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Testing Leash Walking Training as a Physical Activity Intervention for Older Adult Dog Owners: A Feasibility Study
| Contributor(s):: Potter, K., Rajala, C., Chase, C. J., LeBlanc, R.
Dog walking is a physical activity (PA) with many health benefits for older adults. Dog behavior issues can be a barrier to dog walking. This study piloted leash manners training as a PA intervention for dog owners ages 60+ years. Fourteen dog owners (mean age = 65 years, female = 71%) enrolled...
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Functional Outcomes in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Middle-Aged and Older Adults with Schizophrenia
| Contributor(s):: Chen, C. R., Hung, C. F., Lee, Y. W., Tseng, W. T., Chen, M. L., Chen, T. T.
Deficits in cognition, physical, and social functions in adults with schizophrenia may become salient with aging. While animal-assisted therapy (AAT) can benefit physical function in older adults and improve symptoms of psychotic disorders, the effect of AAT on middle-aged patients with...
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Dog walk frequency and duration: Analysis of a cohort of dogs up to 15 months of age
| Contributor(s):: Kinsman, Rachel H., Main, Kate E., Casey, Rachel A., Da Costa, Rosa E. P., Owczarczak-Garstecka, Sara C., Knowles, Toby G., Tasker, Séverine, Murray, Jane K.
Regular exercise for dogs has health and welfare benefits. This study sought to address a gap in existing research regarding what constitutes ‘common’ age-specific walking practices by owners of young dogs, and how these practices change as the dogs reach adulthood. Dog owners living in the United...
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Effects of a Nutritional Supplement on Cognitive Function in Aged Dogs and on Synaptic Function of Primary Cultured Neurons
| Contributor(s):: Maria Elena Pero, Laura Cortese, Vincenzo Mastellone, Raffaella Tudisco, Nadia Musco, Anna Scandurra, Biagio D’Aniello, Giuseppe Vassalotti, Francesca Bartolini, Pietro Lombardi
The objective of this research was to investigate the efficacy of DìSeniorTM, a nutraceutical formulated to improve cognitive functions in elderly dogs. To this purpose, some clinical and metabolic investigations and a spatial navigation test were performed in treated and untreated dogs....
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Using the incidence and impact of health conditions in guide dogs to investigate healthy ageing in working dogs
| Contributor(s):: Caron-Lormier, G., England, G. C. W., Green, M. J., Asher, L.
This study aimed to use retirement data from working guide dogs to investigate healthy ageing in dogs and the demographic factors that influence ageing. Using a dataset of 7686 dogs spanning 20 years, dogs withdrawn for health reasons before they reached retirement were identified. Cases of...
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Animal-Assisted Therapy Improves Communication and Mobility among Institutionalized People with Cognitive Impairment
| Contributor(s):: Rodrigo-Claverol, M., Malla-Clua, B., Marquilles-Bonet, C., Sol, J., Jové-Naval, J., Sole-Pujol, M., Ortega-Bravo, M.
Disorders of communication, social relationships, and psychomotricity are often characterized by cognitive impairment, which hinders daily activities and increases the risk of falls. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an animal-assisted therapy (AAT) program in an institutionalized...
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Bergeyella zoohelcum isolated from oral cavities of therapy dogs
| Contributor(s):: Muramatsu, Y., Haraya, N., Horie, K., Uchida, L., Kooriyama, T., Suzuki, A., Horiuchi, M.
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Anxiety and impulsivity: Factors associated with premature graying in young dogs
| Contributor(s):: King, Camille, Smith, Thomas J., Grandin, Temple, Borchelt, Peter
The present study examined the association of anxiety and impulsivity with premature muzzle grayness among young dogs. A sample of 400 dogs, ages 1–4 years was obtained at dog parks, shows, veterinary clinics, and other venues. Each dog was photographed and the degree of muzzle grayness was rated...
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Can pets help make aging better? What do we know and believe?
| Contributor(s):: Resnick, B.
2019Geriatr Nurs402121-1220197-457210.1016/j.gerinurse.2019.03.001engSchool of Nursing, University of Maryland, 655 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: barbresnick@gmail.com.text
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The companion dog as a model for human aging and mortality
| Contributor(s):: jessica m hoffman, Kate E. Creevy, Alexander Franks, Dan G O'Neill, Daniel E. L. Promislow
Around the world, human populations have experienced large increases in average lifespan over the last 150 years, and while individuals are living longer, they are spending more years of life with multiple chronic morbidities. Researchers have used numerous laboratory animal models to...
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Demographic Change Across the Lifespan of Pet Dogs and Their Impact on Health Status
| Contributor(s):: Lisa J. Wallis, Dóra Szabó, Boglárka Erdélyi-Belle, Enikö Kubinyi
Although dogs' life expectancies are six to twelve times shorter than that of humans, the demographics (e. g., living conditions) of dogs can still change considerably with aging, similarly to humans. Despite the fact that the dog is a particularly good model for human healthspan, and the...
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Aging and Veterinary Care of Cats, Dogs, and Horses through the Records of Three University Veterinary Hospitals
| Contributor(s):: Bruno Cozzi, Cristina Ballarin, Roberto Mantovani, Ada Rota
The present article examines over 63,000 medical records belonging to the Veterinary Hospitals of the Universities of Bologna, Torino, and Padova, all in Northern Italy, and relative to dogs (approximately 50,000), cats (approximately 12,000), and companion horses (slightly less than 1,000). The...
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Exploring the Health Benefits of Companion Animals on Older Adults
| Contributor(s):: Matt Long, Julie M. Fagan
Companion animals can do wonders for people, especially older adults. Living with a pet can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation as well as lower blood pressure, heart rate and stress. However, the increased costs of owning an animal may discourage seniors on a fixed income from...
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[The Oopoeh Foundation pairs owners and the elderly. Cosy and healthy: a 55+ babysitter for companion animals]
| Contributor(s):: Brouwer, S.
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Assessment of severity and progression of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome using the CAnine DEmentia Scale (CADES)
| Contributor(s):: Madari, A., Farbakova, J., Katina, S., Smolek, T., Novak, P., Weissova, T., Novak, M., Zilka, N.
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) represents a group of symptoms related to the aging of the canine brain. These changes ultimately lead to a decline of memory function and learning abilities, alteration of social interaction, impairment of normal housetraining, changes in sleep-wake cycle and...
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Re-evaluating the Role of Companion Animals in the Era of the Aging Boomer
| Contributor(s):: Rebecca J. Huss
The Census Bureau reports that the number of Americans sixty-five years and older is expected to double to 88.5 million by 2050, and will represent 19% of the population by 2030. Not only is the percentage of the population over sixty-five years of age growing, but the...
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Neighbourhoods, dogs and walking: An exploration of factors relevant to healthy aging in place
| Contributor(s):: Toohey, Ann Madeline
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Pets and the Aging: Science Supports the Human-Animal Bond
In April 2003, PAWSitive InterAction held its second annual educational summit — “Think PAWSitive! 2003: Pets and The Aging” — in Atlanta, Georgia, to explore current scientific thinking about the important role pets play in the lives of people as they grow older. With 76...
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Nutrition for working and service dogs
| Contributor(s):: Wakshlag, J., Shmalberg, J.
Conformation, genetics, and behavioral drive are the major determinants of success in canine athletes, although controllable variables, such as training and nutrition, play an important role. The scope and breadth of canine athletic events has expanded dramatically in the past 30 years, but with...
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Evolution of research into the mutual benefits of human–animal interaction
| Contributor(s):: Sandra McCune, Katherine A. Kruger, James A. Griffin, Layla Esposito, Lisa S. Freund, Karyl J. Hurley, Regina Bures
There has been unprecedented development of research into human–animal interaction (HAI) in recent years, and this has produced rapid growth in our knowledge and understanding of the benefits that accrue from pet ownership. Recent evidence and developments in the field of HAI have improved...
