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Aggressivt beteende hos hund vid klinikbesök
Get PDFAggressivt beteende är ett vanligt förekommande beteendeproblem och en viktig välfärdsfråga för hunden, dess ägare samt klinikpersonal. Hundens uttryck av aggression är i grund och botten ett naturligt beteende samt kan ha en instinktiv funktion. Men i vissa situationer kan aggressivt beteende upplevas som hotfullt för omgivningen, till exempel vid klinikbesök. Genom att förstå bakomliggande motivation till det aggressiva beteendet kan man både som djurägare och personal inom djurens hälso- och sjukvård erhålla en djupare förståelse för hundars beteende.
Syftet med detta kandidatarbete är att undersöka hur klinikpersonal och hundägare tolkar bakomliggande motivation till aggressivt beteende samt vad som anses vara dom vanligaste motivationerna. Dessutom undersöktes kunskapskällor och utbildning med syfte att öka hundens välbefinnande under klinikbesök. Studien utgick från två enkäter som distribuerades till veterinärkliniker och studenter vid Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet genom sändlistor samt hundägare via inlägg i 22 Facebookgrupper.
Resultatet från klinikenkäten visade att djurhälsopersonal upplevde att de vanligaste bakomliggande orsakerna som motiverar till uttryck av aggressivt beteende inkluderade rädsla, smärta och försvar, där rädsla var den mest frekvent rapporterade motivationen. Hundägares respons var liknande där resultatet visade att de flesta upplevde att rädsla var orsaken till sin hunds beteende, därefter försvar respektive smärta. I båda enkäterna tillfrågades respondenterna att lista en till tre indikationer eller beteenden som de ansåg påvisade olika typer av aggressivt beteende, där fem motivationer presenterades: rädsla, frustration, dominans, smärta och resursförsvar.
Denna studie visar att klinikpersonal och djurägare har liknande uppfattning kring vad som anses vara de huvudsakliga motivationerna bakom aggressivt beteende. Indikationer till fem olika motivationer kunde sammanställas för att få en översikt av hur klinikpersonal respektive djurägare identifierar och kännetecknar olika typer av aggressivt beteende.Aggressive behavior is a common behavior problem and an important welfare concern for the dog, their owners and veterinary staff. The dog's expression of aggression is in essence a natural behavior and can also have an instinctive function. But in certain situations, this behavior can be perceived as threatening, for example during visits to the veterinary clinic. By understanding the underlying motivation for aggressive behavior, both pet owners and personnel in animal health care can gain a deeper understanding of dogs' behavior.
The purpose of this study is to investigate how veterinary staff and dog owners interpret the motivation behind aggressive behavior and what the most frequently distinguished motivations are. Furthermore, sources of knowledge and education were studied with the aim of increasing dogs' well-being during veterinary visits. The study was based on two questionnaires that were sent to veterinary clinics in Sweden and students at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences through mailing lists as well as to dog owners through the distribution throughout 22 Facebook groups.
The results from the questionnaire sent to veterinary clinics showed that the most common underlying causes that motivate aggressive behavior included fear, pain and defense, with fear being the most frequent motivation. Results shown from the dog owners’ questionnaire indicate a similar response where fear was the most commonly reported cause of their dog’s behavior, followed by defense and pain. In both questionnaires, respondents were asked to list one to three indications or behaviors that they believed demonstrated different types of aggressive behavior, where five motivations were presented: fear, frustration, dominance, pain and resource guarding.
This study revealed that veterinary staff and dog owners shared similar opinions on what is considered to be the primary motivations behind the expression of aggressive behavior. Indications for five different motivations were compiled to acquire an overview of how veterinary staff and dog owners identify and recognize different types of aggressive behavior
Veterinary nursing of Feline hepatic lipidosis : the veterinary nurse’s experiences, challenges and routines on the nursing ward
Get PDFFelin hepatisk lipidos (FHL) är en vanlig leversjukdom hos katt som i värsta fall kan ha dödlig
utgång. Sjukdomen uppstår efter en period av svält som orsakar nedsatt leverfunktion på grund av
ansamlingar av triglycerider i levern. Orsakerna till FHL varierar, men det främsta sjukdomstecknet
oavsett orsak är inappetens och/eller anorexi. Tidig initiering av nutritionellt stöd förbättrar
prognosen för överlevnad och katterna behöver ofta matningssond initialt men med målet att de så
snart som möjligt ska äta frivilligt.
Omvårdnadsperspektivet undersöks inte i litteraturen om FHL och det saknas beskrivningar av
djursjukskötarens roll och upplevelser i arbetet, samt rutiner och strategier för att omvårda katter
med FHL på vårdavdelning. Syftet med detta kandidatarbete inom djuromvårdnad var därmed att
undersöka legitimerade djursjukskötares utmaningar samt upplevelser i omvårdnaden av katter med
FHL. Även aspekter som hur trygga de känner sig i sin kompetens för att vårda katter med FHL
samt vilka arbetssätt och rutiner som finns på deras arbetsplatser undersöktes. Kandidatarbetet
utfördes i form av en intervjustudie där tre legitimerade djursjukskötare på vårdavdelningen från
olika djursjukhus deltog.
Resultatet från intervjustudien visade att djursjukskötarnas upplevelser av omvårdnaden av
katter med FHL inte skiljde sig nämnvärt från omvårdnaden av inappetenta katter generellt, och den
största utmaningen enligt informanterna var att få katterna att äta frivilligt. Sondmatning och
vätsketerapi var vanligt förekommande vid behandling av katter med FHL. De viktigaste
omvårdnadsåtgärderna som nämndes var stressreducerande åtgärder och olika metoder för att truga
med mat. Litteraturens beskrivningar av stressreducerande åtgärder och tillvägagångssätt för att
truga med mat för inappetenta katter stämde väl överens med informanternas berättelser. Trots
avsaknad av specifika rutiner för katter med FHL upplevde informanterna sig trygga i sin kompetens
för att vårda dessa patienter. Specifika rutiner eller riktlinjer för dessa patienter samt rutinmässig
handledning skulle kunna implementeras på vårdavdelningen för att underlätta djursjukskötarens
arbete. Detta kandidatarbete kan förhoppningsvis ge en inblick i hur vården av katter med FHL ser
ut på olika vårdavdelningar och potentiellt kunna ge förslag på möjliga metoder och
omvårdnadsåtgärder för att underlätta arbetet med dessa patienter.Feline hepatic lipidosis (FHL) is a common liver disease in cats, which in worst case can be fatal.
The disease occurs after a period of starvation that causes liver dysfunction due to an accumulation
of triglycerides in the liver. The causes of FHL vary, but the main symptom of the disease regardless
of the cause is inappetence and/or anorexia. Initiating nutritional support at an early stage increases
the chance of survival and cats with FHL are usually tube fed initially with the goal of eventually
getting them to eat voluntarily. The veterinary nurse’s knowledge of stress reducing measures and
different ways of urging can favor the conditions of getting the cats to eat independently.
The nursing perspective is not investigated in the existing literature about FHL, and there is a
lack of descriptions of the veterinary nurse’s role and experiences in the workplace, as well as
routines and strategies to care for cats with FHL in hospital. The purpose of this bachelor’s thesis
was to investigate veterinary nurses’ experiences of nursing cats with FHL and what challenges they
may experience in connection to this. Aspects such as how confident they feel in their competence
to care for cats with FHL and which methods and routines exist in their workplaces were also
investigated. The bachelor’s thesis was carried out in the form of an interview study where three
veterinary nurses from three different animal hospitals participated.
Results from the interview study showed that the veterinary nurses’ experiences of caring for
cats with FHL did not differ notably from the care of generally inappetent cats, and the biggest
challenge according to the informants was getting the cats to eat voluntarily. Tube feeding and fluid
therapy were common during treatment of cats with FHL. The most important nursing care measures
mentioned were stress-reducing measures and different methods of urging the cats to eat. Literary
descriptions of stress-reducing measures and ways of getting cats to eat independently correlated
well with the informants’ experiences. Despite the lack of specific routines for cats with FHL, the
informants felt confident in their competence to care for these patients. Specific routines or
guidelines for these patients and routine supervision could potentially be implemented in the ward
to facilitate veterinary nurses’ work. This bachelor’s thesis can hopefully give insight into how the
care of cats with FHL looks like in different care departments, and potentially give suggestions for
possible methods and nursing measures to facilitate the work with these patients
The ability of Swedish animal hospitals to provide care for mechanically ventilated dogs and cats : a survey study
Get PDFMekanisk ventilatorvård är en potentiellt livräddande intensivvårdskrävande behandling som kan
utföras på både hundar och katter under förutsättningarna att kompetens, personal och utrustning
finns att tillhandahålla. Syftet med denna enkätstudie är att kartlägga i vilken utsträckning resurser
som utrustning, personal, tid och kompetens finns för att bedriva invasiv mekanisk ventilatorvård
för hundar och katter på djursjukhus i Sverige. Vidare ämnar studien att utforska vilka möjligheter
och potentiella hinder djurhälsopersonalen upplever att det finns för att vårda dessa patienter samt
vilket behov djurhälsopersonal upplever att det finns av ventilatorvård för intensivvårdspatienter i
nuläget.
För att kunna besvara frågeställningarna utformades en enkät som distribuerades till 31
djursjukhus via mejl, samt i en Facebook grupp för legitimerade djursjukskötare. Totalt 33
respondenter deltog, varav 19 inkluderades i studien. Respondenterna arbetade på 11 olika
djursjukhus.
Tre av elva djursjukhus har möjlighet att bedriva invasiv mekanisk ventilatorvård i Sverige i
dagsläget och sex djursjukhus uppgavs inte ha den möjligheten. Respondenter från två djursjukhus
uppgav olika uppfattningar kring om dessa två djursjukhus har möjligheten eller inte. Övervägande
del av respondenterna upplevde ett minimalt behov av ventilatorvård och hade inte heller vårdat en
ventilatorpatient på intensivvårdsavdelningen. Fem respondenter upplevde ett måttligt behov av
ventilatorvård och en respondent upplevde inget behov av ventilatorvård. Samtidigt upplever 32 %
av respondenterna att en patient är i behov av ventilatorvård en gång per år, 26 % upplever ett behov
varje kvartal och 16 % mer sällan än varje år. Resultatet av denna studie visar även att majoriteten
av respondenterna upplever sin kompetens som liten eller ingen inom ventilatorvård i dagsläget.
Nästintill alla respondenter, oavsett självskattad kompetens, upplevde att de hade bristande kunskap
inom vissa ämnen inom ventilatorvård. Respondenterna uppgav även faktorer som hindrade
utförandet av ventilatorvård. Nästan en tredjedel av respondenterna uppgav avsaknad av utrusning
samt bristande lokal som ett totalt hinder. Vidare beskrevs följande faktorer av ungefär hälften av
respondenterna ofta utgöra ett hinder; patientens prognos, ekonomiska begränsningar hos
djurägaren, bristande personalresurser och etiska motsättningar.
Inga slutsatser kas tas gällande kartläggning av möjligheten till mekanisk ventilatorvård på
intensivvårdsavdelningar i Sverige, då en större studiepopulation med respondenter från samtliga
djursjukhus i Sverige krävs. Däremot konstaterar denna studie att minst fem olika djursjukhus i
Sverige erbjuder möjlighet till ventilatorvård. De faktorer som begränsar utförandet av
ventilatorvård är flertalet och berör flera aspekter som sjukdomsprognos, etik, utrustning och
ekonomi. Utöver detta upplevde majoriteten av djursjukskötarna i denna studie att de hade liten eller
ingen kompetens inom ventilatorvård, samt ansåg sig ha bristande kunskaper inom ämnet.
På grund av lågt deltagande är det svårt att dra slutsatser om omfattningen av ventilatorvård i
Sverige. Även det upplevda behovet och självskattad kunskap är inte representerbart för hur
legitimerade djursjukskötare ser på ventilatorvård för smådjur i Sverige.Mechanical ventilation is a potential lifesaving intensive care treatment that can be performed on
both dogs and cats under the conditions that competence, staff, and equipment are available. The
purpose of this bachelor’s thesis was to map out where and to which extend resources as equipment,
staff, time, and competence exist to preform invasive mechanical ventilation care for dogs and cats
at the animal hospitals in Sweden. Another purpose of this thesis was to research possibilities and
obstacles for mechanical ventilation of intensive care patients, experienced by licensed veterinary
nurses. Furthermore, this thesis also aims to research the perceived need for mechanical ventilation,
from licensed veterinary nurses experience and perspective.
A questionnaire was created and distributed by email to 31 animal hospitals in Sweden, as well
as in a Facebook group for licensed veterinary nurses. The questions aimed to answer the study’s
research questions and provide insight into licensed veterinary nurses’ experiences and approach to
mechanical ventilation. A total of 33 respondents participated, of whom 19 was included.
Three of eleven animal hospitals provide mechanical ventilation care for their patients in the
intensive care unit, while six hospitals do not. Respondents from two animal hospitals stated
different opinions about whether the hospital provide this care or not. Majority of the respondents
stated that they see a minimal need for ventilation care, and they’ve also not treated a patient with
mechanical ventilation. Five respondents experience this need as moderate, and one respondent
experienced no need of mechanical ventilation care. Of the respondents, 32 % (n = 6) stated that
they see a patient in need of ventilator care once every year, 26 % (n = 5) every quarter year and 16
% (n = 3) less frequently than every year. The result of this study also show that the respondents
experience their competence as low or non-existing when it comes to ventilation care. Almost all
respondents, no matter their experienced competence, experience a lack of competence within at
least one area of care withing mechanical ventilation care. The respondents also stated factors that
prevented them to provide this care. Almost a third of respondents stated lack of equipment and
insufficient premises as a total obstacle. Furthermore, factors that were often experienced as an
obstacle were: the patient’s prognosis, economical limitations for the owner, lacking staff resources
and ethical considerations.
No conclusions can be drawn from this thesis regarding an attempt to map out the possibility for
invasive mechanical ventilation care at intensive care units in Sweden, because a bigger study
population would be required. However, this study can say that at least three animal hospitals in
Sweden have the possibility to provide this type of care to their patients. The factors limiting the
execution are multiple, and include aspects as the prognosis of the disease, equipment, and
economics. Beyond this, the majority of the veterinary nurses in this study stated a low or nonexisting experience regarding ventilation care, as well as a lack of knowledge within the subject.
Due to the low number of participants, conclusions regarding the extent of preformed mechanical
ventilation care in Sweden cannot be made. The perceived need and experienced knowledge
regarding mechanical ventilation care is not representative for how all veterinary nurses view
invasive mechanical ventilation care in Sweden
Are there cat behaviours that affect time to adoption? : a behavioural study at a cat shelter
Get PDFCat shelters play an important part in the housing, caring and rehoming of homeless cats and other cats in need of a new home. Despite many cats finding new homes after a temporary stay, some cats end up spending a long time at the shelter. Shelter environments include different stressors to cats which can affect their behaviour and welfare. Cats’ stay at shelters are therefore recommended to be short. A longer stay can lead to welfare issues for the cat which can contribute to stress and behavioural issues. Consequently, a cat risks developing behaviours which can decrease the chance of adoption and extend the stay.
Prior studies have shown that different factors such as age, gender, health, temperament, appearance and behaviour can affect the time of stay at shelters. Specific cat behaviours like friendliness and playfulness were the most desirable behaviours for adopters according to surveys. The aim of this study was to investigate if there were specific cat behaviours which could be linked to a shorter or longer stay at cat shelters. The study also aimed to use the results to contribute to increased knowledge about different behaviours of cats. In the long term, there was also an ambition that the study could promote shorter stays at cat shelters which would benefit cats' welfare.
Direct observations of 21 cats took place at a cat shelter over a period of 15 days. Each cat was observed for 5 minutes per day, using an ethogram and continuous recording. A subjective assessment was made at the end of each observation, in order to gain a more complete understanding of both the cats’ behavioural and emotional state.
The most frequent behaviours overall were Slow Blinking 20%, Eye Contact 15%, Social Vocalization 8%, Hiding 6% and Sitting 6%. There was a large individual variation between the cats but in 51% of observations, the cats were assessed as content.
In conclusion, there was a large behavioural variation observed among cats in the shelter. Social behaviours were exhibited more among cats with a shorter time spent at the shelter. Contact-seeking was exhibited 6% by cats with 0-3 months spent at the shelter, compared to 0% by cats with > 7 months spent at the shelter. Other behaviours like resting and hiding were exhibited more by cats with a longer time spent at the shelter. However, further research is needed in order to draw clear conclusions about specific cat behaviours linked to time spent at shelters. The cats’ behaviour itself may influence the adoption time, but there are still many other factors affecting the adoption time as well
Investigating the Role of Food-borne Pathogens in Colorectal Cancer Development
Get PDFSyfte: Undersöka om livsmedelsburna patogener bidrar till utveckling av kolorektalcancer.
Metod: Aktuellt arbete baserades på en litteraturundersökning med syftet att hitta orginalartiklar fokuserade på en eller flera av fyra förutbestämda patogener (Campylobacter spp.; Salmonella spp.; E. coli; L. monocytogenes), i kombination med kolorektalcancer. Inkluderade artiklar skulle ha designen exponering – utfall. En eventuell koppling mellan patogen och kolorektalcancer involverar någon slags biokemisk aktivitet, således inkluderades studier på relaterade mekanismer. Som databaser användes ”PubMed” och ”Web of Science”.
Resultat: Sexton artiklar inkluderades. Flera studier indikerade att exponering för en aktuell patogen, alternativt ett bakteriellt ämne, leder till någon form av tumörfrämjande aktivitet in vivo (mus) och in vitro (mus, human). Föreslagna mekanismer inkluderade modifierade receptorer, inducerad neutrofil differentiering till alternativ subtyp, förändrade proteinuttryck, inducerad DNA-skada respektive modifierade signalvägar. Största delen av inkluderade artiklar var fokuserade på Salmonella. En populationsbaserad studie påvisade en koppling mellan ökad koloncancerincidens och tidigare salmonellainfektion. En annan studie kunde dock inte bekräfta en signifikant koppling mellan tidigare salmonellapatienter och ökad risk för koloncancer. En studie, som dock inte inkluderade någon infektionsdata vid baslinjen, fann ingen förhöjd koloncancerincidens hos personer i yrken med högre infektionsrisk (zoonotiska sjukdomar) jämfört med personer i andra yrken.
Slutsats: Baserat på resultaten från de inkluderade studierna kan livsmedelsburna patogener eventuellt bidra till utveckling av kolorektalcancer. Ämnet är dock komplext och det finns ett behov av mer forskning inom området.Objectives: To investigate the potential connection between infection with food-borne pathogens and the subsequent development of colorectal cancer.
Methods: This paper was conducted based on a literature review, searching for original studies focusing on one or several of pre-determined pathogens (Campylobacter spp.; Salmonella spp.; E. coli; L. monocytogenes) and colorectal cancer. Included articles had to have an exposure – outcome design. If indeed a connection between pathogen and colorectal cancer is observed, it would have to be accompanied by a biochemical mechanism, even if not presented. Therefore, research on related mechanisms, such as the effects of specific bacterial toxins on cellular function, was also included. Data bases used were PubMed and Web of Science.
Results: Sixteen articles were ultimately included. Several studies indicated that exposure to one of the included bacteria, or a bacterial agent, showed an increase in pro-tumor activity in vivo (mice) and in vitro (mice, human). Suggested mechanisms included modified receptors, induced neutrophil differentiation to a subtype variant, altered protein expressions, induced DNA damage, and modified signal pathways, among others. Most of the articles were focused on Salmonella. One population-based study found an association between increased colon cancer incidence and previous Salmonella infection. However, another similar study did not confirm any signific connection between earlier Salmonella infection and increased risk of colon cancer development. One study, although not including any baseline infection data, found no significantly increased colon cancer incidence between occupations with a higher infection risk (zoonotic diseases) and other occupations.
Conclusion: Based on the results within included studies, food-borne pathogens may have a role in the development of colorectal cancer. However, the subject is complex, and there is a need for more research in this area
Grön lönsamhet i svenska fonder : en kvantitativ studie om svenska fonders hållbarhetsbetyg och prestation
Get PDFIntresset för hållbarhet har ökat markant de senaste decennierna vilket tydligt kommer till uttryck i EU-direktiv samt andra insatser som syftar till att främja arbetet med de globala målen. Det ökade intresset sätter hög press på svenska företag som förväntas att kontinuerligt förbättra sin miljöprestanda. Den intressent som anses vara av betydande vikt för den gröna omställningen är investerarna, som med allokering av kapital avgör vilken typ av företagsstyrning som gynnas.
Tidigare forskning har studerat sambanden mellan hållbarhetsfonder och dess lönsamhet utan att framgångsrikt konstatera ett kausalt samband mellan de två variablerna. Den tidigare forskningen har i många avseenden tillämpat en annan tidsaspekt samt en annan typ av data än vad denna studie har gjort. Denna studie syftar till att agera empiriskt underlag till den tidigare litteraturen genom att applicera ett kompletterande fokus på den svenska marknaden, i utvärderingen av sambandet svenska hållbarhetsfonder och dess lönsamhet.
En kvantitativ metod med deduktiv ansats har valts för denna studie. Insamlad data om de svenska hållbarhetsfonderna analyserades genom regressionsanalyser i programmet Minitab, för möjligheten att studera potentiella samband mellan de svenska fondernas hållbarhetsbetyg och dess lönsamhet. För att säkerställa sambanden har även kontrollvariabler inkluderats i analysen, de valda kontrollvariablerna är fondålder, fondavgifter samt fondförmögenhet.
Den teori som ligger till grund för studien är Corporate social responsibility (CSR), Socially responsible investing (SRI), Modern portföljteori och den effektiva marknadshypotesen. Samtliga teorier utgör grund för analys av resultaten.
Studien lyckas påvisa signifikanta samband mellan variablerna hållbarhetsbetyg och lönsamhet, då samtliga p-värden för högt respektive lågt hållbarhetsbetyg understiger den valda signifikansnivån. Det indikerar att det finns ett positivt samband mellan dessa variabler för det urval och den tidsaspekten som samtliga fonder tillämpar inom ramen för studien. Studien bidrar till den tidigare forskningen genom att agera kompletterande underlag för utvärdering kring sambandet mellan hållbarhetsbetyg och lönsamhet.Sustainable investing plays a crucial role in the green transition that is taking place in our modern society. There is a notable interest among investors to allocate capital to investment objectives that promote economic, societal and environmental sustainability. One popular form of sustainable investing is through equity funds that use different methods to create portfolios consisting of green securities. Past research regarding the financial performance of sustainable funds in contrast to traditional funds have resulted in contradictory conclusions.
This study is based on data proceeding from 147 funds from Morningstars database categorized as “Sweden”. A quantitative/deductive approach was applied using a multiple linear regression model. Variables such as Morningstar Sustainability Rating, Sharperatio, age, total fund asset value and annual fee was recorded for each fund in a software program in order to discover statistical relationships within the dataset.
The results from our regression model were related to past research and the theoretical framework composed of SRI, CSR, modern portfolio theory and efficient market hypothesis. We found that there is a significant relationship between the funds financial performance and sustainability rating the last three years
The influence of different environmental factors on activity patterns in lions (Panthera leo)
Get PDFThe African lion (Panthera leo) is an iconic species that plays a crucial role in the ecosystems of sub-Saharan Africa. However, lion populations are facing numerous threats, including habitat loss, fragmentation, and increasing human populations. Understanding the ecological dynamics and behavior of lions is essential for their conservation and the preservation of their habitats. This study aims to investigate the activity patterns of African lions in relation to various environmental factors, including moon phase, cloud cover, and precipitation. Behavioral observations were conducted in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya, using camera traps deployed across the reserve. Weather data pertaining to moon phase, cloud cover, and precipitation were obtained from public databases and websites. Results indicated an increase in lion activity during periods of higher moonlight, with peak activity observed during full moon phases. Conversely, decreased activity was observed during new moon phases and days with minimal moonlight. Cloud cover and precipitation also influenced lion activity, with higher activity recorded during periods of lower cloud cover and minimal precipitation. This study demonstrates the significant impact of environmental factors on the activity patterns of African lions. These findings underscore the importance of further research to enhance our understanding of lion behavior in response to climate change and anthropogenic pressures. The results of this study can inform conservation strategies aimed at mitigating human-wildlife conflicts by predicting how these environmental factors may influence lion activity patterns. By gaining insights into the complex interactions between lions and their environment, we can work towards ensuring the long-term survival of this iconic species and the ecosystems they inhabit
Enrichment to promote hunting behaviour to reintroduce Scottish wildcat
Get PDFThe earth is currently undergoing a sixth mass extinction primarily caused by humans. Several species are affected, and the Scottish wildcat is one of these species. The Scottish wildcat is a subpopulation of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) in Scotland and is critically endangered. The Scottish wildcat was once widespread all over Britain. The reason for their decline has previously been hunting and deforestation/habitat destruction. Nowadays the threat for hunting has passed, however a new threat has risen. The domestic cat (Felis catus) is the current largest threat to the wildcat population. There are multiple problems associated with the domestic cat for the wildcats. They are competitors for natural resources and bring new diseases to the wildcat populations. However, the biggest problem they cause is hybridisation. The hybridisation corrupts the genetic diversity and may cause the extinction of the species if no solution is found. Because of these threats multiple zoos have started conservational effort to prevent the species extinction. The zoos are keeping the species in captivity and breeding them for later reintroduction to the wild. However not a lot is known about the wildcats’ hunting behaviours. In this study, two different enrichments were used to identify and promote these behaviours and increase the welfare of captive wildcats. Each enrichment opportunity was filmed and evaluated. Because the hunting behaviours of the Scottish wildcat aren´t well known, no conclusions concerning hunting behaviours were drawn. However, the activity levels were considered raised with the enrichments. The activity levels successively decreased over time and number of enrichment occasions. This study is hopefully a start in identifying the wildcats’ behaviours and implementing these in the conservational work of the species
Handling of and attitudes towards cats (Felis catus) in veterinary care : owners' perspective
Get PDFCats (Felis catus) are, in veterinary care, often seen as patients who are aggressive and difficult to handle. This has led to greater use of coercive methods when handling a cat. The use of coercive methods has a negative implication on cats’ welfare and affects the cat owners view on veterinary care.
The aim of this study was to investigate how the attitudes among veterinarians and veterinary nurses towards cats and how they handle them affects the cat owners. The aim of this study was also to investigate what attitudes the owners have towards their cat and how they interact with them. This gives us useful information on how the people working with veterinary care and cat owners affect one another and could help us specify guidelines when handling cats. Decreasing the use of coercive methods would increase cats’ welfare and lead to a positive change in cat owners’ attitudes towards veterinary care.
This study was conducted through a survey targeting cat owners. The questionnaire consisted of multiple questions, graded questions and questions where the owners could answer in their own words. The questions considered cat owners’ relationship and interaction with their cat, as well as their experiences at a veterinary hospital.
The conclusions that were made from this study was that the owners view of their relationship with their cat was mostly good and that the cat was seen as a part of their family, their best friend or both. The owners’ experiences of the veterinary care varied. Both the treatment from the veterinarians and the veterinary nurses towards the owners and their cats, as well as how the cats being handled by the working staff, affects that experience. This affects whether the owners choose to return to the same veterinary hospital or not
From meat to plant-based products? : The impact of Mad Cow Disease on consumer preferences in the European Union
Get PDFShifting towards plant-based diets with reduced red meat consumption is a global priority in both food and environmental policies. While studies on this transition have primarily been confined to experimental economics, analyses of observational data in response to red meat demand shocks have focused on substitution effects with other animal proteins. This study examines the long-term effects of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) outbreak on beef consumption in the EU compared to plant-based products. We specifically investigate whether the decline in beef consumption persisted after the outbreak. Using an event study methodology that incorporates dynamic effects, we analyze data from 1980 to 2020. Our findings reveal that the BSE outbreak triggered a substantial and persistent decrease in beef consumption. Compared to pre-outbreak levels, beef consumption declined by 79% relative to pulses (legumes), 29% relative to cereals (grains), and 27% relative to vegetable oils. Notably, the impact on beef consumption compared to other meats (pork, chicken, or fish) was less pronounced. Moreover, beef consumption never fully recovered its pre-outbreak relationship with plant-based food groups, unlike its recovery relative to other meats. Given the link between BSE and a fatal human brain disease, a key implication of these findings is that they enable the estimation of the current willingness-to-pay (WTP) for a 1% reduction in red meat consumption relative to plant-based products. This has further implications for designing mechanisms to mitigate the prevalence of red meat-associated diseases (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and certain cancers) and aligns with environmental policy goals of greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction