Evaluation of dog owners' perceptions concerning radiation therapy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>External radiation therapy (RT) has been available for small animals in Sweden since 2006. This study was designed to obtain information on owner experiences and perceptions related to RT of cancer in their dogs. Another survey was used to determine the attitudes about use of RT in a group of Swedish veterinarians. Their responses were analyzed and compared to their level of knowledge of oncology and RT.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Owners of all dogs (n = 23) who had undergone RT for malignancy at Jönköping Small Animal Hospital between March 2006 to September 2007 were interviewed. A questionnaire was given to a selected group of veterinarians.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All 23 owners responded. All owners thought that their dog did well during RT and most that their dog was also fine during the following phase when acute RT-related skin reactions occur and heal. Three owners stated that their dog had pain that negatively impacted quality of life because of radiation dermatitis. Five owners reported that RT positively impacted quality of life of the dog during the first weeks after RT because palliation was achieved. The owners were not disturbed by the efforts required of them. All but one owner (22 of 23) stated that they would make the same decision about RT again if a similar situation occurred. The most important factor for this decision was the chance to delay occurrence of tumour-related discomfort. The chance for cure was of less importance but still essential, followed by expected side effects. Time commitments, travel, number of treatments required and financial cost; all had low impact. The veterinarian survey showed that less background knowledge of small animal oncology/RT was associated with more negative expectations of RT for small animals.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results show that for these owners, RT was a worthwhile treatment modality and that the discomfort for the dog was manageable and acceptable relative to the benefits. Improved continuing education about small animal RT in Sweden will likely result in increased evidence-based and positive treatment recommendations concerning RT by veterinarians.</p

Ecohydrological implications of aeolian processes in drylands

Aeolian processes, the erosion transport and deposition of soil particles by wind, are dominant geomorphological processes in many drylands, and important feedbacks are known to exist among aeolian, hydrological, and vegetation dynamics (Field et al. 2010; Ravi et al. 2011). The wind, a natural geomorphic agent, has been active as an erosive agent throughout geological times in many parts of the world. Outstanding examples are the extensive loess deposits along the Huanghe River (Yellow River) in China and along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers in the United States. Climatic changes and anthropogenic activities can greatly accelerate soil erosion by wind with implications for soil and vegetation degradation (Kok et al. 2012; Webb and Pierre 2018; Nauman et al. 2018). For instance, in the 1930s, a decreased precipitation coupled with intensive agricultural activities caused a dramatic increase in wind erosion in the Great Plains of the United States, resulting in the so-called Dust Bowl. Wind erosion can be activated also by land-use change. An example is provided by the Mu Us region in North China with an annual precipitation of 400 mm, which was once a grassland partially covered with forest, yet now is one of the major sources of dust in the world as a result of overgrazing and agricultural practices (Wang et al. 2005; Miao et al. 2016)