Dam (Canis familiaris) Welfare throughout the Peri-Parturient Period in Commercial Breeding Kennels

Abstract

Poor dam welfare throughout the peri-parturient period can also negatively affect that of their offspring. This study aimed to identify changes in physical, physiological, and behavioral metrics indicative of dam welfare throughout the peri-parturient period. Dams (n = 74) from eight U.S. Midwest commercial breeding (CB) kennels were tested at 6 and 1 week prepartum, and 4 and 8 weeks postpartum. At each time point dams underwent a stranger approach test, physical health assessment, hair collection for hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and fecal collection for fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM), fecal secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and parasite detection. Linear mixed-effects models indicated dams exhibited more affiliative behaviors towards the stranger at 4 weeks postpartum than 6 weeks prepartum (p = 0.03), increased HCC from 4-weeks to 8 weeks postpartum (p = 0.02), and increased FGM from 1 week prepartum to 8 weeks postpartum (p = 0.04). At each respective time point, the percentage of dams with intestinal parasites was 11%, 4%, 23%, and 15%. Most changes are likely due to increased energy requirements and hormonal variations. However, deviations from expected changes may have resulted from changes in environment and/ or management, which should be explored in future studies.

Scientific and technical assistance on welfare aspects related to housing and health of cats and dogs in commercial breeding establishments

“…The occurrence of eclampsia is higher during the first 3 weeks of lactation in small-sized dogs nursing larger litters (Pathan et al, 2011;Smith, 1986). Romaniuk et al (2022) highlighted an increased incidence of intestinal parasitosis in bitches at 4 and 8 weeks post-partum (Romaniuk et al, 2022). The percentage of dams with intestinal parasites increased from 11% and 4% at 6-and 1-week prepartum, respectively, to 23% and 15% at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum.…”

“…Romaniuk et al. ( 2022 ) highlighted an increased incidence of intestinal parasitosis in bitches at 4 and 8 weeks post‐partum (Romaniuk et al., 2022). The percentage of dams with intestinal parasites increased from 11% and 4% at 6‐ and 1‐week prepartum, respectively, to 23% and 15% at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum.…”

Positive Human Interaction Improves Welfare in Commercial Breeding Dogs: Evidence from Attention Bias and Human Sociability Tests

“…For the second sample, the same patch was resampled (post-treatment) on the day the ABT was conducted, around 4-5 weeks after baseline. This sampling protocol was based on previous study that used a similar time interval between samples and found that significant difference in hair cortisol levels can be observed over a five-week period (Romaniuk et al, 2022).…”