Dietary impact on canine behaviour

Currently there has been a lot of interest in nutritional effects on behaviour, but the connection between diet and behaviour is still quite unestablished in dogs. This literature review presents connections between nutrition, physiology and canine behaviour, and whether canine behaviour can be regulated by altering the diet, based on current scientific literature in this field. By altering the diet, availability of precursors for hormones and neurotransmitters that controls behaviour may be regulated. Activity level is found to be affected by the fermentability of dietary fibre, energy restriction and indirectly by energy surplus. Aggressive behaviour may be decreased by low protein content and tryptophan supplement. Undesirable behaviour caused by lack of satiety is affected by dietary fibre and their fermentability. Taken together, the studies presented in this review points towards that there is a connection between nutrition, physiology and behaviour in dogs, as well as that canine behaviour can be regulated to some extent by altering the diet. However, further research is required to draw more specific conclusion on how nutrition affect canine behaviour.Hur diet påverkar beteendet är ett aktuellt intresseområde, men sambandet mellan foderintag och beteende är fortfarande till stor del okänt hos hund. Denna litteraturöversikt är baserad på vetenskaplig litteratur och presenterar studier där samband mellan diet, fysiologi och beteende hos hund har undersökts. Hundens beteende kan påverkas genom tillförsel av utgångsämnen för beteendereglerande hormoner och signalsubstanser. Förekomst av aggressiva beteenden kan reduceras med lägre proteininnehåll och tryptofantillsatts. Hundens aktivitetsnivå har visats kunna påverkas av mängden kostfiber och energitillgång. Kostfiber och dess fermentabilitet påverkar också hundens mättnadskänsla, vilket i sin tur inverkar på oönskade beteende som uppstår vid hunger. Studierna i denna litteraturöversikt tyder på att hundens beteende till en viss grad kan regleras med förändringar i dieten. För att kunna dra mer specifika slutsatser krävs ytterligare forskning inom ämnesområdet

EU:n Life-rahoitusvälineen merkitys Suomessa ja tulevaisuuden haasteet

EU:n ympäristöalan rahoitusväline Life on toiminut Suomessa vuodesta 1995 rahoittaen suurimpia kansallisia ympäristönsuojeluhankkeita.Tässä raportissa tarkastellaan Life-rahoituksen toimintaa Suomessa arvioimalla sen hankkeiden toteutumista ja pohtimalla seuraavan seitsenvuotisen rahoituskauden 2014–20 asettamia tulevaisuuden haasteita. Raportin ensimmäinen osa tarkastelee, kuinka hyvin maassamme vuosina 1995-2010 toteutuneet Life-hankkeet ovat onnistuneet. Tarkoitus on ymmärtää Life-hankkeiden laajempi merkitys kansallisesti, erityisesti 1) selvittää, minkälaisia konkreettisia ympäristövaikutuksia hankkeiden ansiosta on saatu aikaan; 2) vertailla, kuinka hankkeiden onnistuneisuus ja vaikuttavuus on vaihdellut eri Life osaohjelmien (Ympäristö/Luonto) sekä ohjelmakausien (Life/Life+) välillä; 3) tutkia, minkälainen vaikutus hankkeilla on ollut poliittiselle/ yhteiskunnalliselle kentälle ja kohderyhmänsä ympäristötietoisuuteen; 4) laatia tulevan asetuskauden perinteisiä hankkeita varten rahoitusvälineen toiminnalle parannusehdotuksia. Uudella asetuskaudella 2014–20 Life -rahoitusvälineen budjetti kasvaa merkittävästi ja samalla asetukseen sisällytetään perinteisten hankkeiden rinnalle aivan uusi hankemuoto – integroidut, eli yhdistetyt, hankkeet. Ne ovat laaja-alaisia hankkeita, jotka tarjoavat erinomaisen mahdollisuuden saada suomalaiset rahoittajatahot toimimaan aiempaa voimallisemmin yhteistyössä. Raportin toinen osa sisältää tarkastelua perinteisten Life-hankkeiden saralla tapahtuvista muutoksista ja perinpohjaisen katsauksen 2014–2020 Life -rahoituskauteen liittyviin integroituihin hankkeisiin. Tässä osiossa on haastattelujen avulla selvitetty integroitujen LIFE -hankkeiden mahdollisten osarahoittajien näkemyksiä sekä mahdollisten hanketoteuttajien pohdintoja hankemuotoon liittyvistä haasteista. Lisäksi selvitettiin näkemyksiä integroituihin hankkeisiin muista EU-maista. Tämän työn keskeisintä antia ovat ehdotukset integroitujen hankkeiden suunnittelun organisointiin Suomessa sekä selvityksen aikana esille tulleet ehdotukset integroiduiksi hankkeiksi

Peri-operative red blood cell transfusion in neonates and infants: NEonate and Children audiT of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe: A prospective European multicentre observational study

BACKGROUND: Little is known about current clinical practice concerning peri-operative red blood cell transfusion in neonates and small infants. Guidelines suggest transfusions based on haemoglobin thresholds ranging from 8.5 to 12 g dl-1, distinguishing between children from birth to day 7 (week 1), from day 8 to day 14 (week 2) or from day 15 (≥week 3) onwards. OBJECTIVE: To observe peri-operative red blood cell transfusion practice according to guidelines in relation to patient outcome. DESIGN: A multicentre observational study. SETTING: The NEonate-Children sTudy of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe (NECTARINE) trial recruited patients up to 60 weeks' postmenstrual age undergoing anaesthesia for surgical or diagnostic procedures from 165 centres in 31 European countries between March 2016 and January 2017. PATIENTS: The data included 5609 patients undergoing 6542 procedures. Inclusion criteria was a peri-operative red blood cell transfusion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint was the haemoglobin level triggering a transfusion for neonates in week 1, week 2 and week 3. Secondary endpoints were transfusion volumes, 'delta haemoglobin' (preprocedure - transfusion-triggering) and 30-day and 90-day morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Peri-operative red blood cell transfusions were recorded during 447 procedures (6.9%). The median haemoglobin levels triggering a transfusion were 9.6 [IQR 8.7 to 10.9] g dl-1 for neonates in week 1, 9.6 [7.7 to 10.4] g dl-1 in week 2 and 8.0 [7.3 to 9.0] g dl-1 in week 3. The median transfusion volume was 17.1 [11.1 to 26.4] ml kg-1 with a median delta haemoglobin of 1.8 [0.0 to 3.6] g dl-1. Thirty-day morbidity was 47.8% with an overall mortality of 11.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate lower transfusion-triggering haemoglobin thresholds in clinical practice than suggested by current guidelines. The high morbidity and mortality of this NECTARINE sub-cohort calls for investigative action and evidence-based guidelines addressing peri-operative red blood cell transfusions strategies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02350348

Relationship between physical activity, energy intake and body condition in companion dogs

Obesity is a common nutritional disorder of companion dogs and can cause several health and welfare problems. Many studies focus on the nutritional aspect i.e. the effect of energy intake on overweight in dogs, whereas there are few studies on the physical activity aspect i.e. the effect of energy expenditure on weight management in dogs. An understanding of how amount and type of physical activity affects a healthy dog’s body condition could increase knowledge of dogs´ requirement of physical activity in order to avoid overweight, and thereby reduce the risk of dogs developing weight-related health problems. This study aims to assess the relationship between physical activity, energy intake and body condition in companion dogs, as well as differences in physical activity habits (gait, duration, distance, speed, heart rate, leash use) between overweight and non-overweight dogs. Thirty-one companion dogs from Sweden and Finland were included in this study. Questionnaires were used for the owner to record the dog’s feed intake, walks and other physical activities during seven consecutive days. General information about the dog and its habits of physical activity was received through an oral interview with the owner. Measurements of Body Condition Score (BCS), bodyweight and wither height were obtained by the student. Based on the dog’s habits for physical activity received from the questionnaires, two representative walks were chosen to be repeated for data collection. Polar® heart rate monitor was used to measure heart rate (HR), distance and speed during the walks. Possible effects of habits for physical activity and energy intake on the dog’s BCS and/or HR was statistically analysed in SAS 9.4. Results showed that non-overweight dogs used more trot (61% vs 45%) and gallop (18% vs 7%), less walk (the gait, 20% vs 47%), had higher speed (4.5 km/h vs 3.8 km/h) and spent less time on leash (43% vs 74% of walking duration) during walks than overweight dogs (P<0.05). Also, tendencies for walks with higher intensity (higher HR) and longer distances was seen for non-overweight dogs compared to overweight dogs (P<0.1). However, no significant difference in duration of walks was found between overweight and non-overweight dogs. Dogs walked at a high intensity (average HR above the total sample populations average) used less walk (the gait, 24% vs 44%), more gallop (18% vs 8%) and had a lower BCS (5.1 vs 5.9) than dogs walked at a low intensity (P<0.05). No relationship was found between energy intake and body condition. In conclusion, this study indicates that there is a relationship between physical activity and body condition in this population of companion dogs. However, the internal validity might be affected by the small sample population and, therefore, further studies are required.Övervikt är vanligt förekommande hos sällskapshundar och kan leda till ett flertal sjukdomstillstånd och försämrad välfärd. Vetenskapliga studier har fokuserat på energiintagets effekt på övervikt hos hund, men det råder brist på studier som undersöker effekten av energiförbrukning i form av fysisk aktivitet. En bättre förståelse för hur mängd och typ av fysisk aktivitet påverkar kroppshullet hos en frisk hund kan öka kunskapen om hundars behov av fysisk aktivitet samt hur man kan undvika övervikt och därmed minska risken för relaterade hälsoproblem. Syftet med studien var att studera sambandet mellan fysisk aktivitet, energiintag och kroppshull hos sällskapshundar, samt undersöka hur vanorna för fysisk aktivitet (gångart, tid, distans, hastighet, hjärtfrekvens, koppelanvändning) skiljer sig mellan överviktiga och icke-överviktiga hundar. Trettioen sällskapshundar från Sverige och Finland deltog i studien. Ägarna fyllde i frågeformulär för att registrera hundarnas foderintag, promenader och övrig fysisk aktivitet under sju dagar i rad. I samband med en muntlig intervju som utfördes med ägaren för att samla in allmän kunskap om hunden och dess vanor för fysisk aktivitet, mättes även hundens mankhöjd, vikt och kroppshull. Utifrån frågeformulären valdes de två promenader som ansågs bäst representera hundens fysiska aktivitet för vidare registreringar. Polar® pulsmätare användes för mätning av hjärtfrekvens, distans och fart under de två promenaderna. Statistiska analyser användes för att bedöma effekten av vanorna för fysisk aktivitet och energiintaget på både kroppshull och hjärtfrekvens. Resultaten visade att icke-överviktiga hundar rörde sig mera i trav (61% vs 45%) och galopp (18% vs 7%), mindre i skritt (20% vs 47%), i snabbare fart (4.5 km/h vs 3.8 km/h) samt spenderade mindre tid i koppel (43% vs 74% av promenadtiden) under promenaderna jämfört med överviktiga hundar (P<0.05). Det fanns även en tendens till att icke-överviktiga hundar hade högre intensitet (hjärtfrekvens) och gick längre distanser under sina promenader än överviktiga hundar (P<0.1). Dock fanns det inte någon skillnad mellan promenadernas längd i tid mellan icke-överviktiga och överviktiga hundar. Hundar som utförde högintensiva (medelhjärtfrekvens högre än totala studiepopulationens medelhjärtfrekvens) promenader rörde sig mindre i skritt (24% vs 44%), mera i galopp (18% vs 8%) samt hade lägre kroppshullpoäng (5.1 vs 5.9) jämfört med hundar som utförde lågintensiva promenader (P<0.05). Inget samband hittades mellan energiintag och kroppshull. Sammanfattningsvis indikerar denna studie att det finns ett samband mellan fysisk aktivitet och kroppshull hos denna population av sällskapshundar. Trovärdigheten av studien kan tänkas påverkas av att få hundar undersöktes, och därmed behövs ytterligare forskning inom området

Morbidity and mortality after anaesthesia in early life: results of the European prospective multicentre observational study, neonate and children audit of anaesthesia practice in Europe (NECTARINE)

Background: Neonates and infants requiring anaesthesia are at risk of physiological instability and complications, but triggers for peri-anaesthetic interventions and associations with subsequent outcome are unknown. Methods: This prospective, observational study recruited patients up to 60 weeks' postmenstrual age undergoing anaesthesia for surgical or diagnostic procedures from 165 centres in 31 European countries between March 2016 and January 2017. The primary aim was to identify thresholds of pre-determined physiological variables that triggered a medical intervention. The secondary aims were to evaluate morbidities, mortality at 30 and 90 days, or both, and associations with critical events. Results: Infants (n=5609) born at mean (standard deviation [sd]) 36.2 (4.4) weeks postmenstrual age (35.7% preterm) underwent 6542 procedures within 63 (48) days of birth. Critical event(s) requiring intervention occurred in 35.2% of cases, mainly hypotension (&gt;30% decrease in blood pressure) or reduced oxygenation (SpO2 &lt;85%). Postmenstrual age influenced the incidence and thresholds for intervention. Risk of critical events was increased by prior neonatal medical conditions, congenital anomalies, or both (relative risk [RR]=1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.28) and in those requiring preoperative intensive support (RR=1.27; 95% CI, 1.15-1.41). Additional complications occurred in 16.3% of patients by 30 days, and overall 90-day mortality was 3.2% (95% CI, 2.7-3.7%). Co-occurrence of intraoperative hypotension, hypoxaemia, and anaemia was associated with increased risk of morbidity (RR=3.56; 95% CI, 1.64-7.71) and mortality (RR=19.80; 95% CI, 5.87-66.7). Conclusions: Variability in physiological thresholds that triggered an intervention, and the impact of poor tissue oxygenation on patient's outcome, highlight the need for more standardised perioperative management guidelines for neonates and infants

Difficult tracheal intubation in neonates and infants. NEonate and Children audiT of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe (NECTARINE): a prospective European multicentre observational study

International audienceBackground: Neonates and infants are susceptible to hypoxaemia in the perioperative period. The aim of this study was to analyse interventions related to anaesthesia tracheal intubations in this European cohort and identify their clinical consequences.Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of tracheal intubations of the European multicentre observational trial (NEonate and Children audiT of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe [NECTARINE]) in neonates and small infants with difficult tracheal intubation. The primary endpoint was the incidence of difficult intubation and the related complications. The secondary endpoints were the risk factors for severe hypoxaemia attributed to difficult airway management, and 30 and 90 day outcomes.Results: Tracheal intubation was planned in 4683 procedures. Difficult tracheal intubation, defined as two failed attempts of direct laryngoscopy, occurred in 266 children (271 procedures) with an incidence (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 5.8% (95% CI, 5.1-6.5). Bradycardia occurred in 8% of the cases with difficult intubation, whereas a significant decrease in oxygen saturation (SpO2<90% for 60 s) was reported in 40%. No associated risk factors could be identified among co-morbidities, surgical, or anaesthesia management. Using propensity scoring to adjust for confounders, difficult anaesthesia tracheal intubation did not lead to an increase in 30 and 90 day morbidity or mortality.Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrate a high incidence of difficult tracheal intubation in children less than 60 weeks post-conceptual age commonly resulting in severe hypoxaemia. Reassuringly, the morbidity and mortality at 30 and 90 days was not increased by the occurrence of a difficult intubation event