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Current Research |
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Sickness
Behaviour in Swine
When an animal is ill, it has a
behavioural repetoire that can assist in the recovery of disease -
this is called sickness behaviour, and includes resting, huddling,
heat-seeking, reduced feed intake, and lethargy. However, it is also
known that a sick animal alters other behaviours, including those
associated with social interactions and aggression, for example. Production
animals may be less equipped to alter their behaviour patterns to
cope with sickness due to the types of environments they are raised
in. Our research is aiming to discover how a sick pig alters its behaviour,
and what resource needs it has. Furthermore, we wish to better understand
how social interactions change within a pen due to illness, and if
these changes put a sick pig at a disadvantage. |
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Meloxicam and neonatal calf diarrhea
Infection and inflammation are accompanied by several distinct behavioural and physiological changes. These changes are collectively referred to as sickness behaviour, and include loss of appetite, increased thermoregulation, reduced activity, and increased slow-wave sleep. Sick animals may also experience malaise, a negative affective state that involves feelings of lethargy, depression, pain and anhedonia. Several bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms have been identified as etiologic agents of diarrhea in dairy calves. Inflammation and dehydration are common sequelae of neonatal calf diarrhea complex. Calves with diarrhea may also experience visceral pain and discomfort. The expression of sickness behaviour in calves with neonatal calf diarrhea complex has not been formally studied. Furthermore, very little controlled research has been completed, evaluating the therapeutic value of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as adjunct treatments for neonatal calf diarrhea complex in dairy calves. Our research will examine the role the NSAID, meloxicam, in mitigating sickness behaviour and promoting recovery in calves with diarrhea. |
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Dehorning
pain in calves
Horns are removed from dairy calves
in order to prevent them from injuring their herd-mates and handlers.
There are many ways to do this, depending on the age at which the
procedure is performed. These include caustic chemicals, hot iron
or physical methods such as gouging out or amputating larger horns.
The procedure is acutely painful, as the horn is innervated and sensitive
tissue surrounding it is damaged as well. There is also long term
pain associated with inflammation. Local anesthetic is available to
block sensation in the horn area during the procedure but it is widely
accepted that this pain relief is only temporary. Research is currently
being done by our lab to investigate relief for the long term pain
caused by dehorning and to compare some of the most common methods
used. |
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Bond formation between individuals within herds of horses
It is recognized that individuals within a herd of horses have social contact with one another but that this contact is directed towards specific herd members. While many studies have investigated the social bonds within established herds of horses, little is known about the formation of these social bonds. The first aim of this study was to discover if there are factors that predict who form social bonds within a band. The three main variables of interest were kinship, coat colour, and familiarity. The second objective was to investigate the length of time it takes for strong social preferences to develop within a group of horses. The results could be used for selecting stall and pasture companions for mares and are of interest in terms of early experience and subsequent behaviour. |
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Fear and horse-rider interactions
Horseback riding has inherent dangers
associated with it and many of the accidents happening during riding
are due to the horse being scared. A better understanding of the fear
reaction of horses, and in particular the identification of factors
that influence the horses’ fear reaction, can therefore ultimately
help to reduce the risks associated with horse sports and thus improve
the welfare of both horse and rider. This research focuses on the
interactions between horse and rider and aims to discover if - and
if so how - the rider can influence the horse’s nervousness.
We are investigating, for example, the impact of different training
types (e.g. Dressage versus Show Jumping), different types of riders
(e.g. nervous versus confident), and different riding styles (e.g.
rough versus gentle) on the horse’s tendency to take fright. |
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Impacts of Retention Stalls on Horse Behavior & Performance
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Chemotherapy and Sickness behaviour in Dogs
Chemotherapy has become a common treatment for dogs with cancer, offering a 60 to 90
percent remission rate for dogs with lymphoma. However, chemotherapy can result in blood, gastrointestinal or dermatological toxicity. Additional effects can include behavioral
changes such as scratching, shivering, vomiting, anorexia, fatigue and reduction in
grooming. Owners and veterinarians use behavioral signs such as these to assess the
overall well-being of patients. However, expression of sickness behavior is variable
according to the context or environment; hence, a greater understanding of sickness
behavior is critical. This project will evaluate sickness behavior in dogs with lymphoma
being treated with chemotherapy. The results will help clinicians identify and alleviate
discomfort in dogs being treated for cancer. |
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Past Research |
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Horse-Handler
interactions in racetrack horses
Behaviour problems in horses are
often the result of unnatural housing conditions and inconsistant
handling. Many racehorses spend much of their time in stalls and may
change handlers a number of times in their career. Therefore, consistant
handling and appropriate solutions to undesirable behaviour are important
in helping to minimise problems and maximise safety and quality of
life for both horse and handler. The current study aims to quantify
the prevalence of different behaviour problems, some of the risk factors
for these problems and the methods used to 'correct' them. This information
will be used to identify areas in which handling practices may need
to be altered and to direct further research on solutions.. |
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Waterway
use of sheep: environmental impacts
The association of livestock with
pathogens has been an emerging issue in recent years, both scientifically
and politically. Sheep are known to harbour and shed zoonotic pathogens
such as Salmonella, E.coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter. However, it
is not known whether sheep make a significant contribution to water
contamination by these organisms. Guidelines for pasturing of sheep
in riparian areas must be based on clear scientific evidence. Currently
there is little information about the behaviour of sheep on pasture,
and no information about pasture management practices of the Ontario
sheep industry. This study looks at the behaviour of sheep to see
whether sheep choose to spend their time near natural waterways on
pasture. It also investigated which pathogens the sheep were shedding
and which pathogens were present in the water and the soil of pastures
grazed by sheep. A general examination of sheep behaviour was also
conducted to determine grazing and camping times. This information
will enable sheep producers and researchers to assess how much of
a risk grazing sheep pose to water quality in Ontario. |
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Resting Behaviour
in weaner pigs
Weaning in commercial production systems occurs much earlier than
it would in a natural setting. During weaning, piglets are removed
from the sow, and placed into an unfamiliar environment, with unfamiliar
piglets, and must make an abrupt transition from the sow’s milk to
solid food and water. Therefore, weaning is a particularly stressful
time for piglets, and they tend to be more prone to infections at
this time. Before piglets are removed from the sow, she cues them
to suckle on an approximately hourly basis by performing “nursing
grunts”. This also serves to cue the piglets when to rest and be active.
In absence of the sow’s cues, it is possible that piglets have not
yet developed a behavioural repertoire that allows for optimal rest.
Rest is an integral component of the behavioural response to immune
challenge, and is positively correlated with recovery from bacterial
infections. An intermittent lighting regimen during the post-weaning
phase may be useful to stimulate activity and the transition to consumption
of solid feed. Therefore, our lab was interested in determining whether
an intermittent lighting regimen would serve to facilitate piglet
rest during the post-weaning phase, and if resting patterns of piglets
with high and low weaning weights differ under different lighting
regimens. |
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