible in all regurgitated samples examined. Ingested plant material included grasses as well as several other indoor and outdoor plant species, representing a variety of taxonomic groups. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that consuming textured leaves is a healthy behavior that could help cats and other carnivores avoid intestinal blockages caused by hairs ingested during feeding or grooming.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"82 ","pages":"Pages 71-74"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145363938","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}

{"title":"Prevalence of canine separation-related behaviors and associated factors in Thailand","authors":"Paparwee Sungkatavat ,&nbsp;Worakan Boonhoh ,&nbsp;Natalie Waran ,&nbsp;Tuempong Wongtawan","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.07.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.07.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>When dogs are left alone for extended periods, they can exhibit separation-related behaviors (SRBs), defined in this study as behavioral changes triggered by their guardians' absence. These behaviors can negatively affect human-dog relationships, contribute to neighborhood disturbances, and, in severe cases, lead to dog abandonment. This research aimed to investigate the prevalence, common behaviors, and associated factors of SRBs in Thai dogs. Data were collected from a national survey involving 1827 participants, utilizing demographic details and an SRB-specific questionnaire. The questionnaire included 12 signs rated on a scale of 0–4, with 4 indicating the highest frequency. Dogs were classified as having SRBs if their total score was at least 8, and severity was categorized as mild-to-moderate (score 8–13) or moderate-to-severe (score <u>&gt;</u> 14). Factors associated with moderate-to-severe SRBs were further analyzed. The overall prevalence of SRBs was 80.24% (n = 1466), with 43.95% (n = 803) exhibiting moderate-to-severe SRBs. Overexcitation, often accompanied by vocalization and destructive behaviors, was the most common SRB. Associated factors linked to moderate-to-severe SRBs included dog characteristics (age, breed, reproductive status), guardian demographics (age), dog-human interactions (walking frequency and duration), and environmental factors (house type). Higher prevalence of moderate-to-severe SRBs were observed in younger dogs, intact dogs, young guardians, those who rarely walked their dogs, and dogs in smaller homes. Therefore, we propose increasing walking frequency and duration, training dogs to become comfortable with being alone for periods of time and providing more education on dog care and behavior to guardians, as these measures may help reduce the risk of SRBs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"82 ","pages":"Pages 43-51"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145270823","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}

{"title":"Basic research has clinical applications","authors":"Karen L. Overall","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.08.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.08.001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"80 ","pages":"Page A3"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144896340","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}

{"title":"Effects of two types of environmental enrichment on the behavior of dogs in shelters","authors":"Gustavo Vieira Antonino ,&nbsp;Dhiordan Deon Costa Lovestain ,&nbsp;Marina Monteiro de Castro Burle ,&nbsp;Cristiano Schetini de Azevedo","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.05.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.05.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The domestic dog, <em>Canis lupus familiaris</em>, is commonly kept in shelters. In these locations, features such as confinement, forced intraspecific and interspecific contact, and lack of environmental stimulation can diminish the welfare of dogs. One way to avoid poor welfare is to implement an environmental enrichment program for dogs in shelters, however, environmental enrichment items should be tested to evaluate their effectiveness and their ease of implementation and safety. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of two environmental enrichment items designed to improve the welfare of dogs kept in a shelter. Fifteen dogs, housed in trios, were studied. Two environmental enrichment items were offered to the dogs: nutritional-related (perforated plastic bottles filled with canine treats) and sensory-related (lavender oil). Behavioral data were collected before, during, and after the items were offered, using focal sampling and instantaneous recording methods, with a sampling interval of 1 min. The effectiveness of the items was evaluated using Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs). Food enrichment increased foraging and activity behaviors in the dogs, but not positive social behaviors. On the other hand, olfactory enrichment decreased jumping and vocalizing and increased the display of climbing on the pen’s door. Both items proved to be safe for the dogs. It is of utmost importance for shelters to enhance animal welfare by constructing larger and more stimulating bays and implementing environmental enrichment programs for the animals. The results of this study show that an enrichment program can assist in improving the welfare of dogs kept in shelters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"80 ","pages":"Pages 28-38"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144571110","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}

{"title":"Quantifying the influence of cut tree branches on zoo giraffe behavior during and post browsing: A case study on five animals and four tree species","authors":"Zoe Newnham ,&nbsp;Paul Rose","doi":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.05.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jveb.2025.05.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The nutrition of captive species profoundly affects their physical, behavioral, and psychological wellbeing. Determining a species’ ideal zoo diet remains challenging, necessitating assessment of an animal’s responses to their diet to establish best practices, including any effects on behaviors. This study investigates the behavioral responses of five female giraffes (<em>Giraffe camelopardalis</em>) to browse from four tree species (willow, <em>Salix caprea</em>; hawthorn, <em>Crataegus monogyna</em>; hazel, <em>Corylus avellana</em>; oak, <em>Quercus robur</em>). This study aimed to assess the effect of browse species on giraffe activity and to identify which of these species was most associated with performance of key welfare indicators. Given this species’ adaptations to foraging on spinose (i.e., thorny) trees, we predicted that hawthorn would have the largest effect on giraffe behavior. Focal sampling of individual giraffes was conducted, with equal repetitions for each browse species, across spring and summer 2021 and 2022 at Marwell Zoo. Giraffes were observed for an hour with browse, followed by an additional hour after a 30-minute pause to quantify post-browsing behaviors. Results suggest that willow increased overall browsing time, while oak elicited prolonged interaction with initial browse branches. Willow promoted the highest bark stripping and bite counts, while oak and willow increased time ruminating. Contrary to expectation, hawthorn, with its thorny defences, did not significantly extend browsing or rumination. Social context also influenced browsing behavior with heightened browsing activity occurring when giraffe browsed with other species present. While a case study of four tree species at one zoo, our results show the importance of measuring and assessing animal choice and preferences (regarding their engagement with husbandry) to underpin best practice approaches to care and welfare.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17567,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research","volume":"80 ","pages":"Pages 10-19"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144557466","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}