November 2014

Innovative technology to study spatial distribution and social interaction in indoor cats

Pioneering software specifically developed to gain knowledge on the behaviour of indoor cats.

A better understanding of our pet’s behaviour is essential to the appropriate management of their habitat, and to ensure a good relationship between pet and owners. Capable of adjusting its social structure according to resources distribution in the wild, the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) tends to tolerate its congeners to varying degrees, using asymmetric interaction. Yet, this pet has been little investigated in home environment.

The aim of this study was to follow indoor cats’ activity and spatial organisation. 6 adult healthy domestic-shorthair cats (3.0±0.3 y-o) participated in the development and validation of this technology. A panel was equipped with Ultra Wide Band (UWB) technology. This radio-technology, which derivates from RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and is used by army to track soldiers during training, allows the automatic and instantaneous recording of the cat’s location, in 3 dimensions with an excellent accuracy of 10-15 cm.

Seven UWB antennas used as receivers were positioned in the room’s corners, and the 6 cats were equipped with transmitters (collars containing microchips). Additionally, a software was specifically developed to automatically generate quantitative data for each cat:

- Activity rate (% per 24 hours) - Distance covered and trajectories - Number and duration of interactions (Fig.1) - Time spent in the different defined areas (Fig. 2) - Inter-individual distances

The data collected during the ten days of monitoring established numerous parameters, including the cats’ mean inter-individual distance (2.5 ± 0.1m), activity rate (46.3 ± 7.5%) or daily distance covered (965 ± 360m), and determined the main behavioural traits of each individual.

#13 - November 2014

Intro

Ultra-wide band technology is an innovative way to obtain an instantaneous and continuous variety of quantitative behavioural parameters. This behavioural monitoring can be used to determine individual behavioural profiles and group sociogrammes and can thus be used to study the influence of various parameters, including nutrition, on the cat’s behaviour.

Innovative technology to support research The reliability of measurements is a major criterion in assessing the quality of research. However, in the field of behaviour and ethology, assessing objective and quantitative parameters is particularly challenging. Developing new ways to assess the benefits of nutrition on health is amongst the core missions of Royal Canin Research that did not hesitate to adapt high tech science developed within the defence industry, Ultra Wide Band technology, to enable the real time tracking of the spatial distribution and interaction of indoor cats. This innovative and accurate method of monitoring cat behaviour is expected to produce some interesting results!

Parker M, Allouche B, Maisonnasse JY, Brossier JA, Ecochard C, Lullier M, Peyre H, Feugier A, Weber M, Soulard Y, Biourge V, Serra J. Ultra-wive bands technology to map social distribution and social interactions in three dimensions in indoor cats. Proceedings of SFECA congress, 8-10 July 2014, Paris (France), p97

Marie-Anne Hours (Scientific Support- R&D)

Figure 1: Interactions

Breeding

70 Mean number of daily interactions

Behaviour

60 50 40

This epidemiological study investigated the prevalence of 7 enteropathogens (2 viruses and 5 parasites) in 266 puppies from 29 breeding kennels.

53

30 20

32

In puppies, degradation of faeces quality is associated with reduced daily weight gain and an increased risk of mortality. Prevention of diarrhoea in puppies, especially when housed in groups, requires a global approach that includes enteropathogens, environment and management practices.

10 0

cat/human interactions

intraspecies

Cat trees

Wall shelf Cat tree Play area

Seat Litters

% time

Wall shelf

Food area Drink area Seat

Feeding area

Drink

Playing area

Litter Transition area

© ROYAL CANIN SAS 2014. All Rights Reserved - Credits: F. Duhayer, Fotolia.

Mean % of time spent in the different areas

Panel overview (Fig.2)

Parvovirus is a major risk factor for weaning diarrhoea in breeding kennels

A total of 266 puppies (from 60 litters) from 29 breeding kennels, between 5 and 14 weeks of age were enrolled in this study. Only puppies with a normal clinical examination were included. Puppies with clinical signs of prostration, dehydration and/or anorexia were excluded. For each kennel, data collection comprised:

- Environmental factors: number of puppies sold per year, litter size; - Kennel management: vaccination protocol, number of meals per day, access to the outdoors; - Puppies’ characteristics: age, breed, sex.

For each puppy, faecal consistency was evaluated by a single operator using a 13-point scale, based on the texture and shape of the faeces.

After collection, stool samples were analysed for main parasites by coproscopy and for Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium parvum (coproantigens quantification). Additionally, a rectal swab was performed for each puppy immediately after stool collection to screen for Canine Parvovirus type 2 (CPV2) and canine coronavirus (CCV).

• Prevalence of enteropathogens:

77.1% of the puppies were infected with at least one enteropathogen, with 29.9% of them excreting 3 pathogens or more. Prevalence of parasites was higher than the prevalence of viruses (74.4 % vs 34.6 %).

41% of puppies were infected by Giardia Sp, 25.9% by Cryptosporidium parvum, 25.6% by Cystoisospora ohioensis-complex, 22.2% by Toxocara canis, 20.3% by CCV, 14.7% by CPV2 and 13.2% by Cystoisospora canis. All enteropathogens except T. canis presented a significantly higher prevalence in large breeding kennels (i.e. more than 30 puppies sold per year).

• Risk factors for abnormal faeces:

24.8% of the collected faeces were classified as abnormal (too soft according to a previously validated scale that took into account the puppy’s age and size at adulthood). In the final statistical model, faecal excretion of CPV2 was the only factor that significantly increased the risk of weaning diarrhoea (p=0.003, Odd ratio=5). 61.5 % of puppies infected by CPV2 presented abnormal faeces compared to 15.2 % of puppies not infected.

Canine Parvovirus type 2 infection was found to be the main risk factor for abnormal faeces in puppies raised in kennels.

A targeted sanitary and medical prophylaxis against this virus should be implemented to decrease the risk of weaning diarrhoea.

Grellet A, Chastant-Maillard S, Robin C, feugier A, Boogaerts C, Boucraut-Baralon C, Grandjean D, Polack B. Risk factors of weaning diarrhea in puppies housed in breeding kennels.

Prev Vet Med 2014 Aug 15. doi: 10.1016/j. prevetmed.2014.07.016

Spontaneous energy intake is reduced with Royal Canin Satiety in dogs fed ad libitum

This study compared the satiety effect of two dry canine weight loss diets in dogs over 4 successive meals.

Hunger and begging are common when energy intake is restricted in order to achieve weight loss in obese dogs, and can lead to poor owner compliance. Therefore, a nutritional answer enhancing satiety may enhance acceptance of weight loss programmes.

The objective of this study was to compare the satiety effect of two high protein, high fibre, weight loss diets in dogs. The 2 diets assessed were Royal Canin Satiety Weight Management Canine dry and a commercially available competitor diet1.

Twelve healthy neutered adult dogs participated in the study and were fed the two diets in a crossover design. The consumption kinetics of the diets were assessed through repeated short term food exposure, as previously described2 : Individual dogs were offered 100% of their Maintenance Energy Requirements (MER) for 15 minutes at 8h30 (1st meal) and at 9h30 (2nd meal), and then offered food ad libitum for 15 minutes at both 10h30 (3rd meal) and 11h30 (4th meal). Each diet was given 3 times per week on non-consecutive days, and the energy intake at each meal was recorded. Data was analysed using the Statistical Analysis Systems Institute package (SAS version 8, SAS Institute Inc.), and the level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Figure 1: Mean energy intake consumption (kcal/kg0.75) over 4 successive meals

200

150

202 15 21

59

p=0.01

227 12 27

-44% p=0.004

Meal 4

85

Considering that excessive hunger and begging are common reasons for owners to withdraw their dogs from weight loss programmes, improved compliance would be expected.

Canine Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution, Hill’s Pet Nutrition Weber M et al. A high-protein, High fiber diet designed for weight loss improves satiety in dogs. J Vet Intern Med 2007;21:1203–1208

1 2

Hours M.A., Sagols E., Junien-Castagna A., Feugier A., Moniot D., Daniel I., Biourge V., Serisier S. Comparison of spontaneous energy intake between two commercial canine weight loss dry expanded diets.

Proceedings of the 18th ESVCN Congress, Utrecht (The Netherlands), 11-13 September 2014

Meal 3

108

103

50

Satiety Canine

Competitor

Figure 1: Influence of serum glucose concentration at 24h of age on mortality 60

The large majority of mortality in puppies occurs before weaning.

Reliable early predictors of mortality would allow adaptive nursing and targeted treatment of neonates at risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate metabolic status in canine neonates at birth and after 24 hours of life, and to determine the impact on neonatal mortality.

Three hundred and forty seven puppies (141 from small breeds, 72 from medium breeds, and 134 from large breeds) were included in the study. For each puppy, a clinical examination was performed within 8 hours of birth, and 24 hours later. The first examination involved evaluation of the APGAR Score, bodyweight, urinary density (refractometry), blood glucose, ß-hydroxybutyrate (β-ketone) and lactate measurements. The second clinical examination (Day 1) included the same health parameters, excluding APGAR scoring and bodyweight assessment. Mortality between birth and 21 days of age was recorded, and the effects of health parameters measured at Day 0 and Day 1 were statistically tested using generalised linear mixed models (SAS institute Inc.).

Results (presented as mean ± SD) for each parameter at Day 0 and Day 1 are summarized (Table 1). Amongst the 347 puppies included in the study, 70 puppies (20.2%) died before 21 days of age. The risk of mortality was found to be influenced by birth weight (p=0.007) and glucose concentration at Day1 (p<0.001). Significantly more puppies with low bodyweight (the lowest 25% among the breed size) died within 21 days compared to puppies with higher birth weights (36.2%

HEALTH PARAMETER

Day 0

Day 1

APGAR Score (0-10 points)

9.0 ±1.5

-

Glucose (mg/dl)

114 ± 43

114 ± 43

Lactate (mmol/L)

2.9 ± 2.9

1.4 ± 1.0

ketone (mmol/L)

0.4 ± 0.3

0.3 ± 0.2

Urinary density

1.022 ± 0.009

1.024 ± 0.006

Birth weight (g)

Meal 2

100

0

This study showed that dogs spontaneously consumed less energy when fed Royal Canin Satiety Weight Management Canine than the competitor diet. Given that there was no difference in palatability between the diets (p=0.65), the difference in energy intake was most likely due to a greater satiety effect.

Metabolic status of 347 puppies was assessed at birth and after 24 hours to determine impact on neonatal mortality.

Table 1: Metabolic status results

-11%

250

When fed Royal Canin Satiety Weight Management Canine diet, dogs consumed 11% less energy over the 4 successive meals than with the competitor diet (p<0.05, Fig.1). In particular, mean energy consumption during the 2nd meal was reduced with Royal Canin Satiety Canine (-44%, p<0.05). At the same time, a palatability study comparing the 2 diets showed no significant difference in food consumption.

Glucose monitoring and energy supply are crucial for survival in canine neonates

Paediatrics

52% 50 Mortality (%)

Satiety

40

Glucose concentration at Day 1 (mg/dl)

30

28%

20 9%

10 0

<50 (n=23)

50-100 (n=92)

101-150 (n=150)

7% >150 (n=69)

versus 15.3%; p<0.001). The higher the glucose concentration at Day 1, the lower the mortality rate (Fig.1). Additionally, among puppies for which glucose concentration decreased between birth and 24 hours of life, 13.4% (18/134) died within 21 days of age, vs. 2.7% (5/183) of puppies for which glucose had increased (p=0.003). Neither blood lactate, β-ketone concentrations nor urinary density were found to influence mortality rate.

Birth weight and glucose concentration at Day1 were found to be reliable parameters to identify puppies at elevated risk of neonatal mortality. Moreover, an adequate energy supply within the first day of life, especially in puppies with low birth weight, could help decrease mortality rates over the first weeks.

Mila H, Grellet A, Delebarre M, Feugier A, Chastant-Maillard S. Metabolic status in canine neonates - importance for survival.

Proceedings of the 17th EVSSAR congress (European Veterinary Society for Small Animal Reproduction), September 26, 2014, Wroclaw (Poland)

Small breeds: 177 ± 45 Medium breeds: 260 ± 66 Large breeds: 369 ± 87

Meal 1

Just out of the press!

Available articles:

Reynolds BS, Massal MR, Nguyen P, Grégoire LL, Périgaud AE, Concordet D, Biourge V, Lefebvre HP. Plasma exogenous creatinine clearance in clinically healthy cats: Comparison with urinary exogenous creatinine

clearance, tentative reference intervals and indexation to bodyweight. Vet J 2014 Jul 30. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.07.022 Spofford N, Mougeot I, Elliott DA, Addleman A, Lefebvre SL, Wang M, Yang M, Feugier A, Biourge V, Lund EM. A moderate fat, low-energy dry expanded diet reduced gain in body condition score when fed as a part of post neutering weight-control

regimen in growing pet cats. Journal of Nutritional science (2014), vol 3, e40 Chetboul V, Reynolds BS, TrehiouSechi E, Nguyen P, Concordet D, Sampedrano CC, Testault I, Elliot J, Abadie J, Biourge V, Lefebvre HP. Cardiovascular effects of dietary salt intake in aged healthy cats :a 2-year prospective randomized, blinded and controlled study. PLoS One. 2014 Jun 18;9(6):e97862. Free online access

Mila H, Feugier A, Grellet A, Anne J, Gonnier M, Martin M, Rossig L, Chastant-Maillard S Inadequate passive immune transfer in puppies: definition, risk factors and prevention in a large multi-breed kennel.

Preventive veterinary medicine.» Prev Vet Med. 2014 Sep 1;116(1-2):209-13