Align-ju SCIENCE SHORTS
Stress behaviour in domestic dogs that witness conflict between caregivers
USER-ALT Laura Analía Rial and others, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Many social species of animals have developed strategies for managing conflict and mitigating its effects on members of the group. Such strategies involve appeasement behaviour towards the aggressive party in the conflict and consoling behaviour directed towards the victim of the aggression. The authors investigated whether dogs demonstrate similar actions towards the human members of their group by observing the actions of dogs that witness a simulated conflict situation between their caregivers. Their findings show that dogs do show greater rates of affiliative behaviour towards the victim of the simulated aggression, for example, initiating physical contact, maintaining close proximity and gazing at them. The dogs showed behaviour towards the aggressor that appeared to be consistent with wanting to avoid that person and in monitoring their actions. Dogs witnessing such incidents also showed evidence of stress.
Applied Animal Behaviour Science https:// doi. org / 10.1016 / j. applanim. 2025.106680
Complications associated with surgically placed gastrostomy tubes in dogs
USER-ALT Stephanie Schiavone and others, VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital, Los Angeles, USA
Providing enteral nutrition to hospitalised patients can help maintain overall health, including gut health, and result in improved clinical outcomes. Gastrostomy tubes( G-tubes) inserted surgically through the stomach wall are useful in providing long-term nutritional support but there is a risk of complications such as stoma site infections. The authors investigated the frequency of postoperative problems in 133 dogs given a surgically placed G-tube during treatment for a range of conditions at two veterinary referral hospitals over a 10-year period. Only nine patients had a complication: there were eight stoma site infections and one incident of septic peritonitis. There were no incidents of death or euthanasia related to those incidents. Surgically placed G-tubes are therefore safe and should be considered in patients that are deemed poor candidates for endoscopically placed tubes.
Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care https:// doi. org / 10.1111 / vec. 13452
Care and clinical outcomes in dogs and cats after cardiac arrest
USER-ALT Sabrina Hoehne and others, Washington State University, Pullman, USA
The chances of survival after a cardiac arrest are lower in veterinary patients than in humans. Even when resuscitation efforts result in a return of spontaneous circulation, the number surviving to discharge from hospital is low. The RECOVER( Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation) guidelines published in 2012 were intended to provide guidance for veterinary staff dealing with a cardiac emergency. The authors of the present study examined the short- and long-term outcomes in 40 cats and dogs following cardiopulmonary resuscitation( CPR) at three teaching hospitals between 2012 and 2022. They conclude that good clinical outcomes and quality of life are achievable in hospitalised patients treated according to the RECOVER guidelines. Favourable outcomes are also possible in some cases that suffer a cardiac arrest away from a veterinary hospital and receive prolonged CPR.
Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care https:// doi. org / 10.1111 / vec. 13457
Volume 40( 5) • October 2025
13