Problematic behaviors are a significant reason for relinquishment, and relinquished dogs are more likely to have problem behaviors. This study utilized standardized surveys of owners (companion animal guardians) relinquishing their dogs to shelters and dog owners visiting vaccination clinics. "Relinquishing" and "continuing" owners were asked questions in the following categories: demographic i...

Obesity is defined as an accumulation of excessive amounts of adipose tissue in the body, and is the most common nutritional disorder in companion animals. Obesity is usually the result of either excessive dietary intake or inadequate energy utilization, which causes a state of positive energy balance. Numerous factors may predispose an individual to obesity including genetics, the amount of ph...

Obesity is defined as an accumulation of excessive amounts of adipose tissue in the body, and is the most common nutritional disorder in companion animals. Obesity is usually the result of either excessive dietary intake or inadequate energy utilization, which causes a state of positive energy balance. Numerous factors may predispose an individual to obesity including genetics, the amount of ph...

In recent times increasing occurrence of dermatophytosis, especially among the school children in eastern India was evidenced along with increased tendency of keeping companion animals such as dogs and cats. This study was undertaken to detect the occurrence of dermatophytes with antifungal susceptibility among the companion animals. A total of 1501 healthy companion animals comprising 1209 dog...

BACKGROUND The objective was to determine the prevalence of ectoparasite infestations in referred companion dogs to veterinary hospital of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, from 2009 to 2010. METHODS A total of 126 dogs were sampled for ectoparasites and examined by parasitological methods. The studied animals were grouped based on the age (<1 year, 1-3 years and >3 years), sex, breed and r...

BACKGROUND The aims of this study were to determine the seroprevalence of canine ehrlichiosis and risk factors of this disease in companion dogs' population of Mashhad, North East of Iran. Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME) is a zoonotic disease transmitted by ticks, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and caused by an obligate intracellular bacterium, Ehrlichia canis. METHODS During September 2009 un...

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in companion animals. Secondary hyperparathyroidism is an inevitable consequence of the disease and may have deleterious effect on the bone; however, the information regarding CKD-associated bone abnormalities in companion animals is scarce. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES Dogs with CKD have decreased bone quality compared to dogs without CKD. ANIMALS...

The study of personality is well established in human psychology, with trait theory being perhaps the most widely accepted of the personality theories. Animal personality research has utilized trait theory to identify personality factors in a wide variety of animal species. However, it has been somewhat hampered by attempting to apply human personality dimensions to animals rather than investig...

We report expanded-spectrum cephalosporin resistance in Escherichia coli from dogs and cats in Rome, Italy. Three major beta-lactamases (CMY-2, SHV-12, and CTX-M-1) are reported for the first time in E. coli from sick and healthy dogs and cats. Molecular characterization suggests the presence of several combinations of beta-lactamase genes in E. coli from companion animals.

The association between companion animals and tick-borne rickettsial disease has long been recognized and can be essential to the emergence of rickettsioses. We tested whole blood from dogs in temporary shelters by using PCR for rickettsial infections. Of 93 dogs, 12 (13%) were positive for Rickettsia parkeri, an emerging tick-borne rickettsiosis.