Deut Tierarztl Woch
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The science of ethology is concerned with the way external stimuli and internal events cause animals to fight in a particular way. The classification of dog breeds with respect to their relative danger to humans makes no sense, as both, the complex antecedent conditions in which aggressive behaviour occurs, and its ramifying consequences in the individual dog's ecological and social environment, are not considered. From a biological point of view, environmental and learning effects are always superimposed upon genetic influences. ⋯ It is possible to protect the safety of the public and at the the same time practise animal care. Effective animal control legislation must focus on responsible ownership and socialisation of pups f.e. Problems are not unique to some breeds.
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Deut Tierarztl Woch · Jan 2001
[ACTH stimulation test for the determination of salivary cortisol and of cortisol responses as markers of the training status/fitness of warm-blooded sports horses].
Previous work (Marc et al., 2000) suggested that plasma cortisol responses to treadmill exercise or ACTH injection are a reliable marker for performance evaluation in warmblood horses. For practical purposes blood sample collections and treadmill exercise tests are somewhat troublesome and time consuming. The goal of this study was thus to evaluate the use of saliva for cortisol determination (by direct EIA) as a marker for performance and to investigate the reliability and repeatability of plasma cortisol responses to a single i.v. injection of ACTH (50 micrograms or 250 micrograms). ⋯ It is concluded that the relationship between salivary cortisol levels and plasma cortisol levels is not close enough to allow the use of salivary cortisol determination as marker of the training status/fitness of horses. The repeatability of the cortisol response to ACTH is similar to the cortisol response to treadmill exercise. Based on plasma cortisol responses to ACTH or treadmill exercise training horses by cantering at low speed is not superior to training by trotting for the fitness of horses.
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During the last years nearly in all provinces in Germany new, hotly debated rules were published in order to meet the threat dangerous dogs or so-called fighting dogs mean to animals and men. Comparing current regulations of different provinces two categories of rules can be identified: one considering particular breeds as extremely dangerous and the other defining and characterising the dangerous dog. The application of these regulations differs enormously in expenditure and procedure. ⋯ Authorities are now calling into question the usefulness and purpose of the new legislation. In the past the problem of dangerous dogs was dealt with using general safety legislation and police regulations offering flexibility. Obviously there is an urgent need to identify countermeasures on a larger scale.
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The claim that the so-called "Kampfhunde" are becoming increasingly dangerous to humans has been the subject of much discussion in Germany. A critical analyses of canine breeds that have been classified as "Kampfhunde" convinces that breed is not an useful possibility for avoiding accidents with dogs: 1. Zoologically no particular breed of dog can be classified as being more dangerous than others and 2. so-called "Kampfhunde" are statistically unimportend as a vector in dog accidents. It would be more productive in the future to substitute the term "Kampfhund" with "dangerous dog" without reference to the breed and to emphasize the role of the owner in the human danger posed by a dog.
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Deut Tierarztl Woch · Sep 1997
[Effect of flunixin meglumine on plasma prostanoid concentrations in horses with colic in the perioperative period].
In the present study the significance of eicosanoids in the development of shock in horses on the basis of ileus has been investigated using the prostanoids thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and prostaglandine E2 (PGE2) as indicators. The prostanoid synthesis inhibitor flunixin meglumine was to be examined regarding its efficacy in the effective blockade of the synthesis of these mediators within the peri-operative timeframe as well as its effects on clinical signs and laboratory parameters. 21 horses suffering from ileus and ready for surgical intervention received an intravenous flunixin dosis of 1.1 mg/kg body weight immediately after the initial examination and prior to the surgical procedure. 20 colic horses receiving surgical treatment without application of the drug served as control group. Reference data concerning the approximate standard plasma levels of the prostanoids were determined in 10 healthy horses. ⋯ Flunixin meglumine had a favorable effect on several cardiovascular parameters. The experimental data concerning the effects of flunixin meglumine thus could be validated in a clinical setting, especially the effective inhibition of the cyclooxygenase enzyme system. The application of the prostanoid synthesis inhibitor flunixin meglumine can be judged as being effective in limiting shock progress in the peri-operative setting given reliable diagnosis.