Companion Animal Science Exam 1

Five Steps of the Scientific Method

1. Make an Observation

2. Hypothesis

3. Experimentation

4. Analysis → do the results support the hypothesis?

5. Conclusion

What is an abstract?

• the “summary” of a research article

• includes the steps of the scientific method in relation to the particular research

What is a “breed” of animal?

A relatively homogeneous group of animals within a species, developed and maintained by man.

Breed Clubs and Dog Clubs

• AHBA = American Herding Breeds Association

• AKC = American Kennel Club

• UKC = United Kennel Club

• RBR = Rare Breeds Registry

• Parent breed clubs

How many recognized dog breeds are there?

• approximately 400 recognized breeds worldwide

• different clubs recognize different breeds:

  • e.g.: the AKC recognizes 200 breeds

What are the AKC Dog Groups?

1. Sporting

2. Hound

3. Working

4. Terrier

5. Toy

6. Herding

7. Non-sporting

8. Miscellaneous

Breed Varieties

A division of a breed for show purposes, based on coat type, size, or color

• may be interbred

• e.g., Cocker spaniels: Black (including black with tan points), ASCOB (any solid color other than black), or Parti-Color

How are disparate dog breeds judged at the AKC?

parent breed clubs provide breed standard descriptions that the AKC judges use

What are the AKC disqualifications for a Dalmatian?

• any dog over 24 inches at the withers

• overshot or undershot bite

• any color markings other than black or liver

• tri-color patches

Sporting dogs

• setters, spaniels, and pointers

• often seen as “hunting/retrieving” dogs

• examples: Weimaraner, Clumber Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Gordon Setter

Hound dogs

• two types: sight and scent hunters

  • sight dogs hunt with eyesight → “lure chase” competition

  • scent dogs use their sense of smell → “hide-&-seek” competition

• Examples: Bloodhound, Borzoi, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Dachshund, Bluetick Coonhound

Working dogs

• pulling, protection, and guarding

• Examples: Akita, Doberman Pinscher, Great Pyrenees, Alaskan Malamute, Dogue deBordeaux

Terriers

• also known as “vermin catchers”

• Examples: Bedlington terrier, Scottish terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Airedale Terrier, Parson Russel Terrier, Wire-Haired Fox Terrier

Toy dogs

• “lap dogs” → originally used for drawing fleas away from humans

• Examples: Brussels Griffon, Chinese Crested, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu, Italian Greyhound

Herding dogs

• livestock-moving dogs

• Examples: Border Collie, Bearded Collie, Puli, Belgian Tervuren, Australian Cattle Dog

Non-Sporting dogs

• miscellaneous → approved breeds, but don’t fit into another group

• Examples: French Bulldog, ChowChow, Dalmatian, Poodle, Keeshond, Tibetan Terrier

Miscellaneous dogs

• breeds not fully recognized, but working towards AKC recognition (need petitions)

• Examples (2023): Dutch Shepherd, Lancashire heeler, Peruvian Inca Orchid, Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, Japanese Akitainu, Small Musterlander

Weimaraner

• Sporting category

• only solid color → silver, blue, gray

• smooth, short coat

• no breed variations

Irish Water Spaniel

• Sporting category

• curled coat; protects the dog from getting waterlogged

• Only allowed color: liver

Labrador Retriever

• Sporting category

• #1 AKC breed for 31 years (until 2022)

• Acceptable colors: yellow, black, chocolate

  • “silver” color is disqualified

Bloodhound

• Scent Hound category

• large, floppy ears stir up leaves → excellent nose

• bad eyesight

• Colors: black and tan, liver and tan, and red

Borzoi

• Sight Hound category

• dolichocephalic → long, skinny nose allows for better vision

Doberman Pinscher

• Working: Protection category

• developed in the late 1800s by a tax collector

• recent changes: allowed to have either cropped or natural ears

Alaskan Malamute

• Working: Pulling category

• never have blue eyes, only brown (unlike huskies)

• also, much larger and blockier than huskies

What is a “Pit Bull”?

• a group of “Terrier”-type dogs: include American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, and Staffordshire Terrier

• originally bred to fight other dogs in “pits”

• strong jaws and broad heads

• cropped ears → made them harder to bite

• the breed is banned in many areas → due to the fact that most fatal dog attacks are from pit bulls

Chinese Crested Dog

• Toy category

• typically hairless dogs

• hair that does grow is fragile and brittle

• these genes affect teeth growth as well

Puli Dog

• Herding category

• coat “cords” develop naturally, and they are not supposed to be groomed

• these cords protect the dogs from predators like wolves

Newest AKC Breeds as of 2020-2022

• Biewer Terrier → terrier category

• Belgian Laekenois → herding category

• Dogo Argentino → working category

• Barbet → sporting category

What are horses used for?

• Primarily:

  • Recreation

  • Competition

• Equine Therapy

• Work/Transportation (only 10-15% of use)

Equine Industry

Worldwide:

• about 60.5 million horses

• the United States is the top producer

US Horses:

• most horse owners only own a few horses (2 av.)

Horse Training

1. ~2 years — start under saddle, training to carry riders

2. Training continues for a few years

3. ~5—15 years = prime for riding

4. Retirement in mid- to late-20s

Average weight of a horse

1,100 to 1,200 lbs

What age do horses stop growing?

On average, 4-6 years

What is the life span of a horse?

• 25-30 years

• the longest-lived horse was 62 years old

• smaller horse = longer lifespan

What do horses need?

1. Foraging space

2. Free access to water

3. Other horses herd animals (cows or goats)

4. Wind block/shelter (horses prefer 35-40 degree temps)

5. Exercise

What are the nutritional requirements for a horse?

• Fresh grass diet = 150 lbs/day

• Hay diet = 35 lbs/day

• Water = 10-12 gal/day (can increase with temperatures or if lactating)

What three things should one do before getting a horse?

1. Involve equine professionals

2. Start with lessons or teaching

3. Have a veterinary examination

How many horse breeds are there?

Over 350 breeds

Categories of Horse Breeds

1. Purebred → usually registered; often used for competition/showing

2. Crossbred

3. Grade → not registered; ancestry mostly unknown

What are the different types of horse breeds?

1. Draft

2. Pony

3. Light horses (three types)

   • Saddle

   • Hunter

   • Stock

Draft Horses

• large and broad, bred to pull heavy loads

• known for their strength, endurance, and calm temperament

• Examples: Clydesdale, Percheron, Belgian Draught, Brabant horse

Ponies

• used in tight mine shafts or as children’s mounts

• smaller than other horses

• Examples: Welsh pony, Shetland pony

Saddle-type Horses

• often very tall

• showy in movement and head carriage

• originated from war horses

Hunter-type Horses

• used for English fox hunting

• good endurance runners and high jumpers

• very tall

Stock horses

• developed as a riding horse in America

• able to outrun and herd cattle → bred for sprinting, not endurance

• lower to the ground, greater body mass

Which horse breed has the largest equine registry in the world?

American Quarter Horse

Which is the oldest horse breed?

• Arabian horse

• originated in 5000 BCE

• dished face, one less vertebrae than other horses

• good endurance, used in desert environments

American Bashkir Curly Horse

• originated in North America

• likely formed due to a genetic abnormality

• hypoallergenic

Marwari Horse

• originated from India → used by royalty

• characteristic curled ear tips

Horse Color Registries

• breed doesn’t matter → horses only categorized by color

• three registries: Pinto, Palomino, Buckskin/Dun

Cold- vs. Hot-blooded Horses

Terms depend on what parts of the world they were developed in

Cold-Blooded horses

• includes draft horses

• thicker hide → less sensitive

• developed in colder regions

Hot-blooded horses

• include hunter-type and some saddle-type horses

• developed from warhorses

• selected for reactivity and athleticism → more sensitive to cues

Warm-blooded horses

• hot-blooded + cold-blooded

• includes: American Quarterhorse

• bred for endurance, speed, size, and bone structure

• European warm-bloods go through a very expensive inspection process to get officially registered

Donkeys

• developed in mountainous regions

• different prey instinct → hard-wired to freeze when unsure instead of flee (known as “stubborn”)

• types: miniature, standard, large standard, and mammoth

Mules

• donkey sire + horse dam

• more athletic than hinnies

• state animal of Missouri

• Mizzou’s mules are crossbreeds of donkeys and draft horses

Hinny

• donkey dam + horse sire

• sterile

• smaller and less athletic than mules

Zebroids

• Zonkey/Z-donk = zebra + donkey

• Zony = zebra + pony

• all hybrids are sterile

Gelding vs. Stallion

Geldings:

• castrated male horses

• used for population control and temperament

Stallions

• intact male horses

• don’t make good riding horses and should only be owned by professionals

• often unpredictable, especially around mares

Why are mares often not spayed?

• the process is more invasive

• spaying is not used for population control, gelding is

• mares often show “heat behavior” constantly if spayed

Pedigree horse records

• most useful with young animals

• help determine what work they are most suitable for

• important for breeding

Performance horse records

• heavily relied upon with riding aged horses

• important for breeding

• shows what the horse is already capable of doing

How is a horse measured?

• measured to the tallest part of the withers (top of shoulder blades)

• measured in “hands” → 1 hand = 4 inches

How much weight can a horse carry?

Can carry up to 20% of their body weight (tack included)

Physical Selection of Horses (Conformation)

1. Balance: Body symmetry

2. Structure: Skeletal Alignment and Angles

3. Movement: Soundness and Style

4. General Appearance: Breed Characteristics

Horse Conformation: Balance

• front-to-back symmetry

• equal across three parts

• should have level or uphill top line (downhill would put more weight on front legs)

• look for short back compared to underline (should not be equal)

• head and neck are proportional to body (longer neck = more balance)

Horse Conformation: Skeletal Structure

• weight should be evenly distributed across all four legs

• (side view) = legs should be angled, not straight → angles act as shock absorbers

• (front view) = legs should appear straight

Oxytocin release in companion animals

• observed and studied in dogs and cats

• not seen in animals like reptiles or pocket pets

• birds don’t release oxytocin, but they do release similar hormones

What is an individual animal’s purpose?

To survive, eat, and reproduce

What do snakes usually need when they are traversing the length of their cage?

If all other needs are met, they need security (they feel agitated or unsafe)

How has the exotic animal industry changed?

• got more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic

• largest request: parrots that could talk

• unfortunately, many people returned or abandoned their pets after the pandemic

Why can large birds be difficult pets?

• they are very long-lived

• pair-bonded/social birds → get very lonely if by themselves

• a lack of socialization with other birds can cause psychological effects (stress, repetitive behavior, plucking)

• an aviary is ideal, with indoor and outdoor structures

Cage requirements for reptiles

Bare minimum: width = length of animal, length = 2x length of animal

Reptile/Exotic animal smuggling trade

• many popular species that are legally available in the United States were originally smuggled into the country (ex: Bearded dragons)

• smuggling fueled a large part of the reptile industry

  • ex: German reptile industry

Kaiser newts

• native to Iran → found in snowmelt mountain streams

• live in inhospitable environments, with a very low number left in the wild

• black with an orange belly and yellow-white spots

• originally smuggled into the US; now, able to get them legally and cheaply in the US instead

  • serves as a type of conservation (smugglers no longer need to take them from their native habitat)

Chinchillas

• live for about ~20 years (long lifespan for a pocket pet)

• social animals → much more active if there is more than one

• expensive due to long gestation (117 days)

  • kits weaned at 6-7 weeks, but kept with mother for 10 weeks

  • mothers get 8 weeks of recovery before breeding again

  • only have 1-2 kits at a time

Domestication of dogs

• dogs are the longest-domesticated animal (>1000 yrs)

• prehistoric cave paintings depicted dogs with humans → likely a source of companionship, protection, and/or food

• ancient Greeks and Romans kept dogs as pets, not just for hunting, but for companionship

• most prolific type of dog depicted: Melitan

Melitan

• by far the most prolific miniature dog in artistic depictions and literary sources from history

• Greek: Melitaion kunidion (little dog); Latin: Melitaeus catulus (puppy)

• breed no longer exists

  • likely an ancestor of spitz-type dogs

Mau

• means “cat” or “sun” in Ancient Egypt

• the Egyptians revered cats as gods

Dogs in Mesopotamia

• dog saliva was considered medicinal → they saw that when dogs licked their wounds, it promoted healing

• Gula = Babylonian goddess of healing; patroness of doctors, healing arts, and medical practices

Pets in Egypt

• dogs and cats were highly valued as family members → when the pet would die, if the family was able to afford it, they would have the dog/cat mummified and shave their eyebrows in grief

• export of cats from Egypt was strictly prohibited → a government branch was formed to deal solely with this issue

• government agents were dispatched to other lands to find and return cats that had been smuggled out

• by 450 BCE, the penalty for killing a cat was death

Dogs in China

• the shih tzu or “lion dog” is depicted in art and architecture throughout China

• generations of Chinese Emperors kept dogs → sucked as puppies by human wet nurses and tended to by servants

What is the definition of “pet”?

A domestic or tamed animal kept for companionship or pleasure and treated with care and affection

Origination of the word “pet”

• likely derived from the French word “petit”, meaning small

• word was first applied to indulged or spoiled kids, but by the mid-16th century, it included animals as well

• these animals were often runts of family livestock and were raised by hand with special attention

• these animals were playmates for children on remote farms → frequently given names and generally avoided slaughter

Definition of “companion animals”

Species that have a special relationship with humans, are partially or totally dependent on them, live in close proximity with people, and go a step further in bonding with their owners

Origination of the term “companion animals”

Latin: Com and panis = with bread → we share bread (food) with our pets and in turn receive their companionship

Motives for acquiring companion animals

• mostly social motives: companionship, childrearing considerations, tactile contact, attachment, responsibility

• other motives: familiarity/routine, usefulness, feeling sorry for animals, aesthetic value, uniqueness of animal, social contacts, “need for power”

Top reasons why people would NOT acquire a companion animal:

• Allergic → 14%

• No time → 32%

• Dwelling not suitable → 25%

Summary: “10 Reasons You Need a Pet”

1. Companionship

2. Having a routine

3. Exercise

4. Less stress

5. Outdoor activities

6. Making new friends

7. New interests

8. Protection

9. Taking care of something

10. Investing in Life

Pets as companions

• with pet ownership, there is a marked increase in social contact

• pets are not only wonderful companions, but they also act to break down communication barriers

• 81% of owners say they never feel alone when they are with their pet

Social capital

• the “glue that holds society together”

• the building of social capital is known to have positive effects on the health and economic viability of a society

Schutzhund

• German for “protection dog”

• a dog sport that was developed in Germany in the early 1900s as a breed suitability test for the German Shepherd Dog

• today, it is used as a sport where many breeds can compete

• tests dogs for the traits necessary for police-type work → evaluates tracking, obedience, working, and protection skills

Military dogs

• enrolled in a 60-90 day training program in which they learn how to detect explosives and drugs

• also taught how to defend their handlers in the event of an attack

• dogs can often break teeth while biting → able to insert titanium fangs

  • replacement costs between $600-2,000 per tooth

  • can help a dog continue its service, but are not as stable as real teeth

Tactical body armor

adjustable, lightweight suits protect the dog’s vital organs and come in an array of models depending on the animal’s line of duty

Dogs’ sense of smell

• dogs have about ~300 million olfactory receptors in their noses (humans have 6 mil)

• brain region devoted to analyzing smells is proportionally 40x greater than humans’

Canine drug and substance detection

• dogs are able to deconstruct an odor into its components, picking out the culprit chemicals it has been trained to detect

• involves the use of specially trained dogs, commonly golden or Laborador retrievers

• trained to both detect the scent and alert authorities (pawing at nearby surface or sitting)

Police dogs

• Greeks, Persians, Babylonians, and Assyrians were the first cultures to use dogs for policing

• US police dogs were first used in 1907 in New York City

• first K9 dogs were German Shepherds

  • most popular breed, known for size, intelligence, and work ethic

  • second most common breed: Belgian Malinois

• Other popular breeds: Labrador Retriever, Bloodhound, Beagle, Rottweiler

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Canine Training Program

• primary goal: terrorist detection and apprehension

• secondary goal: detection and seizure of controlled substances and other contraband, often used to finance terrorist and/or criminal drug trafficking operations

• also assist local law enforcement agencies when requested

Search-and-Rescue Dogs

• popular breeds: Border Collie, German Shepherd, Bloodhound, Labrador Retriever

• work with FEMA

• tasks: area search, trailing, land cadaver/human remains detection (land or water), avalanche detection, first responder disaster (live or cadaver detection)

Fire Dogs

• the tradition of Dalmatians in firehouses dates back more than a century

• nowadays, they mainly serve as mascots

• before, they used to be carriage dogs → ran alongside horses and protected them from being spooked or attacked by other animals