Alpacas’ population in Poland has attained 5000 individuals. From 2020 alpacas are recognized as farm animals in Poland. This ruminant is increasingly popular, but still poorly known compared to other farm animals (cattle, sheep, goats). The aim of this review is to present the specificity of alpacas in terms of adequate welfare of these animals. To provide an appropriate welfare level, the knowledge about the species’ biology and typical behaviour is needed. The basis for assessment of the animal's health status is the knowledge of basic physiological indicators, whose divergence from reference values is often the first symptom of many diseases. The health and welfare of virtually all animal species are influenced by infestations by endo- and exoparasites, which can cause many disorders and serious diseases. The growing alpaca population size necessitates investigation of this species, which will help future and current owners to breed these animals and prompt veterinarians to apply appropriate treatment of alpacas bred in Poland.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the temperament of dogs on the basis of behavioral observations, with emphasis on 24 selected traits and behaviors. From the observations, the temperament of the dogs was determined and the animals were assigned to one of two personality groups: introvert or extrovert. The study involved 46 dogs. The agglomeration method, Pearson’s 1-r distance, and Ward’s binding method were used. As shown by the statistical analysis, 18 dogs (39%) were assessed as introverts and 28 dogs (61%) exhibited extrovert traits. To construct a model for the assessment of canine temperament using the identified traits, logistic regression was performed with the independent variables, number of extrovert traits (ETs) and introvert traits (ITs), and a dichotomous dependent variable (1 = extrovert, 0 = introvert), reflecting the assessment of the temperament of the dog based on the observations and results of the original questionnaire.
It has been assumed that stroking relieves stress responses in dogs, and dogs with the activation of the left-brain hemisphere (right-pawed) may show better adaptation to stress conditions. The aim of the study was to determine whether the stroking stimulus induced changes in the level of selected neuroregulators in dogs’ blood and whether these changes depended on the sex and the predominance of the activity of one of the brain hemispheres. The study involved 40 dogs of various breeds and both sexes. The experimental animals were subjected to a behavioral tests (Kong test), and the levels of noradrenaline, serotonin, and cortisol were determined in their blood plasma. The results of the behavioral test revealed that most dogs exhibited increased activity of the left hemisphere. Furthermore, irrespective of the sex and paw preference, stroking the animal was found to alleviate the stress response, which was reflected in reduced cortisol levels and increased serotonin levels. It was found that the plasma noradrenaline, cortisol, and serotonin levels were lower in the female dogs than in the males. Additionally, the plasma noradrenaline and serotonin levels were higher in the right-pawed dogs than in the left-pawed dogs. The present results confirm the assumption that right-pawed dogs adapt to stressful conditions more readily.
Human–animal interactions and the emotional relationship of the owner with the pet are the subjects of many scientific studies and the constant interest of not only scientists but also pet owners. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the hair cortisol levels of dogs, cats, and their owners living in the same household. The owners were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning the frequency of their interactions with pets and emotional relationship with each of their cats and each of their dogs. The study involved 25 women who owned at least one dog and at least one cat. In total, 45 dogs and 55 cats from 25 households participated in the study. The average level of hair cortisol of the owners was 4.62 ng/mL, of the dogs 0.26 ng/mL, and in the hair of cats 0.45 ng/mL. There was no significant correlation between the hair cortisol level of the owner and dog or the owner and the cat and between dogs and cats living together. A significant positive correlation was observed between the hair cortisol level in the owner and the pet, for dogs in which the owner performs grooming treatments once a week and for cats which are never kissed. Although our study did not find many significant correlations, studies using other stress markers might have yielded different results.
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