'Bowls are boring': Investigating enrichment feeding for pet dogs and the perceived benefits and challenges.

BACKGROUND: Canine enrichment feeding (CEF) is recommended by canine professionals, yet research into its use by dog owners is absent. This study is the first to investigate who uses CEF and the perceived benefits and barriers. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey advertised in July and August 2021 received 1750 usable responses about owner and dog demographics, feeding methods used, canine quality of life and behaviour (Mini-Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire [C-BARQ]). RESULTS: Kongs, chews and activity toys were the most popular forms of CEF. CEF was most often used for a treat, delivering meals and keeping dogs busy. Owners not using CEF were more likely to be male and older. Dogs not fed using CEF were more likely to be older, of working type and have lower exercise needs. Furthermore, they were less likely to show meal interest, dog-directed fear or training difficulties. A common perceived benefit was mental stimulation; however, lack of time was commonly perceived to be a barrier. Certain feeding methods were associated with perceptions of reduced hunger and begging. LIMITATIONS: The survey methodology means there is a risk of selection bias and conclusions cannot be drawn about causation. CONCLUSION: CEF was perceived by most owners to benefit behavioural problems and reduce food seeking. Further research using experimental research designs is required to establish causality.

Impacts of COVID-19 on Owner's Veterinary Healthcare Seeking Behavior for Dogs With Chronic Conditions: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study With a Convenience Sample.

This mixed-method study explored the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on owners' veterinary healthcare seeking, with particular focus on dogs with chronic conditions. A convenience sample of 719 UK dog owners completed an online survey (December 2020-January 2021). Differences in treatment provision and respondents' decisions to seek care across acute, preventative, chronic conditions and for end-of-life care were explored. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with seeking care for any health issue compared to deciding against it, and urgency to seek care given symptom that could indicate chronic conditions. Open-ended questions were analyzed by thematic analysis. Significant (p-value < 0.05) differences in care seeking decisions were identified regarding access to veterinary care and the way treatment was provided across all health issues. The top reasons for not seeking care across all health issues were a lack of access to a veterinarian (30%, n = 56/187) and a reluctance for a dog to go to the clinic unaccompanied (20%, n = 38/187). Variables related to stronger dog-owner relationship, higher confidence in seeking care, perception of: benefits of veterinary care, dog's high susceptibility to illness and high severity of dog's condition, increased the odds of seeking, and urgency to seek, care. A dog's chronic illness diagnosis reduced the odds of seeking care during the pandemic, reportedly due to difficulties in accessing care for non-urgent issues. Qualitative analysis showed that limited access to routine consultations, delays in test results and restricted access to complementary treatments, led some owners of dogs with chronic conditions to believe that their dog's welfare had deteriorated during the pandemic. Pandemic control measures necessitated changes to how consultations were run. These changes were often viewed favorably, but dog-client separation during consultations were considered problematic, sometimes delaying veterinary advice-seeking, including for euthanasia. Separating owners from their dogs during veterinary consultations should be avoided wherever possible due to impacts on dogs, owners and healthcare seeking. Interventions to improve veterinary healthcare seeking could target attitudes toward benefits of seeking care, improve owners' self-efficacy and capitalize on the dog-owner bond. Such interventions should be implemented alongside interventions aimed at removing structural barriers to accessing healthcare.

Patterns of nocturnal activity in captive greater flamingos.

Wild flamingos are known to forage overnight, but little is known of their nocturnal activity patterns in captivity. Captive flamingos can show daytime inactivity, reflecting natural periods of resting and loafing documented in wild birds. Assessment of behavior outside of normal zoo opening hours can provide more detailed information on how animals use the space provided to them, and highlights how enclosure areas not commonly occupied during the day may still be important for inhabitants at other times. We examine whether captive flamingos at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre change their enclosure usage and behavior overnight compared to that observed during daylight. Using three night-vision remote cameras, the behavior and enclosure usage of a flock of over 270 greater flamingos was recorded from March to July 2016. Results show that these flamingos had higher rates of foraging at certain points during the night, and had a more even enclosure usage when compared to daylight hours. Change in pool use is apparent throughout the course of the day and night, suggesting that different areas of water depth are used by these flamingos at different times. Flamingos increased nocturnal foraging in their pool during the breeding season. The large enclosure size and range of different land and water areas may have enabled these flamingos to follow daily activity patterns similar to those observed in wild birds. Captive flamingos clearly show a difference between daytime and nocturnal behavior patterns and this should be considered when designing enclosures and general management routines for these birds.