No abstract

Among the phytocomplex components of Cannabis sativa L., cannabidiol (CBD) has a recognised therapeutic effect on chronic pain. Little is known about the veterinary use of CBD in dogs. Even less is known on the effects of CBD on dog behaviour, especially in shelters. The purpose of this study was to determine if CBD affects stress related behaviour in shelter dogs. The sample consisted of 24 dogs divided into two groups that were created by assigning the dogs alternately: 12 dogs were assigned to the treatment group and 12 to the control group. Extra virgin olive oil, titrated to 5% in CBD was given to treated group; the placebo consisted of olive oil only, dispensed daily for 45 days. Behavioural data were collected using the ‘focal animal’ sampling method with ‘all occurrences’ and ‘1/0’ methods for 3 h: before (T0), after 15 days (T1), after 45 days of treatment (T2) and after 15 days from the end of the treatment (T3). Treated dogs showed reduced aggressive behaviour toward humans following the treatment (Friedman Test: χ2 = 13.300; df = 3; N = 12; p = .004; adj. sig. p = 0.027), but the difference in the decrease of aggressive behaviour between the two groups was not significant (Mann–Whitney U test, T2–T0: Z = − 1.81; N = 24; p = 0.078). Other behaviours indicative of stress, such as displacing activities and stereotypes, did not decrease. Despite some non-significant results, our findings suggest that it is worth doing more research to further investigate the effect of CBD on dog behaviour; this would be certainly valuable because the potential for improving the welfare of dogs in shelters is priceless.

No abstract

We present data on dog biting events which occurred in Rome and were recorded by the Public Dog Shelter and Veterinary Hospital of Rome. In Italy the control of rabies is regulated by Presidential Decree. Recently, the endorsement of a National Law, aimed at the prevention of dog and cat straying, has greatly modified the relationship with, and the management of, domestic animals in the urban environment. The management of biting and in general of aggression, is therefore no longer seen as only a public health and policy problem but also as critical to human-animal interaction in society. The Public Dog Shelter and Veterinary Hospital of Rome received 1576 biting reports from September 2003 to August 2004. Our survey was conducted on 290 dogs of various breeds and their owners. Data were collected on breed, sex, and age of the dog, on its living conditions, and on the circumstances of the aggression. The vast majority of bites occurred among family members or in familiar places, when the owner did not adopt precautions (lead, muzzle) prescribed by law. The owner was often incapable of handling the animal correctly in particular circumstances such as during occasional dog fights or the person had been bitten when they entered the animal's territory without warning. Thirty-one cases of severe aggression underwent a more detailed ethological investigation of the dogs and interview of the owner. The vast majority of them were 'spoiled' and/ or were allowed to act as a dominant animal. On the basis of these results, it is clear that there is a need to modify the evaluation criteria of biting animals, from a solely medical-orientated approach to a more complex ethological approach in order to establish the correct human-animal relationship.