This study aimed to characterize the response of transport-naïve dogs to one and two-hour road transports based on cortisol in saliva and blood plasma, heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), neutrophil to lymphocyte (N/L) ratio and behavior. Two persons familiar to the dogs were present during transports and control experiments. We hypothesized that transport elicits a stress response, which decreases with repeated transports. Beagle dogs were allocated to three groups (n = 6 each). Group 1 served as control in the stable in week 1 and was transported for one hour in weeks 2, 3 and 4. Groups 2 and 3 served as controls in a non-moving vehicle and in the stable, respectively, in week 2. All three groups were transported for two hours in week 6. Cortisol concentration increased during transports (p < 0.001), and this increase remained constant with repeated transports. Cortisol release during two-hour transports was not affected by transport experience. Cortisol concentration increased twofold in plasma and eightfold in saliva, indicating an increase in free cortisol. The N/L ratio increased during transport (p < 0.05). Heart rate increased at the beginning of transport while HRV decreased (p < 0.001). Heart rate and HRV neither differed among weeks nor between animals with different transport experience. During transports, but also in the stationary vehicle, dogs were mostly sitting, and time spent standing decreased during experiments (p < 0.001). Licking the mouth was the most frequent behavior during transports but not in the stationary vehicle (p < 0.01). In conclusion, a transport-induced stress response was evident in dogs. There was no habituation with repeated transports, and transported dogs may suffer from motion sickness.
Equine fetomaternal monitoring is based on endocrine and cardiac parameters which may differ among small, medium-size, and full-size horses. Therefore, Shetland (n = 6), Haflinger (n = 8), and Warmblood pregnancies (n = 9) were studied during late gestation and at foaling. Weight of mares, foals and placenta, plasma progestin and cortisol concentration, heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) were determined. Foal weight always approximated 10% of mare weight but relative placenta weight was highest in full-size mares (p < 0.05). Progestin (p < 0.001) and cortisol (p < 0.05) concentration was highest in full-size mares. Progestin concentration decreased towards parturition (p < 0.001) while cortisol concentration increased (p < 0.01). Maternal heart rate increased before foaling with the most pronounced increase in small mares (p < 0.001). The HRV increased during foaling and decreased when delivery was completed (p < 0.001). Changes were most pronounced in full-size mares (p < 0.001). Atrio-ventricular blocks regularly occurred in parturient full-size mares but only occasionally in medium-size and small mares (time p < 0.05, time × group p < 0.05). This may reflect breed differences in cardiovascular efficiency. Fetal heart rate decreased towards birth (p < 0.001) with the most pronounced decrease in full-size horses (p < 0.01). Fetal HRV showed no consistent changes before birth but increased when the foal was born (p < 0.001), this increase being most pronounced in full-size foals (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrates both similarities and differences in peripartum endocrine and cardiac changes in horses of different size.
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