Principal Investigator: Christopher Frye

Co-PI: Callum Donnelly

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): 

Studies examining the physiological changes in hunting dogs are lacking. Overheating of working dogs remains a chief safety concern. Prior studies in military working dogs demonstrated serum alterations in heat shock proteins with exercise, environmental temperature and conditioning. Elevations in serum heat shock proteins reflect a potential protective response to thermal stress and exercise; whereas elevations in serum myoglobin have been used as a marker for physiological and pathological exercise-related muscle damage. This study will target a population of versatile hunting dogs working under natural field training conditions that are accustomed to the use of tracking collars. We will gather data on physical (temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate), chemical (lactate, osmolality, and serum biochemistry), and other metabolic markers (cortisol, serum heat shock protein, serum myoglobin). Serum and/or plasma will be stored frozen for any further needed evaluation. In addition, we will record environmental conditions, rectal temperatures and core temperature measurements gathered by a swallowed oral medical-grade thermistor equipped with telemetry (like previous research). Each dog’s activity will be tracked by GPS and an accelerometer. We are aiming to collect data from a total of up to 30 dogs of similar size, gender, and age, including a history of conditioning over the prior 3 months. Blood will be collected from peripheral venipuncture at 3 time points (baseline, mid-point, finish) of training exercise. Data will be analyzed and used to help further describe the physiological changes of hunting dogs during exercise, the influence of conditioning, and examine for potential predictors of body temperature during typical field work.