Weaning and Parent-Offspring Conflict in the Domestic Dog

Weaning and signs of a parent-offspring conflict were studied in four females of the Swedish Dachsbracken breed of domestic dog and their pups. The animals were observed from the second to the seventh week of age of the pups. In addition to regular weighing, measurements of milk and solid food intake per pup and meal were also made, and samples of milk from the mothers were collected and analysed. The most important mechanism for weaning seemed to be on the behavioural level. The time that the mother spent with her pups decreased continuously from week 2 to week 7, as did the number of sucklings per hour. Furthermore, both duration of suckling and the number of sucklings initiated by the mother decreased during the period, while the proportion of sucklings where the mother was standing increased steadily. The weights of mothers stayed rather constant during the period and there was no difference in the amount of milk given per suckling or in the composition of milk between the early and late weeks of lactation. Consequently, costs for the mother, in terms of loss of weight, were negligible as she was able to compensate for the increased energy demand of lactation with an increased food intake. There was a tendency for care-giving behaviour to decrease and aggression from the mother to increase at the same time as there was a tendency for care-seeking and contact-seeking behaviour from the pups to increase. These changes, together with the less frequent initiation of suckling by the mother, could perhaps be seen as signs of conflict. Conflict was defined according to TRIVERS' theory (1974) and referred to the disagreement between the female and her pups about the amount of care given. However, although the animals were kept in a way that allowed them to perform as much as possible of their natural behaviour, the good nutritional conditions, one of the characteristics of captive life, may have reduced overt parent-offspring conflict.     

Allometry of Sexual Size Dimorphism in Domestic Dog

Background

The tendency for male-larger sexual size dimorphism (SSD) to scale with body size – a pattern termed Rensch''s rule – has been empirically supported in many animal lineages. Nevertheless, its theoretical elucidation is a subject of debate. Here, we exploited the extreme morphological variability of domestic dog (Canis familiaris) to gain insights into evolutionary causes of this rule.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We studied SSD and its allometry among 74 breeds ranging in height from less than 19 cm in Chihuahua to about 84 cm in Irish wolfhound. In total, the dataset included 6,221 individuals. We demonstrate that most dog breeds are male-larger, and SSD in large breeds is comparable to SSD of their wolf ancestor. Among breeds, SSD becomes smaller with decreasing body size. The smallest breeds are nearly monomorphic.

Conclusions/Significance

SSD among dog breeds follows the pattern consistent with Rensch''s rule. The variability of body size and corresponding changes in SSD among breeds of a domestic animal shaped by artificial selection can help to better understand processes leading to emergence of Rensch''s rule.     

貉血清IgG纯化及抗血清的制备

目的 制备高纯度貉血清IgG和兔抗貉IgG抗血清,作为建立多种动物抗体检测技术的储备。方法 采用Hitrap Protein A亲和层析及盐析再沉淀法纯化貉血清IgG,通过PAGE电泳和Western-Blot免疫印迹法对IgG作纯度及免疫活性检测;常规免疫法制备兔抗貉IgG血清。结果 貉血清IgG与Protein G虽有较强的结合力,但同时也结合血清中其他杂蛋白;用二步纯化法可从5 mL貉血清中纯化IgG约7 mg,电泳和免疫印迹测定显示,IgG纯度大于95%,常规免疫法制备抗血清免疫双扩散效价达1∶32。结论 建立了可行的貉血清IgG的纯化方法和高效价的兔抗貉血清IgG抗血清,为貉血清IgG二级抗体酶联物的制备储备了资源。     

Context-Related Variation in the Vocal Growling Behaviour of the Domestic Dog (Canis familiaris)

We investigated whether the growls of domestic dogs, Canis familiaris , exhibit predictable variations in a range of key acoustic parameters when they are given in two contrasting experimental contexts, and whether humans are sensitive to such variation. In a standardized experimental paradigm, an experimenter visited 32 domestic dogs and generated an aggression context and a play context. In these contexts, 204 isolated growls were recorded and subsequently acoustically analysed. Contrary to previous findings on barks, fundamental and formant frequencies of growls did not vary between the two contexts. However, growls from the aggression context were significantly longer than growls from the play context. Additionally, the temporal structure of the vocal sequences containing growls differed significantly between the contexts. In a series of psychoacoustic experiments, human listeners were not able to discriminate between growls recorded in the two contexts, however both aggressiveness and playfulness ratings were strongly influenced by dog weight, with larger dogs being perceived as more aggressive than smaller dogs. However, participants were able to attribute aggressiveness and playfulness to synthesized sequences in which growls occurred at a two rates, typical of either the aggression or the play context. We conclude that context-related variation in growling behaviour resides in the temporal structure, rather than in the acoustic composition of isolated growls, and furthermore that human listeners are able to attribute context on the basis of growling rate. In addition, human appear to have an intuitive acoustic bias toward perceiving larger dogs as more aggressive.     

Breed-Specific Hematological Phenotypes in the Dog: A Natural Resource for the Genetic Dissection of Hematological Parameters in a Mammalian Species

Remarkably little has been published on hematological phenotypes of the domestic dog, the most polymorphic species on the planet. Information on the signalment and complete blood cell count of all dogs with normal red and white blood cell parameters judged by existing reference intervals was extracted from a veterinary database. Normal hematological profiles were available for 6046 dogs, 5447 of which also had machine platelet concentrations within the reference interval. Seventy-five pure breeds plus a mixed breed control group were represented by 10 or more dogs. All measured parameters except mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) varied with age. Concentrations of white blood cells (WBCs), neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils and platelets, but not red blood cell parameters, all varied with sex. Neutering status had an impact on hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), MCHC, and concentrations of WBCs, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes and platelets. Principal component analysis of hematological data revealed 37 pure breeds with distinctive phenotypes. Furthermore, all hematological parameters except MCHC showed significant differences between specific individual breeds and the mixed breed group. Twenty-nine breeds had distinctive phenotypes when assessed in this way, of which 19 had already been identified by principal component analysis. Tentative breed-specific reference intervals were generated for breeds with a distinctive phenotype identified by comparative analysis. This study represents the first large-scale analysis of hematological phenotypes in the dog and underlines the important potential of this species in the elucidation of genetic determinants of hematological traits, triangulating phenotype, breed and genetic predisposition.     

The Pattern of Nipple Use Before Weaning Among Littermates of the Domestic Dog

Suckling provides a well‐defined and functionally significant context in which to study mammalian sibling competition and the possible consequences of this for long‐term differences in individual behavior, physiology, and life histories. There have, however, been surprisingly few studies of suckling behavior, even in species as accessible as the domestic dog. In a first approach, we filmed the suckling behavior of 10 litters (47 puppies) of various dog breeds in their owners' homes during the first postnatal month before the start of weaning. The pattern of nipple use was very similar across litters but very different to that of the better‐studied pig or cat. Puppies showed only weak preference for particular (central) nipple rows, they often switched nipples during nursing sessions and showed no evidence of teat consistency in which each littermate uses primarily one or two particular nipples. They also showed very little agonistic behavior that could be interpreted as contesting access to nipples. The present findings provide a reminder of the diversity of suckling patterns among altricial mammals and of the need for more comparative information to better understand the reasons for and functional significance of such differences.     

灰胸竹鸡血清某些生化参数的测定

运用自动生化分析仪测定了21只野生成年灰胸竹鸡的血液生化参数,结果表明:雌性在总蛋白、白蛋白和球蛋白水平,以及谷丙转氨酶活性均高于雄性(P>0.05),雌性白蛋白/球蛋白却较雄性低;同样,雌性个体的总胆红素、总胆固醇和甘油三酯的含量分别较雄性高8.33%、23.08%和15.38%(P>0.05).提示雌性个体的代谢较雄性个体要强,可为深入探讨竹鸡的机体代谢规律提供资料.     

Beagle犬正常血液学指标及血清生化指标测定

选用普通级健康Beagle犬270只(雄性135只,雌性135只),6～8月龄,体重7～9 kg,前肢内侧隐静脉采血,使用日本西森美康(Sysmex)全自动五分类血球仪及配套试剂和日本奥林巴斯(OLYMPUS-2700)全自动生化分析仪及配套试剂,分别测定血液学指标和血清生化指标.数据经统计分析,得出了雄性、雌性Beagle犬血液学指标和血清生化指标正常参考值的均值及标准差;19项血液学指标雌雄间差异不显著(P＞0.05);4项血液学指标:平均血小板体积(MPV)、血小板压积(PCT)、血小板体积分布宽度(PDW)、网织红细胞(Ret)与国内相关报道差异显著(P＜0.05);1项血清生化指标:碱性磷酸酶(ALP)雌雄间差异显著(P＜0.05),其余9项血清生化指标雌雄间差异不显著(P＞0.05).建立了本研究所繁育饲养基地Beagle犬血液学指标和血清生化指标的正常参考值范围,为医学研究提供参考基础数据.     

Mycosis Due to Tropicoporus tropicalis (= Inonotus tropicalis) in a Domestic Dog

Mycopathologia - Mycelial basidiomycetes rarely produce mycoses in animals including humans. We report a case of a 9-year-old female mongrel dog with lesions in the prescapular lymph nodes. The...     

Glycogenosis in the Dog

Four cases of a generalized form of glycogenosis occurring in German Shepherd dogs, all females, are described. Symptoms could be noticed as early as the age of two months and progressed slowly for months. They appeared as dizziness, muscular weakness, and in two of the cases as poor nutritional state. The abdomen became gradually distended. The main lesion seen at postmortem was a greatly increased liver size with some moderate liver fibrosis. Heavy deposits of a granular substance behaving as glycogen in histochemical tests and at electron microscopy were found in the hepatic cells, muscle fibres of the heart, skeletal and smooth muscles, and in nerve and glial cells of the central nervous system. The substance was lying freely dispersed in the cell cytoplasm without any indication of lysosomal storage. The disease of dogs does not seem to be fully comparable with any of the types observed in man, but is probably much related to Type III or Cori's Disease. Structure analysis of the deposits and enzyme investigations have been done and are published (Čeh et al. 1976).     

Elimination of Homologous And Heterologous (Bovine) Serum Albumin from the Blood Circulation in the Dog)

The elimination of intravenously administered I131-labelled bovine serum albumin has been compared to the elimination rate of relabelled homologous serum albumin in normal and bled dogs, which had lost considerable blood volumes. The investigation shows that during the first four to five days after the administration the elimination is similar of heterologous and homologous serum albumin. This proves that bovine serum albumin can be regarded to be an equivalent plasma expander to homologous serum albumin in the dog. Elimination of homologous as well as heterologous serum albumin follows a simple exponential curve during four to five days after administration. The intravascular half-lives for homologous serum albumin were 6.4 ±1.5 days and 6.4 ± 0.6 days respectively in control and bled dogs. Corresponding values for heterologous (bovine) serum albumin were 5.0 ± 0.3 and 4.8 ± 0.4 days respectively. The quote for cencentrations of homologous and heterologous serum albumin in different tissues was found to be relatively constant approximately 1.4. An exception was the stomach wall in bled dogs which had a quote of 1.1 only.     

引入西藏高原家兔的血清生化指标测定

目的了解和掌握引入西藏高原家兔的生理生化指标,以便为实践教学、临床诊疗和科学研究提供参数。方法采用朗道全自动生化分析仪对引入西藏高原20年的加利福尼亚兔(Californian rabbit)和中国白兔(Chinese white rabbit)的12项血清生化指标进行了测定。结果加利福尼亚兔在品种内比较发现TP、ALB、A/G、CRE、CHOL、LDH指标表现极强的雄兔特征(P0.01),而ALT、GLU测定值雌兔明显高于雄兔(P0.05);中国白兔在品种内比较发现CRE、LDH指标显示差异有显著性(P0.01),CRE指标是雄兔高于雌兔,LDH参数是雌兔高于雄兔。加利福尼亚雄兔与中国白雄兔的参数比较中发现AST、TP、ALB、GLO、A/G、GLU、CRE、LDH指标显示差异有显著性(P0.01),而TG、BUN指标显示差异有显著性(P0.05);加尼福利亚母兔与中国白母兔的参数比较中发现ALT、GLO、CRE、TG指标显示差异有显著性(P0.05),AST、TP、BUN、LDH指标显示差异有显著性(P0.01)。结论实验结果将为西藏高原的教学、临床诊疗和科学研究提供生理数据参考。