Influence of dog‐appeasing pheromone on canine maternal behaviour during the peripartum and neonatal periods

Abstract

BackgroundParturition and the initial postpartum period are important moments in the reproductive cycle of dogs.MethodsA study assessed the effect of ADAPTIL, a dog-appeasing pheromone, on maternal behaviour during peripartum. Bitches were continuously exposed to ADAPTIL (n=20) or placebo (n=21) in double-blinded conditions from an average of about seven days before parturition up to 21 days postpartum. Differences in maternal behaviour in relation to the treatment were evaluated by the observation of specific activities through video recordings, such as the time spent by the bitch in close contact with the puppies, oronasal interaction and nursing duration and position. Videos were recorded at four time points (W0: within the first 48 hours of whelping; W1: one week after parturition; W2: two weeks after parturition; and W3: three weeks after parturition). In addition, the perception of breeders in relation to the quality of maternal care, puppies’ wellbeing and overall relationship between the bitches and the puppies was evaluated using Visual Analogue Scale at the same time points. Moreover, the daily activity of the bitches was measured by using an electronic device (FitBark dog activity trackers, Kansas City, Missouri).ResultsFor all observed maternal behaviours, there was a steady decrease in levels as the puppies developed, independently of treatment. However, bitches exposed to ADAPTIL tended to nurse significantly more in lying position, while those exposed to the placebo nursed more in a seated position, especially at W1 (P=0.06) and W3 (P=0.005). According to the breeders, the attention scores of bitches towards puppies were significantly higher in ADAPTIL than in the placebo group at each time point (P=0.01). Moreover, a difference according to parity was observed (P=0.004), with greater attention score displayed by primiparous bitches exposed to ADAPTIL compared with placebo on W0 (P=0.02), W1 and W3 (P<0.001). The global mother–puppies relationship was also perceived as significantly better (P=0.0002) by breeders of bitches exposed to ADAPTIL, with significant differences at W2 (P=0.01) and W3 (P=0.001). The bitches’ daily activity increased starting two days before the whelp, peaked during parturition and then gradually declined up until four days postpartum. There was a trend towards a difference in the activity level according to the treatment during the full study period (P=0.09) and at two days before parturition (P=0.07). Bitches exposed to ADAPTIL were more active compared with placebo in relation to the FitBark data.ConclusionThe use of ADAPTIL in maternity modulated maternal behaviours. Concerning the caregiver’s view, bitches under the influence of ADAPTIL had greater and extended attention towards the puppies and they were eager to stay with the puppies for a longer time.

Profile of Dogs’ Breeders and Their Considerations on Female Reproduction, Maternal Care and the Peripartum Stress—An International Survey

“…Then using natural products was the third option (10.3%). Recently, the benefits of using dog appeasing pheromone products (ADAPTIL ® , Ceva Santé Animale, Libourne, France) during the peripartum and neonatal periods have been studied [ 64 ], and found that bitches exposed to the pheromone displayed more attention and dedicated more time to their puppies. Such practical databased evidence may modify the choice of methods to comfort bitches around parturition in the coming years.…”

Appeasing Pheromones for the Management of Stress and Aggression during Conservation of Wild Canids: Could the Solution Be Right under Our Nose?

“…A blinded, placebo-controlled study of the effect of ADAPTIL ® on stress reduction in dogs subjected to a thunderstorm simulation found that while all dogs showed stress behaviours above the baseline, the fear response between thunder noises was reduced in dogs with ADAPTIL ® collars compared to placebo collars [202]. Imbibed collars have been found to reduce anxiety-related aggression more effectively than diffusers, although the duration of exposure may affect these results since collar studies often exposed animals to ADAPTIL ® for 24 h prior to the behaviour analysis [194,205]. In contrast, when dogs were only exposed to diffused ADAPTIL ® in a veterinary setting 7 min prior to examination, no reduction in stress and aggression behaviours occurred, although their duration was reduced, and the frequency of relaxed states was increased [194].…”

How Stressful Is Maternity? Study about Cortisol and Dehydroepiandrosterone-Sulfate Coat and Claws Concentrations in Female Dogs from Mating to 60 Days Post-Partum

“…Therefore, the time elapsing between mating of the female dog and the end of weaning lasts about 120 days: altogether, this phase is complex and encompasses reproductive, metabolic, emotional and behavioral processes, often interacting among them, in turn increasing the allostatic load of the animal. This long-term period deserves scientific interest, as it represents a challenging and possibly very stressful time for the female dog [1,4]. Although many studies have focused on the specific phase of pregnancy, parturition and post-partum, to the authors' knowledge, the whole period from mating until the end of weaning has only rarely been investigated in dogs [5].…”

“…Still, today, it is not uncommon to observe disturbed behavior in periparturient female dogs, possible aggressiveness towards the newborns or even cannibalism, often accompanied by insufficient grooming or nursing of the puppies, thus impairing the successful outcome of litters. Among the diverse causes underlying these troubles, environmental factors, genetics, parity and number of the newborns in a litter were suggested [1,4,6]. Other than that, the role of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis (HPA axis) in shaping maternal behavior was presumed in sheep [8,9].…”