Dam (Canis familiaris) Welfare throughout the Peri-Parturient Period in Commercial Breeding Kennels

Abstract

Poor dam welfare throughout the peri-parturient period can also negatively affect that of their offspring. This study aimed to identify changes in physical, physiological, and behavioral metrics indicative of dam welfare throughout the peri-parturient period. Dams (n = 74) from eight U.S. Midwest commercial breeding (CB) kennels were tested at 6 and 1 week prepartum, and 4 and 8 weeks postpartum. At each time point dams underwent a stranger approach test, physical health assessment, hair collection for hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and fecal collection for fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM), fecal secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and parasite detection. Linear mixed-effects models indicated dams exhibited more affiliative behaviors towards the stranger at 4 weeks postpartum than 6 weeks prepartum (p = 0.03), increased HCC from 4-weeks to 8 weeks postpartum (p = 0.02), and increased FGM from 1 week prepartum to 8 weeks postpartum (p = 0.04). At each respective time point, the percentage of dams with intestinal parasites was 11%, 4%, 23%, and 15%. Most changes are likely due to increased energy requirements and hormonal variations. However, deviations from expected changes may have resulted from changes in environment and/ or management, which should be explored in future studies.

Keywords: behavior; commercial dog breeding; cortisol; dog; gestation; immunoglobulin A; lactation; peri-parturient period; welfare.

Figure 1

Mean FIDO+ score at 6-weeks and 1 week prepartum separated by number of days prepartum when tested at the 1 week prepartum time point.

Figure 2

Change in Field Instantaneous Dog Observation Tool + (FIDO+) response across time points. Sample sizes for each time point were n = 59, n = 38, n = 57, and n = 55, respectively. Error bars represent SE. * indicates p ≤ 0.05.

Figure 3

Change in treat consumption throughout the Field Instantaneous Dog Observation Tool + (FIDO+) across time points. Sample sizes for each time point were n = 59, n = 38, n = 57, and n = 55, respectively. Error bars represent SE. * indicates p ≤ 0.05, ** indicates p < 0.01.

Figure 4

Change in hair cortisol concentration (logHCC) across time points. Sample sizes for each time point were n = 59, n = 43, n = 41, and n = 53, respectively. Error bars represent SE. * indicates p ≤ 0.05.

Figure 5

Change in fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (logFGM) across time points. Sample sizes for each time point were n = 34, n = 37, n = 53, and n = 52, respectively. Error bars represent SE. * indicates p ≤ 0.05.

Figure 6

Change in fecal secretory immunoglobulin A (logsIgA) across time points. Sample sizes for each time point were n = 34, n = 37, n = 53, and n = 51, respectively. Error bars represent SE.