AVS 249 midterm

What is a companion animal?

A domestic or domestic-bred animal that is kept for companionship or pleasure

Pet relinquishment

About 6.5 million animals are abandoned in shelters each year

Reasons for giving up a pet?

moved, landlord did not allow, too expensive

domestication of animals

the taming of animals and plants for human use, such as work or as food

Dog domestication

15,000 years ago in Western Europe

Dog behavior modification

changes in response threshold

Farm Fox domestication study

1959, Dr. Dimitry Belyaev, silver foxes hand fed and touched

domestication of cats

-12,000 years ago in the Middle East
-Ancestor: Felis lybica
-Agriculture

Balto

transported antitoxin

Buddy

first seeing eye dog

Igloo

Companion to explorer Richard E. Byrd who flew over the North and South Poles

Laika

First dog in space

Companion animal benefits to human health

contribute to health and well-being

what companion animal is found in most houseoholds?

dog

what companion animal is most abundant in the U.S?

fish

What percentage of households own a pet?

68%

what do pet owners spend the most money on?

food

pet food industry

1860: James Spratt created the first dog cake

Extrusion

food processing method where ingredients are forced through a die (holes of specialized size/shape) under heat & moisture

Enrobing

sprays fat and/or flavor on extruded pet food surface

Pet food humanization

emphasis on pet health and nutrition - increased scrutiny of ingredients

corporate leaders

PETCO, Petsmart

Breed

Grouping of animals in a species developed by humans through selective mating (artificial selection) to perpetuate particular hereditary characteristics or qualities

selective breeding

Fix desirable and minimize undesirable breed characteristics over generations

\# of dog breeds

700-800 breeds

dog characteristics

efficient locomotion, olfaction to aid in tracking prey, teeth to grip, kill, and consume

Dog coat

length, texture: 3 genes determine 8 phenotypes

Chinese crested dog

hairless

basset hound

short hair

bichon frise

long and curly with furnishings

golden retriever

long hair

poodle

single: hair coat

Newfoundland

double: fur coat

long coat

continuous growing coats (poodle, Shh Tzuz)

corded coat

continuous growing, curly coats (Puli)

sable

tan with black tip hair

merle

spotted corgi

ticking

little freckles all over body (GSP)

Brindle

swirl of color

fawn

black face but tan body

tri-color

three very defined colors

parti-color

with with another color equally amount as white

splashed

white with dark on top (husky)

solid

one color

kennel club

An organization that focuses on breeding, showing, and promotion of canine breeds

Federation Cynologique Internationale

in 98 countries and recognizes 368 breeds

United Kennel Club

registers 300 dog breeds

American Kennel Club

- Largest registry of purebred dogs in the US
- Established in 1884
- Recognizes 199 breeds

Herding group

- Newest created in 1983
- Control movement of other animals
- Bred to drive or herd livestock
- Thick double coats require regular grooming
- Excel in police work and rescue
- German shepherds, sheep dogs, australian sheep dog

Hound group

- Used for hunting
- Very powerful sense of smell
- Greatest variance in size
- Dachshund, Doxon, beagle
- Both sight hounds and scent hounds
- Sighthounds: long legged
- Scenthounds: Trailers, given to perseverance

sporting group

- Used in hunting gamebirds and waterfowl
- Active and alert
- Innate instincts in water and woods
- Easy-care coats
- Thrive on activity and exercise
- Water spaniel, golden retriever

terrier group

- Hunt and dig for vermin
- Considerable grooming required
- Low tolerance for other animals
- Engaging, feisty with high energy
- Wire fox terrier

Toy group

- Small in stature
- Lap dogs and pampered dogs
- Favored by royalty and nobility
- Good for older people
- Fragile for children
- Popular with city dwellers
- Less hair to shed, less mess, less food
- Chihuaha, cocker spaniel

working group

- Pull slides, guard property
- Robust and active
- Intelligent, highly capable
- Marginally suitable for children
- Bullmastiff, Doberman PInscher

Non-Sporting Group

- Diverse group
- Require grooming
- Differences in size, coat, personaility
- Dalmatian

miscellaneous class

- Not official group
- Mudi, Russian toy
- May compete in Obedience, Tracking, and Agility events

Newest breeds recognized by AKC

- Mudi
- Russian Toy

\#1 AKC breed

golden retriever (sporting group)

\#2 AKC breed

French bulldog (non-sporting group)

\#3 AKC breed

German Shepard (herding group)

field bred

in the field, athletic

show bred

conformation, aesthetic

American Shorthair Cat

hunt

Siamese cat

protectors

Persian cat

bred for physical traits

cat characteristics

- active
- precise movements

cat ears:

sensitive hearing, hear higher frequencies, adapted to hunt prey

cat eyes:

limited color vision, 3D vision, night vision, odd eye color, white cats with blue eyes are more likely to be deaf

cat vocal cords

two sets of vocal cords, lower cords produce meow, upper cords produce purr

cat foot pads

rubberlike pads and soft to tread quietly

cat balance and orientation

innate balancing mechanism, flexible spine, tail helps with direction, can jump 5 to 6 times their own height

cat whiskers

typically have 24 long whiskers on muzzle, eyes, and front legs, grow back naturally, should never be trimmed or cut

cat coat: tortoiseshell

tye-dye

cat coat: van

fawn

genentics of cat coat

orange and black determined on X chromosome, males have one X

pedigreed cat

Ancestry in a recognized breed that has been recorded and registered through \> 4 generations

Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA)

-Oldest and largest
-Founded in 1906
-Recognizes 42 breeds
-Breed standards, judging, cat welfare

CITES

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

Hystricomorpha

guinea pigs, chinchillas, degus

Myomorphs

rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters

guinea pigs

- from South America
- Crepuscular (dawn and dusk activity)
- lifespan: 5-8 years
- viviparous (live birth), precocial young
- herbivore
- Salmonellosis, scurvy
- need vitamin C

Chinchillas

- herbivore
- crepuscular
- lifespan: 10 years
- fur slip
- stasis, bloat, ringworm

Degu

- From Chile
- Dichromatic
- Nocturnal
- Life: 5-8 years
- Herbivore, hind-gut fermenter
- Diabetes, bumble foot
- never pick up from tail

Murids

- continually growing teeth
- omnivores
- stomach - one divided cavity
- nocturnal

Coprophagy

eating feces

Mice and rats

- nocturnal
- poor eyesight
- life: 2-3 years
- omnivores: fresh fruits and pellets
- malocclusion, rate bit fever, LCMV

Gerbils

- Diurnal: active during day
- life: 2-4 years
- incomplete circle of Willis
- large adrenal gland
- omnivores
- high fiber
- dust bath
- handle in palm of hand
- malocclusion, epileptic seizures, zoonotic diseases are rare

Hamsters

- From middle east
- Life: 2 years
- Nocturnal
- like living alone
- omnivores
- Kidney failure, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis: fatal in humans

Fish

- pH 6.5-8.5
- avoid direct sunlight
- ammonia poisoning, White spot

Psittacines (parrots)

- lifespan 20-30 years
- native to africa
- medium sized
- monomorphic (only one form)

Psittacines: Budgies

- Most common pet bird
- Small
- Native to australia
- Low space, maintenance requirements
- Lifespan: 12-14 years
- Sexually dimorphic

Psittacines: Cockatoos

- Recognized for crests
- Advanced whistling
- Can live 75 or more years
- Cockatiels: smallest bird of cockatoo
- Native to australia

Psittacines: Conures

Native to central and south America

Psittacines: Eclectus parrots

- From south pacific islands
- Extreme sexual dimorphism

Psittacines: Love birds

- Thrive with mate
- Most common are peach faced, masked, fishers

Psittacines: Macaws

- Native to south america
- Six genera of Psittacidae family
- Large birds
- Strong pair mate bonds
- 75-100 years

Psittacines: Parrotlets

- Dwarf parrots
- Native to south america
- Hundreds of finch species
- Many colors and patterns
- Softbills, waxbills
- Canary is a type of finch originally from Canary

Feathers

- Made of keratin
- Provide waterproof covering
- Grow out of follicle in tracts called pterylae
- Unfeathered areas: apteria
- Calamus (quill): below skin level
- Rachis: stalk above skin level
- Barbs and barbules interlock

Types of feathers

- Contour feathers with vanes
- Flight: large on wing
- Tail: rectrices
- Semiplume: form aerodynamics, insulation
- Filoplume: fine, hair-like, long shaft
- Bristile feathers: stiff rachis, on head, sensory functioning
- Down: provide insulation

Molting

Routine shedding of old feathers