The aims of this study were to evaluate effects of a 6 week resistance training on electrocardiographic (ECG) and blood parameters of police dogs. Our hypothesis was that this training protocol improves fitness, contributing to the welfare of these animals. Nine dogs, 18.56±0.53 months old, were evaluated before (M1) and six weeks after (M2) a training protocol using treadmill. Their training program was performed 2 times/week, and included 20 min of treadmill activity on a speed compatible with 60-80% of HRmax on weeks 1 and 2, same exercise of weeks 1 and 2 with a 5% grade added between 7.5 and 12.5 min in weeks 3 and 4, and, finally, same exercise of weeks 3 and 4 with three short bursts of strenuous exercise, 60 min after the end of treadmill activity. On both moments, animals were examined before (T0) and after (T1) an incremental effort test, and at 30 (T2) and 120 min (T3) of recovery, measuring heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature. Blood samples were taken to determine erythrogram, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, triglycerides, lactate and glucose. Electrocardiographic variables were analysed at T0 and T1. All variables were analysed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests, with P≤0.05. After training, there was an increase on the length of work on treadmill of 41.5% for the German Shepherd (P=0.0139) and 21.4% for the Belgian Malinois (P=0.0085) along with a increase of maximal speed of 34.0% for the German Shepherd (P=0.0084) and 15.9% for the Belgian Malinois (P=0.0241). It was observed in physiological, blood and ECG parameters differences between M1 and M2 (P<0.05). Other findings included a lower rest QTc value at T0 after training (P=0.0194). The chosen training led to a better fitness of the police dogs as all of them worked more intensively with a low cardiovascular requirement in M2. In conclusion, current exercise protocol in a treadmill improved dogs fitness, when we analysed ECG, physiological and blood parameters, making possible that animals may be used in more extended and multiple missions, contributing welfare of these animals.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the electrocardiographic parameters in Mangalarga Marchador RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os parâmetros eletrocardiográficos de equinos da raça Mangalarga Marchador antes e após a execução da marcha. Para tal, foram usados 24 equinos, treze fêmeas e onze machos, com idade média de 6,4±2,7 anos e peso médio de 428,3±24,7kg. Eletrocardiogramas foram registrados em dois momentos: antes e imediatamente após atividade física (40 minutos de marcha). As variáveis eletrocardiográficas analisadas foram ritmo cardíaco, frequência cardíaca (FC), duração da onda P, complexo QRS, intervalos PR e QT, amplitudes das ondas P, R e T e análise do QT corrigida (QTc) de acordo com a fórmula de Bazett (QT/√RR). As variáveis foram analisadas quanto à normalidade (teste de KolmogorovSmirnov), seguido da comparação usando teste-t pareado (P<0,05). A análise revelou 91,7% de ritmo sinusal e 8,3% de arritmia sinusal no repouso, com FC média de 45,7±12,7bpm e 100% de taquicardia sinusal após o exercício, com FC média de 77,3±13,5bpm (P<0,0001)

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of a resistance training protocol on iron metabolism of police working dogs. Understanding of how physical exercise influences biochemical parameters is essential for a proper interpretation of exams and adjustments of nutritional and conditioning programs. Nine dogs, being four Belgian Malinois and five German Shepherd, 18.56±0.53 months old, were evaluated before (M1) and six weeks after (M2) a training program using a treadmill. Training sessions were performed twice/week including a 20-min of treadmill activity on a speed compatible with 60-80% of HRpeak on weeks 1 and 2; same exercise of weeks 1 and 2 with a 5% grade added between 7.5 and 12.5 min on weeks 3 and 4; and, same protocol of weeks 3 and 4 with three short bursts of strenuous exercise 60 min after the end of the treadmill exercise on weeks 5 and 6. On both moments (M1 and M2), animals were examined and blood samples were obtained before (T0) and after (T1) an incremental effort test and at 30 min (T2) and 120 min (T3) of recovery. Serum iron (Fe), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation (TS) were determined. All variables were analysed using Tukey test, with P<0.05. Iron parameters were not modified by the current exercise protocol for training police working dogs.

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