Figure - available from: Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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When viewed from the front, the thoracic limbs should form a straight line perpendicular to the ground (Left). Angled limbs (Right) dissipate the power output during movement (arrows). Illustration by M. Schlehr.
Source publication
Working dogs help to keep society and individuals safe, secure, and healthy. To perform their varied functions, it is critical to select dogs that are structurally sound and capable of demonstrating power, coordination and agility. Characteristics such as size and substance, head and axial skeletal structure, chest size and conformation, and thorac...
Citations
... During weight-bearing activities such as standing, walking, and trotting, the forelimbs of most dog breeds support approximately 60% of the dog's body weight [24]. In addition, it can be observed that upon landing from a jump, dogs depend entirely on their forelimbs to support their body weight in conjunction with the gravitational forces acting upon them [48]. Consequently, while dogs of different sizes experience a similar fall, the forces acting on their forelimbs should be distributed differently. ...
Fractures occurring in the distal radius and ulna of toy breed dogs pose distinctive challenges for veterinary practitioners, requiring specialized treatment approaches primarily based on anatomical features. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was applied to conduct numerical experiments to determine stress distribution across the bone. This methodology offers an alternative substitute for directly investigating these phenomena in living dog experiments, which could present ethical obstacles. A three-dimensional bone model of the metacarpal, carpal, radius, ulna, and humerus was reconstructed from Computed Tomography (CT) images of the toy poodle and dachshund forelimb. The model was designed to simulate the jumping and landing conditions from a vertical distance of 40 cm to the ground within a limited timeframe. The investigation revealed considerable variations in stress distribution patterns between the radius and ulna of toy poodles and dachshunds, indicating notably elevated stress levels in toy poodles compared to dachshunds. In static and dynamic stress analysis, toy poodles exhibit peak stress levels at the distal radius and ulna. The Von Mises stresses for toy poodles reach 90.07 MPa (static) and 1,090.75 MPa (dynamic) at the radius and 1,677.97 MPa (static) and 1,047.98 MPa (dynamic) at the ulna. Conversely, dachshunds demonstrate lower stress levels for 5.39 MPa (static) and 231.79 MPa (dynamic) at the radius and 390.56 MPa (static) and 513.28 MPa (dynamic) at the ulna. The findings offer valuable insights for modified treatment approaches in managing fractures in toy breed dogs, optimizing care and outcomes.
... Thoracic limb injuries accounted for the vast majority of orthopedic injuries which is similar to previously reported injury localization in sled dogs and canine agility dogs (1,2,6). This is likely because the thoracic limb holds 60% of the bodyweight and is mainly responsible for stabilization as well as turning and steering and some propulsion (7). Meanwhile, the pelvic limb is mainly responsible for thrust and power and only bears 40% of the weight. ...
Introduction
The purpose of this study was to evaluate medical record data from the 2018–2020 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog race to examine injury patterns and risk factors for dogs competing in multi-day ultra-endurance events. Specifically, we summarized injuries and illnesses that resulted in canine athletes being removed (“dropped”) from competition, and in orthopedic injuries diagnosed in both dropped and finished dogs.
Methods
The records of 989 dogs that started the race were examined, but only records from dogs in teams that went on to finish the race were included, for a total of 711 records.
Results and discussion
Three hundred and sixty five dogs (51.3%) were noted to have at least one abnormal finding in their veterinary medical record during the race. Orthopedic injuries were most common, and 291 injuries were ultimately diagnosed in 234 dogs (32.9%). Ultimately, 206 dogs (29%) were dropped from competition, for any reason. The most common reasons for dropping dogs were orthopedic injuries (156 dogs; 188 injuries), gastrointestinal illness (22 dogs), and cardiorespiratory disease (7 dogs). Most orthopedic injuries in dropped dogs occurred in the thoracic limb (n = 121 dogs; 151 injuries). Of those, injuries to the shoulder were most common (n = 77), followed by injuries to the carpus (n = 59), and injury to the pelvic limb (n = 32). Carpal injuries were the most prevalent injury diagnosed in dogs that went on to finish the race (71 of 85 injuries). Carpal injuries were the most prevalent injuries overall in 2018 (51%) and 2019 (52%). In 2020, shoulder injuries were most prevalent (27%), suggesting that trail conditions may have differed between years. The majority of dogs with an orthopedic injury ultimately were removed from competition (156 of 234, or 66.6%), but the likelihood of finishing the race with an injury depended on the type of injury sustained; 71 of 130 dogs (54.6%) with a carpal injury went on to finish the race, whereas only 9 of 86 dogs with a shoulder injury (10.5%) went on to finish. The results of this study can assist mushers and veterinarians in preparing for races, and in decision making during endurance sled dog races.
... Sampai hari ini, anjing telah banyak digunakan untuk membantu pekerjaan manusia di seluruh dunia. Anjing juga dipekerjakan sebagai anjing militer, polisi, pencarian dan penyelamatan, pendeteksi (bom, obat terlarang, dan uang curian) (Zink et al., 2020). Anjing yang terpilih harus memiliki kualifikasi yang sesuai dengan pekerjaannya, penciuman yang tajam, penglihatan yang jelas, temperamen yang mudah diatur, dan kekuatan yang terkontrol (Anggayasti, 2007 (Waluyo, 2021). ...
Anjing pelacak merupakan salah satu hewan yang membantu tugas Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia dalam menjaga dan mengamankan ketertiban negara Indonesia. Adapun tugas yang diberikan untuk anjing pelacak yaitu untuk menemukan bahan peledak, operasi pelacakan narkoba, operasi pengamanan dan mencari korban bencana alam seperti longsor hingga gempa bumi. Dikarenakan faktor lingkungan pekerjaan yang cukup ekstrim dan berat berpengaruh terhadap tingkat stress dari anjing pelacak itu sendiri, kondisi lingkungan sangat mempengaruhi gambaran nilai darah. Oleh karena itu diperlukan hasil pemeriksaan kesehatan profil eritrosit. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian observasional deskriptif. Objek yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh populasi anjing pelacak Polresta Kota Malang. Darah diambil kemudian diperiksa menggunakan mesin hematology analyzer dan kemudian dibandingkan dengan standar hematologi kemudian dianalisis. Dari penelitian yang telah dilakukan, dapat disimpulkan bahwa seluruh sampel menunjukkan anemia dengan hasil nilai pemeriksaan yang beragam, dan kemungkinan disebabkan oleh pakan yang kurang optimal dan air yang kurang bersih. Untuk itu, perlu dilakukan pemeriksaan lanjutan seperti pemeriksaan parasit, radiologi, dan kimia darah.
... Working dogs are required to sprint, jump over obstacles, turn sharply, scale walls, overcome unstable surfaces, and bite, which adds physical and mental stress 4 . This may be required for short or very long periods, in the snow, desert, woods, or rubble 17,18 . To be able to do so, a proper physical condition is required. ...
... Similar information can be found in the review (Zink & Schlehr, 2020), which states that the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, and Labrador Retriever are the most common breeds of working dogs. ...
Service dogs are an important asset of law enforcement agencies. Therefore, understanding their medical problems, knowing general characteristics such as numbers, age, breed, gender, and purpose is crucial to maintaining their health and readiness to perform complex tasks. Analysis and dissemination of such information is an urgent task for specialists and scientists dealing with the problems of keeping, providing, and veterinary care for service dogs. The purpose of this study was to analyse the results of statistical reports on the incidence of service dogs from 24 regional canine centres of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine. In total, data on 822 service dogs and records of 839 cases of diseases were considered. Data on the number, age, gender, and direction of use of service dogs were also analysed. It was found that internal non-contagious ailments were identified among the diseases. Most of the problems were with the gastrointestinal tract: dyspepsia, alimentary enteritis, and gastritis. It was found that among the diseases of the visual and hearing organs, otitis media and cataracts were most often detected. Traumatic injuries accounted for 16.7% of all records, most of which were classified as wounds. It was found that every seventh disease was related to the skin. Among them, two diseases had a considerable predominance: dermatitis and eczema. Another group was detected with a frequency of more than 5% – parasitic diseases, of which babesiosis was the most common. The study also found that one in twenty animals had diseases of the musculoskeletal system, of which arthritis and hip dysplasia were mainly found. Statistical calculations have shown heterogeneity in the distribution density of dogs, both in relation to the population and the area of the region. Chernivtsi Oblast had the best density indicators, and Zhytomyr Oblast had the lowest. Among service dogs, females have an advantage – sexual differentiation was 1/1.15. An even distribution of the number of service dogs by age was found, ranging from 2 to 7 years, with a weighted average age of 4.9 years. The most common breeds were: German and Belgian shepherds, as well as Labrador. Special and search dogs prevailed for their intended purpose. The practical value of this study lies in the fact that certain patterns of morbidity of service dogs provide an opportunity to change the strategy of their selection, training, and treatment to use this valuable resource more effectively.
... Similar information can be found in the review (Zink & Schlehr, 2020), which states that the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, and Labrador Retriever are the most common breeds of working dogs. ...
The relevance of this study lies in the use of the probiotic strain of the microorganism B. coagulans ALM 86 for the treatment of diarrhoea in dairy calves and the reduction of the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry. The purpose of this paper was to establish the therapeutic effect in the treatment of diarrhoea in calves, the composition of the microflora, physiological indicators and metabolism using Bacillus coagulans ALM 86. The study used the following methods: microbiological, microscopic, biochemical, physiological, statistical. Studies have shown that the use of B. coagulans ALM 86 contributes to a decrease in the number of opportunistic microflora E. coli – by 90.8%, S. aureus – by 92.4%, S. enterica – by 88.01, an increase in Lactobacillus sp. by 130.8–151.58% and Bifidobacterium sp. by 272.7–469.8%. Administration of B. coagulans ALM 86 at a concentration of 1×109, CFU/g at a dose of 3–5 g helped stop diarrhoea and accelerate the development of scar digestion for four days in dairy calves, compared to the group where the antibiotic was used. An increase in average daily growth and feed consumption was found in the first experimental group by 19.7–15.0%, in the second – by 23.4–19.9% (р≤0.05). A decrease in the level of total cholesterol with the use of B. coagulans ALM 86, an increase in the level of total protein by 18.57–22.6%, as a result of an increase in the content of total globulins by 49.3–57.37%, respectively (р≤0.05), were proven. Administration of B. coagulans ALM 86 at a concentration of 1×109, CFU/g at a dose of 3–5 g helped stop diarrhoea and accelerate the development of scar digestion for four days in dairy calves, compared to the group where the antibiotic was used. The obtained results of the study indicate the absence of toxic effects of the proposed dose of B. coagulans ALM 86 for the treatment of dyspepsia in calves and obtaining a positive effect. The practical value of the obtained results lies in the possibility of using B. coagulans ALM 86 in the treatment of diarrhoea in dairy calves without the use of antibiotics on animal farms of various designation.
... Among breeders, dog trial and working performance credentials are used alongside health indicators, e.g., hip and elbow scores, behavior and personality assessments, and structural and conformational trials, as tools in the selection of breeding dogs [40]. Credentials based on the dogs' working performance represent working ability, as in the relationship between structure and function, real-world coping strategies and cognition, and, therefore, additional components of the dogs' physical and mental capacities [10,[41][42][43][44]. However, it is also well-known that working performance is moderated by variables including the experience of the dog handler and associative learning principles based on reward and punishment typically used in dog training [45][46][47][48]. ...
... Furthermore, breeding criteria can be improved and strategies to preserve physical capacity and performance in working dog breeds can be developed. All of this would apply to the Swedish Animal Welfare Act (Law 2018:1192) [43,44,55,67,68]. ...
Dog trials and competitions involve various sport disciplines, e.g., obedience, agility, working dog trials and rally obedience. Dog handlers navigate their dogs through physically and mentally demanding tasks. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of barriers and facilitators to canine health promotion and injury prevention described by dog handlers.
Methods:
Qualitative inductive content analysis was applied to systematically organize and interpret narrative data from 654 respondents' answers to open-ended questions in an anonymous online inquiry.
Results:
Two categories, with seven sub-categories, emerged from the analysis: (1) Challenges in applying the regulations in dog trials and competitions, and (2) Implementation of animal welfare and canine well-being approaches. Respondents described the challenges in applying regulations in dog trials and competitions and lack of scientific research as barriers to their intent to prevent injuries in their dogs. Implementation of animal welfare and canine well-being approaches were described as facilitators.
Conclusion:
The findings imply that the stakeholders continuously need to work on bridging possible gaps between the canine welfare criteria and the scientific and empirical knowledge in canine sports and performance medicine.
... For example, a brachycephalic dog that is unable to effectively pant will be at high risk for heat injury during exercise (102). Likewise, a dog with hip dysplasia will not have the structural stability to serve pain-free as a guide, mobility assistance, police, or search dog (103). ...
Working dogs are prevalent throughout our societies, assisting people in diverse contexts, from explosives detection and livestock herding, to therapy partners. Our scientific exploration and understanding of animal welfare have grown dramatically over the last decade. As community attitudes toward the use of animals continue to change, applying this new knowledge of welfare to improve the everyday lives of working dogs will underpin the sustainability of working with dogs in these roles. The aim of this report was to consider the scientific studies of working dogs from the last decade (2011–2021) in relation to modern ethics, human interaction, and the five domains of animal welfare: nutrition, environment, behavioral interaction, physical health, and mental state. Using this framework, we were able to analyze the concept and contribution of working dog welfare science. Noting some key advances across the full working dog life cycle, we identify future directions and opportunities for interdisciplinary research to optimize dog welfare. Prioritizing animal welfare in research and practice will be critical to assure the ongoing relationship between dogs and people as co-workers.
... 1 Humans have harnessed this superior quality in man's best friend to track, perform search and rescue missions, and detect explosives. 2 Military working dogs (MWDs) are an integral part of the Department of Defense (DoD), patrolling and protecting US bases and operating posts around the world. 3 In this work we describe career-saving endoscopic sinonasal surgery for an MWD performed by both a human rhinologist and veterinary surgeon in collaboration with the MWD's veterinary anesthesia team. ...
... In these situations, the ADIL works as a tension load-bearing structure. This function is performed to the maximum when a dog turns immediately after a jump or while galloping: the first digit then comes into contact with the ground, and the ADIL-muscle helps stabilize the carpus by counteracting excessive torsion (Zink & Schlehr, 2020). Clinical studies have shown that surgical tendonectomy of the ADIL-tendon can lead to the development of carpal osteoarthritis, suggesting that the ADIL-tendon contributes to carpal stability (Grundmann & Montavon, 2001;Harasen, 2010). ...
The sesamoid bone in the tendon of the m. abductor digiti primi longus is considered present in most dog breeds and is described to be radiologically detectable at the level of the carpus from the age of 4 months. However, an extensive investigation of this sesamoid bone has not been conducted before. The aim of this study was therefore to determine its prevalence in different dog breeds, to describe its histological development, and to determine the age at which it becomes radiologically visible. The prevalence of the sesamoid bone was assessed on radiographic images of the carpus or by dissection of the carpal region in 743 adult dogs of 115 breeds. Its development was studied by dissection and histological analysis in 45 puppies and its timing of radiological appearance was evaluated in 209 puppies. At least one sesamoid bone was present in all adult dogs, except for 14 dogs of six breeds of predominantly the small breed category. The lowest prevalence rate of 38.46% was exhibited in the French bulldog. The histological development could be divided into five stages. The first radiographic appearance corresponded to the coalescence of smaller ossification centers into one big nucleus (stage 4). The mean time of radiographic appearance was 108.4 days. This study provides extensive data on the prevalence and timing of the radiographic appearance of a sesamoid at the carpus of the dog. The data on radiographic appearance may be helpful in the age estimation of puppies.
