Prehydration Requirements of Working Dogs

Honorable Mention, Abstracts
Shannon Palermo, University of Pennsylvania

Prehydration Requirements of Working Dogs

Abstract:

Detection dogs work in adverse environments. In the field, dog handlers have used subcutaneous fluids and oral electrolyte solutions in addition to water to prevent dehydration; however, the efficacy of these strategies has not been studied. Our study aimed to determine the effects of 3 prehydration strategies on body weight, blood electrolytes and search performance in police canines working in hot environments.  This field study tested 3 prehydration strategies in each of 3 police detection canines using a cross over design. Each dog was randomly assigned to 10 ml/kg of water (W), subcutaneous balanced electrolyte solution (SQ), or chicken flavored oral electrolyte solution (OES) at the beginning of each work day. All dogs were offered water every thirty minutes; however, OES dogs were offered 10 ml/kg OES if they drank <3 ml/kg of water. At the beginning, middle, and end of each day, we measured body weight, serum electrolytes, lactate, and vital signs. A timed standardized search at the beginning and end of each day was conducted. Dogs in the W (n=3) and SQ (n=3) groups drank a combined mean of 5.0 ml/kg/hr, while the OES dogs (n=3) drank 18.6 ml/kg/hr. Only dogs in the OES group developed isosthenuria and gained weight. Hematocrit decreased by the end of the work day for dogs in the OES and SQ group. Regardless of the hydration strategy all dogs had a small but significant decrease in potassium, no hydration strategy resulted in a significant change in electrolyte values throughout the day. Only dogs in the OES group maintained blood bicarbonate concentrations and had significantly faster afternoon search times compared to the morning. In this study, police dogs performing light to moderate work in hot environments were able to maintain hydration. In addition to maintaining hydration, by then end of the work day dogs in the OES group had improved search times, a significantly decreased hematocrit, and were able to maintain a consistent level of bicarbonate.

On Resolutions

Honorable Mention, Life as a Vet Student
Christopher Reeves, Auburn

For this edition's "Life as a Vet Student" category, The Vet Gazette asked readers, "As we begin another year, what resolutions are you making, and how successful do you think you’ll be at keeping them?" Here is how one student answered:

New Year’s resolutions in the past for me have had abysmal results at best.  Last year I figured I would trick myself by making an, “I won’t keep my New Year’s resolution” resolution, and that was probably the best one kept in my life!  But this year I believe will be different.  Not because I feel like I have more self-control, will-power, or bullheadedness, but because I discovered a new tool over the summer break that made my impact on my school the best yet last semester: LISTS!

I rediscovered regular old “To Do” lists, but this time with a new age twist.  I’ve tried these in the past with limited success.  For short term (day or two) projects they work wonderfully to keep me on track and keep my mind organized.  However for long term goals and projects, I just ended up losing them!  What is the point of a list if you can’t find it or you lose it?  So what is different this time? Computer desktop post-it notes!

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Excuses...

Honorable Mention, Creative Corner
Foot in Mouth Disease, Lauren Sawyer

Excuses…

I spend more time in the library than I really care to admit, and probably more time than is necessary. However, of all my experiences there, one in particular sticks out in my mind as the most unique. Let me explain.

Each desk in the library has a privacy panel on three of its four borders, creating what I like to call, The Isolation Cubicle. Each cubicle faces another cubicle so that, were the panels taken down, students would be face to face with one another while studying. Since social interaction is entirely too distracting for students attempting to study, the isolation cubicle is the perfect solution. However, I found that it can also make for some amazingly awkward moments.

On a particular Tuesday, I had begrudgingly admitted that I was in need of a long, focused, study session and had dutifully sentenced myself to an afternoon in the isolation cubicle. After class I headed to the library, equipped with my computer, my notes, my favorite highlighter, a box of Cheese-Its, and a very large mug of coffee. I had just settled into the luxury of my isolation cubicle when I felt it. A large and heavy shoe kicked hard against my foot under the desk.

“Oh no you don’t,” I thought to myself

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The Veterinary Oath

Honorable Mention, Experiences
Heidi Rivadeneyra, Tufts

I woke up this morning to the sound of a rooster crowing, birds chirping and some faint singing and drums in the background. As my eyes open, there is a faint light coming from the window, but I see nothing else. I grab a flashlight and turn it on to see my little desk just as I had left it with some books, handmade bracelets, and a cherished, yet at many times pointless, cell phone. Figure 1: Dr. Valery Shean, Joyce and Me in Kangole, UgandaAs I literally crawl out of bed un-tucking and lifting the mosquito net, I laugh as I hear that rooster crow again. Even after weeks of hearing him every day it is endlessly entertaining. I am reminded of so many little kid stories and amazed at their accuracy in describing the sound I had only heard on cassette tapes up until a few weeks ago. I stand up and pull on my full-length skirt before opening the door of my grass-thatched hut so as not to be seen as indecent in my good-old American pajama pants. Outside it looks like the sun is just rising. The sounds I heard from inside have come to life as I open my door and I thank God for where He’s brought me. Listening to people sing and dance every morning reminds me of what is important in life. It’s nothing like at home. I wonder how I ended up here in the middle of Karamoja, Uganda... What could I do to help a people who had been war-torn for the past 50 years, stealing each other’s cattle just to survive? Well, I have yet to find out. So far, I am sure they have taught me so much more than I have given them.

We drove a couple hours and were getting close when we saw a lorry truck sideways in a pond down from the road. We opened the window to ask if everything was okay. They said all the people were out but they needed help. As we pulled up, I saw why... it had been carrying a bunch of cows. They had been tied up in the back of the vehicle... packed in – maybe about 15 total. A number of them had gotten out and some were swimming to shore as we came over, but there were about five still stuFigure 2: A Karamojong herdsman with his cock. We locked the vehicle and Dr. Val ran down to help... her veterinary oath kicking in. I shut the window and as I get to the back of the lorry, Val is already in the middle of everything, yelling for me to bring a knife. I take the keys and run back to the vehicle, unlock the door and find my knife. Val is nowhere to be seen as I return, so I follow suit
Figure 1: Dr. Valery Shean, Joyce and Me in Kangole, Uganda
and jump into the water, still in my full-length skirt. People yell, warning me it’s deep and telling me to be careful. I, of course, ignore them and slide down the slope in my sandals and skirt right into the water. It’s up to my waist as I walk around the top of the vehicle, which had become the side as it tipped into the pond.    As I turn the corner, the scene is quite amazing. Val takes the knife to free one of the cows whose head is barely above water. There were five or six total and they were all tangled with each another and in the frame of the vehicle. Val hands me back the knife and I put it in my pocket, covered in manure and swamp. She tells me to hold up the head of the cow to keep it from going under again while she and another man try to pull at various legs and tails to free it from the mess. I hold it up by the nostrils and as I’m standing on one bar of the vehicle and the side of another cow that was already dead, they extricate it enough for it to be freed. There was one more living cow entangled awkwardly under a few who didn’t survive. I hold it’s head out of the water and then pull on one of its legs while Val and the man move another dead cow and try to get the other end free. I hope that it doesn’t decide to kick me and try to stand far enough forward that it won’t be able to, when eventually it is able to struggle its way out of the mess. They pull it to shore while Val and I determine that our work is done.

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Adoptathon Case Study

Sandy L. MacArthur, University of Florida
Abstracts, Winner

OUTCOME OF PETS ADOPTED DURING A WAIVED-FEE ADOPTION EVENT: MADDIE’S MATCHMAKER ADOPTATHON 

 S. L. MacArthur, J. K. Levy, P. A. Dingman, S. J. Tucker.
Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA.

 Campaigns to increase shelter pet adoptions by reducing or eliminating adoption fees are controversial due to concern they may increase risk of poor care or abandonment. The purpose of this study was to assess the outcome of pets adopted during a waived-fee adoption event in the San Francisco Bay Area in June 2011.

   A survey regarding the adoption experience was sent to all 1,928 pet adopters. Pet and owner characteristics and pet lifestyle were compared between adopters who still had their pets 6-12 months post-adoption and those who did not.

   A total of 57% of adopters completed the survey, reporting that 95% of cats and 93% of dogs were still in the home. Pets were lost from the home by return to the shelter (1.8% cats; 2.2% dogs), rehoming (1.6%; 2.4%), death (1.4%; 2.0%), or going missing (.12%; .44%). Most pets lived predominantly indoors (95%; 93%), slept on the family bed (62%; 44%), and had been to a veterinarian (74%; 87%). Strong or very strong attachment to the pet was reported by 94% of adopters. There were no significant differences between the two groups based on pet attachment level, post-adoption lifestyle or healthcare, or perception of the adoption event.

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