Physiological responses of dogs to different housing systems
Fazio, EsterinaCravana, CristinaGiuliano, AntonioMedica, Pietro
Background: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis undergoes adaptations throughout housing system that mightcontribute to the avoidance of adverse effects of welfare status in dogs housed in a shelter. Nevertheless, the influence ofhousing systems and stabling time on glucose and PCV changes is little known. The purpose of the present study was toevaluate the patterns of cortisol, glucose and PCV in dogs housed in a kennel and normal environments, evaluating thedifferences between housing systems, by taking into account the different stabling time and sex.Materials, Methods & Results: The study comprised 98 cross-breed dogs, aged 4 ± 1.5 years, lodged in a kennel (observational group I: N=61, 29 females and 27 males), in paired household dogs (control group II: N=25, 13 females and 12males) and in unpaired household dogs (control group III: N=12, 6 females and 6 males). Females of both groups werespayed. The subjects were studied on the basis of different stabling times, ranged among <1 year, 2 years and 4 years, anddifferent sex.Discussion: This observational study showed that kennelled males lodged for 2 (P < 0.01) and 4 (P < 0.001) years showedlower cortisol concentrations than males lodged <1 year; males lodged for <1 year (P < 0.001) showed higher cortisol concentrations than females; males lodged for 4 year showed lower cortisol concentrations (P < 0.01) than females. Kennelledfemales lodged for 4 year showed higher PCV values (P < 0.001) than females lodged for <1 year. Paired and unpairedhousehold females and males lodged for 4 years showed lower cortisol concentrations (P < 0.01) than 2 years and <1 year.Paired and unpaired household females and males lodged for short-, medium- and long-term times showed higher glucoseconcentrations (P < 0.001) than kennelled dogs. This study showed significant changes of circulating cortisol, glucoseand PCV...(AU)
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