| Literature DB >> 26311736 |
G M Landsberg1, A Beck2, A Lopez2, M Deniaud3, J A Araujo4, N W Milgram5.
Abstract
The objective of the study was to assess the effects of a dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP) collar in reducing sound-induced fear and anxiety in a laboratory model of thunderstorm simulation. Twenty-four beagle dogs naïve to the current test were divided into two treatment groups (DAP and placebo) balanced on their fear score in response to a thunderstorm recording. Each group was then exposed to two additional thunderstorm simulation tests on consecutive days. Dogs were video-assessed by a trained observer on a 6-point scale for active, passive and global fear and anxiety (combined). Both global and active fear and anxiety scores were significantly improved during and following thunder compared with placebo on both test days. DAP significantly decreased global fear and anxiety across 'during' and 'post' thunder times when compared with baseline. There was no significant improvement in the placebo group from baseline on the test days. In addition, the DAP group showed significantly greater use of the hide box at any time with increased exposure compared with the placebo group. The DAP collar reduced the scores of fear and anxiety, and increased hide use in response to a thunder recording, possibly by counteracting noise-related increased reactivity. British Veterinary Association.Entities:
Keywords: Behaviour; Dogs; Laboratory animals; Pheromone treatment
Mesh:
Substances:
Year: 2015 PMID: 26311736 PMCID: PMC4602264 DOI: 10.1136/vr.103172
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Vet Rec ISSN: 0042-4900 Impact factor: 2.695
Schedule of testing procedure
| Study day | Placebo group | DAP group |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Baseline thunderstorm (test 0) | |
| 1 | Analysis of baseline thunder test and group assignment | |
| 5 | Collar placement | |
| 6 | Thunderstorm test 1 | |
| 7 | Thunderstorm test 2 | |
| 8 | Full cleaning and eight-hour aeration | |
| 8 | Collar placement | |
| 9 | Thunderstorm test 1 | |
| 10 | Thunderstorm test 2 | |
DAP, dog-appeasing pheromone
FIG 1:Camera view of dog in hide
FIG 2:Open field activity room
FIG 3:Trial schedule. DAP, dog-appeasing pheromone
Comparability of treatment groups at baseline (test 0)
| Parameter | N | DAP | Placebo | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean | Sd | Mean | Sd | ||
| Passive fear/anxiety, during-before | 12 | 2.75 | 1.06 | 2.08 | 1.38 |
| Passive fear/anxiety, following-before | 12 | 1.75 | 1.14 | 1.42 | 1.33 |
| Active fear/ anxiety, during-before | 12 | 2.54 | 1.10 | 2.54 | 0.81 |
| Active fear/anxiety, following-before | 12 | 1.25 | 1.29 | 1.38 | 0.88 |
| Global fear/anxiety, during-before | 12 | 2.67 | 0.61 | 2.35 | 0.85 |
| Global fear/anxiety, following-before | 12 | 1.52 | 0.77 | 1.35 | 0.80 |
DAP, dog-appeasing pheromone
Evolution of pre-stimulus measures (‘before’), according to the repetition of the tests
| Test | N | Variable | Mean | Sd | Median | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group: placebo | |||||||
| Test 0 | 12 | Passive score before | 1.67 | 0.49 | 1.75 | 1.00 | 2.50 |
| Active score before | 2.04 | 1.10 | 1.75 | 1.00 | 5.00 | ||
| Global score before | 1.88 | 0.69 | 2.00 | 1.00 | 3.50 | ||
| Test 1 | 12 | Passive score before | 2.79 | 0.72 | 3.00 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Active score before | 2.08 | 0.95 | 1.75 | 1.00 | 4.00 | ||
| Global score before | 2.38 | 0.80 | 2.25 | 1.50 | 4.00 | ||
| Test 2 | 12 | Passive score before | 2.58 | 0.87 | 2.50 | 1.50 | 5.00 |
| Active score before | 2.33 | 1.27 | 2.25 | 1.00 | 5.00 | ||
| Global score before | 2.46 | 0.66 | 2.25 | 1.50 | 3.50 | ||
| Group: DAP | |||||||
| Test 0 | 12 | Passive score before | 1.54 | 0.66 | 1.25 | 1.00 | 3.00 |
| Active score before | 1.50 | 0.64 | 1.25 | 1.00 | 3.00 | ||
| Global score before | 1.56 | 0.48 | 1.50 | 1.00 | 2.50 | ||
| Test 1 | 12 | Passive score before | 2.58 | 1.02 | 2.25 | 1.00 | 4.00 |
| Active score before | 3.04 | 1.48 | 3.00 | 1.00 | 6.00 | ||
| Global score before | 2.79 | 0.84 | 3.00 | 1.50 | 4.00 | ||
| Test 2 | 12 | Passive score before | 3.04 | 0.89 | 3.00 | 1.50 | 4.00 |
| Active score before | 2.38 | 1.51 | 1.75 | 1.00 | 5.00 | ||
| Global before | 2.71 | 0.84 | 2.50 | 2.00 | 4.50 | ||
DAP, dog-appeasing pheromone
FIG 4:Change in anxiety scores during to before. DAP, dog-appeasing pheromone; LSMEANS, least squares means
FIG 5:Changes in anxiety score following to before. DAP, dog-appeasing pheromone; LSMEANS, least squares means
Comparative repeated measures analysis of the use of the hide cage
| DAP vs placebo | p Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Before | 32.4 (4.4 to 239) | 0.0016 |
| During | 16.6 (1.9 to 144.9) | 0.0135 |
| Following | 10.0 (1.5 to 65.7) | 0.0187 |
*ORs from a generalised mixed model for repeated measurements, including treatment effect and test effect as fixed factors and the corresponding baseline measurement as a covariate (test 0).
DAP, dog-appeasing pheromone
FIG 6:Number of dogs using hide cage. DAP, dog-appeasing pheromone