PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Under pressure

A harness for guide dogs must suit both dog and owner

2014-01-02
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Barbara Bockstahler
barbara.bockstahler@vetmeduni.ac.at
43-125-077-5320
University of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna
Under pressure A harness for guide dogs must suit both dog and owner

Guide dogs lend their eyes to blind people, enabling them to find their way around in an environment they cannot see. Guide dogs require about four years of training and fully trained animals can cost over 30,000 Euro. It is thus important for financial reasons as well as because of animal welfare considerations to ensure that guide dogs are comfortable in their work. A proper harness that enables good communication between the blind person and the dog is an important factor in the animal's well-being, while a poorly fitting harness may result in health problems and impaired communication between dog and owner.

The dog's chest experiences the most tension

Barbara Bockstahler, Christian Peham and colleagues examined the distribution of pressure in working guide dogs by placing pressure sensors beneath the harnesses. Eight guide dogs were filmed with a trainer while climbing steps, avoiding obstacles, turning left and right and walking straight ahead. To visualize the movements, the animals, the trainers and the harnesses were equipped with reflective markers. The positions of the markers were recorded by a total of ten cameras.

The results showed that the bottom right of the animals' chests is particularly stressed. As Bockstahler explains, "Guide dogs walk under constant tension. They are usually on their owners' right and in front of them." The scientists found that the pressure on the right side of a dog's chest may equate to up to 10 per cent of the animal's weight. In contrast, the dog's back experiences far less pressure. "It is important for guide dogs to exercise regularly without a harness to compensate for the lopsided pressure they experience in their work", says Bockstahler.

Flexible harnesses cause less stress

Very rigid harnesses enable quick and finely tuned communication between dogs and owners but cause stress to the animals. The more stiffly the harness is anchored to the handle, the more pressure the animal experiences. The most comfortable harness relies on a hook-and-loop connection, which provides the least pressure on the dog, although for long-haired dogs a plastic clip version is favourable. Rigid metal links are the most stressful for the animals and one of the harnesses tested even restricted the movement of the spine and the front limbs. As Peham notes, "The importance of matching the dog to its owner is well known: the blind person should suit the dog not only in character but also in size. But it seems that the choice of harness is also vital. Flexible and adjustable harnesses, e.g. with telescopic handles, are ideal." Of course, the choice of harness is not always straightforward and Peham is quick to recognize the need to extend the group's research, "We should study guide dogs for a longer period of time to find out whether any of the harnesses are associated with long-term problems in the animals. We are still looking for partners and sponsors for the work".

The study "Evaluation of the pressure distribution under three different types of harnesses for guide dogs", by Christian Peham, Simone Limbeck, Kristin Galla and Barbara Bockstahler was recently published in the Veterinary Journal.



INFORMATION:



About the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna

The University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna is the only academic and research institution in Austria that focuses on the veterinary sciences. About 1200 employees and 2300 students work on the campus in the north of Vienna, which also houses the animal hospital and various spin-off-companies. http://www.vetmeduni.ac.at

Scientific Contact:

Dr. Barbara Bockstahler
Small Animal Surgery
University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna (Vetmeduni Vienna)
T +43 1 25077-5320
M +43 1 25077-6616
barbara.bockstahler@vetmeduni.ac.at

Released by:

Felizitas Steindl
Public Relations
University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna (Vetmeduni Vienna)
T +43 1 25077-1152
felizitas.steindl@vetmeduni.ac.at



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Scientists uncover hidden river of rubbish threatening to devastate wildlife

2014-01-02
Scientists uncover hidden river of rubbish threatening to devastate wildlife Thousands of pieces of plastic have been discovered, submerged along the river bed of the upper Thames Estuary by scientists at Royal Holloway, University of London and ...

Scientists explain age-related obesity: Brown fat fails

2014-01-02
Scientists explain age-related obesity: Brown fat fails New research in The FASEB Journal suggests that platelet-activating factor receptors cause increased adiposity and weight gain, and regulating these receptors could lead to ...

Money talks when ancient Antioch meets Google Earth

2014-01-02
Money talks when ancient Antioch meets Google Earth There's a map of an ancient Syrian trade route that shows how one city's political sway extended farther than once thought. This map isn't a time-worn and mysterious etching on a stone tablet. Turns out it's ...

Want a good night's sleep in the new year? Quit smoking

2014-01-02
Want a good night's sleep in the new year? Quit smoking New research in The FASEB Journal identifies the mechanism by which tobacco smoke affects the expression of clock genes in the lung and resets levels of locomotor activity in ...

No scrounging for scraps: UC research uncovers the diets of the middle and lower class in Pompeii

2014-01-02
No scrounging for scraps: UC research uncovers the diets of the middle and lower class in Pompeii University of Cincinnati archaeologists are turning up discoveries in the famed Roman city of Pompeii that are wiping out the historic perceptions of how the Romans dined, ...

Researchers find ways to minimize power grid disruptions from wind power

2014-01-02
Researchers find ways to minimize power grid disruptions from wind power Researchers from North Carolina State University and Johns Hopkins University have found that an increase in the use of wind power generation can make the power grid more fragile and ...

When being called 'incredibly good' is bad for children

2014-01-02
When being called 'incredibly good' is bad for children Study shows inflated praise can harm kids with low self-esteem COLUMBUS, Ohio – Parents and other adults heap the highest praise on children who are most likely to be hurt by the compliments, a new study finds. Researchers ...

Survival rates similar for gunshot/stabbing victims whether brought to the hospital by police or EMS

2014-01-02
Survival rates similar for gunshot/stabbing victims whether brought to the hospital by police or EMS Philadelphia 'Scoop and Run' penetrating trauma victims studied over 5-year period PHILADELPHIA - A new study from the Perelman ...

Study supports a causal role in narcolepsy for a common genetic variant

2014-01-02
Study supports a causal role in narcolepsy for a common genetic variant Results show a remarkable genetic association of almost 100 percent DARIEN, IL – A new study conducted across Europe found an extraordinary association between narcolepsy and a specific ...

Study finds patients give 'broad endorsement' to stem cell research

2014-01-02
Study finds patients give 'broad endorsement' to stem cell research In an early indication of lay opinions on research with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are stem cells made from skin or other tissues, a new study by bioethicists at Johns Hopkins University ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Intra-arterial tenecteplase for acute stroke after successful endovascular therapy

Study reveals beneficial microbes that can sustain yields in unfertilized fields

Robotic probe quickly measures key properties of new materials

Climate change cuts milk production, even when farmers cool their cows

Frozen, but not sealed: Arctic Ocean remained open to life during ice ages

Some like it cold: Cryorhodopsins

Demystifying gut bacteria with AI

Human wellbeing on a finite planet towards 2100: new study shows humanity at a crossroads

Unlocking the hidden biodiversity of Europe’s villages

Planned hydrogen refuelling stations may lead to millions of euros in yearly losses

Planned C-sections increase the risk of certain childhood cancers

Adults who have survived childhood cancer are at increased risk of severe COVID-19

Drones reveal extreme coral mortality after bleaching

New genetic finding uncovers hidden cause of arsenic resistance in acute promyelocytic leukemia

Native habitats hold the key to the much-loved smashed avocado’s future

Using lightning to make ammonia out of thin air

Machine learning potential-driven insights into pH-dependent CO₂ reduction

Physician associates provide safe care for diagnosed patients when directly supervised by a doctor

How game-play with robots can bring out their human side

Asthma: patient expectations influence the course of the disease

UNM physician tests drug that causes nerve tissue to emit light, enabling faster, safer surgery

New study identifies EMP1 as a key driver of pancreatic cancer progression and poor prognosis

XPR1 identified as a key regulator of ovarian cancer growth through autophagy and immune evasion

Flexible, eco-friendly electronic plastic for wearable tech, sensors

Can the Large Hadron Collider snap string theory?

Stuckeman professor’s new book explores ‘socially sustainable’ architecture

Synthetic DNA nanoparticles for gene therapy

New model to find treatments for an aggressive blood cancer

Special issue of Journal of Intensive Medicine analyzes non-invasive respiratory support

T cells take aim at Chikungunya virus

[Press-News.org] Under pressure
A harness for guide dogs must suit both dog and owner