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Long-term stress in dogs linked to relationship with owner, study finds
Researchers collected hair samples from a number of breeds, including hunting, herding and 'ancient' breeds.

Herding breeds found to be most in sync with owners' stress levels.

A study by Linköping University, Sweden has concluded that a dog's stress levels are linked to its relationship with its owner and this connection varies between breeds.

Researchers collected hair samples from both dogs and humans to measure the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in them.

They collected samples from a variety of breeds, including 18 dogs bred for independent hunting, such as the Swedish elkhound, the Norwegian elkhound, and the dachshund. 24 ancient breeds which are closely linked to wolves such as the shiba inu, the basenji, and the Siberian husky were also assessed.

Owners were asked to complete a questionnaire about their own personality and their dog's. They also answered questions about their relationship with their dog, including emotional attachment, how they interact and any problems they experienced with dog ownership.

“The results showed that the owner’s personality affected the stress level in hunting dogs, but interestingly enough not in the ancient dogs.” Said Lina Roth, senior lecturer in the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM).

“In addition, the relationship between the dog and the owner affected the stress level of the dogs. This was the case for both types, but the result was less marked for the ancient dogs”.

The researchers concluded that, although all breeds involved had links between stress and owner relationship, only herding dogs demonstrated the 'unique synchronisation' with long-term stress in the owner.

“We believe that the synchronisation of stress is a consequence of breeding the herding dogs for collaboration with people, while the relationship to the owner and the owner’s personality are important parameters that influence the synchronisation of stress levels”, says Lina Roth.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.