A practical dog bed for environmental enrichment for geriatric beagles, with applications for puppies and other small dogs.

A group of 30 older beagle dogs was acquired for aging studies. The dogs were initially housed in kennel runs equipped with elevated benches, but it became apparent that some of the oldest animals had difficulties jumping down from them. To improve animal safety and comfort, practical dog beds were made out of the ends of clean high-density polyethylene barrels. Synthetic fleece bed liners were used for dogs that did not chew them or remove them from the beds. Nine of the beagles regularly were observed to use the beds. We also have found that this easily fashioned dog bed is a useful kennel resting place option for puppies and other small dogs.

Epidemiology of lameness in dairy cattle: the influence of cubicles and indoor and outdoor walking surfaces.

A survey of cubicles and indoor and outdoor walking surfaces on 37 farms served by four veterinary practices in Somerset, Cheshire, Wirral and west. Wales was carried out in 1989 to 1991. A study of the space requirements of Friesian/Holstein cows at pasture showed that they required approximately 240 cm x 120 cm lying space and a further 60 cm lunging space for rising. By these standards, 87 per cent of the cubicles were too short and 50 per cent were too wide or too narrow. Over 1500 observations on cows lying down, rising and standing indicated that only 12 per cent of the cubicles permitted real freedom of movement; 91 per cent of top partition rails were judged to be too low and 70 per cent of bottom rails too low or too high. In addition, the kerb was very high in 76 per cent of the cubicles. As a result, 10 per cent of cows appeared moderately or severely restricted when lying down, 33 per cent when rising and 55 per cent when standing. Over 2000 cubicle beds were also studied; 75 per cent had a concrete base and of those, 63 per cent were judged to have too little bedding and 11 per cent next to none. Higher incidences and prevalences of lameness were associated with limited borrowing space (P < 0.01) low bottom rails (P < 0.05), high kerbs (P < 0.05) and inadequate bedding (P < 0.01). Of 3190 walking surfaces, only 25 per cent were classified as satisfactory in the first winter and 34 per cent in the second. In general, surfaces in silage bays were too rough and those in other sites were too smooth. The farms with the smoothest indoor walking surfaces had a significantly higher incidence of lameness (P < 0.01). Of 3335 outdoor walking surfaces only 25 per cent were classified as satisfactory, and 70 per cent were too rough. The incidence of lameness was not significantly related to these findings.

Effect of bedding on the incidence of exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage in racehorses in Hong Kong.

An investigation into the incidence of exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) in thoroughbreds in Hong Kong was carried out between the 1981 and 1983 racing seasons. A total of 1039 post race endoscopic examinations were performed in 1982-1983 and the results indicated that 46.8 per cent of runners had EIPH. This was not statistically different from the percentage of horses showing EIPH during 1981-82 (46.9 per cent). As it had been postulated that dust, especially from straw, could be implicated in lung haemorrhage a proportion of horses were bedded on paper in the 1982-83 season. No significant differences could be demonstrated in the incidence of EIPH resulting from the use of paper bedding in preference to straw.

Environmental effects on mastitis and milk quality.

The environment provided for dairy cows should be designed and maintained so that cow comfort and sanitation are maximized and disease exposure is minimized. Too often, housing facilities are designed for the dairyman rather than for the cow. This factor can result in reduced cow comfort, which, in turn, leads to reduced performance. As stated previously, the environment should be designed to "keep them clean, dry, and comfortable."

Effects of dieldrin, diet, and bedding on enzyme function and tumor incidence in livers of male CF-1 mice.

The effects of naturally occurring microsomal enzyme inducers on hepatocellular drug-metabolizing enzyme systems and also upon the incidence of "spontaneous" liver tumors in CF-1 mice were investigated, using animals maintained on semisynthetic diet and filter-paper bedding as controls. The administration of dieldrin, a potent microsomal enzyme inducer with tumorigenic properties in livers of CF-1 mice, to some of the experimental treatment groups served as a positive control. Conventional diet and sawdust bedding caused induction of the liver monooxygenase system, although this effect was far less pronounced than that produced by dieldrin. The incidence of liver tumors in mice exposed to conventional diet and sawdust bedding was similar to that seen in the control group. The incidence of liver tumors was significantly increased in dieldrin-treated mice, including those maintained on semisynthetic diet and filter-paper bedding. Both benign and malignant tumors were found in dieldrin-treated mice, the latter type of lesion showing evidence of lung metastasis. These results, together with evidence that dieldrin and its mammalian metabolites possess neither genotoxic activity nor potential, are consistent with the concept that dieldrin exacerbates or facilitates the expression of a preexisting oncogenic factor which is genetically linked and possibly viral in origin.