| 1. |
- Brantberg, Ida, et al.
(författare)
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The Effect of Therapeutic Exercise on Body Weight Distribution, Balance, and Stifle Function in Dogs following Stifle Injury
- 2023
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Ingår i: Animals. - : MDPI. - 2076-2615. ; 14:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stifle injury is common in the companion dog population, affecting weight bearing, neuromuscular control, and balance. Therapeutic exercises after stifle injury seem to be effective, but high-quality research evaluating the effects is lacking. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of a 12-week progressive therapeutic home exercise protocol on three-legged standing, targeting balance and postural- and neuromuscular control and disability in dogs with stifle injury. Thirty-three dogs with stifle injury were randomly allocated to intervention (n = 18) and control groups (n = 15), both receiving a standard rehabilitation protocol. Additionally, the intervention group received a progressive therapeutic exercise protocol. The outcome measures were static body weight distribution between hindlimbs, balance control, the canine brief pain inventory, and the Finnish canine stifle index. Both groups improved after the intervention period, but the group using the progressive therapeutic exercise protocol improved to a greater extent regarding static body weight distribution between the hindlimbs (I: median = 2.5%, IQR = 1.0–4.5; C: median = 5.5%, IQR = 3.0–8.8), pain-related functional disability (I: median = 0.0, IQR = 0.0–0.2; C: median = 0.9, IQR = 0.1–1.8), and stifle function (I: median = 25.0, IQR = 9.4–40.6; C: median = 75.0, IQR = 31.3–87.5), with intermediate to strong effects. These clinically relevant results indicate that this home exercise program can improve hindlimb function and restore neuromuscular control.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Essner, Ann, et al.
(författare)
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Comparison of Polar® RS800CX heart rate monitor and electrocardiogram for measuring inter-beat intervals in healthy dogs
- 2015
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Ingår i: Physiology and Behavior. - : Elsevier. - 0031-9384 .- 1873-507X. ; 138:January, s. 247-253
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to assess the criterion validity, relative reliability and level of agreement ofPolar® RS800CX heart rate monitor measuring inter-beat intervals (IBIs), compared to simultaneously recordedelectrocardiogram (ECG) in dogs.Methods: Five continuous minutes of simultaneously recorded IBIs from Polar® RS800CX and Cardiostore ECG in11 adult healthy dogs maintaining standing position were analyzed. Polar® data was statistically compared toECG data to assess for systematic differences between the methods. Three different methods for handling missingIBI data were used. Criterion validities were calculated by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and corresponding95% confidence intervals (CIs). Relative reliabilities and levels of agreement were calculated by ICCsand the Bland and Altman analysis for repeated measurements per subject.Results: Correlation coefficients between IBI data from ECG and Polar® RS800CX varied between 0.73 and 0.84depending on how missing values were handled. Polar® was over- and underestimating IBI data compared toECG. The mean difference in log transformed (base10) IBI data was 0.8%, and 93.2% of the values were withinthe limits of agreement. Internally excluding three subjects presenting IBI series containing more than 5% erroneousIBIs resulted in ICCs between 0.97 and 0.99. Bland and Altman analysis (n = 8) showed mean differencewas 1.8 ms, and 98.5% of the IBI values were plotted inside limits of agreement.Conclusion: This study showed that Polar® systematically biased recorded IBI series and that it was fundamentalto detect measurement errors. For Polar® RS800CX heart rate monitor to be used interchangeably to ECG, byshowing excellent criterion validity and reliable IBI measures in group and individual samples, only less than5% of artifacts could be accepted.
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| 4. |
- Essner, Ann, Medicine Doktor, PhD, et al.
(författare)
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Dog Handler Beliefs regarding Barriers and Facilitators to Canine Health Promotion and Injury Prevention in Swedish Working Dog Trials and Competitions
- 2022
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Ingår i: Veterinary Sciences. - : MDPI AG. - 2306-7381. ; 9:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dog trials and competitions involve various sport disciplines, e.g., obedience, agility, working dog trials and rally obedience. Dog handlers navigate their dogs through physically and mentally demanding tasks. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of barriers and facilitators to canine health promotion and injury prevention described by dog handlers.Methods: Qualitative inductive content analysis was applied to systematically organize and interpret narrative data from 654 respondents' answers to open-ended questions in an anonymous online inquiry.Results: Two categories, with seven sub-categories, emerged from the analysis: (1) Challenges in applying the regulations in dog trials and competitions, and (2) Implementation of animal welfare and canine well-being approaches. Respondents described the challenges in applying regulations in dog trials and competitions and lack of scientific research as barriers to their intent to prevent injuries in their dogs. Implementation of animal welfare and canine well-being approaches were described as facilitators.Conclusion: The findings imply that the stakeholders continuously need to work on bridging possible gaps between the canine welfare criteria and the scientific and empirical knowledge in canine sports and performance medicine.
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| 5. |
- Essner, Ann, Medicine Doktor, PhD, 1971-, et al.
(författare)
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Injuries and Associated Factors in Swedish Sporting and Utility Trial Dogs-A Cross-Sectional Study
- 2024
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Ingår i: Animals. - : MDPI. - 2076-2615. ; 14:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Simple Summary Canine sporting competitions, e.g., agility, obedience, rally obedience, and utility trials, e.g., protection, tracking, search, and messenger, are physically and mentally demanding disciplines. There is a growing concern within the dog sports community that some disciplines and breeds may be at higher injury risk. This study aimed to describe the frequencies and types of injuries experienced amongst Swedish sporting and utility trial dogs and to explore associations between discipline, breed, sex, neuter status, age, and injury history. Through a questionnaire survey, information about 1582 dogs was collected. During their lifetime, more than half of the dogs (n = 928, 58.7%) had suffered from an injury whether it appeared during training, competition, or outside of sport. Key findings were that muscular, joint, and dermatologic injuries were most commonly reported and the most common injury locations were the thoracic, lumbar and lumbosacral spine, paw, head, shoulder, and stifle. In a multivariate analysis, Border Collies, Belgian Malinois, and higher age at the time of report increased the odds of injury history. Our results provide more understanding of injuries in sporting and utility dogs and contribute to injury prevention strategies that potentially enhance canine welfare.Abstract Canine sporting competitions, e.g., agility, obedience, rally obedience, and utility trials, e.g., protection, tracking, search, and messenger, are physically and mentally demanding disciplines. This study aimed to describe the types and frequencies of injuries experienced amongst Swedish sporting and utility trial dogs and to explore associations between discipline, breed, sex, neuter status, age, and injury history. Dog handlers provided information on competition-level dogs (n = 1582) through a cross-sectional survey. The overall proportion of dogs sustaining any injury during their lifetime, whether it was during competition, training, or outside of sport, was 58.7% (n = 928). Muscular, joint, and dermatologic injuries were most commonly reported and the most common injury locations were the thoracic, lumbar and lumbosacral spine, paw, head, shoulder, and stifle. According to multivariate analysis, Border Collie (adjusted OR 1.93), Belgian Malinois (adjusted OR 2.51) and higher age at the time of report (adjusted OR 1.81-9.67) increased the odds of injury history. Our results provide more understanding of injuries in sporting and utility dogs and contribute to injury prevention strategies that potentially enhance canine welfare.
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| 6. |
- Essner, Ann, Medicine Doktor, PhD, et al.
(författare)
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Investigating the Probability of Response Bias in Owner-Perceived Pain Assessment in Dogs With Osteoarthritis
- 2020
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Ingår i: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine. - : Elsevier. - 1938-9736 .- 1946-9837. ; 39
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Owners’ ability to recognize signs of chronic pain in dogs undergoing pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic pain interventions during a period of physical rehabilitation is not known. This study aimed to compare dogs with and without chronic pain, and to assess the relationship between explanatory factors, including the probability of owners’ response bias induced by pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic pain intervention, and chronic pain in dogs with osteoarthritis (OA). Seventy-one dogs with OA were included in this observational study. Owner-perceived pain interference was measured by Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) and owner-perceived pain behavior was assessed using Helsinki Chronic Pain Index. A dichotomous variable of Helsinki Chronic Pain Index was used in regression analysis to investigate the association between chronic pain and explanatory factors (body condition, anti-inflammatory medication, animal physiotherapy consultation once or more and owners’ perception of pain interfering). Seventy-five percent of the dogs had ongoing anti-inflammatory medication, 51% of were overweight and 45% had a physiotherapy consultation. Higher levels of overt pain behaviors were reported in items addressing activities. Body condition, physiotherapy consultation and medication were not associated with chronic pain. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals of OR for the CBPI were 1.74 (1.23-2.47) and significantly associated with chronic pain. The adjusted OR of the CBPI did not differ from the crude OR. Owner-perceived pain behavior was not confounded by the dogs’ medication. Results indicated that CBPI was not mediated by the medication. The CBPI pain interference score was not associated with response bias and may be used as clinical outcome measure of chronic pain and pain-related disability in dogs with OA along a period of physical rehabilitation comprising pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic pain interventions.
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| 7. |
- Essner, Ann, 1971-
(författare)
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On assessment methods related to pain in dogs with osteoarthritis
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- There is a need of valid and reliable assessment methods that are clinically applicable in canine rehabilitation practice. The aim of this thesis was to psychometrically evaluate measurement properties in assessment methods related to pain in naturally occurring canine osteoarthritis. Assessment methods developed for heart rate variability analysis, i.e. Polar heart rate monitor, and owner-reported perceptions of pain severity and pain interference with functionality, i.e. Canine Brief Pain Inventory, were tested.Methods: Four observational studies were conducted. Study I was a cross-sectional study consisting of two groups of consecutively recruited dogs. The Canine Brief Pain Inventory was administered to owners of dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis (n=61) and clinically sound dogs (n=21). Study II was a descriptive and correlative cross-sectional study based on the same sample of dogs with osteoarthritis (n=71), assessing chronic pain behavior and associations between explanatory variables and chronic pain behavior. Study III and IV were correlative studies, assessing Polar heart rate monitor measuring interbeat intervals and time- and frequency-based heart rate variability parameters, compared to simultaneously recorded electrocardiogram in dogs (n=11).Results: High internal consistencies and ability to discriminate sound dogs from osteoarthritis dogs were found. The hypothesis of the presented two-factor structure of the Canine Brief Pain Inventory was rejected. Owners reported higher proportions of chronic pain behavior in items targeting physical activities, e.g. getting up, moving after rest and moving after major exercise. A minor proportion of dogs with osteoarthritis showed no owner-perceived behavioural signs of chronic pain. Owner observations were not associated with ongoing antiinflammatory medications. In Study III and IV, 595 errors (12.3%) were identified in Polar data. The number of errors were unequally distributed among the dogs. Interbeat intervals and heart rate variability parameters from electrocardiogram and Polar were strongly associated. Standard error of measurements were high among some heart rate variability parameters in Polar and electrocardiogram.In conclusion, this thesis contributes to our knowledge about assessment methods related to diverse components of pain in dogs with osteoarthritis, allowing improved pain management in clinical practice.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Essner, Ann, Medicine Doktor, PhD, et al.
(författare)
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Physical activity and sport-specific training patterns in Swedish sporting and working trial dogs : A questionnaire survey
- 2022
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Veterinary Science. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2297-1769. ; 9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To explore physical activity patterns, including conditioning exercise and sport-specific training, and management routines utilized by handlers of Swedish sporting and working dogs participating in agility, obedience, rally obedience and working trial disciplines.Procedures: Dog handlers provided information on competition-level dogs through an internet-based cross-sectional and descriptive survey on physical activity, sport-specific training and management. Results are reported overall and stratified by participation in specific disciplines.Results: We received 1615 replies to the questionnaire. After data cleaning, 1582 dogs (98%) remained for the analysis. Of these, 430 participated in agility, 790 in obedience, 596 in rally obedience, and 847 dogs had competed in a working trial, i.e., messenger, protection, search or tracking. Number of disciplines performed by each dog varied between one and five. Most common was participation in one (n = 767, 48%) or two (n = 541, 34%) disciplines. Out of the dogs competing in one discipline, 38% (n = 294) were considered to be specialized as they actively trained only that discipline for >= 10 months per year. The vast majority of the dogs (n = 1129, 71%) received more than 1 h of daily physical activity, e.g., walks, and only n = 51 (3%) were never exercised off-leash. Preferred self-selected gait was trot (n = 907, 57%) and gallop (n = 499, 32%). A fifth (n = 319, 20%) never played with other dogs. The majority (n = 1328, 84%) received more than 1 h of vigorous physical conditioning exercise per week. Almost three quarters (n = 1119, 71%) participated in physical conditioning exercise. Two thirds (n = 953, 60%) participated in at least 3 h of sport-specific training per week and only a very small portion (n = 35, 2%) trained their specific discipline less than once per week. Median total work load, i.e., all daily physical activity, vigorous physical conditioning exercise and sport-specific training, was 16.5 h per week.Conclusion and clinical relevance: We observe physical activity at moderate to high durations and moderate to vigorous intensities among Swedish sporting and working trial dogs. Most dogs received physical conditioning exercise, but not all dogs were warmed up before training and competition. Our study provides veterinary professionals and dog trainers with valuable insights on the physical exposures and management routines of sporting and working trial dogs.
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| 10. |
- Essner, Ann, et al.
(författare)
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Psychometric evaluation of the canine brief pain inventory in a Swedish sample of dogs with pain related to osteoarthritis
- 2017
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Ingår i: Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-605X .- 1751-0147. ; 59:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: To evaluate intervention, implement evidence-based practice and enhance the welfare of dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis (OA), access to valid, reliable and clinically relevant outcome measures is crucial for researchers, veterinarians and rehabilitation practitioners. The objectives of the present study were to translate and evaluate psychometric properties, in terms of internal consistency and construct validity, of the owner-reported measure canine brief pain inventory (CBPI) in a Swedish sample of dogs with pain related to OA.RESULTS: Twenty-one owners of clinically sound dogs and 58 owners of dogs with pain related to OA were included in this observational and cross-sectional study. After being translated according to the guidelines for patient-reported outcome measures, the CBPI was completed by the canine owners. Construct validity was assessed by confirmatory factor analysis, by repeating the principal component analysis and by assessing for differences between clinically sound dogs and dogs with pain related to OA. Internal consistency was estimated by Cronbach's α. Confirmatory factor analysis was not able to confirm the factor-structure models tested in our sample. Principal component analysis showed a two-component structure, pain severity and pain interference of function. Two components accounted for 76.8% of the total variance, suggesting an acceptable fit of a two-component structure. The ratings from the clinically sound dogs differed from OA dogs and showed significantly lower CBPI total sum. Cronbach's α was 0.94 for the total CBPI, 0.91 for the pain severity and 0.91 for the pain interference of function.CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the translated version of the CBPI is valid for use in the Swedish language. The findings suggest satisfying psychometric properties in terms of high internal consistencies and ability to discriminate clinically sound dogs from OA dogs. However, based on the confirmatory factor analysis, the original factor structure in the CBPI is not ideally suited to measure pain related to OA in our sample and the hypothesis of the presented two-factor structure was rejected. Further research needs to be conducted to determine whether the original psychometric results from CBPI can be replicated across different target groups and particularly with larger sample size.
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