“Who’s been a good dog?”: owner perceptions and motivations for treat giving

Complex relationships commonly exist between owners and their companion animals, particularly around feeding behaviour with an owner’s affection or love for their animal most pronounced through the provision of food. It is notable that the pet food market is experiencing strong year-on-year growth in sales of dog and cat treats. Recognising the impact of treat giving in pet nutrition, the objective of the study was to investigate owner attitudes and motivations towards feeding treats (shop bought and other) to their dogs. A researcher-mediated questionnaire consisting of both quantitative and qualitative questions was used to interview dog owners (n = 280) at two locations: an out-of-town retail park and a country park in the East Midlands. Owners almost unanimously viewed the word ‘treat’ within a nutritional context, as opposed to a new toy or other pleasure. The majority (96%) of owners interviewed reported feeding treats to their dog, with 69% feeding shop-bought treats on a daily basis. A wide range of treats was reportedly given by owners and the majority of owners interviewed fed multiple treat types. No association was found between owner age and frequency of shop-bought treats fed (P = 0.659) nor between owner age and frequency of food given to the dog from the owner’s plate (P = 0.083). A wide range of foods which would not be considered balanced for the animal’s nutritional requirements was viewed as a treat by some dog owners. A range of positive and negative views around the feeding of treats were expressed by dog owners, with some citing beneficial effects while others were clearly aware of the association between treat feeding and potential weight gain/obesity. Owner views included themes around positive reinforcement and responsibility but also reflected relational aspects of the human-animal bond. The results of the study show that treat giving is commonplace in feeding regimes and that treats are embedded in the feeding behaviour of many dog owners. However, the different views expressed around the motivations for, and feeding of, dog treats, reinforce the need to better understand owner psychology linked to this area, and the role this may play in the growing pet obesity epidemic

Hunting behaviour in domestic cats: an exploratory study of risk and responsibility among cat owners

ArticleThis is the final version. Available from Wiley via the DOI in this record.The potential impact of domestic cats on wildlife is the subject of growing international interest and concern. While feral cats are often the primary focus of research and debate, in many societies a substantial proportion of domestic cats are owned by private individuals. We present a typology that classifies domestic cats in relation to varying degrees of human control over their reproduction, movement and provisioning. Understanding the perceptions and practices of cat owners will be key to identifying and mitigating any negative ecological effects of cat hunting behaviour. 2. To investigate how cat owners perceive (a) their pets’ hunting behaviour, (b) their responsibilities for managing this and (c) the mitigation strategies available, we conducted detailed interviews with a diverse sample of cat owners in the United Kingdom. 3. We identified a spectrum of views on hunting behaviour, from owners who perceived hunting as positive (for pest control, or as healthy cat behaviour) to those who were deeply concerned about its consequences for wild animals, their populations and welfare. However, hunting was widely understood as a normal, ‘natural’ component of cat behaviour, and owners rarely perceived a strong individual responsibility for preventing or reducing it. 4. Those who did wish to manage hunting perceived several barriers to this, including concern that they were unable to control behaviour effectively without compromising cat welfare; doubt about the efficacy and practicality of popular mitigation measures; and unfamiliarity with alternative options. We recommend that (a) initiatives directed at changing cat owners’ behaviour consider the multiple factors and competing priorities that inform their decision-making (particularly cat health and welfare and practicality or cost of interventions); (b) researchers work collaboratively with cat owners and veterinary, cat welfare and conservation organisations to identify effective solutions, and (c) some degree of accountability for managing problematic hunting behaviour should be promoted as a part of ‘responsible pet ownership’ initiatives

Noise sensitivities in dogs: a new licensed treatment option

Review of noise sensitivities and new product for treating them

Heatstroke – providing evidence-based advice to dog owners

With increasing summer temperatures and milder winters, the risk of heatstroke in dogs is growing. Veterinary nurses have a vital role in identifying high risk patients and advising owners of the risks of heatstroke. Nurses are able to recommend preventative measures and first aid necessary to minimise the risk of heatstroke; in addition to increasing the chances of survival where heatstroke does occur. This article will provide an overview of the evidence that can be presented to owners during nursing consultations, and the prognosis of patients presenting with heatstroke

Impact of diet on faecal output and caecotroph consumption in rabbits

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of four rabbit diets (hay only, extruded diet with hay, muesli with hay and muesli only) on faecal pellet size, faecal output and caecotrophy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two Dutch rabbits were studied over 17 months. Faecal pellet size and weight were measured in weeks 3, 9, 21 and 43 and faecal output in weeks 10, 22 and 45. Number of uneaten caecotrophs was recorded weekly. RESULTS: Faecal pellets were consistently smaller and lighter in rabbits fed muesli only, and the size of pellets produced by those fed muesli with hay decreased over the course of the study. Faecal output was greatest in rabbits with the highest hay intake. Uneaten caecotrophs were found in greatest frequency in rabbits fed muesli. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Muesli diets have a negative effect on faecal output and caecotroph ingestion and may therefore predispose to digestive disorders. Higher hay intake is associated with greater faecal output and fewer uneaten caecotrophs and may assist in preventing the gastrointestinal stasis