Therefore, as reported in domestic dogs and most other canids (Anderson and Simpson 1973; Asa 1998; Concannon 1986; Jchle 1987), our results indicated that bush dogs are spontaneous and not induced ovulators. Significance for each correlation was evaluated with the Mantel r-value. 2001; Beccaceci 1994; Defler 1986; Silveira et al. 44 0 obj <> endobj The Veterinary Leadership Conference draws veterinarians from across the U.S. for education sessions that help develop leaders for the veterinary profession. u\(. These extended periods of baseline fecal progestins are consistent with what would be considered anestrous periods. 62 0 obj <>stream The Zoo's Animal Division provided financial support for animal housing and husbandry, and the Research Department provided financial support for hormone analyses, videotaping, and other related research expenses. WebDogs should be handled using a leash. The bush dog (Speothos venaticus), listed as Vulnerable (World Conservation Union 2003), is a small canid from Central and South America whose status, distribution, and ecological requirements are poorly understood (Eisenberg 1989; Eisenberg and Redford 1999; Redford and Eisenberg 1992; Wilson and Reeder 1993). In general, bushbabies are small, woolly, long-tailed primates with mobile, oversized naked ears (Kingdon 2004). Standards for AAHA Hospitals, American Animal Hospital Association, PO Box 150899, Denver, Colorado 80215. However, in more open areas it seems that a Bush dog will hunt alone for small rodents. Hunting in packs, they are able to kill prey much bigger than themselves, including capybara. This species produces a wide range of contact calls, perhaps because communication by visual means is not easy in the forest. We thank R. Dmoch (Intemational Studbook Keeper and European Endangered Species Programme Coordinator for bush dogs), S. Silber and K. Lenahan from the Infertility Center of St. Louis, T. Bettinger, G. Camilo, W. Jchle, the World Conservation Union Canid Specialist Group, and the respondents to the Speothos venaticus Distribution and Status Questionnaire for their critical assistance and advice on many aspects of the project. 2002. In addition, a nonparametric univariate autocorrelation (R-Package [v 4.0.6]Legendre et al. The guidelines in the husbandry manual benefit the subspecies in a number of ways. Asa 1996, 1998; Asa and Valdespino 1998; Concannon 1986; Hayssen et al. It also has been suggested that bush dogs may have a more labile reproductive cycle than other canids (Porton et al. Although there are limits to interpreting captive studies due to many factors (e.g., housing, sample size, and genetic relatedness), this study does provide valuable information difficuh to gather in the wild and insight into what the species is capable of under the set conditions of captivity. First, we hypothesized that mature female bush dogs have aseasonal reproductive cycles separated by periods of anestms and that the occurrence of cycles requires the physical presence of a male, defined as direct, un-obstructed physical access (i.e., direct tactile, olfactory, visual. American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF), AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals. It is acceptable to give the mother extra veggies, fruit, or juice in a shallow bowl on the day she delivers. Males appear to fall into two distinct mating strategy groups, larger and more dominant males who monopolize females with repeated matings and smaller males who are more opportunistic. The interestrous intervals ongoing at the time of male introduction (X = 112 days, SD = 7.2 days, n = 4) had a significantly shorter duration compared to intervals when the male was present (t = 3.756, d.f = 8, P < 0.01) or when it was absent (t = 3.158, df = 7, P < 0.01). The results of the Speothos venaticus Survey suggest that wild bush dogs also are aseasonal. However, if she is coming out of the nest box frequently and seems hungry, is low body condition, or there are concerns for her health she may be weighed earlier. The first section is an index of Mammal Taxonomic Orders. When lights are off, at regular feeding time, visually check the birth cage in the same manner. Bushbabies are nocturnal and spend their nights resting (4.5%), traveling (25%), foraging (63.9%), engaged in social activities (5.9-18%) and in other activities (0.6%) (G. moholi) (Doyle & Bearder 1977; Nekaris & Bearder 2007). Subtle behavioral changes such as decreased appetite or activity or reluctance to train in expectant females may be a sign of impending labor or a sign of problems with labor or delivery. 1). Larger males procure more successful matings. Furthermore, the behavioural changes of the adult animals during the breeding season must also be borne in mind which may easily lead to fatal injuries. This is in contrast to males of species in which females have restricted breeding seasons and male reproductive parameters vary seasonally, with testosterone and sperm production declining or ceasing outside of the reproductive season (Asa and Valdespino 1998). We considered the last estrous cycles of both Fl and F2 to be incomplete because fecal progestin levels were above baseline when data collection ended because of death and pyometra, respectively. Bedding used in cages or pens should be changed as required to keep animals dry and clean. Water in birth cages should be provided in a small, shallow water bowl on a shelf above the nest box with just enough water to cover the bottom but not enough for infants to drown. 1998. None were significant only when the male was present. Waste disposalWaste must be removed regularly and frequently, and in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Although female bush dogs urine mark at a higher frequency than males (Kleiman 1972; Macdonald 1996; Porton 1983), individuals of both sexes demonstrate a higher urine-marking frequency when exposed to opposite- versus same-sex urine (Porton 1983). PURPOSE This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) describes routine husbandry procedures for dogs. The first 2 estrous cycles for each pair were analyzed, with the exception of F1, who died after only 1 cycle. Anything to encourage foraging, hunting, and other natural feeding behaviors. Thus, cycles of adult females housed alone or with a male show spontaneous estrus and an obligate pseudopregnancy after infertile ovulations and more closely resemble the typical canid cycle. Finally, Porton et al. We determined significance of correlations with Kendall's tau (Sokal and Rohlf 1995). The Moholi bushbaby is native to the mesic woodlands of the Southern Afrotropics. We hypothesized that the presence of a mature female bush dog would have an effect on the reproductive condition of the adult male. The reproduction of mature females is not fixed to a single rigid breeding season and births occur throughout the year. RESPONSIBILITY Animal care staff, veterinary care staff, facility supervisors, Facilities Manager. 1.2 The Code is based on the knowledge and technology available at the time of publication and may need to en/Mixed exhibit Ursidae - zoorope 1987). (1987) reported that 2 peripubertal females, ages 7.5 and 9.5 months, had repeated estrous cycles with interestrous intervals (range = 1544 days, n = 6) shorter than those in the current study and shorter than bush dog gestation length. We considered 19 estrous cycles to be physiologically relevant and assumed that all 4 females ovulated independent of male presence, because all 19 apparent estrous cycles of the study animals (F1 = 3, F2 = 5, F3 = 6, F4 = 5) had fecal progestin values equal to or greater than those of the 3 pregnant females (range for F5: 730 ng/g on the day of the observed Copulatory Lock to a maximum of 1,400 ng/g; range for F3: 1843,506.67 ng/g; range for F4: 3001,553 ng/g), suggesting that ovulation preceded these increases. Fecal sample collection.Daily fecal samples were collected from each female from 1 March 2001 through the respective end dates (Table 2). Other non-nest material enrichment can be provided as usual. Staff should be screened and selected for suitability to tasks assigned and should be trained in performance of their duties. (Please see section on weights for more detailed info). Training sessions remain the most stimulating enrichment for bushbabies. We used nonparametric Mantel univariate correlations (R-Package [v 4.0.6] Legendre et al. They are one of the smallest primates and have a soft, yet thick, coat of greyish brown fur. In addition, data from only 3 of the 4 pairs during the 2nd phase were included in the analysis; Fl and Ml were excluded because of insufficient data due to death of Fl. and auditory stimulation from the male) to induce estms. Ages and weights of females at start of study and of males at time of introduction are provided. 2001; available at http://www.bio.umontreal.ca/Casgrain/R/index.html) to determine within and between correlations at the 2 levels (Fortin and Gurevitch 2001; Legendre and Legendre 1998). Reproduction, growth and parental care in crab-eating foxes, Management and breeding of maned wolves at the National Zoological Park, Washington, Histora natural ediar: mamiferos Sud-americanos, Reproduction in captive and wild dingoes (, Endocrinology of canine estrous cycles, pregnancy and parturition, Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Society of Theriogenology, Veterinary Clinics of North American: Small Animal Practice, An examination of the reproductive physiology of the bush dog (, Preliminary tests of a new reversible male contraceptive in bush dogs (, Ecology and social organization of the maned wolf (, Beobachtungen zur Geburt und natrlichen Aufzucht von Waldhunden (, Ferro de grulleiro, der Sdamerikanische Waldhundein Rtsel fr die Hundeforschung, The northern Neotropics: Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, The central Neotropics: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Mantel tests: spatial structure in field experiments, Design and analysis of ecological experiments, Social organization of African wild dogs (, Asdell's pattems of mammalian reproduction: a compendium of species-specific data, On the breeding and rearing of bush dogs at Frankfurt Zoo, Observations on the breeding of the bush dog (, Ecology and evolution in the South American canids, Time-lapse infared videography for animal behavior observations, A longitudinal study of delayed reproductive success in a pair of white-cheeked gibbons (, Steroid metabolism and validation of noninvasive endocrine monitoring in the African wild dog (, Canadian Journal of Zoology/Review Canadian Zoology, Bush dog urine-marking: its role in pair formation and maintenance, Aseasonality of bush dog reproduction and the influence of social factors on the estrous cycle, Vol. Separation between food and water, urination and defecation, and resting areas should be maximized. A. Creel S. R.. Pelletier F. Bauman J. Festa-Bianchet M.. Shindeler S. E. Ortuo A. M. Morn F. M. Moorman E. A. Lasley B. L.. Sillero-Zubiri C Hoffmann M. Macdonald D. W.. Silveira L. A. Jacomo A. T. A. Rodrigues F. H. G. Diniz-filho J. A Mount was clearly distinguishable from a Copulatory Lock by the ability of the pair to move away from each other. Records should include a description of the animal, the date obtained, the source, the length of time held, and any treatment provided together with its final disposition. It is difficult to interpret these resuhs because of insufficient comparative data for the preintroduction period. When possible, relatively nontoxic compounds (e.g., boric acid) or drying substances (e.g., amorphous silica gel) should be used to control insects. ("Southern lesser bush baby, South African galago Galago moholi", 2009;Pullen, 2004;"Southern lesser bush baby, South African galago Galago moholi", 2009;de Magalhaes, et al., 2009;Pullen, 2004;"Southern lesser bush baby, South African galago Galago moholi", 2009;de Magalhaes, et al., 2009;Pullen, 2004) Females nurse their offspring for about 11 weeks though young may begin to catch insects at 4 weeks of age. Latitudes ranged from 7N59.5N (n = 42 zoos) to 20S29S (n = 6 zoos); they were summarized in 10 increments (e.g., 11N20N, 21N30N) for ease of viewing. Husbandry Guidelines Natural History and Physical ZooLex Exhibit - Bush Dogs 150-250 grams with males being the heaviest. husbandry When she does, quietly peek into the box to confirm if infants are present. That is, the fecal progestin levels of all 19 of the apparent estrous cycles were equal to or greater than those of the 3 pregnant females, indicating that ovulation occurred independent of male presence. = 15, P < 0.05) depending on whether the male was present (X = 74 days, SD = 7.9, n = 9) or absent (X = 65 days, SD = 8, n = 8). Females have a brief estrous period, lasting 1 to 3 days, during which males become highly competitive, increasing their home range, body weight, and testes volume. Surfaces should be smooth and impervious to moisture, and be designed for easy maintenance. Waste cans should be leak-proof and have tight-fitting lids. Preventive medicine areas for isolation of sick animals and quarantine of newly arriving animals should be provided where appropriate. WebThe relationship continues and today modern zoos and aquariums offer scientists unique opportunities to carry out research on the biology of the animals and plants they care for, Attend topical CE meetings on subjects including animal welfare, wellbeing, economics, and public policy. Once the prey tires they tear it to pieces. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine Pseudopregnancy.Although the duration of fecal progestin elevation in female bush dogs differed significantly depending on whether a male was present or absent, both approximated the length of bush dog gestation (X = 67 days, range = 6270 daysDmoch 19992000) and so support the hypothesis that the female bush dog has an obligate pseudopregnancy independent of male presence. Ensure the humane treatment of animals covered by the Animal Welfare Act The dam should be weighed prior to the start of baby watch. Stay current on important veterinary news, AVMA activities, and member services. Areas for quarantine, isolation, or soiled equipment should be appropriately exhausted to avoid contamination. Training must address animal, personal, and public safety, and appropriate handling and animal restraint techniques. 2004). Examination of preliminary testosterone data from males showed a nonseasonal pattern suggesting that males have year-round, not seasonal, sperm production. A summary of the dates of sightings of infants, juveniles, and subadults permitted estimates of age and date of birth, thus providing information on bush dog seasonality in the wild. Around 10 months the young reach sexual maturity at which point males will emigrate. This study determined that mature female bush dogs differ from peripubertal females in their reproductive cycle. endstream endobj 45 0 obj <> endobj 46 0 obj <> endobj 47 0 obj <>stream The current analysis of data from captive bush dogs was important when interpreting the results from the Speothos venaticus Survey, because the analysis showed the importance of considering the number of females and births represented at each latitude, because a small sample size may inaccurately suggest seasonal reproduction. Brady and Ditton 1979; Brand and Cullen 1976; Dietz 1984; Ewer 1973; Frame et al. (1987) reported that captive, peripubertal females, but not mature, parous females, underwent multiple, sequential estrous cycles without intervening anestrous phases, referred to as polyestrous cycles (Anderson and Simpson 1973). Although it cannot be determined conclusively whether either of these medical conditions affected reproduction, the fact that both of these cycles had fecal progestin levels indicative of ovulation suggest that the females were not affected until their conditions were well advanced. Effect of the male on the female s reproductive cycle.In addition to having an effect on the duration of the sustained fecal progestin elevation, male presence significantiy reduced the interestrous interval, or cycle length (i.e., from the 1st significant fecal progestin increase of one cycle to 1st increase of the next).
bush dog husbandry guidelines