Nadja Affenzeller

University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna | vetmed · Department for Companion Animals and Horses

Introduction Center of pressure (COP) parameters are frequently assessed to analyze movement disorders in humans and animals. Methodological discrepancies are a major concern when evaluating conflicting study results. This study aimed to assess the inter-observer reliability and test-retest reliability of body COP parameters including mediolateral...

Postural stability requires an interaction between cognitive, perceptual, sensory, and motor functions. Thus, impairment in any of these systems may affect postural balance. This study assessed the effect of visual input and surface slope on postural stability. The study was conducted on healthy participants, 11 females and 11 males who were 24-34...

One way to reduce fear and lack of compliance during veterinary procedures is ‘cooperative care training’, training animals to voluntarily participate in husbandry and medical care. Here we assessed the effects of cooperative care training on heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), tympanic membrane temperature (TMT) and compliance (i.e., al...

A high proportion of dogs and cats are fearful during veterinary visits, which in some cases may escalate into aggression. Here, we discuss factors that contribute to negative emotions in a veteri-nary setting and how these can be addressed. We briefly summarise the available evidence for the interventions discussed. The set-up of the waiting area...

A high proportion of dogs and cats are fearful during veterinary visits, which in some cases may escalate into aggression. Here, we discuss factors that contribute to negative emotions in a veterinary setting and how these can be addressed. The set-up of the waiting area (e.g. spatial dividers; elevated places for cat carriers), tailoring the exami...

Dogs demonstrate behavioural changes and cognitive decline during aging. Compared to laboratory dogs, little is known about aging in pet dogs exposed to different environments and nutrition. In this study, we examined the effects of age, an enriched diet and lifelong training on different behavioural and cognitive measures in 119 pet dogs (>6yrs)....

Confinement of dogs in boxes or crates-possibilities and limits of short-term deviations from legal minimum requirements The short-term confinement of dogs in (transport) boxes, crates or similar types of accommodation (such as pens) is increasingly being recommended for the training and management of dogs. The practice does not comply with the le...

Arousing and emotional situations can improve cognitive performance and the memorability of events. Recently, the enhancement of training performance in Labrador Retriever dogs through 30 min of dog–human play immediately after acquiring a novel task, when compared to a resting period, was demonstrated. This follow-on study used the same pseudo-ran...

Specific situations and legal requirements in some countries require dogs to wear a muzzle on a regular basis. Ongoing discussions within different national authorities are trying to balance the safety of the public against welfare of dogs when being walked. However, detailed information on ideal type of muzzle, muzzle fit, introduction techniques...

Urinary house soiling (periuria) in the home is a common but serious behaviour problem in cats. Although many specific risk factors and triggers have been postulated, their importance is largely unknown. This study assessed: (1) the significance of purported risk factors for periuria as well as specifically marking and latrine behaviour in the home...

Adherence to the advice of medical practitioners is critical to successful treatment outcomes and has been much researched in human health, but is less well studied in the veterinary and clinical animal behavior fields. Given that the management of behavior problems often requires substantial change in established client behavior, it is likely that...

In the dog spondylosis deformans and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) are well-known, non-inflammatory and degenerative causes for new bone formation along the spine. In humans also inflammatory diseases are known reasons for vertebral new bone formation. Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory-rheumatic disease of the axial...

This is the first report of aggressive behaviour as the primary presenting sign in two dogs subsequently found to have chronic diskospondylitis, with neither dog showing other typical clinical signs of this condition. Mild signs of pain were elicited on physical examination in both dogs. Further medical investigation revealed signs indicative of ch...

These proceedings contain oral and poster presentations from various experts on animal behaviour and animal welfare in veterinary medicine presented at the conference.

These proceedings contain oral and poster presentations from various experts on animal behaviour and animal welfare in veterinary medicine presented at the conference.

Cognitive aging in pet dogs of different breeds: effects of an enriched diet and lifelong training Cognitive decline in dogs has been mostly studied in laboratory dogs, but little is known in pet dogs exposed to different environments and nutrition. In this study, we examined how age, enriched diet and lifelong training influence different behavi...

NOISE sensitivities, such as fear, anxiety and phobia-based responses to noise or sound stimuli (Sherman and Mills 2008), have a high prevalence in dogs. Blackwell and others (2013) found that 25 per cent of owners surveyed in the UK reported their dog to be fearful of noises, with 49 per cent of owners in the same study indicating that their dog d...

Situations that are emotional and arousing have an effect on cognitive performance. It is thought that beta adrenergic activation and the release of stress hormones enhance memory consolidation and lead to an increase in memorability of emotional events. This beneficial effect has been shown in humans, non-human primates and rodents. Techniques whi...

Feline panleukopenia is still considered an important disease, although some time has passed since identification of its aetiology as a virus in 1932. In the past, prognosis has often been described as very poor with up to 90 % mortality in diseased cats; however, little is known about prognostic factors in feline panleukopenia or the current morta...

A subcutaneous continuous glucose monitoring system (GlucoDay; Menarini Diagnostics) based on microdialysis was investigated for its clinical applicability in veterinary medicine. Ten diabetic dogs, referred as clinically stable, were equipped with this system and sent home for a maximum observation period of 48 hours. Time of insulin administratio...

Austrian field cases of canine distemper (14 dogs, one badger [Meles meles] and one stone marten [Martes foina]) from 2002 to 2007 were investigated and the case histories were summarised briefly. Phylogenetic analysis of fusion (F) and haemagglutinin (H) gene sequences revealed different canine distemper virus (CDV) lineages circulating in Austria...

Serial blood glucose measurements are currently regarded as the 'gold standard' for evaluating glycaemic control of canine diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate a subcutaneous continuous glucose monitoring system based on microdialysis. Analyses were performed by taking interstitial glucose samples from two different anatomica...

Case report A 10 year old, male Dachshund was presented at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, with a history of hematemesis, loss of appetite, and melaena. The clinical symptoms started one week prior to presentation when the dog was on a boat trip with the owner in The Netherlands. Diagnostic procedures The clinical examination reveale...